Thiruvallikkeni Ranganathar Revathi purappadu

Today 28^th Oct 2012 – is Revathi Nakshathiram.  

Every month, on this day, there would be purappadu of Sriman Ranganathar and today at Thiruvallikkeni, there  was the chinna mada veethi purappadu of Mannathar.  Here are some photos taken during the purappadu

Adiyen Srinivasa dhasan.

Vijayadasami Parvettai PUrappadu at Thiruvallkkeni

Today concludes the grand Navarathri celebrations, today 24^th October 2012, being the 10^th day  celebrated as ‘Vijaya Dasami’  - a day considered most auspicious for starting learning.  Children are put in schools and taught the first syllable known as “Aksharabyasam”.  Today is also considered a very auspicious day for starting new ventures.

                       On this day at Thiruvallikkeni, there was purapadu of Lord Parthasarathi on ‘kuthirai vahanam’ – the Lord in pure white silk riding a horse was great darshan to all bakthas.  Today  also marks the birth celebrations [sarrumurai] of Boothath Azhwar.

 In Sri Parthasarathi Swami temple and in many other temples, it is day of ‘Parvettai’ when the Lord is taken on procession doing ‘vettai’. The Lord would aim his arrows at vanni tree.  Perhaps this purappadu signifies the Agnyatha vasam in Maha baratham. In the Virata parva, Arjuna caches his weapons in a vanni tree and when the incognito duration is over, Vijaya retrieves his hidden arms from the tree and starts practicing which eventually helps in his success in the war. 

In yesteryears, this significant event would be reenacted at Vasantha Bungalow in the Venkatrangam Street – now it is a decade since  - the Bungalow is no longer there at that place – a new one has been constructed at TP Kovil 2^nd Street and for reasons best known to Temple devasthanam, Perumal does not visit this place too.   A branch of  vanni tree was  symbolically placed at the entrance of the Temple where Parvettai was performed.   Here are some photos taken during the purappadu.

At Thiruvarangam,  Nam Perumal visits Kattazhagiya Singar temple which lies closer to the Srirangam Railway station.   At this divyadesam, Lord Ranganathar on Golden horse does Vannimara paarvettai.  Arrows in different directions signifying the killing of Vanniyasura, the forest demon and symbolically suggesting the protection of the good is being reenacted here.

With regards – S. Sampathkumar.

Sri Manavala Mamunigal Sarrumurai - Evening purappadu

We stand rejuvenated and feeling fresh with the celebrations of our Acharyar –Swami Manavala Mamunigal – today – 20th Oct 2012  a  great day for all Sri Vaishnavaites. The annual Utsavam of our Greatest Acharyar which was celebrated for the past 10 days, concluded today,  being ‘Thirumoola Nakshathiram’ in the month of Aippasi – the birth star of Swami Manavala Mamunigal. 

At Thiruvallikkeni divyadesam, after the grand purappadu in the morning of Sri Manavala Mamunigal with Sri Parthasarathi, garnished by 10 pairs of divine umbrellas – there was the grand purappadu in the evening of Acharyar Swami Manavala Mamunigal with Lord Ranganathar, as it is the occasion of Navarathri celebrations as well. 

Following the footsteps of Sri Ramanujar, num Swami also exhibited his devotion to the greatest works of Purvacharyars and in his Upadesa Rathinamalai elucidates the value of  ‘following the words of the Purvars without deviating a wee bit’.   He filled  his vyakhyana granthas with the words of purvAcharyas.  Perhaps, we must understand the significance of preserving, maintaining, supporting and following the rituals and customs associated with all our traditional Temples. 

For a Srivaishnavaite, Kainkaryam is essential; Selfless and unconditional „kainkarya‟ cleanses the soul of the performer. One must adore and be attached to their Acharyan and only the direction of Acharyar will lift us from all earthly evils – and for Us fallen at the feet called ‘Ponnadiyam Sengamalam’ – Swami Manavala Mamunigal will direct us and take us to salvation.  Those of us who try and uphold the ideals of our religion and its cultural heritage, will sure be benfitted as it then becomes the responsibility of Acharya to take care of Sishya's Atma guna poorthi.

Here are photos taken during the evening  purappadu of Sri Manavala Mamunigal with Sri Aranganathar.

Adiyen Srinivasa dhasan

20th Oct 2012.

Sri Manavala Mamunigal Sarrumurai sirappu at Thiruvallikkeni

It rained so much that Chennaites started feeling ‘when it would stop’ – those who ventured to Triplicane this morning would have wondered what was happening – it was a procession of umbrellas, nay not the black one that humans use when it rains– but spotless white parasols – the divine kodais and alongwith that hundreds of Thennacharya Srivaishnavaites, many of them sporting the traditional ‘Urthva Pundram – the Pannirandu Thiruman”

No need to wonder for today, 20^th Oct 2012 is a  great day for all Sri Vaishnavaites. The annual Utsavam of our Greatest Acharyar which was celebrated for the past 10 days, concludes today,  being ‘Thirumoola Nakshathiram’ in the month of Aippasi – the birth star of Swami Manavala Mamunigal.  The small write-up below will make you understand the significance of today and the greatness of Sri Manavala Mamunigal, the most reverred matchless Acharyar of our Srivaishnavaite philosophy, practiced by Thennacharya Srivaishnavas. 

Mamunigal is known as ‘Yathindra Pravanar’ arising out of his irresistible attachment to the lotus feet of Sri Ramanujar known as ‘Yatheendrar’.  Sri  Manavala Mamunigal is the incarnation of Adisesha.  He was born in Alwar Thirunagari, Tamilnadu in AD 1370.  At birth he was known as ‘Azhagiya Manavala Perumal Nayanaar’.  Later he was hailed in very many names such as ‘Yatheendra Pravanar’, Ramyajamathru, Saumyajamatru, Visada-Vak-Sikhamani , Varayogi, Varavaramuni and more…..

His parents were of   Thigazhakidanthan Thirunaveerudayapiran thatharannan,  a disciple of Sri Pillailokacarya, and Sriranga nacciyar..  He became a sishya of Tiruvaymozhip pillai. Manavala mamuni's devotion to Nammalvar, Ramanuja and to his own Acharya grew as he studied the Alvar's hymns and rahasyas at Alvar tirunagari.  He lived for 73 years on this earth performing many Kaimkaryams  at Sri Rangam and undertook many pilgrimages to many  Sri Vaishnava Divyadesams.

Of the many works, ‘Upadesa Rathinamalai’ is one which all of us should know and recite regularly.  There are 73 paasurams + thanian given  by Kovil Kandadai annan and another one to complete rendered by Erumbiappa.   In the introductory remarks, Swami Maamunigal declares that he is performing upadesam for the future generations in strict accordance with the upadesam that he himself received from his Achaaryan, Thiruvaaimozhip piLLai and his AchArya paramparai.In the second paasuram , He says that the learned ones of discriminating intellect will study Upadesa Rathina Malai and instruct other devotees of the Lord on it with joy.  Upadesa Rathina Malai is a legendary work which provide complete details of month of the birth of Azhwars, the constellation in ascendance at the time of birth , the avathAra sthalams and the unique glories of each of them. 

For a Srivaishnavaite, Kainkaryam is essential; Selfless and unconditional „kainkarya‟ cleanses the soul of the performer. One must adore and be attached to their Acharyan and only the direction of Acharyar will lift us from all earthly evils – and for Us fallen at the feet called ‘Ponnadiyam Sengamalam’ – Swami Manavala Mamunigal will direct us and take us to salvation.

Here are photos taken during the morning purappadu of Sri Manavala Mamunigal with Sri Parthasarathi Perumal.

Adiyen Srinivasa dhasan

Sri Manavala Mamunigal - day 9 - Morning purappadu

Today – 19^th   Oct 2012 –  is the Ninth  day of Swami Manavala Maamunigal Uthsavam.

Today there is to be irattai purappadu – purappadu both in the morning and Evening for  num Acharyar.  On day 9, morning, Swami Manavala Mamunigal would have purappadu in Siriya Thiruther [the car festival].

It  has been raining for the past couple of days and the morning started with drizzle to moderate rain at Thiruvallikkeni, with the temple tank receiving copious amount of water, which sure would raise the water table of the place. 

This morning the Thiruther purappadu could not be held due to rain, still, Swami Manavala Mamunigal had purappadu in ‘Tholukku Iniyaan’, amidst the drizzle.  Here are some photos taken during the purappadu.

  

Adiyen – S. Sampathkumar.

Sri Manavala Mamunigal - day 8 at Thiruvallikkeni

Today – 18^th   Oct 2012 –  is the Eighth  day of Swami Manavala Maamunigal Uthsavam.

Today num Acharyar had purappadu on a beautiful white silver elephant [yaanai vahanam].   It rained very heavily this morning and again at the time of purappadu, there was the rain.  Hence today also it was  china mada veethi purappadu for  Acharyar who was covered with porvai.    

Swami Varavaramuni is a visual treat, a treasure of Sampradhayam who taught the satvic nature.  He shines with radiant splendor as the Sun still is pleasing like the moon – Mamunigal is the form of nectar and His very darshan is sweet and divine as experienced by Swami Erumbiappa in his Purva dinacharya.  Please see the following sloga :

** sudha: nidhimiva svaira | svi:krutho dagra vigraham |

prasanna:rka prati:ka:sa | praka:sa pariveshtitham ** ||

Here are some photos taken during the purappadu of Swami Manavala Mamunigal.  

Adiyen – S. Sampathkumar.

Sri Manavala Mamunigal Uthsavam - day 7 at Thiruvallikkeni

Today – 17^th   Oct 2012 –  is the Seventh day of Swami Manavala Maamunigal Uthsavam.

Today num Acharyar had purappadu on Hamsai  vahanam.  It rained in the evening at the time of purappadu and hence there was the china mada veethi purappadu for  Acharyar who was covered with porvai.    

Here are some photos taken during the purappadu of Swami Manavala Mamunigal.  

Adiyen – S. Sampathkumar.

Sri Manavala Mamunigal Uthsavam - day 6 at Triplicane

Today – 16^th   Oct 2012 –  is the Sixth day of Swami Manavala Maamunigal Uthsavam.

Today num Acharyar had purappadu on Yali  vahanam.  Yali is a mythical creature seen in sculptures of many temples, often seen on pillars.  It looks like a Lion headed strong animal with the trunk of elephant and often portrayed as having in its control an elephant, thus exhibiting its power.  Here are some photos taken during the purappadu of Swami Manavala Mamunigal.  

The first and second photo were taken during the mangalasasanam and  Nammalwar mariyathai  to Swami  Varavaramuni.

Adiyen – S. Sampathkumar.

Sri Manavala Mamunigal Uthsavam - day 5 at Thiruvallikkeni

Today – 15^th   Oct 2012 –  is the ffith day of Swami Manavala Maamunigal Uthsavam.

Today num Acharyar had purappadu in a majestic white Simha vahanam.Here are some photos taken during the purappadu of Swami Manavala Mamunigal.   The first two of these photos are the ones taken during Mangalasasanam at Nammalwar sannithi.

Adiyen – S. Sampathkumar.