Srirangam Veda Vyasa Aani Pournami Utsavam

Aani Pournami - A day to remember and celebrate the legendary Saint who gave the world the Vedas, Bhagavatham and the great epic Mahabaratha

It is just past 9am on this Thursday (July 10) morning. Sripatham Chief Chakrapani is busy at the Bhagawan Vyasa Sannidhi. When he is not discharging the duties at the procession of Namperumal, Chakrapani is entrusted with the responsibility of managing the Kothandarama Sannidhi. Also, it is his responsibility to take care of the Veda Vyasa Sannidhi that lay hidden behind the Chandra Pushkarani.

Aani Pournami is the one big day in the year when this Sannidhi comes to life for its time to celebrated the legendary Veda Vyasa and his monumental contribution to this world.

Veda Vyasa, son of Sage Parasara, not only compiled the Vedas and authored the Bhagavatha Purana but also gave this world the great epic Mahabaratha. Invoking the blessings of Brahmma, he sought the services of Ganesha as directed by Brahmma to take down notes of the compilation of the epic that he had registered in his mind. 

He later shared the story of this epic with his son suka who in turn shared it with the Gandharvas and Rakshashas.

It was Vaisampayana, the chief disciple of Vyasa, who shared the story of the Mahabaratha with the world at large narrating this legend at the sacrificial event organised by Janamejaya, the son of Parikshit. Suta who heard this story then shared it with a set of rishis that was then passed on to posterity (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2022/04/mahabaratha-origin-of-rofl.html). 

Grand Celebration at Vyasar Sannidhi

By 10am, a few vedic members had arrived at the Vyasar Sannidhi to recite the Vedas during the Thirumanjanam. Unfortunately not too many even in Srirangam were aware of this once in a year event  and hence there were just a handful of devotees that had turned up for the celebration of this great sage. For these few, it was a morning to savour for it was time for them to recall the monumental contribution of Bhagawan Vyasa teaching us the dharmic way of life through the epic Mahabaratha.

Referring to a sanskrit verse of Veda Vyasa, Murari Bhattar, a priest at the Ranganathaswamy temple told this writer that it was Vyasar who foresaw the emergence of vaishnavite saint poets on the banks of Tamaraibarani, Cauvery and Palar (.https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2025/05/srirangam-murari-bhattar.html).

Devotees who visited the South facing Kothandarama Sannidhi came to the Veda Vyasa unaware of what was happening here but they said that they felt blessed to witness the Thirumanjanam of Vyasa Bhagawan. Those visiting for the first time also went behind the Vyasar Sannidhi to have darshan of Radhey Krishna and Venugopalan at the Sannidhi behind the Chandra Pushkarani. 

Puliyotharai, Sundal and Dhadhyonam in celebration of Veda Vyasa

Chakrapani told this writer that he had organised for a large quantity of Thaligai including Puliyodharai and Dhadhyonam ahead of this event (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2023/11/srirangam-sripatham-chakrapani.html). 

He said he wanted to celebrate this event in as grand a way as possible and organised for the full range of Thirumanjanam ingredients including a number of coconuts, honey, curd, milk and sandal. For well over half hour, devotees witnessed the Thirumanjanam with Bhagawan Vyasa being annointed with the sacred bath. 

Maniam of the Srirangam temple R Sridharan made a flying visit to the Sannidhi, passed on instructions to the service personnel and moved on for his other kainkaryam at the temple (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2019/03/srirangam-temple-time-keeper.html). 

Following the Thirumanjanam, the priest of the day decorated Vyasar with a grand vastram and draped him in colourful flower garland.

It was almost 11am when the small set of devotees had a first glimpse of the beautifully decorated Vyasar. A Kainkaryapara, who has been performing service here for many decades from the time he was in his teens, was delighted with the alankaram and said that he felt Vyasa Bhagawan provided darshan like Yoga Narasimhar, such was the grandness of the alankaram. 

After the recital of the Vedic Verses and the Thiruppavai Satrumurai, Theertham and Shatari was presented to the devotees following which Puliyotharai and Sundal was distributed. The devotee donor of the day for whom an archana was performed felt happy at the Thirumanjanam and one could see delight in her eyes watching the beautiful decoration of Vyasar.  

Chakrapani sported a big smile at the end of the event and told this writer that he felt blessed with the opportunity to be the one organising the annual event to celebrate the great Vyasa Bhagawan. When he was working in a manufacturing firm just over a decade ago, he could not have visualised being an organiser one day of the Veda Vyasa Aani Pournami utsavam. It is a reward he has been bestowed with by Namperumal for his extraordinary commitment to Sripatham service. 

Usually there is a mad rush of devotees at the round the year utsavams at the Srirangam temple. This was one morning when a select set of devotees could enjoy the celebration of Veda Vyasa in quietness behind the Chandra Pushkaranai. The few devotees that stayed back till the end felt blessed that they were part of this exclusive once in a year event to remember and celebrate the legend of Veda Vyasa.

In the evening, devotees presented sahasranama parayanam in front of the Vyasar sannidhi.