15th Jan
2014, the day after Pongal ~ celebrated as Kanu(m) Pongal… in the morning there
was Andal purappadu in Hamsa vahanam (Kanu Parvettai purappadu)
In the evening, it was day 5
of Irapathu Uthsavam and it coincided with Thaipusam. Today Sri Parthasarathi had periya maada
veedhi purappadu in ‘Kaalinga Narthana thirukolam’ accompanied by Senai Mudalvar and Swami Nammalwar. At
Thiruvallikkeni divyadesam, traditionally on Thaipusam day, Sri Parthasarathi
visits Big Street – the long winding Veeraghava Mudali Street – which now a
days is more of a lane than a Big street…. This is the Uthsavam where
Perumal collects the harvest from His
field. (kadhir aruthal).
Thiruvallikkeni has had a
great history… going by the description of Thirumangai Mannan, it was a
fortified place (full of madangal)…. It
was Mayilai Thiruvallikkeni – in the description of Azhwargal. In the days of Pallava and Thondaimaans,
Thiruvallikkeni was pristine in its glory. Centuries later, during the British
period, Chennai became prominent as frontiers were redrawn….Triplicane and near
abouts were more of black towns…
By every probability, more
than a century or two ago - the junction of Big Street, Pycrofts road, might
have represented the border of the
locality and perhaps the area thereafter could have been opulent rice fields………… now it is maze of buildings in
small lanes and by-lanes where people jostle for space. There was a small
pandal put up at the Junction where Perumal halted for a brief-while and a reap
of paddy was placed before the Lord, then at His feet. The rice grains so
placed were distributed to the devotees too……..
Here are some photos taken
during the purappadu at Thiruvallikkeni.
Adiyen Srinivasa dhasan.
Senai Muthalvar
Swami Nammalwar
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