The deity of Sri Kalyana Venkateswara being taken in a procession on ‘Surya Prabha Vahanam’ around the Srinivasa Mangapuram temple in Tirupati on Friday as part of the annual Brahmotsavam.
On the seventh day of the annual Brahmotsavam at the TTD-run Srinivasa Mangapuram temple on Friday, Kalyana Venkateswara symbolically rode the sun and the moon in his wedding attire.
The bejeweled deity is taken out in a colorful procession on ‘Surya Prabha Vahanam’, with a dazzling golden aura behind the deity. This ceremony took place early in the day so that the deity could feel the heat of the rays. In the evening, the idol is taken to ‘Chandraprabha Vahanam’ with the silver halo behind the deity.
It has been customary in temples to conduct Surya Prabha Vahanam around dawn to allow soothing rays to fall on the deity and Chandra Prabha Vahanam in the late evening to allow the white rays of the moon to fall on the dazzling carrier. The processions are meant to represent the supremacy of Lord Maha Vishnu over the elements of nature as well as the celestial bodies, who symbolically pay homage to the almighty during the procession.