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Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Thiruvallikkeni Thavanothsavam 1

Today (29th Feb 2012) is the First day of Sri Parthasarathi Perumal Thavanothsavam.


Some photos taken during the Periya Mada veedhi purappadu


Adiyen - Srinivasa dhasan







Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Thirumala Tirupathi : Vengadam aalum Govindha; Thirumalaivaasa Govindha ~ ~~ falling at the feet of Lord Balaji


திருமலை திருப்பதி சிறப்பு :  'செடியாய வல்வினைகள் தீர்க்கும் பெருமானின் மகிமை" - பண்டெல்லாம் வேங்கடம் பாற்கடல் வைகுந்தம் - வேங்கடம் ஆளும் கோவிந்தா ! திருமலை வாசா  கோவிந்தா !!!


For a Srivaishnavaite – thinking of Him, praising Him all the time, going to temples of His, doing services to His bhakthas and associating oneself in any form with various kainkaryams to the  Bhagwan Shri Maha Vishnu are the only real things.  That Sri Vaishnavaites would relish doing such things naturally come to them.    For Srivaishnavaites,  visiting Divyadesams and having darshan of Emperumans in these places are of utmost importance.   To us – “Kovil – Thirumalai – Perumal Kovil” reverberates sweetly and flows honey all the time.   The word Kovil, Thirumalai, Perumal Kovil would refer to “Sri Rangam, Thirumala Tirupathi and Kanchipuram” respectively.
Volumes have been written about Divyadesams and one can spend one’s whole life time reading all of them – still one would only have completed tiny specs of His valour, His deeds, His characteristic traits,  His compassion, His easy availability to Bakthas and more. 
Thirumala Thirupathi Temple – the  sacred and most reverred temple of Sri Venkateswara is located on the seventh peak – Venkatachala hill of Tirumala.  The Lord stands tall as bestower of all boons and lakhs of people reach here to have a glimpse – a few seconds darshan of the Lord.  This beautiful temple in its present form owes a lot to the works of the greatest Vaishnava Acharya – Sri Ramanujar.   Upon the instructions of  Shri Ramanujacharya – his disciple, Thirumalai Ananthan Pillai known as Ananthazhwaar did yeomen service, creating a garden (nandavanam) for offering floral tributes daily to the Lord.  It is 959 years since he was born and soon, we would be celebrating his 960th anniversary celebrations.   60 years is celebrated as ‘Sathabishekam’ and 960 would be 16 times 60 years. 
Had the great fortune of attending the 958th anniversary celebrations of Thirumalai Ananthazhwaar – a full day rendition of Swami Nammalwar’s Thiruvaimozhi and other pasurams sung by other Azhwars on Tirupathi Perumal.  More details of this festivity later. 
One would have visited the most sacred and reverred Thirumala many a times in life – but our wish to have more darshan of HIM would remain unsatiated.  Crowds throng Thirumala in lakhs – people travel from far off places, wait patiently hours together to have glimpse of Lord.  A few seconds of His darshan and chanting His name ‘Govinda, Govindha’ – makes us feel so happy and would feel extremely satisfied and blessed with His darshan.  Then even as one prepares to leave the holy town, one starts the urge to come back to Tirupathi for having darshan again.  It is only 150 kilo meters from the metropolis of Chennai and by road would take around 4 hours to reach the footsteps – “Alipiri – the malai adivaram” and another 45 minutes to reach atop the Holy Hills.    

You have all the facilities, the roads are well laid,  transportation is at its best as there are buses at almost every 5 minutes from the foothill to the top – private vehicles are allowed to be driven to the top – you can go in a two wheeler, car, van, jeep, bus and more.  In olden days, people used to climb the hill afoot which was arduous.  Sri Udayavar (Ramanujacharya) used to climb the hill on his knees reverring the sacredness of the hill itself.   There are now 3550 steps and for a healthy person would take around 4 hours to climb by foot. .  The footsteps in most places are well covered and there are shops which make available things to the pilgrims. 

As you travel, One can also enjoy the beautiful hills of Vrushabadri, Anjanadri, Neeladri, Garudadri, Seshadri, Narayanadri and finally Venkatadri.  It will be rudimentary as every Bakhtha knows the lay out of the temple and the more than 6 foot tall Lord Srinivasa called by innumerable names with Shri Balaji, Venkatesar, Govindhar, Ezhumalai Appar,  Yedu Kondala vadu, Venkata Ramana, Srinivasar and……… more….  The Uthsavar Srinivasar is also known as ‘Malai Appar’.  In the Sannadhi, beautiful vigraham of Lord Rama is present. 

One should also have darshan of Lord Varadharaja, Garuda waiting in front of the Lord Balaji, the Anandha vimana, Acharyar Ramanujar and Yoga Narasimhar.  The gate which we cross for reaching the Lord, where Jaya & Vijaya stand as Gate keepers (Dwara balakas) is known as “Bangaru Vagili” (the golden gate).  The step before Perumal is known as ‘Kulasekara padi’ as sung by Azhwar ‘padiyaai kidanthu Un pavala vaai kanbene’.  Kulasekara Azhwaar in his Perumal Thirumozhi describes the various forms in which he would like to be, for having darshan and here he says that he would remain the leading steps, as he can have His uninterrupted darshan. 

So fortunate to have darshan of Lord Srinivasa on Sunday 26th Feb 2012.  Here are some photos taken during the present trip.

Adiyen  Srinivasa dhasan.


Adhi Varahar Thirukkovil

 The Gopuram


 Ananda Vimanam ( the Sanctum Sanctorum)
The temple tank (Koneru)
Temple float - theppam
The mantap where Sahasradeepaalankara uthsavam is held
Unjal Seva at the mantap



 Uthsavar Malaiyappar during His evening purappadu.

Monday, February 27, 2012

Thiruvallikkeni Sri Varadharajar Theppothsavam 2012



Today [27th Feb 2012] is the concluding day of Theppothsavam (Float Uthsavam).  It was Shri Varadharaja Perumal in “Gajendra moksham” Thirukolam.  Here are some photos taken today.

இன்று தெப்போத்சவத்தின் கடைசி நாள்.  இன்று 'வரதராஜருக்கு' தெப்பம்.  திருமங்கை மன்னன் மங்களாசாசனத்தில் "ஆனையின் துயரம் தீரப் புள்ளூர்ந்து சென்று நின்று ஆழி தொட்டானை" என்ற படியே, வரதர் தனது திருவாழியான சக்கரத்தை முதலை மேல் சீறி வந்து ஆனைக்கு அருள் தந்த பெருமாளாக அற்புதமாக சேவை சாதித்தார். 

அடியேன் ஸ்ரீனிவாச தாசன் (தூசி மாமண்டூர் ஸ்ரீனிவாசன் சம்பத்குமார்.)







Saturday, February 25, 2012

Thiruvallikkeni Sri Azhagiya Singar Theppam


Today (24th Feb 2012) – is day 4 of Theppothsavam (Float Festival) 

 Sri Azhagiya Singar with all His resplendent splendour graced the Float (theppam).  Here are some photos taken on that occasion.

Adiyen – S. Sampathkumar 










Thursday, February 23, 2012

Thiruvallikkeni Theppothsavam 3 - 23-02-2012


திருவல்லிக்கேணி ஸ்ரீ பார்த்தசாரதி பெருமாள் தெப்போத்சவம் 3

Today is the third day of Theppothsavam – the first three days are dedicated to Sri Parthasarathi.  In the oncoming days, there would the float festival, a day each for Sri Azhagiyasingar, Sri Ranganathar, Sree Ramar and Sri Varadhar.  Today, a kireedam called ‘Sigathadai’ adorned Him.  On the Crown, reams of jasmine flower are tightly rolled and it is closed with ‘pure white silk’.  It was a great darshan to behold for the eyes of Bakthas.

இன்று தெப்போத்சவத்தில் மூன்றாவது நாள்.  முதல் மூன்று நாள்களும்          ஸ்ரீ பார்த்தசாரதி பெருமாள் எழுந்து அருள்கிறார்.  நாளை முதல் ஸ்ரீ அழகியசிங்கர், ஸ்ரீ ரங்கநாதர், ஸ்ரீ ராமர், ஸ்ரீ வரதர் தெப்போத்சவம் கண்டு அருள்வர்.    இன்று தெப்பத்தில் இருந்து இறங்கி பெருமாள் பெரிய மாட வீதி புறப்பாடு கண்டு அருளினார்.  

அற்புதமான சாற்றுப்படியில்  ஸ்ரீ பார்த்தசாரதி மிக அழகுற மிளிர்ந்தார்.  "சிகத்தாடை" எனும் தலை கிரீடம்,  ராஜாக்கள் அணியும் கொண்டை போல அழகு மிளிர்ந்தது.  கிரீடத்தின் மீது பல முழங்கள் மல்லிகை பூ சாற்றி, அதன் மீது வெள்ளை பட்டு உடுத்தி தயாரான கிரீடம் அணிந்து, எங்கள் பெருமாள் சிறப்புற வீதி புறப்பாடு  கண்டு அருளினார்.

புறப்பாட்டின் போது எடுக்கப்பட்ட சில படங்கள் இங்கே:   

அடியேன் ஸ்ரீனிவாச தாசன் 





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Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Thiruvallikkeni Sri Parthasarathi Theppothsavam – 2012



Today  21st Feb 2012 - is “Maasi Amavasai” – the day of Float Festival (Theppam Uthsavam).  

After 5 rounds in Temple Tank, Sri Parthasarathi had asthanam at Andal Neeratta Mantapam opposite to Periya Thiruther – and then there was the Periya Mada veedhi purappadu in Siriya Thiruther.  

Here are some photos taken .  
Adiyen Srinivasa dhasan. 

 திருக்குளத்தில் தெப்பம் - மின்விளக்கு அலங்காரம் - பின்னணியில் கோபுரம் 
 தெப்பத்தில் ஸ்ரீ பார்த்தசாரதி 
 நீராட்ட மண்டபத்தில் ஸ்ரீ பார்த்தசாரதி - கேடயத்துடன் 
 நீராட்ட மண்டபத்தில் ஸ்ரீ பார்த்தசாரதி -   கேடயம் இல்லாமல் 

 திருத்தேருக்கு எழுந்து அருளும் அவசரம் 

சிறிய திருத்தேரில் பவனி 

Saturday, February 18, 2012

Ekadasi Purappadu - Thiruvallikkeni Sri Parthasarathy


Dear (s)

Some photos taken during Ekadasi Periya maada veedhi purappadu of Sri Parthasarathi Swami at Thiruvallikkeni Divyadesam, today evening - 18th Feb 2012

Adiyen – Srinivasa dhasan.






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