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Wednesday, January 15, 2014

Thiruvallikkeni Irapathu day 5 - Thaipusam harvesting..

15th  Jan 2014, the day after Pongal ~ celebrated as Kanu(m) Pongal… in the morning there was Andal purappadu in Hamsa vahanam (Kanu Parvettai purappadu)

In the evening, it was day 5 of Irapathu Uthsavam and it coincided with Thaipusam.  Today  Sri Parthasarathi had periya maada veedhi purappadu in ‘Kaalinga Narthana thirukolam’ accompanied by  Senai Mudalvar and Swami Nammalwar. At Thiruvallikkeni divyadesam, traditionally on Thaipusam day, Sri Parthasarathi visits Big Street – the long winding Veeraghava Mudali Street – which now a days is more of a lane than a Big street….  This is the Uthsavam where Perumal  collects the harvest from His field. (kadhir aruthal).

Thiruvallikkeni has had a great history… going by the description of Thirumangai Mannan, it was a fortified place  (full of madangal)…. It was Mayilai Thiruvallikkeni – in the description of Azhwargal.  In the days of Pallava and Thondaimaans, Thiruvallikkeni was pristine in its glory. Centuries later, during the British period, Chennai became prominent as frontiers were redrawn….Triplicane and near abouts were more of black towns…

By every probability, more than a century or two ago - the junction of Big Street, Pycrofts road, might have represented the border  of the locality and perhaps the area thereafter could have been opulent  rice fields………… now it is maze of buildings in small lanes and by-lanes where people jostle for space.  There was a small pandal put up at the Junction where Perumal halted for a brief-while and a reap of paddy was placed before the Lord, then at His feet.  The rice grains so placed were distributed to the devotees too……..

Here are some photos taken during the purappadu at Thiruvallikkeni.


Adiyen Srinivasa dhasan.

Senai Muthalvar

Swami Nammalwar




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