Thirukachi Sri Devathi Rajar uthsavam 2021

The difference from 2019 – 2021 is people are conversant with words like, lockdown, new normal, vaccination jab and more .. ..but sadly, not many experiences have been learnt !

 

From this morning Chennai and Tamilnadu is under stricter lockdown – it is expected that all arterial roads in Chennai and other places would wear a  deserted look and shops remained closed -  a day after chaos prevailed in most streets due to panic buying by people.  From now on, apart from the law enforcement, civic body teams, food delivery agents and sanitary workers, others should not be on roads, as Police have warned that those traveling without e-registration or without valid reasons would be fined, their vehicles would be seized and could face FIR too !!  

The Tamil Nadu government on Saturday extended a lockdown in force for a fortnight by another week and made it stricter. In doing so, however, it revealed a failure to learn from the lessons of the past. In 2020, as the nation first faced the Covid-19 pandemic,  and there were turmoils .. .. in April 2020, Tamil Nadu compounded that error by ordering a “lockdown within a lockdown” forcing large numbers of people to scramble for provisions and groceries. These sudden, poorly thought-out moves have hurt the people, both by forcing large groups to converge in closed spaces to make purchases risking a spike in infections as well as by eroding public faith in government. .. .. and people too have contributed generously by congregating in large numbers, coming out to buy everyday and more !  .. .. it is crisis and everybody should act with responsibility !!  

People become sick because of overthinking.  Sad for those daily wage earners, entrepreneurs, and others who are not able to do their daily work and have lost their livelihood.  On the other hand, there are people working from home, who theoretically should be happier and lot calmer – but there are talks of mental illness, distress,  depression and more.  Office premises was just not a physical space – it was also a place for meeting people, share work, crib, laugh and cry ! – all that is missed.  

One major source of distress of many of us is – Temples are closed.  Emperuman would take care of us.  Darshan of Emperuman and doing kainkaryam in every little manner gave us comfort.   

For a  Srivaishnavaite, Perumal Koil refers to “Sri Varadharaja Swamy temple’ at Kanchipuram.  Legend has it that Brahma performed Asvamedha yaga at mokshapuri i.e., Kanchi and Lord Vishnu emerged out of the fire with Sanku Chakram. It is believed that the annual Uthsavam was initiated by Brahma himself. Indira’s white elephant Iravatham took the form of a hill called Hastigiri on which shrine of Varadharajar is located. This Swami is known by various names, prominent among them being : Devarajar, Devathirajar, Thepperumal, Varadhar, PerArulalar … 

Now is the time for the annual Brahmothsavam of Sri Devathi Rajar. Garuda Sevai and   Thiruther  are among the most important ones drawing crowds in lakhs.  At Thiruvallikkeni, during Sri Varadharajar uthsavam,  purappadus are in the evening only except Garuda sevai purappadu which would be in the morning.   

ஆரே  அறிவார் அனைத்துலகும்  உண்டுமிழ்ந்த,

பேராழியான் தன் பெருமையை,- கார் செறிந்த

கண்டத்தான் எண் கண்ணான் காணான், அவன் வைத்த

பண்டைத்தானத்தின் பதி.

 

ஈரேழு  உலகங்களையும்,  (பிரளய காலத்தில்) உண்டு  (பிறகு) உமிழ்ந்த  பேராழியான் (சிறப்பு  வாய்ந்த திருச்சக்கரமான திருவாழிதனை) தனது கரங்களில் ஏந்திய எம்பெருமான் ஸ்ரீமன் நாராயணனின் பெருமையை அறிபவர் ஆரே ! என கேள்வி எழுப்பிய திருமழிப்பிரான், தனது நான்முகன்  திருவந்தாதியிலே தானே பதிலையும் அளிக்கிறார்.  .. அவ்வளவு சிறப்பு வாய்ந்த எம்பெருமானின் மகிமைகளை முழுமையாய் அறியக் கூடியவர் யார்? (ஒருவருமில்லை).  அவ்வெம்பெருமான்  முன்பே ஸாதித்து வைத்த பரமபதமார்க்கமென்னத் தகுந்த சரமச்லோகத்தை, நீலகண்டனான சிவனும், நான்கு முகங்களை உடையவனும் கூட காண்கின்றிலர் .. .. அவர்களே   அறியமாட்டாதபோது மற்றபேர்கள் அறியமாட்டார்களென்பது சொல்ல வேணுமோ? .. .. நமக்கு எளிய உபாயம் அவனது திருவடிகளை பற்றி இருப்பதே ! ~  திருமழிசைப்பிரான் தனது நான்முகன் திருவந்தாதியில். 

We are missing Emperuman darshan, His uthsavams and purappadus – reminiscing, here are some photos of Sri Varadharajar, Perundevi thayar, Rajagopuram &  the grand temple at Kanchipuram and the pushkarini taken during earlier visits.

 

adiyen Srinivasadhasan
Mamandur Veeravalli  Srinivasan Sampathkumar
24.5.2021.
PS :  our village Mamandur is situate less than 10 km from Kanchi on the way to Vandavasi (Thiruvathur) identified as Doosi Mamandur by Dhoosi its  twin hamlet.