Nachiyar Koil Thirumangai Azhvaar Avathara Utsavam

After the big facelift to the Thiru Mangai Azhvaar Sannidhi, his Avathara Utsavam was celebrated in a grand way on Monday

Srinivasa Perumal and Vanjulavalli Thaayar made their to his Sannidhi to recognise his big contribution to the temple

100 verses of Praise on Thiru Naraiyur and the two Madals were dedicated entirely to this temple

The Lord of Thiru Naraiyur initiated the Pancha Samaskaaram on Thiru Mangai Azhvaar, the only Divya Desam Lord to have performed this on an Azhvaar. And thus Thiru Mangai Azhvaar refers to him in his verses of praise in the Periya Thirumozhi as ‘Thiru Naraiyur Nambi’.  Delighted with his experience here, Thiru Mangai Azhvaar praised the Lord with a century of verses. The only other Lord that Thiru Mangai Azhvaar has praised with a 100 Paasurams is Thiru Kannapuram Sowri Rajan Perumal, where the Lord explained the Thiru Mandhiram to Thirumangai Azhvaar.

On October 27, a grand consecration took place after the biggest renovation exercise seen at the temple in several decades. The entire flooring around the moolavar sannidhi has been re-laid. The azhvaar acharya sannidhis at the eastern entrance has been restored to its historical glory. Right in front of the historical Thirumangai azhvaar sannidh had been the temple HRCE office for decades. It had become difficult for devotees to have darshan at this sannidhi because of the presence of the temple office. As part of the current restoration the office was shifted to the opposite side and a big facelift was given to this sannidhi.

A month after Consecration

Exactly a month later, on Monday (Nov 27), on the occasion of his birthday, the utsavar deity of Thiru Mangai Azhvaar made his way from the Azhvaar Acharya Sannidhi to his Sannidhi on the north side of the eastern entrance. Gopinathan Bhattar (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2023/08/nachiyar-koil-gopi-bhattar.html), who anchored the big renovation single handedly, performed a Thirumanjanam for both the moolavar and utsavar.

Prominence for Goddess

Lord was of the view that in Kali Yugam men would have to listen to women (husband to listen to wife’s words). Hence, he decided that to first serve as an example and listen to the Goddess here. On all occasions, the first rights are reserved for the Nachiyar. Even the sacred food is first served to the Nachiyar and only then to the Naraiyur Nambi. Being a temple where Goddess has prominence, one can see the Lord slightly by the side and the Goddess is the one who has the prominent position inside the sanctum. Even from the entrance of the temple, one gets a glimpse of Vanjulavalli Nachiyar.

Prabhandam members present Thiru Mangai Azhvaar's verses

Immediately after the Thirumanjanam, the grandly decorated Srinivasa Perumal and Vanjulavalli Thayar made their way from atop the Moolavar Sannidhi (this is a Mada Koil) on a procession to Thiru Mangai Azhvaar’s Sannidhi. A couple of ghosti members from Sarangapani Koil including the erstwhile Maniyam turned up for the Prabhandham Ghosti and for about an hour, the birthday boy Thiru Mangai Azhvaar listened to the sacred verses rendered by him over a 1000 years ago with the Divine Couple enjoyin the swing.

For the first time in several decades, the avathara utsavam of Thiru Mangai Azhvaar has been celebrated thus - with the sannidhi visible without the distraction of the office.

'Mathil Inghe, Madal Anghe’ -  Thiru Mangai to Srirangam Ranganatha

As seen in an earlier story on Srirangam, Thiru Mangai Azhvaar had built the wall at Srirangam Ranganatha temple (http://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2007/09/108-divya-desams-srirangam-lord.html). So pleased was Lord Ranganatha with Thiru Mangai Azhvaar that he wanted him to praise with Madal - Love Letters to the Lord. However, Thiru Mangai Azhvaar told Ranganatha that the Madal was dedicated solely to the Naraiyur Lord: “Mathil Inghe, Madal Anghe” meaning ‘Wall in Srirangam” and “Letters in Thiru Naraiyur”. He composed two Madals - Periya Thiru Madal and Siriya Thiru Madal, both of which were presented this morning by the prabhandam ghosti members as part of the Avathara Utsavam celebrations (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2012/10/thirumangai-azhvaars-madal.html).

Thiru Mangai Azhvaars praise -Ko Chenganan's Mada Koil

As the concluding part of the utsavam, Perumal’s garland was presented to Thiru Mangai Azhvaar in happiness of him having sung a 100 verses of praise. Kathambha Rice, Puliyodharai and Dhadhyonam was presented as part of the celebratory event. Following the divine couple made their way back to their sannidhi climbing the big steps built by Ko Chenganan Chozhan who did not want elephant to enter the temple complex and hence constructed this as Mada Koil, praised so in a decad of verses by Thiru Mangai Azhvaar (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2014/12/ko-chenganan-and-nachiyar-koil-divya.html).

வம்பு அவிழும் செண்பகத்தின் வாசம் உண்டு

மணி வண்டு வகுளத்தின் மலர்மேல் வைகு

செம்பியன் கோச் செங்கணான் சேர்ந்த கோயில்

திருநறையூர் மணிமாடம் சேர்மின்களே

On the previous evening, on the occasion of Vaikanasa Deepam, over a 1000 lamps were lit on these Mada Koil steps and the newly renovated temple that is shining bright during the day, had an even more glowing look late on Sunday evening.

Gopinathan Bhattar sported a happy smile at the end of Thiru Mangai Azhvaar's utsavam on Monday. It was his effort that led to the relocation of the temple office to the other side which paved the way for the Avathara Utsavam celebration a month after the consecration. His is an example of working with single minded devotion towards restoring the temple and to reviving the utsavam to its historical grandeur. 

Kal Garuda Sevai on Dec 19

Street  Procession for the now popular Margazhi Kal Garuda Seva has not taken place in the last few years first because of the Pandemic and then last year because of the Thiruppani works. Gopi Bhattar is all excited about the prospects of a huge crowd at the Kal Garuda Sevai procession this year on Tuesday December 19 that follows within 5 days of the mandalaabishekam (Dec 14). By this time, he would have also completed the refurbishing of the huge temple tank ahead of the Theppotsavam.

The Kal Garuda Sevai will be a big event for him as it's the first one after the consecration and several thousands of devotees will be able to experience the positive vibrations at the temple.