Thiruvallikkeni Vasantha Uthsavam - day 5 : 2016

The history of Chennapatnam aka Madras (Chennai) is traced back to Aug  1639 when East India Company bought a piece of land from the ruling Nayaks and built the Fort, much less than its present size.   Much prior existed our Thiruvallikkeni [twisted as Triplicane]  which in some places is described as ‘shrotriem’ which according to Wilson's Glossary, means "a grant of lands or a village held at favourable rate, properly an assignment of land or revenue to a Brahmin learned in the Vedas but latterly applied to similar assignments to native Servants of Government, Civil or Military, as a reward for past services.

Spring is the season of new beginnings. Fresh buds bloom, animals awaken and the earth seems to come to life again. Farmers and gardeners plant their seeds and temperatures slowly rise. The timing of these changes varies depending upon location.

Animals that spent the winter in hibernation come out of their dens, while those that travelled to warmer regions return. Many animals give birth in the spring.

At Thiruvallikkeni,  spring in celebrated in the only way bakthas know -  “Vasantha Uthsavam” for Sri Parthasarathi Perumal.  ‘Vasantham ‘ is a season – a pleasant one at that.  Vasantham corresponds to Spring season. It would amaze one to understand the significance of each Uthsavam and the care with which our elders have designed them.  There are palaces [bungalows] specially built for providing rest to Perumal on different occasions ~  

Of the many lanes and by-lanes, is Venkatrangam (Pillai) Street, running parallel to the Beach Road.  The future generation may not get to know that these gates for many decades opened to have the Lord enter a big spacious sprawling pleasant premises, replete with flower plants, little ponds, trees, a big well with steps for walking inside.  It was the ** Vasantha Uthsava Bungalow **  where Sri Parthasarathi would visit for Vasantha Uthsavam, Kodai Uthsavam, Vijayadasami, 5^th day and 7^th day of Brahmothsavam [of Sri Parthasarathi and Sri Azhagiya Singar] ~  have had darshan of Perumal inside the sprawling premises around which there was so much space. sadly, it  is no longer there…….. here is a photo taken at least a decade ago, when we used filmrolls on cameras.

Today 12^th June 2016  is day 5 of Vasanthothsavam.   Till 2004, Sri Parthasarathi Perumal used to visit this Vasantha Uthsava Bungalow in the morning and ‘thirumanjanam’ would be performed there.  In the evening, He would return.   Due to some property dispute,  the grand Vasantha uthsavam  is now restricted to Periya mada veethi purappadu only.   Here are some photos taken during Vasantha Uthsava purappadu today…. 

Adiyen dhasan – S. Sampathkumar                                                       12^th June 2016.