Sri Parthasarathi Perumal Garuda Sevai 2016

Sri Parthasarathi Perumal Garuda Sevai 2016

In the grand Brahmothsavam, each Vahanam, every purappadu have their own charm, yet, if one were to ask the most majestic and most crowd-pulling ones,  it would be Thiruther and Garuda vahanam. !!  .. .. ..  The Brahminy kite  is considered to be the contemporary representations of Garuda; Indonesia adopts a more stylistic approach  depicting a Javanese eagle (being much larger than a kite).

எம்பெருமானுக்கு எப்போதும் கைங்கர்யம் செய்யும் கருடாழ்வார் பெரிய திருவடி என சிறப்பிக்கப்படுகிறார்.  அழகான பட்டு உடுத்திய கருடனின் மீது பெருமாள் எழுந்து அருளும் கருட சேவை மிக அழகும் கம்பீரமும் நிறைந்தது.   கருடன், காச்யபர் என்கிற மகரிஷிக்கும் வினதைக்கும் பிறந்தவர்.  'வினதை சிறுவன்' என பெரியாழ்வார் மங்களாசாசனம்.  வினதையின் மற்றொரு புதல்வன் அருணன், சூரியனுக்கு தேரோட்டி என்றும் ஐதீஹம். 

In the ongoing Brahmothsavam at Thiruvallikkeni divyadesam today  14^th Apr 2017 is the third day – a very important day ~ it is Garuda Vahanam for Perumal.  Garuda is depicted as having the golden body of a strong person, has a white face, wings,  prominent beak, wears a crown – massive, strong – and more than anything else – ever devoted to Sriman Narayanan, carrying Him on his shoulders all the time. His devotion and being close to Emperuman all the time – Garuda, is admired as ‘Periya Thiruvadi’

Brahmothsavam is a grand festivity – each day it is different Vahanam, and Perumal has classy alankarams … on Garuda vahanam day, thousands gather early in the morning to catch glimpse of the Lord as he comes out of the gate (Gopura vasal darsanam).  On Garuda Sevai day, people from far and away come to the temple, offer vasthram (new clothes), place before Lord cocoanut, fruits & other offerings and have darshan of Lord in Garuda vahanam. 

அடிவண்ணம் தாமரை  அன்றுலகம் தாயோன்,

படிவண்ணம் பார்க்கடல் நீ ர்வண்ணம், - முடிவண்ணம்

ஓராழி வெய்யோனொளியும்  அஃதன்றே

ஆராழி கொண்டாற்கு  அழகு.

In the words of  Sri Peyalwar, the feet that measured the earth has the hue of lotus; his body has the hue of the ocean that surrounds the earth,  the glorious kreedam (crown) dazzles  like the radiance of the Sun ~ the beauty and radiance of the Lord holding Thiru Azhi (Chakkaram) is immeasurable and beyond compare… !!!

  

Here are some photos taken  at Thiruvallikkeni during the Garuda Sevai purappadu.   At 05.30 am, people waited to have the glimpse of Lord coming out of Gopura vasal, then there was the ‘aesal’ – halt at Gangaigondan – the purappadu takes so many hours and the lengthy duration only benefits the devotees, as they could have darshan of Lord on Garuda.

With regards – S. Sampathkumar.