Sri Parthasarathi Vasanthothsavam 1 - 2022

Today commenced Vasantha Uthsavam (vasantham only in name) – for the sprawling place with so many of blossoming plants and water is no longer there -  at Thiruvallikkeni Perumal used to visit this place on -  Vasantha Uthsavam (7 days), Kodai Uthsavam(7 days), Vijayadasami, 5th day and 7th day of Brahmothsavam [of Sri Parthasarathi and Sri Azhagiya Singar] – not any longer for almost 2 decades now !!!! 

நாம் வாழும் புண்ணிய பூமி திருவல்லிக்கேணி திவ்யதேசத்தை  மங்களாசாசனம் செய்யும் போது திருமங்கை மன்னன் : எம்பெருமானை புகழ்ந்து, அவன் உறையுமிடத்தை 'மயிலை திருவல்லிக்கேணி' எனும் க்ஷேத்ரத்தை "மன்னுதண் பொழிலும் வாவியும் மதிளும் மாடமாளிகையும் மண்டபமும்" - என விளக்குகிறார்.  ஆழ்வார் காலத்தில்  நமது பகுதி,  நித்தியமாய் குளிர்ந்த சோலைகளும், நீர் நிலங்களும், மதில்களும், மாட மாளிகைகளும், மண்டபங்களும் பரவி இருக்குமாறு அமைந்து இருந்ததாம்.  

This week  Chennaites are feeling much hotter and sweating profusely .. .. it is is Mid June – Chennai is hot – though it was somewhat better during May with some rains too.  After a few days of below normal day temperatures, the entry of strong westerlies or land breeze over coastal areas of Tamil Nadu including Chennai could lead to a rise in mercury levels, making days dry and hot. 

The passing of a year can bring a marked change in the weather and the surrounding environment. The four seasons — winter, spring, summer, autumn — can vary significantly in characteristics, and can prompt changes in the world around them. Let's take an overview of these four separate periods.  This is time of Spring season. In the spring, seeds take root and vegetation begins to grow. The weather is warmer, and often wetter. Animals wake or return from warmer climates, often with newborns.  Spring, also known as springtime, is one of the four temperate seasons, succeeding winter and preceding summer. There are various technical definitions of spring, but local usage of the term varies according to local climate, cultures and customs. 

Housing has always been a primary concern for mankind – in good olden days, perhaps the tent was the first form of housing.  A tent illustrates the basic elements of environmental control that are the concern of construction. The tent creates a membrane to shed rain and snow; cold water on the human skin absorbs body heat. The membrane reduces wind speed as well; air over the human skin also promotes heat loss. It controls heat transfer by keeping out the hot rays of the sun and confining heated air in cold weather. It also blocks out light and provides visual privacy. The membrane must be supported against the forces of gravity and wind; a structure is necessary. Membranes of hides are strong in tension (stresses imposed by stretching forces), but poles must be added to have structural stability. 

Over centuries Building construction, the techniques and industry involved in the assembly and erection of structures, primarily those used to provide shelter have improved in a big way. The history of building is marked by a number of trends. One is the increasing durability of the materials used. Early building materials were perishable, such as leaves, branches, and animal hides. Later, more durable natural materials—such as clay, stone, and timber—and, finally, synthetic materials—such as brick, concrete, metals, and plastics—were used. Another is a quest for buildings of ever greater height and span; this was made possible by the development of stronger materials and by knowledge of how materials behave and how to exploit them to greater advantage. A third major trend involves the degree of control exercised over the interior environment of buildings: increasingly precise regulation of air temperature, light and sound levels, humidity, odours, air speed, and other factors that affect human comfort has been possible.

The landscape of Thiruvallikkeni has changed a lot – in the recent half-century itself. In 1970s, there were some big houses but most of the houses were lengthy, extending from one street to another. They used to be tenancy models with so many tenants happily co-existing in one building – now they are gone totally and in their places have come apartments.  The earlier double bed-room flats were of 550 SFT !! – and today, those co-habit in a building would not know thy neighbour.

Triplicane had so many old vintage houses – almost all of them razed down giving way to modern apartment complex in the recent couple of decades.  There are 3 buildings connected with Temple called bungalows  - one is in Peyalwar Street called Komutti bungalow (it is Saraswathi Bandaram residency); the second is Thavana Uthsava bungalow in TP Koil Street where thavana utsavam occurs and the most beautiful one was Vasantha bungalow in Venkatrangam Street.  It was really a beautiful scenic one with lot of plants, flowers, two little ponds and a mantap in the middle where Emperuman would have thirumanjanam too.  Perumal would visit this bungalow in the morning, have thirumanjanam, in the evening a small purappadu around and then thirumbukal in twilight.  

It was a sprawling complex – remember on one side there used to be a kerosene bunker and many handcarts taking kerosene for peddling on streets – all that is gone now – the mantap erased from memory and the place remaining under lock for almost 2 decades.

 ‘Vasantham ‘ is a season – a pleasant one at that.  Vasantham corresponds to Spring season.  While they have only 4 seasons in the West, we have six seasons.  Here it is Vasantha Ruthu also known as ‘Ilavenil’  ~  

வசந்தம் என்பது பருவம். வசந்த ருது எனவும் இளவேனில் எனவும் பெயர் பெற்றது இது. சித்திரை. வைகாசி இரண்டையும் இளவேனில் என்பார்கள். வசந்தகாலம் எல்லோரும் ஆவலுடன் எதிர்பார்க்கும் பருவம். தளிர்க்கும், பூக்கும் தாவரங்கள், பாடித் திரியும் பறவைகள் என கூர்ந்து நோக்கினால் மகிழ்ச்சியாகவும், வியப்பாகவும் இருக்கும் காலம் இது.   ஜூன் மாசம் பள்ளி கல்லூரிகள் கோடை விடுமுறை முடிந்து திறக்கும் சமயம்.  புது சீருடையுடன் பள்ளி அடுத்த வகுப்பிற்கு செல்வது குதூகலம் தரும்.  இது வசந்த காலம். பூக்கள்  பூத்து குலுங்கும், பறவைகள் சத்தம் ரம்மியமாக கேட்கும். திண்டுக்கல் மாவட்டம் கொடைக்கானல் மலைப்பகுதிகளில்,  இது சமயம் கோடை மழை, மாலை வேளைகளில் பெய்யும்..    மழையால்  வெப்பம்  முற்றிலும் தணிந்து, குளு குளு வசந்த கால சீசன் துவங்கும்.  கோடையில் உள்ள பூங்காக்களில்  பல்வேறு வகையான மலர்ச்செடிகள் செழிக்கத்துவங்கி, வண்ண வண்ண மலர்கள் பூத்து குலுங்கும்.  மக்கள் ஆனந்திப்பர்.. ..  

In the year 2004, after Samprokshanam,  when Perumal was to visit here on the 4th day, it was found that the promenade deck had been razed to the ground and a pandal erected.  On the 7th day of the Uthsavam ~ kuthirai vahana purappadu, Sri Parthasarathi did not go inside the bungalow and sadly never after that.  Now it is only ‘periya mada veedhi’ purappadu.  

The property owners were keen on promoting the property for apartments leaving some portion for the Perumal; years later, they constructed one mantap with entrance in TP Koil 2nd lane. Meantime, there was litigation on the property between those claiming to be owners and Temple authorities. Without going into the merits of the case, it is sad for all Bakthas that the beautiful sprawling premises where Sri Parthasarathi and Sri Azhagiya Singar visited is no longer there and the grand Vasantha uthsavam got stopped permanently.  

To us – it sounds a dual loss – Perumal purappadu constrained and not happening in Venkatrangam Street and more sadly no Vasantham for Perumal. Perhaps with the properties  owned by the Temple in vicinity of the temple, Authorities can easily construct another mantap – may be at the erstwhile premises where Post office functioned at Big Street, have a beautiful mantap, surrounded by fragrant trees aka Nandavanam and conduct Vasantha Uthsavam and many others there…………   

Today started the 7 day Vasantha Uthsavam for Sri Parthasarathi Perumal – just periya mada veethi kulakkarai purappadu.   Here are some photos of Emperuman during the purappadu.   

 
adiyen Srinivasadhasan
Mamandur veeravalli Srinivasan Sampathkumar
3^rd June 2022.