500 year old Swing Festival was celebrated at the Ranganatha Temple in Srirangam last week with Vaadhyam, Prabhandham and Saamaram
Lord Namperumal witnessed the display of measurement of Paddy at the Thiru Kottaram
மாணிக்கம் கட்டி வைரம் இடை கட்டி
ஆணிப் பொன்னால் செய்த வண்ணச் சிறுத் தொட்டில் ….
வைரம் அளந்தானே தாலேலோ - Peri Azhvaar
With this verse of PeriAzhvaar referring to the Lord's cradle, Araiyars Sampath
Kumaran and Ramanujacharya welcomed Namperumal with the Ubaya Nachiyars at the
Oonjal Mandapa on the 7th day of the Oonjal Utsavam
that took place on 8November at the Ranganathaswamy temple in
Srirangam.
Perumal Thirumozhi Thaalattu Verses
When the
Araiyars followed this with another set of beautiful Thaalaatu verses - Kulasekara
Azhwar’s ‘மண்ணு புகழ் கௌசலைதன் ’ one could almost visualise Namperumal
reacting with joy to the presentation of these Perumal Thirumozhi verses. This showcased
as to how much Lord Ranganatha enjoyed playing on the swing and how relaxed he
now was. This presentation was also relevant, for the Oonjal Mandapa is located
in the Kulasekara Thiruchutru (Prakara) – one contributed by Kulasekara Azhwar.
The two Araiyars completed their presentation for the
evening with Thirumangai Azhwar’s Saranagathi Periya Thirumozhi Prabhandham –
‘ஏழை எதலன் கீழ்மகன் என்னாது ….
அணி பொழில் திருவரங்கத்து அம்மானே ’
The Nine
Day Oonjal Utsavam at the Ranganathaswamy temple dates back to the late 15th
Century AD.
Nel Alavu Display
The 7th
day of the Dolotsavam is particularly special in that it is on this evening
that Namperumal used to personally inspect the granary and witness the
measurement of paddy that have accrued to him through gifts from Kings as well
as from his devotees. The quantity of paddy also symbolises the prosperity or
otherwise of the kingdom.
Namperumal,
with his Ubaya Nachiyars started on the procession at 6pm to reach Thiru
Kottaram, West of the Garuda Sannidhi. Here, the ‘Nel Alavu’ display event was
enacted with representatives of Namperumal measuring and displaying to the Lord
25kgs of Paddy following which the representatives shouted
out the next measurement as 250kgs and 2500kgs of Paddy thus informing Lord
Namperumal that all was well in the region and that devotees were taking good
care of him by gifting in plenty.
After
the joy of finding out that his devotees were showering their wealth on him,
Namperumal made his way to the Northern Entrance of the temple to meet with and
have darshan of Ranganayaki Thaayar, who presented the Lord with
Thiruvanthikaapu as a measure of protecting the Lord from Drishti.
By 7pm,
Lord Namperumal had made it to the Oonjal Mandapam via the Manal Veli (Eastern
Side) and the Arya Bhattal Gate.
For the
next three hours, thousands of devotees watched the swinging Lord Namperumal
along with the Ubaya Nachiyars on the Oonjal enjoy the presentation of joyful
verses of Peri Azhwar and Kulasekara Azhwar.
Vaadhyam, Prabhandham and
Saamaram
During
the Swing Festival, Lord Ranganatha is showered with unending care by his
devotees with Vadhyam (instruments), Arayar Prabhandham and the Saamaram
(fanning of the Lord) while he himself enjoyed these pleasures sitting through
the evening on the Oonjal which swayed up and down with delicate push from the
Lord’s representatives. During this period, the Lord is said to be relieved
from all mental tensions and worries and is believed to be in a complete mood
of enjoyment.
Oonjal Utsavam removes Dosham in
the Swing
Belief
is that when the Lord is in such joyous mood, he does not hold himself back and
showers his special blessings fulfilling the prayers of devotees who come here
to have darshan of him. Age old belief
is that his presence at the Oonjal Mandapa is said to remove any dosham in the
Swing.
On the 9th
and final day last Saturday (Nov10), Namperumal made his way to the sacred Chandra Pushkarani
for the Theerthavari Utsavam, following which a Thirumanjana was performed on
the Lord at the Oonjal Mandapa. That evening Namperumal returned to his sanctum
bringing to end for another year the annual Aipasi Dolotsavam.
