Kulasekara Azhvaar’s daughter in a Serthi Sevai with Lord Namperumal
at the Arjuna Mandapam
Unlike
many other Divya Desams in Tamil Nadu, historically the Rama Navami utsavam has
been celebrated on the Navami (9th day after the No Moon Day) day in
Chitrai at the Ranganathaswamy temple in Srirangam.
King
turned Saint Poet Kulasekara Azhvaar, of Thiru Vanjikalam, was a great devotee
of Lord Rama and he had a special liking for Lord Ranganatha. He himself was
born on Punarvasu.
Kulasekara
Azhvaar married a Pandya princess and ruled the Chera kingdom from Vanji and
later won over Madurai. In his verses he refers to himself as the King of
Madurai and a Chieftain of Koodal. He also refers to himself as the head of
Kozhi and hence may have expanded his kingdom to his favourite city of
Srirangam (Uraiyur) as well.
Relinquishing
his kingdom, he came and settled down in Srirangam and was taken over by the
idol presented by Lord Rama to the residents of Srirangam.
Perumal Thirumozhi
He
was so moved by the Lord of Srirangam and the devotion of the residents that he
dedicated the first three decads of his Perumal Thirumozhi to the Lord and his
devotees at Srirangam. With each passing decad, Kulasekara Azhvaar, from being
a new entrant to this temple town showcases how well entrenched he had become
at this sacred town and how he now knew the Lord very well.
தேட்டருந்திறல்
தேனினைத் தென்னரங்கனை
திருமாதுவாழ்
வாட்டமில் வனமாலை மார்வனை
வாழ்த்தி
மால்கொள்
சிந்தையராய்
ஆட்ட
மேவியலந்தழைத்து
அயர் வெய்தும்
மெய்யடியார்கள் தம்
ஈட்டம் கண்டிடக்
கூடுமேல்
அது காணும்
பயனாவதே
After
thus beginning with three decads to the Lord of Srirangam, Kulasekara Azhvaar
ends Perumal Thirumozhi with three decads dedicated to Lord Rama including
narrating the entire Ramayana in the final decad of ten verses.
So
heart warming was his experience here in Srirangam that he wanted to give the
hand of his daughter to the Lord of Srirangam. This episode of Kulasekara
Azhvaar’s daughter being seated alongside Lord Namperumal, the Utsava deity of
Lord Ranganatha is played out every year on the occasion of Rama Navami
utsavam.
Namperumal
made his way to the Arjuna Mandapam at 7.30am on Thursday morning and soon
after was joined by Kulasekar Azhvaar’s daughter.
Araiyar Sevai - Kulasekara Azhvaar's Verses
Araiyars
led by Araiyar Sampath Kumaran presented these favourite verses of Kulasekara Azhvaar
on the Lord of Srirangam much to the delight of the devotees seated in front of
and around the Arjuna Mandapam.
மெய்யில் வாழ்க்கையை
மெய்யெனக்கொல்லும்
இவ்வையந் தன்னொடும்
கூடு வதில்லையான்
ஐய்யனே அரங்கா என்று அழைக்கின்றேன்
மையல் கொண்டொழிந்தேன்
எந்தன் மாலுக்கே
In
a rare once in a year opportunity, Sera Kula Valli Nachiyar was all smiles
being the Queen of the day. Decked with glittering jewellery and seated
alongside Namperumal, she provided a Serthi Sevai at the Arjuna Mandapam.
As the devotees stood
in front of the two, one was reminded of the elevation of spirit referred to by
Kulasekara Azhvaar in his Perumal Thirumozhi and there seemed to be a mood of
true devotion reverberating around the Arjuna Mandapam.
Devotional Tears
While the Chandra
Pushkarani, a 100 yards away had dried up, there was no dearth of water around
the Arjuna Mandapam for in line with Kulasekara Azhvaar’s praise, tears rolled
down the eyes of the devotees much like the flood in times of heavy rains. As
they shed tears standing in front of the Lord, one could sense the true love
they had and that these devotees were truly experiencing their favourite Lord.
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