Nam
Azhvaar’s annual trip to Tholai Villi Mangalam to invoke the blessings of his parents on his return journey from Srirangam is said to mark
the culmination of the Adyayana Utsavam here
Recital of the 10th Canto of Tiruvoimozhi, Thirumanjanam, Araiyar Sevai, a stop over at Appan Koil and sacred food from Azhvaar Tirunagari feature on this festive occasion at Tholai Villi Mangalam
Legend
has it that Thiru Mangai Azhvaar came to Azhvaar Tirunagari to invite Nam
Azhvaar to witness the Adyayana Utsavam in Srirangam in Margazhi, one that had
been created and organized by the former in recognition of the contribution of
the latter.
Having
enjoyed the presentation of the four thousand sacred verses by the revered
Araiyars at the Ranganathaswamy temple in Srirangam, Nam Azhvaar is believed to
have reached Tholai Villi Mangalam on the Anusham day in Maasi to invoke the
blessings of his parents. As described in Tiruvoimozhi (6.5.10), Nam Azhvaar
saw Lord Devapiran of Erettai Tirupathi at Tholai Villi Mangalam as his mother and father.
சிந்தையாலும் சொல்லாலும் செய்கையினாலும்
தேவ பிரானையே
தந்தை தாய் என் று அடைந்த
வன் குருகூர் அவர் சடகோபன் சொல்
முந்தை ஆயிரத்துள் இவை
தொலை வில்லி மங்கலத்தை சொன்ன
செந்தமிழ் பத்தும் வல்லார்
அடிமை செய்வார் திருமாலுக்கே
Hence,
before returning to his abode at Azhvaar Tirunagari, Nam Azhvaar insisted that they
take a detour to Tholai Villi Mangalam so he could pay his respects to his parents.
This
legendary episode was played out on Sunday in front of a large devotee crowd at
the twin temples of Tholai Villi Mangalam.
Till
the 1990s, when there was a transformation of the twin temples, this annual
trip of Nam Azhvaar to Tholai Villi Mangalam was the only festival celebrated at Erettai
Tirupathi.
While
he does not make a trip anymore to Srirangam, the event relating to Nam Azhvaar's day out at Erettai Tirupathi continues to be an important day in the festival calendar at Nava Tirupathi.
On Sunday morning, Nam Azhvaar started out from Azhvaar Tirunagari at 630am after an early wake-up call at 430am for a special alankaram. Carried on the shoulders in the traditional way by the Sri Patham Thangis of Azhvaar Tirunagari, Nam Azhvaar made his way through the Tamaraibarani to reach the historical Appan Koil, about 2kms West of Erettai Tirupathi, at 730 am.
On Sunday morning, Nam Azhvaar started out from Azhvaar Tirunagari at 630am after an early wake-up call at 430am for a special alankaram. Carried on the shoulders in the traditional way by the Sri Patham Thangis of Azhvaar Tirunagari, Nam Azhvaar made his way through the Tamaraibarani to reach the historical Appan Koil, about 2kms West of Erettai Tirupathi, at 730 am.
Appan Koil- a special idol of
Thiruvengata Mudayan
Thiruvenkata
Mudayan of Appan Koil was the aradhana idol of Nam Azhvaar’s father. Hence on
his way to Erettai Tirupathi, Nam Azhvaar made a halt at this temple evoking
memories of his father's sincere devotion rendered to the Lord at this temple.
In
an appreciative gesture of Sri Patham Thangis devotional service to carry Nam
Azhvaar on a palanquin from his home town of Azhvaar Tirunagari to Erettai
Tirupathi on their shoulders (in many Divya Desams across Tamil Nadu, Lord is
now carried on processions on wheeled tyres even on occasions such as
Brahmotsavam given the shortage of traditional Sri Patham Thangis!!!), Araiyar
Nathan of Azhvaar Tirunagari presented a grand Thaligai to all those present
that morning at Appan Koil.
Interestingly
over the last few years, Araiyar Nathan has also come forward to perform the
daily aradhana of the Lord at Appan Koil.
Aravinda Losanar welcomes Nam
Azhvaar
After
the stopover at Appan Koil, Nam Azhvaar reached Aravinda Losana Temple, one of
the twin temples at Thulaivilli Mangalam. The utsava deity of Aravinda Losana
welcomed Nam Azhvaar and presented him with his garland and parivattam much to
the delight of the hundreds of devotees who had gathered at Erettai Tirupathi
on Sunday morning.
The
10th Canto of Nam Azhvaar’s Tiruvoimozhi that also included praise
of Thiru Maliruncholai and Thiruper Nagar was presented with great devotion by
the large Ghosti that had arrived from Azhvaar Tirunagari.
The
Araiyars of Azhvaar Tirunagari are entrusted with the exclusive rights to
present 10 of those verses. Araiyar Nathan, with the sacred red cone like cap
on his head, the two cymbals in his hand and a special garland across his body, presented the final ten verses of
Tiruvoimozhi.
Soon
after, Nam Azhvaar turned South towards the banks of Tamarai Barani to have
darshan of Lord Devapiran, a few hundred yards from Aravinda Losana temple. The
presentation of theertham brought to end the proceedings for the morning by
930am much earlier than usual.
While
a large number of devotees who had come from outside locations made their way
to the rest of the Nava Tirupathi temples, Nam Azhvaar took a well earned rest
for a few hours at the Devapiran temple.
A one hour Thirumanjanam
By
2.30pm, the devotees were back at Erettai Tirupathi to witness the hour long
sacred bath presented to Nam Azhvaar. The Araiyar presented the sacred sandal wood paste and the oil to all the devotees who witnessed the Thirumanjanam.
Thaligai brought by walk from
Aathi Nathan temple
An
interesting feature of the evening event was the presentation of Thaligai from Aathi
Nathan temple in Azhvaar Tirunagari. To this day, the traditions have been
upheld and the sacred food is carried on the head to the beating of the drum as
the team walks all the way from Aathi Nathan temple in Thiru Kurugur (6 kms
away) across the Tamarai Barani to the Devapiran temple. While easier options
like bringing the food by modern means of transport are possible, it is great credit
to the team at Aathi Nathan temple that short cut options to quicken the
conduct of the evening utsavam have not been exercised to-date.
Conclusion of
Adyayana Utsavam in Erettai Tirupathi
Following
the presentation of the Thaligai, the ghosti team of around 50 members
presented 90 verses of the 10th
Canto of Tiruvoimozhi starting with the praise of the Lords of Thiru Mogur and
Thiru Ananthapuram while Araiyar Nathan presented 10 verses.
The
series of events on Maasi Anusham also signifies the conclusion of the Adyayana
Utsavam in Erettai Tirupathi.
Devapiran watches
the son return to Azhvaar Tirunagari
12
hours after he began his trip from the Southern banks of Tamaraibarani, it was
now time for Nam Azhvaar to bid good bye to Devapiran for yet another year. Like
a dutiful parent, Devapiran stood patiently at the junction of Erettai
Tirupathi watching his son wade way through the dark into the far western corner of
Erettai Tirupathi on his way back to Azhvaar Tirunagari.
Late
on Sunday evening, Lord Devapiran returned to his sanctum amidst the chanting
of Ramanuja Nootranthathi.
Celebrating the
Founding Day of Nam Azhvaar's Utsava Idol!!!
A
day earlier, on Maasi Visakam, Nam Azhvaar had another reason to celebrate for
it was the day when Madurakavi Azhvaar found the idol on the banks of Tamarai
Barani. Nam Azhvaar made a trip to the
Tamarai Barani on Saturday morning for the Theerthavari utsavam in memory of
the founding day of his idol.
Erettai Tirupathi is on the Northern banks of Tamaraibarani and is one of the Nava Tirupathi Divya Desams about 30 kms from Tirunelveli (http://prtraveller.blogspot.in/2007/07/108-divya-desam-nava-tirupathi.html)
Erettai Tirupathi is on the Northern banks of Tamaraibarani and is one of the Nava Tirupathi Divya Desams about 30 kms from Tirunelveli (http://prtraveller.blogspot.in/2007/07/108-divya-desam-nava-tirupathi.html)
2 comments:
The Lord's Grace is amazing. Otherwise these traditions could not continue unbroken for so many centuries. And that too when most agraharams do not have sufficient people to carry God on their shoulders or thaligai on their heads.
Thanks to you we get to see festivals / occasions like this !! Fantastic narration Prabhu, thank you so much...
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