Neeratta Mandapam at Thiruvallikkeni Divyadesam

At  Thiruvallikkeni divyadesam – there are some special places : Nammalwar sannathi [Vahana mantapam]; Gangaikondan mandapam,  Peyalwar Temple, Nampillai sannathi, Thavana Uthsava Bungalow, Vasantha bungalow, Kannadi pallakku aria [the last two non-existent now] – the places where Perumal takes rests on different occasions.  There is also the  Neeratta mandapam, exactly opposite to Periya Thiruther.  Sri Andal during the Neeratta Uthsavam in Margazhi has thirumanjanam here.

During the annual float festival [Theppothsavam] on day 1, Sri Parthasarathi has mandakapadi at the neeratta mandapam.

There were so many shops and other encroachments nearer this mandapam.  During the recent Mahasamprokshanam in June 2015, the place was cleaned up and now bears a distinctly different look.  Here are photos of the mantap; Sri Parthasarathi  Perumal having rest at the Mantap and Andal neerattam.  Earlier the entrance was on the Northern side, from now on, it is on Eastern side.

Adiyen Srinivasa dhasan

10th Jan 2016

the Neeratta Mantapam as seen earlier  

Sri Parthasarathi at the mantap 

the mantap as in June 2015 and the looks till  a few days earlier  

the photos below - during the ongoing Neeratta Uthsavam 2016. 

Kanu Parvettai ~ Sri Parthasarathi Perumal purappadu 2016

16^th Jan 2016 -  the day after Pongal ~ celebrated as Kanu(m) Pongal… in the morning there was Andal purappadu in Hamsa vahanam (Kanu Parvettai purappadu) ..and in the evening the wondrous purappadu of Sri Parthasarathi.

On this day occurs  the annual trip of Kachi Varadar, famously known as ‘Seevaram Paarvettai’.. and at Thiruvallikkeni today is Kanu Parvettai purappadu.  Words could fail describing His beauty and grace.

கருங்கண் தோகை மயிற்பீலி அணிந்து கட்டிநன்குடுத்த பீதக வாடை; அருங்கலவுருவின் ஆயர் பெருமான்…. 

Periyazhwar describes Krishna  ~ that of subjects of Gokulam getting stranded on seeing the  beautiful cowherd Lord  adorned with peacock feathers having dark centre spots, and many jewels ….. when His mellifluous music pervaded, it was not only devotees even  the trees stood enchanted, and rained streams of nectar, poured flowers, and bent their upper branches in every which way the stood.

Adiyen Srinivasadhasan.

Sankranthi Urgola Uthsavam 2016 - Sri Andal Parthasarathi purappadu

Today 15^th Jan 2016  is a day of celebration ~ ‘Pongal” – the harvest festival celebrated as ‘Makara Sankranthi’ in many parts of India. Now it is the month of ‘Thai’  ~ and here is sweet verses of Sri Goda piratti Andal.

தையொரு திங்களும் தரைவிளக்கித் தண்மண்டலமிட்டு மாசிமுன்னாள்

ஐயநுண் மணற்கொண்டு தெருவணிந்து அழகினுக் கலங்கரித் தனங்கதேவா

உய்யவு மாங்கொலோவென்றுசொல்லி உன்னையும் உம்பியையும் தொழுதேன்

வெய்யதோர் தழலுமிழ் சக்கரக்கை வேங்கடவற்கென்னை விதிக்கிற்றியே.

The month of Margazhi was all about Thiruppavai and nonbu.  Andal’s other work is ‘Nachiyar Thirumozhi’ -  Nachiyar is Devi; consort of Sriman Narayana.  Thirumozhi is sacred saying.  Andal has presented  garland of flowers and garland of poetry to Lord.  Now in the month of Thai, Andal sweeps the place, beautifies it, bedecks the place, worships for her union with the radiant Lord of Thirumala hills. 

Makar Sankranti marks the transition of the Sun into the zodiac sign of Makara rasi (Capricorn) on its celestial path. From today, it is the month of ‘Thai’ – which commences ‘Uttarayāyaṇa, a term derived from two different Sanskrit words "Uttara" (North) and "ayana" (movement) thus indicating a semantic of the northward movement of the Sun on the celestial sphere.

On ‘Bhogi’ ~ the day before the Pongal, it was the divine wedding of  Sri Andal with the Perumal she idolized and sang in Her prabandhams.  Andal Thirukkalyanam follows the Pavai nonbu and the 9 days of Neeratta Uthsavam.  After the grand vivaham, today it was Sankranthi Oorgola Uthsavam.

Today’s purappadu of newly wed Divya Thampathis - Sri Andal and Sri Parthasarathi grandly occurred  in a special open palanquin [one that had no roof known as kooralam].  Sri Parthasarathi, was embellished with many dazzling ornaments adorning the Crown [Sigathadai]; Sri Andal in a beautiful sitting posture sat opposite to Him in the pallakku. 

Here are some photos taken during the Sankranthi Urgola Uthsavam.

Adiyen ~ Srinivasa dhasan.

Andal Neeratta Uthsavam Thiruther - 2016

                      Today, 14^th Jan 2016 is the last  day of the month of Margazhi ~ and today concludes Thiruppavai assigned to every day in the month.  Today’s pasuram  is :

வங்கக்கடல் கடைந்த மாதவனைக் கேசவனை*

திங்கள் திருமுகத்துச் சேயிழையார் சென்றிறைஞ்சி*

அங்கப்பறை கொண்டவாற்றை * அணிபுதுவைப்

பைங்கமலத்தண்தெரியல் பட்டர்பிரான் கோதை சொன்ன*

சங்கத் தமிழ்மாலை முப்பதும் தப்பாமே*

இங்கிப்பரிசுரைப்பார் ஈரிரண்டு மால் வரைத்தோள்*

செங்கண் திருமுகத்துச் செல்வத் திருமாலால்*

எங்கும் திருவருள்பெற்று இன்புறுவர் எம்பாவாய்.*

Thiruppavai is the garland of 30 songs of faultless Sangam Tamil about  how the beautiful Moon like bejewelled maidens sang in praise of the Lord begetting boons – sung by Sri Andal, the daughter of Pattar Piran.  Those who sing these verses of Thiruppavai are bound to be joyous finding the eternal bliss as granted by Lord Sriman Narayana, the mighty and gracious Lord.

Today being the concluding day of Neeratta Uthsavsam, this morning it was Siriya thiruther at Thiruvallikkeni divyadesam.  Here are some photos of the purappadu and one can have darshan of Sri Andal in sitting posture, draped in a beautiful green saree

Adiyen Srinivasadhasan.