10th Sept & 11th Sept 2016 were blissful ~ a visit to Melukote (Thirunarayanapuram) and thence to the avathara sthalam of Sri Thirumalai Ananthazhwaar. The Temple ‘Sri SelvaNarayana Perumal Kovil’ at Melkote referred to by us as Thiru Narayanapuram, is a Abhimana sthalam of Udayavar, who lived here for 12 years, codified and ordained strict procedures for betterment of Sri Vaishnavism. Have so much to state of the wonderful divine experience and here starting with ‘Avani Moolam’ at our Acharyar Swami Manavala Maamunigal sannathi at Melukote, more specifically about the Araiyar sevai.
Sri
Vaishnava temples follow the doctrine and practices instituted by our great
Acharyar Sri Ramanujar. In the lineage of great Acharyars of our
Sampradhayam – Sriman Nadhamunigal is in the midst. After the great Azhwars,
there was a period when the ‘divyaprabandhams’ rendered by them were lost in
oblivion; it was Sri Nathamunigal who got them back; he is credited with the
regenesis of ‘Divya Prabandham’. He was also an exponent of divine
music who initiated the ‘singing of divyaprabandham ~ now known as Arayar
Sevai’.
The “Araiyar Sevai” is
unique offering that takes place on certain specific occasions at a few
divyadesams – Thiruvarangam, Srivilliputhur, Thirukurugoor [Azhwar
Thirunagari], Thirukkannapuram and of course Thirunarayanapuram
[Melukote]…. It is bakthi in its purest form – rendered by special people
– who sing the verses of Nalayira Divyaprabandham accompanied by abinayam
[gesture] with ease. Araiyars are hereditary and take great effort
to preserve their family tradition, descending from the days of Acharyar
Nathamunigal…. Sadly, there are not many as over the years we have failed to
recognize and take care of their exquisite art totally dedicated to Sriman
Narayana.
`Araiyar
Sevai’ is the visual enactment of the passionate expression by those in the
tradition of Araiyars who have upheld the literature of Iyal, Isai and
Natakam. The Araiyars are not mere dance performers ~ being well versed
in Vaishnavaite commentaries possessing great knowledge. Have read that
according to ‘Koil Ozhugu’ record book of the Srirangam temple,
Thirumangai Azhwar, started the practice of presenting Thirunedun thandakam
with the accompaniment of music before Lord Num Perumal; ages later,
Nathamunigal introduced its performance during the Thiruvadhyayana
Uthsavam. His nephews - Keezhai Agathu Azhwar and Melai Agathu
azhwar became the foremost Araiyars at
Srirangam. According to tradition they were given a cone-like cape
“Ariyar Kireedam'' two cymbals and the sacred garlands by the Lord of Srirangam
Himself. The Araiyars first recite the Paasuram, they then explain its
inner meaning and finally perform the Abhinaya, a unique art/dance performance
with their hands and legs explaining the Paasurams with special musical effect.
I had
earlier posted about the committed to and continuing the traditions of Araiyar Sevai by ‘Srinivasachariyar of Srivilliputhur’. Melkote [Thirunarayanapuram]
has a rich legacy and extremely committed people who uphold the traditions.
On
Avani Moolam thirunaal, in the evening (10.9.2016), there was the grand
purappadu of Sri CheluvaNaranar (Sri Ramapriyan ~ Selva Pillai) to the sannathi
of Acharyar Mamunigal. In the purappadu
it was Upadesa Rathinamalai, continuing at sannathi, followed by Thiruvaimozhi
Noorranthathi sarrumurai. At the
sannathi there was Arayar sevai by Sri U.Ve. Arayar Srirama Sharma Swami.
Most of
us would remember that this elderly scholar was in Thiruvallikkeni in Sept 2014
attending the sathabhishekam celebrations of Dr MA Venkatakrishnan Swami and
performed at ‘Sri Nampillai sannathi’ on 23.9.2014 … he is no ordinary person,
having received the Certificate
of Honour to eminent scholars of Sanskrit, by the then President of India Mr Pranab Mukherjee in
2014.
Here are some photos of the Sevai at
Melkote Thirunarayanapuram ~ wonderfully divine !
Adiyen Srinivasadhasan
12th Sept. 2016.
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