Thirumylai yagasalai 2026

 

Thirumylai Sri Madhava Perumal Pavithrothsavam 2026 – yagasalai

Aadi Ekadasi Sri Parthasarathi Perumal 2026

 

Thiruvallikkeni Sri Parthasarathi Emperuman Aadi Ekadasi 25072026

Thirumylai Sri Madhava Perumal Pavithrothsavam 2026

 

Pre-script:  though a long winding post starting with battlefield of 1746 – No war post this !! 

 

A war nearer home ! centuries ago – ramification of ‘War of Austrian Succession’  - stop Madras to Austria – crossing seas and multiple continents – approx 7000 km away .. and a war fought between British East India Company and French East India Company !!  

According to historians, French reinforcements from Pondicherry did not sail into Madras harbour. Instead they landed on the open coast near present-day Thiruvanmiyur/Besant Nagar, where the surf permitted boats to land troops. They numbered approximately: 300 French, 700 Indian sepoys commanded by Louis Paradis. From the beach the troops marched north-west.  There was no Marina Beach as we know it.  Instead there were – sand dunes, scrub vegetarion, marshes, tidal channels and a wider river (Adyaru). 

Their rivals the British with Nawab's Army blocked the crossing. The Nawab's son Mahfuz Khan understood the French had to cross the river. He therefore deployed nearly 10,000 cavalry and infantry on the north bank of the Adyar, stretching from San Thome toward what is now Quibble Island, with artillery covering likely crossing points. 

So a battle of Adyar occurring somewhere nearer Mylapore !!   The French did not build a bridge. They crossed the shallow estuary at low tide, wading through water while maintaining disciplined formations. Contemporary re-enactments place the crossing in the coastal strip between today's Adyar Estuary and Elliot's Beach.  History records that in  September 1746 the French fleet under La Bourdonnais captured Fort St. George from the British. 

The Nawab of Arcot, Anwar-ud-din Khan, objected because neither European company technically owned Madras outright; they held it under the Nawab's authority. He ordered the French to hand over Madras. The French refused. That refusal led directly to the Battle of Adyar.  French commander Louis Paradis marched from  mylapore area  toward Madras. Instead of remaining on the defensive, he crossed the Adyar River and attacked. The disciplined French infantry advanced in compact formations supported by well-drilled artillery. The Nawab's forces, although vastly superior in numbers, fought largely in traditional cavalry formations that proved ineffective against concentrated musket volleys and field artillery. Within a short time, the Nawab's army broke and retreated. French casualties were remarkably light, while the Nawab suffered much heavier losses.  

Many historians consider the Battle of Adyar one of the most significant military engagements in early colonial India.  It demonstrated European military superiority. The battle proved that disciplined infantry using coordinated musket fire and artillery could defeat armies many times their size. The French victory relied not only on Europeans but also on Indian soldiers trained in European tactics. The British quickly learned the same lesson and later developed their own large sepoy armies.  

Strangely the loss in war paved the way for British expansion as they invested on Indian sepoys to defeat their own Nation and keep parts of India unified under their control.  Much of the original battlefield has since been urbanised, and the river's course has changed somewhat over nearly three centuries.  

Today’s post is on this Thirumylai and an important uthsavam at this temple in the centre of Mylapore.

 

In the capital of Tamil Nadu is the pristine Temple of Sri Parthasarathi Swami at Thiruvallikkeni.   Though not the earliest British settlement in the Indian Peninsula, Madras possessed a peculiar interest as constituting, with the exception of the insignificant site at Armagon, the first territorial acquisition by the English in Hindustan.    It is a place that predates British rule by several centuries; it was occupied by the Portuguese in 1523, which  lasted until 1749, later falling  into the hands of the British East India Company.   It is “Mylapore” [Thiru Mayilai],  a cultural hub; one of the oldest residential parts of the city, also known as VEdapuri and Mayurapuri ~    Thirumayilai has the avathara sthalam of Sri Peyalwar at Arundale Street – nearer is Sri Madhava Perumal thirukovil.  Mylai is famous for Sri Kapaleeswarar temple which is connected with the S'aivite Nayanmars.   

Now is the time for Thirupavithrothsavam for Sri Madhava Perumal – this morning there was yaga salai and goshti of Thirupallandu, Thiruppavai and 5^th and 6^th decads of Swami Nammalwar’s Thiruvaimozhi. Here are some photos of most beautiful Sri Madhava Perumal at Thirumylai taken during His pavithrothsavam. 

adiyen Srinivasadhasan
Mamandur Veeravalli Srinivasan Sampathukmar
26^th July 2o26.

 

 

Sri Parthasarathi Kodai uthsava Sarrumurai 2026 - collage

 

Sri Parthasarathi Perumal Kodai Uthsava Sarrumurai 21072026

Sigathadai kondai during purappadu &

Poocharru kireedam for thirumbukal from Vasantha uthsava bungalow

 

Here is a collage – first of Sri Parthasarathi on His purappadu to Vasantha bungalow (Periya mada veethi – gate aam – kulakkarai – Vasantha bungalow) – at VB – He has Oonjal -  thiruvaradhanam – poocharru – the Second is the photo of His thirumbukal purappadu ?

 

Did you notice distinct changes in sarruppadi (alankaram) ! [during Kodai Uthsavam Sri Parthasarathi Emperuman and Ubayanachimar have purappadu in separate kedayams] 

Though most ardent devotees of Thiruvallikkeni know and notice this distinctly – it is easier to identify and worship through this collage.  The two photographs capture these two sacred moments of the same utsavam.

 

•       Kireedam (floral crown): This is the most obvious change. The first has the traditional gem-studded royal crown with a jasmine floral wrapping known as Sigathadai,  with Thura pathakkangal - the second is  an entirely floral kireedam with a central red rose motif.

•       Thirumugam (divine face) may look slightly different as karna pathakkangal have changed

•       Abhaya Hastam: In the first alankaram the hand is fully gem-studded, while in the second it is golden appearance of hastham with decorative stones in the middle only.  

•          Kaumodaki Gadai (mace): The mace in the first is richly jewelled from top to bottom, with hastham too having diamonds – the second is the pure koal (parralar veeya koil kaiyil konda Piran) – the hastham with simple golden kavacham.    

•          Thiruvabaranams on Thirumarbu (ornaments on the chest): The first has a far more elaborate arrangement of necklaces, pendants and gem-studded kavacham. The second is intentionally less ornate with a single Navrathna malai.

•          in the second the vaitheeka veshti in the manner of panchakavacham is evident

·        The anklets in the leg are different

•          Garlands: Although both use jasmine with red and purple bands, the way way they are draped is different.

·        Thiruvadi – thiruthuzhai in the second 

•          Overall mood: The first is unmistakably a Raja Alankaram—majestic and jewel-dominant. The second draws the eye first to the pushpa alankaram (flower adornment), making it feel gentler despite being the same deity. 

Those who are closely associated with temple traditions—archakas, kainkaryaparars, regular utsava followers, photographers, or devotees who attend every day's alankaram—tend to notice these nuances immediately. For them, each alankaram tells a story.

The photos evidently portray the subtle differences as both are taken from almost a similar frontal angle, show Emperuman ‘Pathathi Kesam’ [feet to Crown]; in good resolution and details are preserved.  

 
adiyen Srinivasa dhasan
Mamandur Veeravalli Srinivasan Sampathkumar
21.07.2026