Thiruvallikkeni - Iraapathu Uthsavam 3 -(2015) Hanumath Jayanthi

Thiruvallikkeni - Iraapathu Uthsavam 3  - 

திருவல்லிக்கேணி இராப்பத்து  உத்சவம்  (3)

The festivity of Adhyayana Uthsavam is enthralling and today is day 3 of  Irapathu Uthsavam.  Today, there was heavy gathering of devotees.  During Irapathu, everyday   at around 0545 pm,  Sri Parthasarathi Perumal reaches the Paramapada vasal, where Nammalwar waits for the doors to open and have darshan of Lord coming through the entrance. Devotees throng to have darshan of this significant  event.

Today is more special – ‘Hanumath Jayanthi’ too .  The Greatest of Ithihasa purana ‘Sri Ramayanam’  is the undiluted history of the Greatest Person who descended on this Universe, on the banks of river Sarayu, in a prosperous country called ‘Koshala’.   To this Master Master, totally committed thinking of His welfare alone – unassuming, yet capable of telling the right things at the right moment –is Pavana Puthra Hanuman – Aanjaneya, who is called ‘siriya thiruvadi’ – who carried Rama on his shoulders during the war in which the demon was killed.   In Periyazhwar Thirumozhi, in the hymns celebrating the power of Govardhana Giri, Azhwar says  that in the Greatly reverred hill, female monkeys in singing lullabies to their kids, mention the heroic deeds of Hanuman, whose valour completely destroyed the city of demons – the  Lanka.

At Thiruvallikkeni divyadesam,   right in front of the Sri Ramar Sannathi, Sri Aanjaneya resides. Once in a year, there will be purappadu for this Utsavamurthy and  today it was Grand Purappadu for  Sri Parthasarathi Perumal with   Sri Hanumar and Swami Nammalwar.  According to the legend,  Lord Hanuman is present wherever the story of Lord Rama  is recited.  Let us prostrate  at the feet of  Jai Hanuman ~  here are some photos of the purappadu.

Adiyen Srinivasadhasan

3^rd Jan 2014.

 Swami Nammazhwar

 Jai Hanuman - Sri Anjaneyar

Thiruvallikkeni - Iraapathu Uthsavam day (Night) 2 –2.01.2015

Thiruvallikkeni - Iraapathu Uthsavam 2 –2.01.2015  - 

திருவல்லிக்கேணி இராப்பத்து  உத்சவம் 

Today, Sri Parthasarathy shone in radiance  as ‘Sri Venugopalar ‘ – the cowherd - -  one with the Flute and Cows.  The divine flute meted out mellifluous tunes to those cows at Gokula and the cowherds were blessed to listen to his tunes. 

As Lord Krishna went pasturing the cows daily, the wait proved to be too long for those longing to see Him, as Swami Nammalwar says  "ஆமருவிநிரை மேய்க்க  நீபோக்கு ஒரு பகல் ஆயிரமூழியாலோ” – the day in the absence of Lord Krishna seemed thousandfold long. 

The charming flautist Krishna pleased His devotees with his darshan at Thiruvallikkeni and here are some photos taken.

Adiyen Srinivaadhasan

Thiruvallikkeni - Iraapathu Uthsavam 2015 ~ Day 1

Thiruvallikkeni - Iraapathu Uthsavam 2015   - 

திருவல்லிக்கேணி இராப்பத்து  உத்சவம் 

On the day of Vaikunda Ekadasi (1^st Jan 2015), in the morning Sri Parthasarathi bedecked in precious jewels entered Paramapada vassal and gave darshan to His devotees throughout seated in the beautiful ‘Punyakodi vimanam’ at Thiruvaimozhi mandapam. The auspicious Vaikunda Ekadasi heralds the start of ‘Irapathu’ Uthsavam.  As the name suggests, there will be celebrations for 10 nights.    Those who frequent Thiruvallikkeni would know this and I had posted earlier on this too ….. still can you guess the time whence the Irapathu Uthsavam purappadu on day 1 took place and around which time – Thiruvaimozhi’ muthal pathu – was rendered ??

நம்மாழ்வாரின் அற்புத வரிகளில் : “அடங்கெழில் சம்பத்து* அடங்கக்கண்டு* ஈசன் அடங்கெழில் அஃதென்று* அடங்குகவுள்ளே” ~ Can there be more bliss than looking at and understanding the radiance and opulence of Sriman Narayana, enjoy His great qualities and merge into Him !

During Pagal Pathu, the Muthaliyaram and Thirumozhi of Thirumangai Mannan are rendered.   It is time for Nammalwar’s Thiruvaimozhi during Irapathu.  In the Thiruveethi purappadu, all the 10 days, ‘Upadesa Rathinamalai’  of Acharyar Sri Manavala Maamunigal is recited. After the conclusion of the Purappadu, inside the temple before the Lord in the Grand sabha of all Azhwars and Acharyas, every day 100 songs from the Thiruvoimozhi of Nammazhwaar gets recited.   On the night  of Vaikunda Ekadasi being day 1 it was  ‘muthal pathu’ of Thiruvaimozhi.

At Thiruvallikkeni, devotees thronged the temple in tens of thousands to have glimpse of His darshan and the queues got extended to many streets in the vicinity.  At around 11 am, there was Thirumanjanam of Sri Parthasarathi. After Thirumanjanam, at around 12.00 (yes, midnight)  – there was the Periya maada veethi purappadu – Irapathu day 1 purappadu. There were bakthas still waiting in the Queue to have darshan who were delighted to see the Uthsavar near them.  After the purappadu , there was the Thiruvaimozhi Muthal pathu goshti and sarrumurai….

From today on Paramada vassal will be opened in the evening with Swami Nammalwar receiving Him.  Here are some photos of Sri Parthasarathi and Swami Nammalwar of day 1 of Irapathu.

Azhwar, Emperumanaar, Jeeyar Thiruvaidgale saranam.   

With regards – S. Sampathkumar.

Today is Vaikunda Ekadasi - Year 2015 starts so auspiciously

1^st of Jan 2015 heralds the New Year and for Sri Vaishnavaites, a day of supreme significance as today is “Vaikunda Ekadasi” too.

At the Bhooloka Vaikundam of Srirangam Divyadesam, it begins from Suklapaksha Ekadasi and celebrated for 23 days whence Namperumal listens to the vedas and Nammazhvar's Thiruvaimozhi as rendered by the Araiyars. The festival is divided into two parts, ten days before Vaikunda Ekadasi known as Pagalpathu  and  10 days from today, known as Raapathu. The Vaikunta Ekadasi festival is an occasion when the Paramapada vaasal is opened for devotees.   Paramapada Vasal is also colloquially  known as Sorga vaasal [the Gateway to Heaven].

Paramapada vasal at Thiruvarangam

The divine Thirumamani mandapam is representative of the abode of Sriman Maha Vishnu, the “Sri Vaikuntam” itself.  For Sri Vaishanavaites, the ultimate in life is attainment of moksha [salvation] by reaching Vaikuntam, the ultimate destination, the abode of Lord Himself.  This is The place of no return and the human soul is free from the ills of the World and gets the supreme opportunity of nithya kainkaryam [daily service] to Lord.

At Thiruvallikkeni,  , the Presiding Deity Sri Parthasarathi Swami  enters  through the Paramapada vassal in the morning and in the evening in the subsequent nine days.   Similar would be celebrations in most divyadesams and Vishnu temples.  The   10 days starting from Vaikunda Ekadasi are  celebrated as “Iraapathu uthsavam” in which the hymns of Sri Nammazhwar (Thiruvoimozhi) are chanted. This religious system is believed to have been started by Thirumangai Azhwar.  Later Acharyan Nathamuni introduced festival of 10 days preceding the Vaikunda Ekadasi, known as Pagal pathu when Nalayira divyaprabandham (pasurams of Muthalayiram and Thirumangai mannanin Thirumozhi)  are recited.

Thousands of people thronged the temple to have darshan of Sri Venkata Krishnar in muthangi  and Sri Parthasarathi embellished with so many jewels. Devotees feel enlightened and blessed, when they  cross the entrance - Vaikunda door ~ the paramapada vasal.  This morning around 0430am Lord Sri Parthasarathi had purappadu inside the temple and with Sri Nammalwar welcoming from  the other side, entered the Paramapada vasal.  Here are some photos of the special occasion.

Adiyen Srinivasadhasan.

1^st Jan 2015.

Perumal crosses Paramapada vasal (above)

as Swami Nammalwar waits for him  (below)