Cauvery Theerthavari in the morning rain, a vibrant Prabhandham Ghoshti at the Satru Murai event in the evening mark a celebratory day at Thiru Kudanthai
A feature of the annual Vedantha Desikar Utsavam at the Sarangapani Koil in Thiru Kudanthai is that it starts on Puratasi Shravanam and runs for ten days. The Sannidhi archakar, Sudarshan Bhattar, who also doubles up as the Maniyakarar at the temple is at the Desikar Sannidhi at 8am. There is a small devotee crowd trickling in on this misty Monday morning that also turns out to be a muhurtham day. As is the case in temples in remote towns, the archakar has to wait for everyone to come in. The Nadaswaram player is missing as he is out at a wedding.
It is past 9am when Vedantha Desikar starts on the procession through the western entrance of the temple. The archaka and the Veda Ghosti personnel take to their two wheelers to ride their way to the Cauvery while the Kainkaryapakas who don the role of the Sripatham carry their Acharya from the temple to the Southern Banks of the Cauvery wading through the busy bazaar street and past the Chakrapani temple.
Grand Thirumanjanam
It is a once in a year event for Vedantha Desikar on the banks of the Cauvery and it really was a grand Thirumanjanam with the Vadakalai Acharya being anointed with fruits, honey and sandalwood. The Cauvery river bank reverberated with Vedic recital even as a few ladies who had gathered to watch the Thirumanjanam almost in happy tears watching their acharya's face and body turn from Turmeric paste to Sandalwood paste. It is past 10am and the slight drizzle has turned into a heavy rain but unmindful of this, the Kainkaryapakas bring several Kudams of water from the Cauvery for the Thirumanjanam.
Shortly after, scores of them make their way down the steps and enter the Cauvery in pouring rain for the Theerthavari. Devotees are excited to dip into the river in this Thula month on the auspicious occasion of their Acharya’s Theerthavari.
Following the Theerthavari, Sudarshan Bhattar along with Vedic Pundit Kesavan, also an alankaram expert, decorate the Acharya for half an hour following the Theerthavari. Kesavan's aged amma is caught in the rain and unable to leave the mandapam. She is 'happily angry' with her son as she remarks that he was unlikely to finish the alankaram soon as he gets himself lost when he is with the Acharya.
It is 11am when Vedantha Desikar makes his way back to the temple through the flooded streets with the Sripatham showing great commitment to carry the Lord back in the rain that did not seem to relent.
Thiru Mangai's special love for Kudanthai Lord
For Thiru Mangai Azhvaar, Thiru Kudanthai was a location that seemed to be close to his heart. He found great joy in presenting a separate Prabhandham on Lord Aaraavamudhan at this temple and the Prabhandham Ghosti brought this to life with their presentation of Thiru Kurungthandagam, Thiru Nedunthandagam and Thiru Ezhu Kootrurukkai (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2017/06/thiru-ezhu-kootrirukkai_22.html) with Vedantha Desikar seated in front of the Perumal Sannidhi and listening with joy to this rendition.
நால் திசை நடுங்க அம் சிறைப் பறவை ஏறி
நால் வாய் மும் மதத்து இரு செவி
ஒரு தனி வேழத்து அரந்தையை
ஒரு நாள் இரு நீர்மடுவுள் தீர்த்தனை
After Mangalasasanam at the Andal Sannidhi, Vedantha Desikar returned back to his abode near the eastern entrance of the temple where devotees were served with Chakkarai Pongal and Puliyotharai.
A Decoration that delights devotees
Past 1pm, Komalavalli Thayar and Sarangapani Perumal made their way to the Desikar Sannidhi bringing to end the morning event. After attending a wedding in the first half, Soundararaja Bhattar(https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2022/02/thiru-kudanthai-soundar-bhattar.html), known for his great devotional attachment to Sarangapani Perumal, arrives at the Desikar Sannidhi and for the next three hours is involved in decoration of the Divine Couple and the Acharya.
By 5pm, devotees have gathered in front of the Desikar Sannidhi to have a first look at the alankaram. And they are not disappointed. None of them are able to take away their eyes from the delightful decoration of the Divine Couple who are to provide darshan for the next four hours at the Desikar Sannidhi.
Vibrant Prabhandham Ghoshti
At 6pm, the Prabhandham Ghoshti began their slow rendering of the tenth Canto of the Tiruvoimozhi followed by a fast paced presentation of Ramanuja Nootranthi. By 8pm, the devotees had flocked in good numbers ahead of the Satru Murai. By now, Karunakarachariar, who is closely associated with this temple, too joined the Ghoshti.
ஆறாத அருள் அமுதம் பொதிந்த கோயில்
அம்புயத்தோன் அயோத்தி மன்னற்கு அளித்த கோயில்
தொலாத தனிவீரன் தொழுத கோயில் துணையான வீடணற்கு துணையாம் கோயில்
சேராத பயன் எல்லாம் சேர்க்கும் கோயில்
செழுமறையின் முதல் எழுத்து சேர்ந்த கோயில்
தீராத வினை அனைத்தும் தீர்க்கும் கோயில்
திருவரங்கம் எனும் கோயில் தானே
After Paatraachar presented Sarangapani Perumal’s parivattam to Vedantha Desikar, the Prabhandham recital reaches its peak with the Ghoshti members presenting Adikara Sangraham, Prabhandha Saaram and Pillayanthaathi in high pitched voice much to the delight of the devotees.
It had been a long day for the personnel at the madapalli. Accolades poured in from the devotees after they taste the multiple sweets, Kaaram, hot Pongal and Puliyotharai that is served to them at 10pm.
Karunakarachariar (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2019/09/karunakaran-swamy-president-award.html) is particularly happy at the way the Satru Murai of Vadakalai Acharya has been celebrated at the Sarangapani Koil. The decoration of Perumal, Thayar and Desikar, the presentation of the Prabhandham and Veda Ghoshti and the quality of the sacred food makes him feel good in the way tradition has been followed on this evening. He stays back till 11pm and as he walks alongside Komalavalli Thayar on the procession from the Desikar Sannidhi to her abode makes the remark that it is always the Thayar who makes her way back first.
Mosquito Menace - A challenge for all
Late into the night, he is critical of the mosquito menace at the temple on this evening and bemoans the absence of the HR & CE EO at this grand celebration and the lack of steps to control the mosquitos that too were present in good numbers alongside the Kainkaryapakas and the devotees.
Sarangapani Perumal's return procession to his Sannidhi past 11pm marked the end of a celebratory day at Thiru Kudanthai. It had been a long day for the Kainkarayapakas but the devotees who had gathered at the temple to watch the events unfold on the Satru Murai day of Vedantha Desikar Utsavam seem to have enjoyed the celebration.
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