Thiruvallikkeni Gajendra Moksham 2017 : ஆனையின் துயரம் தீரப்புள்ளூர்ந்து

Gajendra Moksham Garuda Sevai at Thiruvallikkeni 2017

Aquila is a constellation in the northern sky. Its name is Latin for 'eagle' representing the bird who carried Zeus/Jupiter's thunderbolts !  In Hindu mythology, Garuda is the vahana of Lord Sriman Narayana.  Brahminy kite is considered to be the contemporary representations of Garuda.  Indonesia adopts a more stylistic approach to the Garuda's depiction as its national symbol, where it depicts a Javanese eagle.

Today 7^th August 2017  occurred grand purappadu at Thiruvallikkeni ……  even a child would know having heard so many times the puranic legend of ‘Gajendra moksham [salvation of elephant Gajendra]’ ~ whence   Lord Maha Vishnu Himself  came down to earth to protect Gajendra (elephant) from the death clutches of Makara (Crocodile).   It also offers us great learning – the  otherwise mighty elephant too could get into difficulty and in its extreme distress the elephant after testing its power and understanding  its futility, still had the presence of mind to think of  bhatki (devotion) and gnana (spiritual knowledge) ….. the plea of elephant was immediately answered by Lord Sriman Narayanan, who came rushing in to protect  His devotee – making the earthly human beings realise that if God does so for an elephant, He sure would protect  all of us too. 

கானமர் வேழம் கையெடுத்தலறக் கராவதன் காலினைக் கதுவ,*

ஆனையின் துயரம் தீரப்புள்ளூர்ந்து சென்று நின்றாழி தொட்டானை,*

Today  is ‘Yajur Upakarma’ and in the night there is going to be Chandra grahanam ~ the lunar eclipse.  It is raining now too !! 

Gajendra moksham also explains that one who falls under the divine feet of Lord [prapathi – surrender] seeking salvation will surely be taken care of. The reenactment of Gajendra moksha takes place during the full moon in the month of Aadi.   During Theppothsavam, Lord Varadhar has sarruppadi of  ‘Gajendra moksha thirukolam’. In Thiruvallikkeni divyadesam, Lord Devathirajar (the Moolavar) is giving us darshan on Garuda vahanam – “aanaiyin thuyaram theera pul oornthu sendru nindru aazhi thottanai” [the one who transcended on the bird to wipe out the trouble of elephant] in the words of Thirumangai Mannan.  Here are some photos of Garuda vahana purappadu

Adiyen Srinivasadhasan                                                                                        7^th Aug 2017

Tidbit 1 :  In 1918, London educated R Nataraja Mudaliar produced and directed  the first silent feature film in Tamil called ‘Keechaka vadham’ ……….. he also made Draupadi Vasthrabaharanam, Mayil Ravana, Lavakusa and Kalinga Mardanam.  The other early pioneer A Narayanan made “Gajendra Moksham” in 1930.