Sarangapani Koil Era Pathu Utsavam

The 19th day of Margazhi is a special day every year at the Sarangapani Koil 

On this evening, Sarangapani Perumal is seen in Thayar Thiru Kolam while Komalavalli Thayar provides darshan in Perumal Thiru Kolam

Sarangapani Koil in Thiru Kudanthai is the only Divya Desam where the Divine Couple provide darshan in a ‘Maatru’ Thiru Kolam during the Adyayana Utsavam. It is also the only Divya Desam where this utsavam starts on the first day of Margazhi every year. 

In the early days, Vedic Recital was a prominent feature in the month of Margazhi. It was Thirumangai Azhvaar who wanted the Utsavam to be a Tamil Divya Prabhandham festival as against just the Vedic recital that existed before his time. The 10-day ‘Era Pathu' Festival called ‘Thiruvoimozhi Thirunaal' was specially created for the Lord to listen to the beautiful compositions of Nam Azhvaar and thus began the 10 day Divya Prabhandham Adyayana Utsavam. The first ten days of the Adyayana Utsavam - Pagal Pathu - was added later when Nathamuni wanted to create a festival for Thiru Mangai Azhvaar to recognise his contribution to the Divya Prabhandham.  

In the Nalayira Divya Prabhandham, Nam Azhvaar praises Thiru Kudanthai as a location where paddy grew in abundance aided by the fertile waters. The Lord was surrounded by huge stone walls. Large lotuses were seen all around Thiru Kudanthai. 

ஆரா அமுதே அடியேன் உடலம்  நின்பால் அன்பாயே

நீராய்  அலைந்து கரைய உருக்குகின்ற நெடுமாலே

சீர் ஆர் செந்நெல் கவரி வீசும் செழு நீர் திரு குடந்தை

ஏர் ஆர் கோலம் திகழ கிடந்தாய் கண்டேன் எம்மானே  - Thiruvoimozhi ( 5-8-1)

Among the three large Perumal temples in Kumbakonam, the Vaishnavites took care of the Sarangapani Koil, the Sourashtrians the Ramaswamy temple and the Madhwas took care of the Utsavams at the Chakrapani temple.

Uthaana Sayana Kolam

Seeing the sleeping posture of Lord Aaraavamudhan at Thiru Kudanthai, a curious Thiru Mazhisai Azhvaar questioned if his tiredness (having fought the battle in Lanka) was the reason for him to be lying down thus. After hearing this, it is believed that the Lord slightly raised his posture to greet the Azhvaar. Feeling the guilt of having caused strain on the Lord, Thiru Mazhisai  Azhvaar asked him to remain as is. And the Lord remained so ever after. 

The main sanctum has been conceived like a chariot with wheels drawn by horses and elephants and is truly a splendid sight to watch. 

A once in a year darshan - 19th day of Adyayana Utsavam

Early on Thursday (Jan 4) evening,  Soundararaja Bhattar (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2022/02/thiru-kudanthai-soundar-bhattar.html), known for his alankaram expertise, worked on the Maatru Kolam of Perumal and Thayar. Around 7pm, much to the delight of the 100 odd devotees who gathered at the temple, Komalavalli Thaayar came out on a procession from the Moolavar Sannidhi as Sarangapani Perumal. With Perumal taking the form of Komalavalli Thayar, the divine couple provided a once in a year darshan to devotees around the huge temple prakara on a procession led by the presentation of the Mukha Veena.

Soundararaja Bhattar, with an experience of over three decades in decorating the Lord and Thaayar, had done such an expert job that it was difficult for the devotees to recognise the Maatru Thiru Kolam. 

An hour later, the Prabhandham Ghosti of around 20 members began the recital of the 9th canto of Namazhvaar’s Tiruvoimozhi. Much in contrast to last year at the Adyayana Utsavam at this Divya Desam, the devotees were allowed to use the Prabhandham book to track the recital of the Ghosti.

Paramapathanathan Sevai

In the decades gone by, this special 19th day programme went on till 1.30am for a variety of reasons that included Sripatham personnel turning up late for the start of the procession. Bucking that  trend, every aspect of the evening’s programme went as per plan on Thursday. The Prabhandham recital of the first nine decads was completed by 9pm following which Soundararaja Bhattar made his way from the Moolavar Sannidhi to decorate Perumal in another special Thiru Kolam on this evening.

Around 10pm, as the big screen opened at the Tiruvoimozhi mandapam, the devotees’ eyes remained stuck to the beautiful Paramapathanathan Thiru Kolam of Sarangapani Perumal. Even as tears of happiness rolled down their cheeks with their eyes firmly glued to this late evening Thiru Kolam,  the priest had to request them to move for the Prabhandham Satru Murai of the Thiru Kannapuram verses to commence.

மாலை நண்ணித் தொழுதெழுமினோ வினைகெட 

காலைமாலை கமலமலர்  இட்டு நீர் 

வேலை மோதும் மதிள்சூழ் திருக்கண்ணபுரத்து

ஆலின் மேலால் அமர்ந்தான் அடியிணைகளே- Tiruvoimozhi 9-10-1

However, the devotees could not resist the temptation to have one more glance at the Paramapathanathan presentation, and following the Satru Murai and the presentation of Puliyotharai Thaligai and Sundal, they were back at the Thirumaamani mandapam to have one more close look at this special Thiru Kolam.

Delighted with the darshan of the divine couple in Maatru Thiru Kolam, the devotees were seen involved in conversations dissecting the alankaram that ranged from beauty of the huge flower garland to the glittering jewellery even as they made their way out of the temple after a satisfying four hour devotional engagement at this Divya Desam. While a few of them spoke about the Vedu Pari event that had taken place last Saturday evening at the Ranganathaswamy temple in Srirangam (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2023/12/srirangam-era-pathu-vedu-pari-2023.html), they showed their unflinching devotion for and attachment to Thiru Kudanthai by concluding that this Maatru Thiru Kolam of Sarangapani Perumal and Komalavalli Thayar was unmatched.

A quiet return procession 

Young priest of Vedantha Desikar sannidhi Sudarshan also dons the role of asst Maniyakaarar at the temple. It was he who anchored the activities late into the night. Past 11pm, a handful of devotees remained for the return procession of Komalavalli Thayar to her abode with a devotee doubling up as Sripatham. It was almost close to midnight when Sarangapani Perumal made his way back to the Moolavar Sannidhi bringing to end this special 9th day of the Era Pathu Utsavam at Thiru Kudanthai Divya Desam. For the priests at the Moolavar Sannidhi, there was still work to do for they had to put the divine couple to sleep after Madapalli Sudarshan brought Sayana Sevai Thaligai. It was a long tiring evening for the priests at the Sarangapani temple and they had to get back to the temple at 4.30am for the morning service on Friday. For the devotees though, including a family that came all the way from Guruvayur, it had been a special experience of having darshan of this Maatru Sevai at this historical Divya Desam praised by seven Saint Poets.