Thiruvallikkeni Sri Parthasarathi Punnai Kilai vahanam 2019

Tamanu oil is extracted from the nuts of Calophyllum inophyllum (Tamanu Tree). The oil is primarily used in skin care treatment. Tamanu oil contains essential fatty acids and minerals that help recover skin from different degrading conditions and also helps in curing acne, scars and even join pains. The major constituents of tamanu oil are linoleic acid, oleic acid, stearic acid, and palmitic acid of which linoleic acid and oleic acid consit more than 60% by volume. The tamanu oil market is experiencing higher demand rates annually primarily from the western population. The tamanu oil market is expected to be driven by the growing influence of natural remedies through traditional medicines globally.  Wonder what ! – read on !!

On the evening of day 1 of Brahmothsavam-  19.4.2019,  – it is Punnai Kilai Vahanam with Sri Parthasarathi in His avatar  as Sri Krishna, the Divine Flautist.   Unlike Ramavathara, Lord Krishna exhibited glimpses of divinity many a  times... as he grew up in Vrindavanam, people were attracted to Him with boundless devotion longing for the Lord, longing to hear His melodious flute; yearning to get near and be with Him.  It was not the earthly love but the infinite devotion to the Lord  ~ the Punnaikilaivahanam depicts his iraasaleelai with gopikas.

Forests cover one third of the Earth's land mass, performing vital functions around the world. Around 1.6 billion people - including more than 2,000 indigenous cultures - depend on forests for their livelihoods, medicines, fuel, food and shelter. Forests are the most biologically-diverse ecosystems on land.  Yet despite all of these priceless ecological, economic, social and health benefits, global deforestation continues at an alarming rate - 13 million hectares of forest are destroyed annually. Deforestation accounts for 12 to 20 percent of the global greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change.

The International Day of Forests is held annually on 21 March to raise awareness of the importance of forests to people and their vital role in poverty eradication, environmental sustainability and food security.  When we drink a glass of water, write in a notebook, take medicine for a fever or build a house, we do not always make the connection with forests. And yet, these and many other aspects of our lives are linked to forests in one way or another. Forests, their sustainable management and use of resources, including in fragile ecosystems, are key to combating climate change, and to contributing to the prosperity and well-being of current and future generations.

This year the International Day of Forests promoted education to Learn to Love Forests. It underscores the importance of education at all levels in achieving sustainable forest management and biodiversity conservation. Healthy forests mean healthy, resilient communities and prosperous economies. Trees remove pollutants and fine particulates from the air, reduce noise pollution and act as buffers to keep residential areas quiet and serene.   The best trees to pick are the local varieties that grow easily and are adapted to local conditions. These also use the least water and are best suited for quick growth. Some of the regular ones that we can perhaps identify is -  the Neem (Azadirachta indica), Tamarind (Tamarindus indica) & Calophyllum inophyllum – what  - to those regular temples, it is the common Punnai tree.  We have grand punnai vahana purappadu on day 1 evening of Brahmothsavam at Thiruvallikkeni and it is the subject matter of this post.

                            Popularly known in our old Tamil folklore as the 'Tree that cures' or as the 'Tree that protects', the Punnai tree's population along our coastal and river belts has been dwindling in the last three decades owing to its rich timber value.  scientists have now begun repopulating this tree for its biofuel and healing properties.  The  bio-fuel produced from Punnai tree can run a machine like a pumpset or even a generator, say researchers.

ஸ்ரீபார்த்தசாரதி ப்ரம்மோத்சவத்தில், முதல் நாள் மாலை -  ஸ்ரீக்ருஷ்ணாவதார நாயனாக அற்புத சேவை அளிக்கும் -  புன்னைகிளை வாஹனம். வேய்ங்குழல் ஊதும் கண்ணனாக 'புன்னைக்கிளை வாஹனத்தில்  " குரவை  ஆய்ச்சியர்களோடு விளையாடும் திருக்கோலம்." புன்னை மிகவும் அழகிய தோற்றம் கொண்ட மரங்களுள் ஒன்றாகும்.  இதன் இலைகள் சற்று பெரியதாகவும்,பளபளப்பாகவும் இருக்கும். புன்னைமரத்தின் அறிவியற் பெயர்: calophyllum inophyllum : calophyllum என்பதன் பொருள்அழகான இலை.

பெரியாழ்வார்  தனது பாசுரங்களில், கண்ணனின் குழலோசையை : 

"தூவலம்புரியுடைய திருமால் தூய வாயில் குழலோசை வழியே"  எனவும் ........

மதுசூதனன் வாயில் குழலி னோசை செவியைப்பற்றி வாங்க*

நன்னரம்புடைய தும்புருவோடு நாரதனும் தம்தம் வீணை மறந்து*

கின்னரமிதுனங்களும் தம்தம் கின்னரம் தொடுகிலோமென்றனரே."

                                                          ~   என்றெல்லாம் சிறப்புற அனுபவிக்கிறார்.

கண்ணபிரானுடைய வாயில் (வைத்து ஊதப்பெற்ற) வேய்ங்குழலினுடைய  ஸ்வரமானது, செவிகளை கவர்ந்திழுக்க, நல்ல வீணையைக் கையிலுடைய தும்புரு முனிவனும், நாரதமஹர்ஷியும் தங்கள் தங்களுடைய வாத்தியங்களை இனி தொடவும் மாட்டோம் என்றனராம் !

Here are some photos of the grand purappadu this night at Thiruvallikkeni divyadesam.

~ adiyen Srinivasa dhasan  19.4.19.