Nachiyar Koil Thirumangai Azhvaar Thiruvadi Thozhuthal

Pagal Pathu Utsavam - Celebrating Thiru Mangai Azhvaar’s century of verses on Thiru Naraiyur Nambi

Thiru Mangai Azhvaar composed over a 1000 verses in the Nalayira Divya Prabhandham. Out of these, he accorded a 100 or more verses only to two temples one of which was Nachiyar Koil. An Acharya is referred to as Nambi and since Thiru Naraiyur Lord initiated the Pancha Samaskaram to Thiru Mangai Mannan, he became the Achaarya of Thiru Mangai Azhvaar and hence the Azhvaar referred to him as ‘Thiru Naraiyur Nambi’ in many of his decads. 

Both the Madals – Siriya and Periya Thiru Madal are also dedicated to the Lord of Thiru Naraiyur. So pleased with Lord Ranganatha with the efforts of Thiru Mangai Azhvaar in constructing the huge walls of Srirangam that he wanted him to praise him with the Madal as well - 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” and he went on to compose two Madals - Periya Thiru Madal and Siriya Thiru Madal dedicating those to the Lord of Thiru Naraiyur (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2012/10/thirumangai-azhvaars-madal.html).

In his verses of praise, he described Thiru Naraiyur and its people as it was during his times, the festivals, the greatness of the Lord and compared the temple with other temples such as Srirangam. He says he saw the Lord at Thiru Naraiyur as the one he had seen in a handsome standing posture at Thiru  Venkatam.

வம்பு அவிழும் செண்பகத்தின் வாசம் உண்டு

மணி வண்டு வகுளத்தின் மலர்மேல் வைகு

செம்பியன் கோச் செங்கணான் சேர்ந்த கோயில்

திருநறையூர் மணிமாடம் சேர்மின்களே

A speciality of the 100 verses in the Periya Thiurmozhi is a decad dedicated completely to Ko Chenganan Chozhan in recognition of the beautiful construction of the first Mani Mada Koil, construction preventing the entry of elephants near the sanctum, in a Perumal temple after having completed the construction of 70 such Saivite temples (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2014/12/ko-chenganan-and-nachiyar-koil-divya.html).

Round the Year Festivals

Thiru Naraiyur was a place where there were endless festivities all through the year.  Thiru Mangai Azhvaar makes a specific mention of the festivals there. He praises Thiru Naraiyur as a place where one heard festive sounds emanating from the temple every day of the year and the Lord enjoying the festive beats on the streets. He says that Thiru Naraiyur was a place of ‘endless’ festivals.

வேள்வும் விழவும் வீதியில் என்றும் அறாத  ஊர்

நாளும் நறையூர் நாம் தொழுதும் எழு நெஞ்சமே

Reviving Adyayana Utsavam

The annual Adyayana utsavam in Thiru Nariayur had historically been taking place starting the day after Thai Amavasai. However, the slowdown in the 2nd half of the previous century had brought a halt to this utsavam for a few decades. Following the consecration a few years back, this utsavam was revived through the efforts of Gopinathan Bhattar, though there had been apprehension if the street procession of all the azhvaars and acharyas would be practically possible in such a remote temple town. As he has shown on many other occasions, Gopi Bhattar showcased to his detractors that with devotional commitment, even the most challenging of historical utsavams can be revived. And so he did, despite being at the consecration earlier in the morning at Kalyana Venkatramanaswamy temple in Thanthonimalai (Karur) where he was invited as a Vaikanasa Agama archaka (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2023/08/nachiyar-koil-gopi-bhattar.html).

Recognition of Thiru Mangai Azhvaar

Wednesday (Jan 28) marked the culmination of the Pagal Pathu utsavam with Thiru Mangai Azhvaar's contribution to Thiru Naraiyur celebrated in a grand manner. Starting last Saturday, the sacred verses of Thiru Mangai Azhvaar were presented in front of the Thiru Venkatamudayan Sannidhi where Srinivasa Perumal, Vanjulavalli Thayar and all the Azhvaars and Acharyas gathered every evening of the Pagal Pathu utsavam.

It had been decided that the Prabhandham Ghoshti would commence half hour early on this evening and so the members gathered ahead of time. The members comprised of the former maniyakaarar of Sarangapani Koil, the Theerthakarar of Oppiliappan Koil and a CUB staffer as well as an Aussie IT staffer currently in Thiru Kudanthai on a WFH model. 

Gopi Bhattar drove back from Thanthonimalai to be in time for the start of the proceedings on this big evening for Thiru Mangai Azhvaar. The prabhandham members gathered in good numbers to present the 10th and 11th cantos of Periya Thirumozhi. Even as the members were completing their presentation, Gopi Bhattar was making calls to get the sripatham personnel on time for the commencement of the procession.

It is almost 6pm when the Prabhandham members finish the 7th decad of the 11th canto. Sripatham Personnel comprising of elders and young kids gathered near the Dwajasthambam. Gopinathan Bhattar unveils a new golden crown for Srinivasa Perumal and Vanjuvalli Thayar ahead of the procession. 

Karunarachariar, a Theerthakarar at the temple, insisted on Thodakkam of Desikar Prabhandham after Shatari and with a few of the prabhandham members carrying Vedantha Desikar on their shoulders.

It is a grand one of its kind street procession at Nachiyar Koil with all the Azhvaars and Acharyas coming out of the temple along with Srinivasa Perumal and Vanjuvalli Nachiyar around the Mada Vilagam. There are three stopovers during the 90minute procession - at Nadathur Ammal's Thirumaligai, Andavan Ashramam and Ahobila Mutt with mariyathai presented to the divine couple and to the Azhvaars and Acharyas at each of these locations. 

Even as the procession was heading back into the temple, Gopi Bhattar was handing out instructions to his team members to get the vastrams ready and for the moolavar sannidhis of Azhvaars and Acharyas to be opened. Following the mariyathai to the moolavar idols and the satru murai of Pillaiyanthaathi verses, Srinivasa Perumal and Vanjulavalli Thayar headed back to the Thiruvenkata Mudayan Sannidhi where Prasanna Bhattar got Srinivasa Perumal ready for the big event of the evening. 

Interestingly, Thiru Mangai Azhvaar saw Srinivasa Perumal as the Lord he had seen in Thiru Venkatam as seen in his praise of Thiru Naraiyur Nambi.

மான் கொண்ட தோல் மார்வின் மாணிஆய்  

மாவலி மண் தான் கொண்டு தாளால் அளந்த பெருமானை 

தேன் கொண்ட சாரல் திருவேங்கடத்தானை 

நான் சென்று நாடி நறையூரில் கண்டேனே 

As the clock ticked to 9pm, Gopi Bhattar and Prasanna Bhattar carried Thiru Mangai Azhvaar in a step by step walk to the recital of the 8th decade of the 11th canto of Periya Thirumozhi and by the end of that presentation, Thiru Mangai Azhvaar surrendered himself to his acharya, Thiru Naraiyur Nambi. 

The Prabhandham members presented the final verses of Thiru Kurunthandagam and Thiru Nedunthaandagam before a wide ranging prasadam was served to the Kainkaryaparas and the devotees bringing to end the grand celebration of Thiru Mangai Azhvaar Thiruvadi Thozhuthal on this final evening of the Pagal Pathu utsavam at Nachiyar Koil. It was a big relief for Gopi Bhattar to have pulled off the street procession event of azhvaars and acharyas that had been revived only last year.

Tailpiece

In remote temples as these, the Bhattars have had to don multiple roles. Gopi Bhattar supports the Madapalli cook by making Dosais when there are wide ranging prasadams to be prepared such as on this Thirumangai Azhvaar Thiruvadi Thozhuthal day. With the shortage of sripatham personnel, Prasanna Bhattar turned a Sripatham at the end of the procession carrying the Azhvaars on his shoulder, such is the devotional commitment of the priests of Nachiyar Koil.