Thirumayilai Sri Peyalwar mangalasasanam at Thiruvallikkeni Divyadesam 2017

Thirumayilai  Sri Peyalwar mangalasasanam at Thiruvallikkeni Divyadesam

Today 14^th Nov 2017 is Ekadasi day.  On all Ekadasis, there will be periya maada veethi purappadu of Sri Parthasarathi Swami at Thiruvallikkeni Divyadesam.  Today is more  special.  Over a decade now, annually Sri Peyalwar from Sri Adhi Kesava Perumal Devasthanam has been visiting Thiruvallikkeni for mangalasasanam of the Divyadesa perumal.

Here is how he enjoyed seeing the Lord on that beautiful rainy day at Thirukkovalur whence in the company of Sri Poigai Alwar and Bootathalwar, lighting with the Universe and love, had darshan of Emperuman.  He glorifies as having seen the lotus-dame on the frame of Ocean-hued most bountiful Lord, who wields a fiery discuss (Chakra) and the dextral conch (Sangam) in His Hands and radiating more than the Golden Sun ~ what a darshan and how great even to imagine such a darshan .. .. ..  in his Moonram thiruvantathi, Alwar starts :

திருக்கண்டேன் பொன்மேனி கண்டேன் * திகழு

மருக்கனணி நிறமுங்கண்டேன்*  செருக்கிளரும்

பொன்னாழி கண்டேன் புரிசங்கங்கைக் கண்டேன்*

என்னாழி வண்ணன்  பாலின்று**

Sri Adhi Kesava Perumal Devasthanam better known as ‘Kesava Perumal Kovil’ is near Mylai Kapaleeswarar Temple and the Chithirai kulam belongs to this Temple.  As we all know, among the 12 Azhwaars of Srivaishanva Tradition, Poigai Azhwar, Boothath Azhwar and Peyazhwar – were the ones to have decended on this Earth earlier.  They were contemporaries and are praised as “Muthal Azhwars (the first among the Azhwars).  They were born in the month of “Aippasi: in the thirunakshathirams of ‘Thiruvonam, Avittam, Sathayam’ respectively.

Sri Peyalwar was born in a tank in Mylapore (thence known as Mylai Thiruvallikkeni).  His birthplace is in the present day Arundel Street in Mylapore closer to Mylai Madhaava Perumal Kovil.  At Thiruvallikkeni, the road adjacent to Sri Parthasarathi Kovil houses a separate sannathi (temple by itself) for Sri Peyalwar and the street is named after the Azhwar and is known as ‘Peyazhwar kovil Street’.

Among the 12 Azhwaars of Srivaishanva Tradition, Poigai Azhwar, Boothath Azhwar and Peyazhwar – were the ones to have descended on this Earth earlier.  They were contemporaries and are praised as “Muthal Azhwars (the first among the Azhwars).  They were born in the month of “Aippasi: in the thirunakshathirams of ‘Thiruvonam, Avittam, Sathayam’ respectively. This divine trio met on a rainy day at Thirukkovalur – when they sang 100 verses each which now form part of Moonravathu Ayiram (Iyarpa) in Naalayira Divyaprabandham. 

Now the Peyalwar who graces the Mylai  Kesava Perumal temple – annually visits Thiruvallikkeni in a grand procession.  Sri Peyalwar is taken in a palanquin and nearer Triplicane [at the TP koil Street – Besant Road Junction] – the pallakku is opened to let all devotees have his darshan fully.  From there, Peyalwar is taken on a grand procession in Chinna mada veethi with ‘Moondram Thiruvanthathi’ goshti – from the Vahana mandapam, Azhwar enters Thirukovil in kaipalagai.  Sri Peyazhwar visits all sannathies inside the Temple ~ those of Lord Venkata Krishnan, Vedavalli Thayar, Varada Rajar, Azhagiya Singar and Andal and does mangalasasanam – i.e., ‘praying and praising the divine Gods and begetting happiness in doing so’.

Sri Peyawlar has sung about Thiruvallikkeni temple in his ‘Moondram Thiruvanthati’ – today’s purappadu from Mylapore was delayed due to some contingency and later  in the evening at around 0800pm, there was the grand purappadu of Sri Peyalwar with Lord Sri Parthasarathi.   It was a grand festival grandly organized by Sri NC Sridhar, Trustee of Sri Kesava Perumal Kovil, Mylapore….   Here are some photos taken on the occasion.

Adiyen Srinivasa dhasan [Srinivasan Sampathkumar from Thiruvallikkeni]