A Grand Seven Day Celebration bringing back memories of the legendary tale of this historic Temple Tow
என் திசையும்
கடலேழு மலைகள்
ஏழும்
ஈரேழு வையகமும்
படைத்து இலங்கும்
புண்டரீகத்து அயன்
புணர்த்த பெரிய
வேள்விப்
புனித நறும்
போக்கியத்தை உவந்து
வந்து
தொண்டையெனும் மண்டலத்தின்
நடுவில் பாரில்
தூ நிலம் மெய்யவிரதத்து தோன்றி
நின்ற
தொண்டல் அருள்
குணமே நாம்
கூறுகின்றோம்
கூர்மதியீர் குறிப்பாகக்
கொண்மின் நீரே - Vedanta Desikar
It
is a period before the big utsavams in Chitrai and Vaikasi. And summer is just around the corner. This phase is usually a quiet period for the Lord of Kanchi. For seven days ending with
Shravanam in Panguni, Lord Varadar enjoyed the extensive presentation of the
legend relating to this ancient temple town as part of the Pallava Utsavam.
While
the legend has been narrated in great detail in different puranams, during
these seven days, the descendents of Thatha desikan present the legend as
described in 18 adyayams of the Athigiri Mahatmiyam from the Brahmma Puranam.
On the final day, Vedanta Desikar’s Rahasya Grantha on the Lord of Kanchi is
also presented.
On
each of these seven days, the story from a particular adyayam or set of
adyayams was narrated – first as a slokam followed by an exhaustive description
of its meaning.
As he presents the story, it is just so full of devotional honesty to the Lord of Kanchi. A sanskrit professor at the nearby college, one almost gets a child like excitement to be at his class each day such is his passionate roll out of this tale relating to Brahmma's Yagna and its outcome. He is also there in the evening on each of the days as part of the vedic recital in front of Lord Varadar.
Creating Kanchi for Brahmma's Yagna
It
is a day when the speciality of performing a yagna at Kanchi and its locational
significance was narrated in great depth.
The
descendant of Thatha Desikan (currently working at Turbo Energy, Sholingur) revealed that ahead of the huge Yagna, Brahmma
summoned Sculptor Vishwakarma and directed him to create a city suitable for
the occasion. The great sculptor that he was, Vishwakarma went about creating a
place similar to the Deva logam with beautiful gardens, huge water filled
tanks, hundreds of wells, Maada Maligai with big Thinnais and large Veethis.
எத்திசை நிலனும்
எய்தி
அருந்தவம்
செய்த அந்நாள்
சத்தியவிரதம் செல்வாய்
என்ற ஓர் உரையின் சார்வாள்
அத்திசைச் சென்றழைத்து
அங்கு அமரர்
இல் எடுப்பான்
தன்னை
உத்தரவேதிசெய்
என்று
உரை
அணங்கு இறை
உரைத்தான்
On
the 2nd day of the Utsava, the tale revolved around a worried
Brahmma directing his disciples to locate Saraswathi and to bring her to the
yagna. It was also the day when the story behind Saraswathi’s anger was retold
and why she went away from Brahmma.
Saraswathi’s
Anger
When Saraswathi enquired as to who was better – she or Lakshmi, Brahmma pointed
to the latter, leading an unhappy Saraswathi to ask if she was at least the better of
the Theerthams. There to Brahmma pointed to Ganga as the more sacred. Having
thus been embarrassed in front of the Sabha comprising of Devas and Rishis,
Saraswathi went away to the Saraswathi Theertham and performed penance.
As
per Brahmma’s instructions, the rishis went in search of her and finally found
her at the Saraswathi Theertham. When the rishis request Saraswathi to return
and be present at the yagna, she narrates the story behind her anger and
suggests that if he is indeed so keen on her presence, he should come and
perform the yagna here at this place.
Significance of Kanchi
The
many devotees from around the Mada Streets provide an eager ear to the story of
Kanchi. The rishis present the greatness of Kanchi and impress upon her about
this being a Sthala Kshetram Yagna and hence the merits of it are likely to
occur only if done in Kanchi. It is also the day when in several verses the
specialty and greatness of Kanchi is narrated.
However,
Saraswathi remains firm and refuses to return much to the disappointment of the
Rishis.
Presenting the Legend - Two Hours each day
On
the succeeding days, this story is taken forward by the Thatha Desikan
descendents. Soon after Lord Varadar makes his way to the Asthana Mandapam near
the Western Raja Gopuram, the descendents, each of whom take turns every year
to present this legendary story stand in front of the Lord and present for well
over two hours Brahmma’s Yagna tale and the challenges that he encountered.
Angered
at the stubbornness of Saraswathi and her unwillingness to work for the dharmic
good of the world, Brahmma decided to go ahead without her justifying to his
preceptor that the yagna would be just as successful in the presence of
Savitri.
The
entire Bhoo Logam and Deva Logam participated in the Yagna except Saraswathi. With
the huge participation in sight, Brahmma appointed Brahmins to take care of the
guests.
The Sambhavanai Dispute!!!
The Brahmins in an eagerness to please the Devas presented additional
sambhavanai to them infuriating the Asuras. Virata,
the head of the Asuras took note of this. However he took a cautious stance. Realizing
that Lord Narayana would work for the cause of the Devas, he asked the asuras
to remain calm as he worked out a strategy.
Virata
sketched a plan to stir up the already angry Saraswathi and decided to seek her
support. They
went as a group disguised as Brahmins. Once they arrived at the Saraswathi
Theertham, Virata presented the story of the happenings at the Yagna and how it
had begun in the presence of Savitri who was seated majestically in the place
that was meant for Saraswathi. No sooner did he say this, he secured the reaction
that he expected.
Even
though she knew who they really were, she blessed them as they seemed to be her
well wisher.
There
was chaos everywhere with the sudden inflow into the city. Brahmma sought the
help of Lord Narayana for the safe conduct and the successful completion of the
Yagna. This was beautifully presented through several stotrams. These purana
stotrams also describe the 10 avataars of Lord Narayana and Brahmma requests
the Lord to protect him too like he did in those avatars.
Answering
his prayers, he presented himself in different places around this ancient city
including in a sleeping posture to prevent the river from flowing across to the
location of the Yagna and thwarting Saraswathi’s efforts to disrupt the Yagna.
Saraswathi stops on seeing the Lord and her anger subsides. Slowing her pace,
she nears the Lord and surrenders to him and agrees to go and join Brahmma at
the yagna. It was from here that the
river splits into seven different tributaries.
Vashishta
gives the green signal to Brahmma to allow Saraswathi at the yagna and it
continues.
Devaperumal's emergence on the Hastham day in Chitrai
While
Indra, Varuna and Agni were staying right opposite the Yagna, they did not get
the desired effect when the ‘Swaaha’ mantra was recited. Bemused at this, they
approached Brahmma who told them that this Yagna was directed at Lord Narayana
and that it was not to get any fruits. Hence the entire benefit goes directly
to Lord Narayana. This again is so
beautifully described and explained in the Purana.
And
suddenly there was fragrance all around Athigiri. Much to everyone’s surprise,
a Vimana came out of the Yagna from the middle of the fire with Lord Narayana
emerging out as Deva Perumal. In
around 30 slokams, the entire physical beauty of Devaperumal is beautifully
described in the Purana. The appearance of his eyes, his ears, the placing of
his feet, the weapons he held and so on.
The Purana states that the lord emerged here on the Hastham day (Sunday) in Chitrai
early in the morning. It
really was an exciting third day’s presentation by the Thatha Desikan
descendant.
Arathanam Process for Devaperumal
On the fourth morning, after
having described the way the Lord emerged at athigiri, the entire arathanam
process was described through several beautiful stotrams that brought to life
the many different arathanams for Devaperumal. On this day, the many abharanams
that the Lord adorns were also described in great detail including the one that
Brahmma himself had presented.
On the fifth day of the Pallava
Utsavam, the story of Brahmma’s Yagna was brought to a close with the
Sambhavanai to all those present and the sending off to their respective
places. Having seen the Lord emerge, Brahmma went round and round the Lord like
how one would hug a new born, a description that brought tears in the eyes of
those present. This episode of Brahmma’s
Yagna ended with Brahmma seeking the boon from the Lord to stay here for ever
in ‘Nithya Vaasam’ and provide darshan to his devotees.
Brahmma's sad departure brings tears
On the sixth day, Devaperumal
asks Brahmma to go back to Sathya Logam and there are sad tears from the
sincere devotees present on the day as Thathachar presents the slow manner in
which an unwilling Brahmma left this place. This event is enacted at the temple
during the Desikar Utsavam in Puratasi. The Purana relating to this particular
episode ends with the entire world talking about this yagna for several years,
such was its greatness of having taken place at Athigiri.
பெருமையுடை அத்திகிரிப்
பெருமாள் வந்தார்
அருமறையின் உச்சிதனில்
நின்றார் வந்தார்
அங்கமுடன் அவையாகும்
அரியோர் வந்தார்
திருவுரையாய்த் தாம்
பொருளாய் நிற்பார்
வந்தார்
திருவருளால்
செழுங்கலைகள் தந்தார்
வந்தார்
மருவலர்க்கு மயக்குரைக்கும்
மாயோர் வந்தார்
வானேற
வழி தந்தார்
வந்தார் தாமே
The Final Day Action (April 10)
On
the final day, Vedanta Desikar made an early morning trip from Thoopal Divya
Desam to the Varadar Temple. Marking the concluding day’s celebrations, of the
seven day utsavam, Lord Varadar was treated to an hour long Thirumanjanam.
Gajendra Aradhanam in Tretha Yugam
The Thathachariar descendant then went on to describe the Gajendra Aradhanam the story of how Maha Shathar Rishi undertakes severe penance. Indra who felt insecure at the severity of the penance sent beautiful girls to distract the rishi.
Later the rishi meets Brigandu Maha Rishi who directs him to Kanchi explaining the greatness of the place and asks him to take bath at the Chakkarai Theertham there. He asks him to invoke the blessings of Narasimha (at the entrance to the Malai Perumal) before seeking the blessings of Devaperumal. He asks the elephant to clear the place so he could do aradhana for the Lord. The Gajendra Moksham episode is described here in around 30 slokams.
Brihaspathi Aradhanam
This was followed by a description of Brihaspathi Aradhanam. Following a curse, Brihaspathi is born in the bhoo logam. Here he hits a dog that comes seeking asylum at a house. The dog tells him that he is at fault for this wrong action and that he will have to repent. Brihaspathi comes to Athigiri and does Gayathri Jabam to relieve himself of his sins. Perumal comes as a 16 year old before Brihaspathi. When the latter asks him to go away, the young boy asks him to take care of his lean body and informs him that he will soon be relieved of his sins.
While
the devotees (in large numbers) were missing during the devotional rendition of
the Athigiri Mahatmiyam on each of the seven days, they suddenly seemed to arrive from nowhere during the presentation of Theertham and the hot Pongal and Dhadhyonam (a
feature seen in many temples in Tamil Nadu). And just the presentation of the prasadam took almost half an hour, such was the devotee crowd .
Kanchi varadar thirvadikal saranam
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