Sri Krishna Tulabaram Film
Sri Krishna Tulabharam (transl. Weighing Lord Krishna) is a 1966 Indian Telugu-language Hindu mythological film, produced by D. Ramanaidu under the Suresh Productions banner and directed by Kamalakara Kameswara Rao. It stars N. T. Rama Rao, Anjali Devi, Kanta Rao and Jamuna with music composed by Pendyala Nageswara Rao.
The film begins with Krishna & Satyabhama returning to Dwaraka after defeating Narakasura. Hereupon, vainglory Satyabhama conceits herself as the victory’s leading cause. Meanwhile, Narada obtains a Parijata flower from heaven, bestows it on Krishna, and requests honor for his darling, and he endorses it to Rukmini. Being conscious of it, spat Satyabhama, annoyed toward Krishna. Ergo, he oaths her to accord the entire Parijat tree and plant it in her garden. Next, Krishna lands in heaven, confronts Indra, wins the tree, and gifts it to Satyabhama.
Consequently, her pride magnifies tenfold, and she looks at Rukmini at a low pace. Following, on Rukmini’s birthday, she invites Krishna for hospitality, which Satyabhama denies. Anyhow, the Lord surrenders for Rukmini’s devotion. Thus, Satyabhama aims to hold proprietorial power over her and possess all his love. Hence, to enlighten her, Narada drives a game to perform a ritual called Sri Krishna Tulabharam, i.e., to donate her husband with the Parijat tree and recoup him by weighing him with his equivalent wealth.
Here, egoistic, filthy rich Satyabhama feels it smoothy but falls flat when Narada carries Krishna and auctions him in the streets. At this, the public revolts, and all the fellow wives plead with Narada to acquit Krishna taking over their wealth. Then, he proclaims that the Lord grants only devotion, and the one & only who does so in the universe is Rukmini. Accordingly, Satyabhama’s pride bows her head down before Rukmini, who retrieves Krishna with Tulasidalam, the Basil leaf. Finally, the movie ends with Satyabhama perceiving the Lord’s form and becoming a devotee.
Tulabharam, is an act of giving one’s weight’s equivalent in gold, fruit, sugar, rice or other grains, to the almighty. It is a famous ritual that was followed in many temples and also in Mutts like Mantralayam Raghavendra Swamy Mutt, and this system was in practice since the previous Dwapara Yuga. Tulabharam is done in the temples like Tirupathi, Guruvayoor, Dwarka and Udupi etc. Tulabharam is an act of showing our gratitude to the Lord, and it would be usually done after our wishes are fulfilled by the god.
Once, when Ma Satyabama wanted to attract Lord Krishna through her richness, had kept all of her jewels and ask the Lord to sit on the other side of the weighing machine. But though Satyabama had kept her entire jewellery, it didn’t match Krishna’s weight. But Ma Rukmini took a Tulsi leaf and put it on the weighting pan. Then it was the perfect equivalent.
“JAI SRI KRISHNA MAHAPRABHU KI JAI”
COMPILED BY
R. HARISHANKAR