Thiruvallikkeni Theppothsavam 2013 - Sri Parthasarathi

They say that there will be ‘Grand Celebrations’ on all 365 days of the year at Thiruvallikkeni Divyadesam…………  The tamil month of Masi has special significance.  On the Full moon [Pournami day and Magam Nakshathiram] Sri Parthasarathi Swami visits the shores of Marina, famously known as Masi Magam.   For the post on Masi Magam, do see : http://tamil.sampspeak.in/2013/02/thiruvallikkeni-masi-magam-sri.html

Perhaps this is the time that signifies the onset of summer and it is time for cooling the Lord.  On Masi New moon [Amavasyai] starts the float festival at Thiruvallikkeni.   The tank of Sri Parthasarathi Swami is famous ~ it is ‘Kairavini Pushkarini’… the pond of Lily – ‘allikkeni’ from which the place itself derives its name.  The tank has added significance attributed to the birth of “Yathi Rajar” – Swami Ramanujar due to the penance undertaken by Kesava Somayaji and Kanthimathi ammal. Pushkarinis were developed closely associated with temples. The water from the tank was once used daily for thirumanjanam and all other religious functions of the Lord. The conclusion of Brahmotsavam would be by ‘thirthavaari’ the sacred bath at the tank.

Every year there is the ‘theppam’ – the float festival. A floating structure gets spruced up, made of drums, timber and ornated beautifully. Perumal would come to the temple tank in purappadu and placed majestically inside the float. The beautifully lit theppam would be dragged around in water. Devotees in hundreds converge, sit everywhere on the steps of the temple tank to have darshan of the Lord on theppam. In olden days, the shops springing up for the occasion were of added attraction.

The annual float festival of the Sri Parthasarathy Swamy temple starts every year on Maasi Ammavasai day and is a 7 day affair. The first three days, Sri Parthasarathi would embellish the theppam; the rest four days are for Sri Narasimhar, Sri Ramar, Sri Ranganathar and Sri Varadarajar. In my young days, the tank was much bigger and would brim with water – so the size of the float also would be much bigger. Now a days, it is much smaller in size, the grandeur of the festival has only increased though.

This year the Theppa Utsavam began today on 11^th March 2013 and here are some photos taken during the Theppothsavam.

Adiyen Srinivasa Dhasan