On a cool breezy evening, Azhagiya Nambi made his way around the beautiful looking outer prakara to provide darshan at the huge Nandavanam
It is the one day in the year when Azhagiya Nambi makes his way to the Nandavanam as part of the ten day Vasantha Utsavam at Thiru Kurungudi Divya Desam. On Wednesday (May 7) evening, the residents of this historical temple town were all excited ahead of the procession. By 3pm, young kids, assisted by a couple of seniors, had reached the Nandavanam to draw colourful kolams around the Vasantha Mandapam. The temple was abuzz with activity with the Kainkaryaparas preparing for the event. In happiness, even the clouds gathered steam and the tall trees began to swing wildly converting it into a cool evening.
Cool Breezy Evening
It is 4pm and the Kainkaryaparas waited for the green signal from Maniyam Ramanujam for the start of the procession. The thick dark clouds that covered the scenic Western Ghats sent a few rain drops leaving the Sripatham thangis a bit worried but despite the threat Maniyam directed the procession to go ahead around the beautiful looking outer prakara amid tall coconut trees.
By the time Azhagiya Nambi made his to the North side of the prakara, devotees had gathered in good numbers at the Nandavanam. Maniyam welcomed the lord into the Nandavanam with a presentation of a seep of plantain and the archaka managed to perform the Deeparathanai despite the strong breeze that swept through the Nandavanam.
Kainkaryaparas' important role in these utsavams
There were devotees from Srirangam and from other parts of TN that had come in specifically for this once in a year procession. Sudarshan, whose family held the Sthaneegam rights in the past, was here from Hosur to carry Nambi on his shoulder and he continued to perform different services this evening including tying the screens around the mandapam (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2023/10/thiruvallikeni-thiru-kurungudi-sindhu.html).
Shortly after Perarulalar Ramanuja Jeer, the pontiff of the Thiru Kurungudi Mutt that administers the temple arrived at the Nandavanam to start the presentation of the Siriya Thiru Madal. Amid the backdrop of the Western Ghats and the blowing cool breeze from the tall trees, Thiru Mangai Azhvaar's Madal sounded sweeter with a sizeable number of prabhandham members that included a few young boys in an unhurried and steady recital.
திரு உடையாள் மணவாளா
திருவரங்கத்தே கிடந்தாய்
மருவி மம்ண கமழ்கின்ற
மல்லிகை பூச்சூட்ட வாராய்
Prabhandham Ghoshti -Siriya Thiru Madal
As the presentation of the Madal went on, the archaka draped Nambi and his consorts with wide ranging flower garlands that left the devotees glued to the Lord. The temple elephant seemed to want to participate in the Vasantham and stood outside the Nandavanam listening to the presentation of Thiru Mangai Azhvaar’s verses dedicated to Thiru Naraiyur. Following the Madal, prasadam arrived from the Madapalli in large quantities (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2012/10/thirumangai-azhvaars-madal.html).
சீரார் திருவேங்கடமே திருக்கோவலூரே
மதிக்கட்சி ஊரகமே பேரகமே
பேரா மருதிருத்தான் வெள்ளரையே வெட்காவே
போராளி தண்கால் நறையூர் திருப்புலியூர்
ஆராமம் சூழ்ந்த அரங்கம்
கணமங்கை காரார் மணிநிறக் கண்ணனூர் விண்ணகரம்
சீரார் கணபுரம் சேறை திருவழுந்தூர்
காரார் குடந்தை கடிகை கடல்மல்லை
சீராரும் மாலிருஞ் சோலை திருமோகூர்
Later in the evening, the Jeer told this writer that in recent years he has ensured the preparation of Thaligai in a way that it can be distributed to the devotees without any restrictions. And it turned out that way on the evening. The Kainkaryaparas including the Maniam took turns to distribute Cashews and dry fruits, jack fruits, paruppu and dhadhyonam to the devotee crowd that by now had grown to over a hundred.
Past six pm, devotees continued to make their way to the Nandavanam for a darshan of Nambi and not many wanted to take their eyes away from the handsome looking Lord.
As it happened at the start of the procession, rain drops made a re-entry even as Nambi was ready to leave the Nandavanam but thankfully the rains stayed away on Wednesday evening making it a memorable evening for the devotees who were present at the temple. It is almost 7pm when Nambi returned to his abode and following the Deeparathanai, devotees were presented with Panagam and Chakkarai Pongal bringing to end this once in a year event.
It is not an environ that devotees get to experience in city temples. This huge Thiru Mangai Azhvaar and Nam Azhvaar praised temple is home to a large sized Nandavanam with tall trees with Nambi spending this fifth day of the Vasantha Utsavam in the backdrop of the Mahendra Giri Parvatham and amidst greenery. On what should have been a hot summer’s day, the procession of Nambi to the Nandavanam influenced even the weather God who showered his blessings by making it a breezy and pleasant evening for everyone present.
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