Adhyayana Uthsavam at Thiruvarangam and other Divyadesams

Sunday, December 28, 2014

Adhyayana Uthsavam at Thiruvarangam and other Divyadesams

Generally, people get excited about Vaikunda Ekadasi and ‘Paramapada Vasal’ ……… they are part of the Adhyayana Uthsavam beginning with Pagal Pathu, Irapathu – concluding with Thiruvadi Thozhuthal and Iyarpa Sarrumurai. Legend has it that this Uthsavam hailing the significance of ‘Thiruvaimozhi’ of Nammazhwar, known as ‘Thiruvaimozhi Thirunaal’ was being celebrated right from the times of Thirumangai Mannan to Nathamunigal. The Pagal pathu uthsavam is now on at Sri Vaishnava Divyadesams.

At the Bhooloka Vaikundam of Srirangam Divyadesam, it begins from Suklapaksha Ekadasi and celebrated for 23 days whence Namperumal listens to the vedas and Nammazhvar's Thiruvaimozhi as rendered by the Araiyars. The festival is divided into two parts, ten days before Vaikunda Ekadasi known as Pagalpathu and 10 days from Vaikunda Ekadasi known as Raapathu.

In life there are moments, when you feel extremely elated ~ one explicable moment is when you are at Thiruvarangam soil and have darshan of Nam Perumal … as one travels with the purpose of worshipping at Booloka Vaikuntham [the heavenly abode of Lord Maha Vishnu on this earth] – one’s heart jumps with joy….. as you get closer in physical proximity, you start thinking and looking for the view of Raja Gopuram….. for some the expectations start even as the train traverses Ariyalur, Lalgudi etc., ~ had the pleasure of worshipping Lord Ranganathar and Ranganayaki Thayar recently….. the great place described by Thondaradipodigal as

“கங்கையில் புனித மாய காவிரி நடுவு பாட்டு * பொங்குநீர் பரந்து பாயும் பூம்பொழிலரங்கந்தன்னுள்*

- This place surrounded by river Kaveri is considered more sacred than the most sacred Ganges; the place that flourishes with the new waters of Kaveri has beautiful orchards and abundance of greenery. In this Arangam is situated the greatest Temple for the Lord in reclining posture; the one who is most benevolent and most affectionate to his Bakthas – Lord Ranganatha; a mere glimpse of His Lord would ensure that the devotee would never would want to be away from this holy land.

It is a city by itself …. The glorious Thiruvarangam… 21 Gopurams – 7 prakarams …. ~reverred as ‘The Kovil’ by all Sri Vaishnavaites – it is ‘Thiruvarangam (Srirangam)’ an island created by Coleroon [kollidam] and Kaveri. The Sanctity of a Temple is accorded on the basis of its threefold popularity of the Presiding Deity, the quality of the holy waters and its religiously significant past. So many acharyas have lived here dedicating themselves in the service of the Lord. A temple sung by 11 Azhwars [mangalasasanam], this temple occupies an area of 156 acres making it the largest temple in India. Lush green mango groves, banana gardens, Coconut groves, tall fortified walls – all add colour and bring glory to the island.

The temple of Sri Ranganathaswami at Srirangam boasts an historic past of great kingdom and a civilization thousands of years old. It has flourished through various dynasties though the invasion of Malikapur was a dark era. The Rajagopuram is 236 feet height with its 13 tiers with gopuram's base measuring 166 feet by 97 feet ~ a great engineering marvel of recent times. The massive Rajagopuram can be seen and worshipped from every nook and corner of Thiruvarangam and beyond.

Now there is renovation activity (actually it is not even repairs but efforts to restore the looks of ancient days!). Had the fortune of darshan at Thiruvarangam on 26^th Dec 2014 – there were swelling crowds – yet a very joyous occasion for any baktha.

Adiyen Srinivasa dhasan.