Kairavini karaiyinile - திரு அல்லிக்கேணி குளக்கரையோரம்: Irapathu Sarrumurai

Irapathu Sarrumurai - Nammalwar Moksham [at Thiruvallikkeni and Thirukachi]

After Vaikunda Ekadasi, the Irapathu Uthsavam culminates with Sarrumurai – the 10^thday of the Uthsavam. The Irapathu Uthsavam is performed for Swami Nammalwar and the 10^th day is very significant for the “Thiruvadi Thozhuthal”. On 3^rd Jan 2013 at Thiruvarangam, Perumal Koil, Thiruvallikkeni and other Divyadesams, after Thiruveedhi purappadu, there was rendition of 10^th chapter (Patham Thiruvaimozhi) of Thiruvaimozhi in front of Lord Parthasarathi, Alwars, Acharyars and prominently Swami Nammalwar.

At the start of the penultimate pathu ‘Soozh vizhum pani mugil thooriyam muzakkina’ [Thiruvaimozhi 10-9] – Swami Nammalwar was taken in the palms of Archagas, [kaithala sevai] around the asthanam of Lord Parthasarathi and then was placed on the lotus feet of Lord, then covered fully with ‘Thulasi’. This marks the entering of Mokshapuri after a great life on this earth by Swami Nammalwar – as he himself sung ‘வைகுந்தம் புகுவது மண்ணவர் விதியே’ [vaikuntham puguvathu mannavar vithiye’]

Swami Nammalwar was welcomed throughout with great sages standing on the path, breaking their silence to reveal that this is the path to all those destined to Sri Vaikundam. [எழுமின் என்று இருமருங்கிசைத்தனர் முனிவர்கள்; வழியிது வைகுந்தற் கென்றுவந்தெதிரே]

Nammazhwar was no ordinary mortal; He was endowed with everything – Gnanam, Vairakkiyam and Bakthi. The enactment of Nammazhwar Thiruvadi Thozhuthal [that of Nammalwar reaching the Lotus feet of the Lord] symbolically represents Azhwar reaching the abode of Lord gracing Paramapadam along with His consorts, holding all divine weapons, wearing divine ornaments, served by Periya Thiruvadi (Garuda) and Nithyasuris like s Vishvaksenar, Dwarapalakar, who are closer to God and who are fortunate to serve and be with Him all the time.

The opening of the Gate these ten days is symbolic of the gate to Mokshapuri and reaching the Lotus feet of Sriman Narayana after crossing the 7 logas and cleaning the feet in the divine Vraja river. That Swami Nammalwar reaches the divine culmination is Nammazhar Moksham or Nammalwar Thiruvadi Thozhudhal. Nammazhwar a typical Jeevathma, leaves the physical World, his atma takes new dress, crosses the logas, gets cleansed in Viraja nathi to attain the Lotus feet of Sriman Narayana. The atma which is not destroyed by fire or by anything else, eventually attains the eternal bliss of serving the Lord alongside Mukthas and Nithyasooris. This is called Vaikunta Prapti.

Then as it happened, those bakthas in the World appeal to Lord to give back Nammalwar and God grants Azhwar back to us to show us the way of leading life devoted to Sriman Narayana and the process of nearing Lord and reaching Him, seeking the Moksha. Symbolically, Nammalwar is placed at the feet of Lord and then is covered fully with Thiruthuzhai. After sarrumurai, the holy Thiruthuzhai [thulasi] and Perumal theertham are distributed to all those present ~ the immensely valuable gifts to the believers which make human beings blessed in leading the life in the righteous way.

Here are two photos of Swami Nammalwar. In the one above Nammazwar is wearing kavacham; the 2^nd one below taken during the 10^th day purappadu, one can have darshan of his Thirumeni without kavacham and a single Thiruthuzhai maalai.