Thiruvallikkeni Siriya Thiruther (Vetiver chapparam) 2018

Siriya Thiruther - Sri Parthasarathi Brahmothsavam  2018

Heard of ‘Chrysopogon zizanioides’ and wonder what is has to do with a Temple related post, especially one on the last day of Sri Parthasarathi Swami Brahmothsavam at Thiruvallikkeni.

it is a botanical plant – known locally as ‘vettiver’ of grass family.   A couple of years back, plantation of vettiver  grass to check soil erosion was renamed as Sabujayan project by West Bengal Chief Minister. Nearer home, the traditional weavers of Anakaputhur turned to ‘vettiver’ as raw material for a fabric, after trying their hands at several natural fibres, including aloe vera, coconut husk, banana, and jute. They were marketing sarees made out of vettiver .. .. one may try them too.

On the concluding day of Brahmothsavam is ‘Sapthavaranam’ – grand Thiruvaradhanam, rendering of Thiruvaimozhi and later  in the night, there is purappadu in Siriya Thiruther [the small chariot].  Today,  8^th May 2018   is the tenth day of Sri Parthasarathi Brahmothsavam at Thiruvallikkeni [Triplicane] divyadesam.

Siriya thiruther purappadu last year and vettiver chapparam a few years ago.

On this concluding day is to be -  ‘Siriya  Thiruther’ famously known as ‘Vettiver Chapparam’… ‘Chrysopogon zizanioides’, a type of grass of Poaceae family, native to India.  Also known as ‘khus’ Vettiver can grow up to 1.5 metres high and form clumps as wide. This Ther is known as ‘Vettiver Chapparam’ – for there used to be so many sheets made of this grass placed on the temple car.  One could feel the divine fragrance from a distance itself.   Understand that the stem of the grass vettiver is cut, smoothened and made into a mat.  These mats were earlier even used in houses and as the air passes through it, there would be fragrance and natural cooling of air. 

This year due to a contingency, there was no periya mada veethi purappadu and consequently no purappadu in thiruther.  Since it was china mada veethi purappadu in kedayam, bakathas were able to have great darshan of our Emperuman Sri Parthasarathi adorning a floral kireedam.   In the purappadu -  Thiruvarangathu Amuthanaar’s ‘Ramanuja Noorranthathi’ was rendered.  Here are some photos taken during the purappadu.  

Adiyen Srinivasa dhasan.