Sri Varadha Rajar Brahmothsavam starts today : 2018

The city of Kanchipuram, now famous for silks, was the seat of learning in the ancient languages of Pali, Sanskrit and Tamil.  It thrived in architecture, knowledge, ethics and  a great spiritual town housing  so many Temples.  It is also the place where alongside Saiva and Vaishnava temples,  Jainese and Buddhist viharas too prospered.  It was the seat of the famous Pallava kingdom.

Today 27^th May 2018  starts the Brahmothsavam of Lord DevapPerumal ~ Devathi Rajar, also known as Varadharajar at Thirukachi. Lord Brahma himself initiated this brahmothsavam, which is ritualistically followed in all Sri vaishnava temples.  For Sri Vaishnavaites, the temple of Lord Varadharaja  is ‘Perumal Kovil’   located in vast expanse of   22acres in Chinna (small) Kanchipuram on the Kanchipuram - Chengalpet -Madras road.  There are two big Gopurams - the Eastern Gopuram built by Krishnadeva Raaya and the Western temple tower built earlier by the Pallavas. Later, several rulers contributed to the renovation of this temple. Several beautiful sculptures can be seen at this temple.

This Uthsavam assumes great significance as this was started by Brahma himself. The Moolavar at this Thirukovil  is on a small hillock 10m tall on array  of 24 steps, termed "Hasthagiri" – giving darshan in a standing posture.  There are murals of the late Vijayanagara empire  found on the ceiling. The thayar’s name is Perundevi thayar.

Today, the annual brahmothsavam of Lord Varadha Rajar started at Thiruvallikkeni too.  Here at Thiruvallikkeni,  the purppadus are on evenings only, save Garuda sevai on Tuesday 29^th May 2018 .  Here are some photos taken during today’s purappadu at Thiruvallikkeni.  In the goshti it was Muthal thiruvanthathi of Poigai azhwar.

வாய் அவனை  அல்லது வாழ்த்தாது கையுலகம்*

தாயவனை அல்லது  தாந்தொழா - பேய்முலை

நஞ்சூணாகவுண்டான் உருவோடு பேரல்லால்*

காணாகண் கேளா செவி.

~ astounding words of faith in Muthal Thiruvanthathi.  Poigai Azhwar speaks of Lord Krishna who strolled on Earth as a child, drank poison with relish from the breasts of ogress… Alwar proclaims that his hands will salute none other than Him; lips shall not extol anybody else; eyes will not see – other than His form ~ and ears would not hear anything other than the name(s) of Sriman Narayana.

The last two  photos are of Sri Deva Perumal of Thirukachi , courtesy my friend Sri Thirumalai Vinjamoor Venkatesh.

Adiyen Srinivasa dhasan