Sri Azhagiya Singar Brahmothsavam day 10 - Vettiver chapparam

On the concluding day of Brahmothsavam is ‘Sapthavaranam’ and purappadu in SiriyaThiruther [the small chariot].  6^th July 2015 was the tenth day of Sri AzhagiyaSingarBrahmothsavam at Thiruvallikkeni [Triplicane] divyadesam.  It was well after 10 pm but the enthusiasm and eagerness of people to have darshan was not a tad diminished.

This   ‘ChinnaThiruther’  is famously known as ‘VettiverChapparam’… I had earlier posted of the scientific name of  vettiver as - ‘Chrysopogonzizanioides’, a type of grass of Poaceae family, native to India.  Also 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..

This Ther is known as ‘VettiverChapparam’ – 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 the stem of the grass vettiver 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.  A few years back, nice new mats were prepared.  This year, there was none, yet the Car procession was grand. 

In the purappadu -  Thiruvarangathu Amuthanaar arulicheytha ‘Ramanuja Noorranthathi’ was rendered.  Here are some photos taken during the purappadu.

Adiyen Srinivasadhasan