Vettiver Chapparam - Siriya Thiruther at Thiruvallikkeni - Sri Parthasarathi Brahmothsavam - day 10

Heard of ‘Chrysopogon zizanioides’ and wonder what is has to do with a Temple related post, especially one on the last day of Sri Parthasarathi Swami Brahmothsavam at Thiruvallikkeni.

‘Chrysopogon zizanioides’ is commonly known as vettiver – a type of grass of Poaceae family, native to India. Understand that it is known as ‘khus’ in some parts of India.   In western and northern India, it is popularly known as khus. Vettiver can grow up to 1.5 metres high and form clumps as wide. The stems are tall and the leaves are long, thin, and rather rigid; the flowers are brownish-purple. Unlike most grasses, which form horizontally spreading, mat-like root systems, vetiver's roots grow downward, 2–4 m in depth.  This is not intended to by any post on its characteristics..

On the 10^th day of Brahmothsvam is Sapthavaranam – on 3^rd May 2013, there was the ‘Dwadasa Aradhanam’ and ‘Thiruvaimozhi Sarrumurai’ – and in the night there was the purappadu in china Thiruther. 

This Ther is known as ‘Vettiver Chapparam’ – for there used to be so many sheets made of this grass placed on the temple car.  One could feel the divine fragrance from a distance itself.   Understand that it is the stem of the grass, which is cut, smoothened and made into a mat.  These mats were earlier even used in houses and as the air passes through it, there would be fragrance and natural cooling of air. 

Last year,  special arrangements  were made to procure this grass, clean and process them into beautiful mats – the decorative mats so made, were beautifully placed on the temple car [Thiruther] in which Swami Parthasarathi  had purappadu on the 10^th day of Brahmothsavam.

Here are some photos  taken during the purappadu.

                                     Anything on Thiruvallikkeni divyadesam can never be complete without reference to the Divya Prabandha Goshti ~ hundreds of Sri Vaishnavas come daily chanting the pasurams of Azhwars …. some of the Adhyapakars are more than 80 years of age…………. and you can find so many children too in the goshti.. A couple of photos of the goshti too, courtesy my friend VN Kesava Bashyam Swamin from Kanchipuram.

With regards – S. Sampathkumar.