Thiruther @ Thirumylai Sri Adhi Kesavar Brahmothsavam 2019

தேர் (திருக்கோவில் உத்சவங்களில் திருத்தேர்) - பண்டைய காலத்தில் இருந்தே மக்களை கவர்ந்து வந்துள்ளது.  மஹாபாரதத்தில் காணப்படும் ‘’ரத, கஜ, துரக, பதாதி’’ என்னும் நால்வகைப் படைகளை மிக விவரமாக குறிப்புட்டுள்ளனர்.  பாரதப்போர் தனிலே, இருதரப்பின் பெரிய மற்றும் அற்புதமான படைகளும்,  தங்கத்தால் அலங்கரிக்கப்பட்ட யானைகளும், தேர்களும், மின்னலுடன் கலந்த மேகங்களைப் போல, அபரிமிதமாக நின்று கொண்டிருந்த தேர் படையணிகள் நகரங்களைப் போலத் தோற்றமளித்தனவாம் ! .

At Thirumayilai – Chithrakulam wore festive looks as hundreds swarmed to have darshan of Sri Adhi Kesava Perumal – today is day 7 of ongoing Brahmothsavam and Thiruther.  Ther and Garuda vahanam attract more people than other vahanams.  Thiruther is majestic and to see juggernaut evokes great feeling.

On screen too, we have seen many – one got enamoured by the scene of Arjuna wading through the forces in Mahabaratha  - those chariots were quite attractive.  Ratha is not only fleet-footed mode during war, it symbolizes energy and zeal to move forward.  It was on the chariot steered by Lord Krishna, Geethopadesam occurred to Arjuna, the mighty warrior.  The rath itself according to legend was given by Agni.  The battle formation was unconceivably bigger ~ by some accounts an Akshauhini is described as a formation consisting of 21870 chariots, 21870 elephants, 65160 cavalry and more than a lakh of infantry.

It is a place that predates British rule by several centuries; it was occupied by the Portuguese in 1523, which  lasted until 1749, later falling  into the hands of the British East India Company.   It is “Mylapore” [Thiru Mayilai],  a cultural hub; one of the oldest residential parts of the city, also known as VEdapuri and Mayurapuri ~ today it was a grand Thiruther purappadu for Thirumayilai Sri Adhi Kesava Perumal around the mada veethis nearer Chithrakulam.

Mylai is famous for Sri Kapaleeswarar temple which is connected with the S'aivite Nayanmars.   The famous Saivaite trio - Appar, Sambandar and Sundarar, who lived in the 7^th & 8^th centuries have sung about Mylapore.  Appar,  the eldest of the three and a contemporary of Mahendravarman I (600-630 A. D.) & Sambandar calls it as ‘Madamayilai*, in his famous Poompavai Padikam.  Besides this, he mentions a number of festivals that were held in the temple on  various occasions. There are some who try to connect Thirumylai with Christianity.  However, many scholars like Dr. Burnell, W. K. Phillips,  James Hough, have questioned the authenticity as according to them the story of Saint Thomas’  visit to Mylapore, and in fact, to South India, has no historical basis, whatsoever. Thus Lev. James Hough, the historian of Christianity in India, wrote that the visit of Saint Thomas to South India is ‘most improbable* and ‘is unsupported by the faintest vestige of authentic history.’ The critics of the tradition maintain that it was  a late invention of the local Christians to show it as a proof of their orthodox descent.  (** The early history of Madras Region ~ Dr KV Raman)

This morning (29.3.2019) Sri Adhi Kesava Perumal after yaga salai, started His purappadu to Thiruther at around 0730 am and the thiruther purappadu started around 08.15 am

Here are some photos taken this morning at Thirumayilai.

~adiyen Srinivasa dhasan [S. Sampathkumar]