Srirangam Pavitrotsavam

Nine Day Pavitrotsavam ends with Namperumal making a trip to the Chandra Pushkarani on Wednesday morning

On the 9th and final morning of the Pavitrotsavam, utsava deity Namperumal started on a procession to the Chandra Pushkarani along with Chinna Perumal just after 9am this Wednesday (Sep 14). Outside the Arya Bhattaal Vaasal, the Prabhandham members began the recital of Ramanuja Nootranthaathi in a style that is distinctive to Srirangam Divya Desam.

At the Chandrra Pushkarani, there were around a 100 local devotees and regulars at the utsavam to watch Chinna Perumal take a dip at the sacred tank. Being a Wednesday, it was a delight to get a taste of the traditional devotees of Srirangam. It was a rare sight for not too many raised their hands to take a photo shot of the Lord and most were seen with folded hands invoking the blessings of Namperumal and seeking to cleanse their own sins on the occasion of this final day of the Pavitrotsavam.

Scorching Hot Manal Veli

Almost an hour later, Namperumal began his trip back from the Pushkarani. It was scorching hot in Srirangam and one got a taste on what it is for the Sripatham to carry the Lord on the Manal Veli. 

Sridhar (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2019/03/srirangam-temple-time-keeper.html) is back at the temple in the official role of Maniya Kaarar after a break of about three years and he is a big asset to the temple for he is a stickler for traditional values. He is considerate for the elderly Natha Muni Araiyar who joined with the sacred presentation with his cymbals. While almost all the devotees chose the shady path near the Ramar Sannidhi to make their way to Arya Bhattaal Vaasal via Bhoja Rajan Sannidhi, the Sripatham and the Araiyar had no such privileges. It is almost impossible for anyone to walk bare foot on the Manal Veli from the North to the South but their devotion is such that they carried Namperumal at normal speed. The araiyar too continued his presentation through the Manal Veli.

Just outside the Sri Pandaram, the Prabhandham members completed the set of Ramanuja Nootranthathi. Many members of the ghosti went out of their way to ask devotees on the opposite side to 'close their mouth' and not recite the sacred verses when the ghosti was reciting!!! 

Just after 11am, Sripatham personnel presented their special 'Ghathi' to Araiyar's tunes as they climbed the steps on to the  Pavitrotsava Mandapam built by Jadavarma Sundara Pandian.

This was followed by the final Thirumanjanam of the utsavam. 

Pavitrotsavam is dedicated to the sacred thread worn by the Lord and for removing blemishes in daily rituals. On the first day of the utsavam,  Thiruvaradhanam was conducted 365 times in the Yaaga Saalai while on the second day Thiruvarathanam was presented 1008 times. All the deities were then presented the holy thread. The Utsavam ended with 'Padippu' on Wednesday evening before Namperumal made his way back to the Moolasthanam.