Thiruvallikkeni Brahmothsavam 2019 - Sripadham kainkaryam - ther bommai

இவர்களது சித்தம், மனஓட்டம், பேச்சு, வாழ்க்கை எல்லாம் - எம்பெருமானிடத்திலே  கைங்கர்யம் மட்டுமே.   .   “ ஒழிவில் காலமெல்லாம் உடனாய் மன்னி, வழுவிலா  அடிமை செய்ய வேண்டும் நாம்,” – என நம் காரிமாறன் சொன்னது போலவே - இது கைங்கர்யம், பெருமாள் கைங்கர்யம், அவன் உகக்கும் கைங்கர்யம். இவர்களில் பலர் மிக நல்ல படிப்பாளிகள், கணினி மென்பொருள், வங்கி, காப்பீடு, வர்த்தகம், ஏற்றுமதி நிறுவனங்கள், அரசாங்க உயர் பதவியில் இருப்பவர்கள்.  இவர்களை பிணைத்திருப்பது இவர்தம் அறிவோ, படிப்போ, ஏனைய பிற திறைமைகளோ அல்ல ~  

எம்பெருமானுக்கு கைங்கர்யம் எனும் பட்டு நூல் மட்டுமே !!

May not be a right analogy .. .. in Employment related law, often the debate is on what constitutes work and when does it commence – there are theories and those of ‘notional employment’ extending beyond work hours.  Now if you are to ask when does Brahmothsavam commence – it is on 19.4.2019 – but for these, it is already on !

Uthsavams are celebrations ~  Brahmothsavam is celebration on a grand scale. People happily worship the Omnipotent God in the streets, standing in front of their houses – have heard that in olden days, those elders so attached to the Lord would move a few distance alongwith the Emperuman, literally following Him. At Thiruvallikkeni, the brahmothsava purappadu takes hours and naturally, it is tiresome physically, not in mind for all involved.  – I had on earlier occasions mentioned that for some (Sripadhamthangis and other kainkaryabarars) – it starts hours earlier and extends a couple of hours after Perumal reaches His abode. 

I am wrong ! ~  Sri Parthasarathi Perumal Chithirai Brahmothsavam starts tomorrow with dwajarohanam on 6^th day of Chithirai 19.4.2019.  21.4 is Garuda SEvai and 25.4 is Thiruther.  தேர் (திருக்கோவில் உத்சவங்களில் திருத்தேர்) - பண்டைய காலத்தில் இருந்தே மக்களை கவர்ந்து வந்துள்ளது;   thousands would gather to have the glimpse of the thiruther rolling – juggernaut !!

When we do kainkaryam to Lord (to Him at Thiruvenkadam), we must do service by being with HIM throughout our life and do as a slave would serve his master.   “ ஒழிவில் காலமெல்லாம் உடனாய் மன்னி, வழுவிலா  அடிமை செய்ய வேண்டும் நாம்,” –  Life in a divyadesam is always exhilarating – you get to mingle with so many persons whose life is entwined in service to Emperuman Sriman Narayana.  There are Battacharyars whose exceptional dedication ensures that Emperuman comes out adorning the choicest of flowers, ornaments, dress and more.  There are Veda adhyapaka goshti – hundreds of them chant Nalayira divyaprabandham in front of Emperuman on the streets and vada chanting after the perumal.   Of the many kainkaryams, Sripadham thangis are  physically associated too and can be very demanding.  At Thiruvallikkeni there are many dedicated youngsters who are extremely committed to the kainkaryam of carrying the Lord on their shoulders and do all the associated activities. 

The famous thiruther on 7^th day is actually a week away – yet the bedecking and getting it ready starts much earlier.  Today morning this sprightly bunch of sripadhamthangis were actively involved in lifting the huge bommais on to the thiruther and tying them on the decks.  A task much difficult than what meets the eye – it requires planning, calculation of angle, ensuring spread of weight and precision work in ensuring that they are placed properly.

A couple of decades ago, when those coming for rendering this service were becoming thinner, this group got more organized and formed Sri Thennacharya Sri Vaishnava Sripadham Thangigal Kainkarya Sabhai ~ now a registered association too.   Here, are some  photos of Thennacharya Srivaishnava Sripadham Thangigal of Thiruvallikkeni, getting thiruther ready.

For some it is yet another day ~ for the bakthas, it is great 10 days of Sri Parthasarathi Emperuman Brahmothsavam and for Sripadham thangigal, it is not work ~ b u t – whatever they do is kainkaryam unto Him.  Poliga, Poliga, poliga !!! – long live Srivaishnavas and their kainkaryam

~adiyen Srinivasadhasan

18^th Apr 2019.