Sri Varadharajar Theppothsavam 2021 : ஆனையின் துயரம் தீரப்புள்ளூர்ந்த பெருமான்

Thiruvallikkeni Theppothsavam day 7 : Sri Gajendra Varadhar :2021

For us, Sriman Narayana is the only savior ~ for human beings to get salvation and by His divine grace, He showers benevolence on every living thing as evidenced by this act of kindness on might elephant Gajendra. Triplicane is abuzz with the festivities of Float [theppam] and today 19^th Mar 2o21, marked the concluding of the annual float festival. Today it was Sri Varadha Rajar. In the sacred divyadesam of Thiruvallikkeni, moolavar of Varadharajar is on “Garuda vahanam” which is very unique.

There are elephants in Asia and more in Africa. African elephants are in trouble. Each year, tens of thousands of the enormous beasts are killed for their tusks, and conservationists fear they are on the road to extinction. At the turn of the 20th century, there were a few million African elephants and about 100,000 Asian elephants. Today, their numbers have dwindled – across Africa, poaching is on the rise.

The amount of elephant ivory, rhino horn, and pangolin scales intercepted by authorities in 2020 was far less than compared with the previous five years, according to analysis for National Geographic by the Center for Advanced Defense Studies (C4ADS). The coronavirus pandemic likely dampened both the ability of wildlife traffickers to move their products internationally and of law enforcement to detect them, according to the group, a U.S. nonprofit that analyzes transnational security issues. Both the number of seizures and weight of seizures plummeted, which suggests that even if the wildlife parts were transported between Africa and Asia in smaller batches, the overall level of their trafficking between the continents dropped. Nonetheless, some wildlife experts note that the online trade has remained robust throughout the pandemic and that poaching in some locations has actually increased.

Miles away, a Federal court in New York has upheld the state’s ban on sales and in-store displays of elephant and mammoth ivory and rhino horn — rejecting claims that the ban was unconstitutional. The Art and Antique Dealers League of America and the National Antique and Art Dealers Association of America challenged the law in 2018.

Habitat loss is one of the key threats facing elephants. Many climate change projections indicate that key portions of elephants’ habitat will become significantly hotter and drier, resulting in poorer foraging conditions and threatening calf survival. Increasing conflict with human populations taking over more and more elephant habitat and poaching for ivory are additional threats that are placing the elephant’s future at risk. One novel attempt in saving them is - aerial drones, which first proved their value decades ago on military battlefields, are proving to be a key player in the ongoing battle against poachers. ~ the first and the best saviour for elephants is Sriman Narayana aka Sri Gajendra Varadhar.

Sure you know the puranic legend of ‘Gajendra moksham [salvation of elephant Gajendra]’ ~ when Lord Sriman Narayana Himself came down to earth to protect Gajendra(elephant) from the death clutches of Makara (Crocodile). Gajendra the King of elephants, was attacked and caught by a crocodile and death seemed imminent. Gajendra had been rendering service to the Lord by offering Lotus and when he appealed to God to protect him, Maha Vishnu appeared on Garuda vahanam and saved the elephant by killing the crocodile with his ‘Chakram’. It also explains that one who falls under the divine feet of Lord seeking salvation will surely be taken care of.

The reenactment of Gajendra moksha takes place during the full moon in the month of Aadi. The Sarrupadi [alankaram] for Lord Varadhar for theppam was ‘Gajendra moksha thirukolam’. Lord Varadhar appearing in the form whence he saved the devoted elephant from the savage attack of the mugger crocodile. It was the posture of Lord having released his chakra to save the elephant; One of the arms in prayoga posture, having released the chakra – holding the azhi [the sangu / conch] in the other, holding Gatha in one and abhaya hastham on the fourth thirukaram. It was indeed a great darshan of the Lord. Appropriate to recall the Thirumozhi pasuram of Thirumangai Mannan on Lord Varadharajar.

கானமர் வேழம் கையெடுத் தலறக் கராவதன் காலினைக் கதுவ,*

ஆனையின் துயரம் தீரப்புள்ளூர்ந்து சென்று நின்றாழி தொட்டானை,*

Here are some photos depicting the Theppam, Thirukolam and one taken during the hastham purappadu earlier to make you experience the thirukolam better.