Sri Azhagiya Singar Ananda vimanam 2018

                               At Thiruvallikkeni divyadesam – there are grand Brahmothsavams for Sri Parthasarathi in Chithirai and for Sri Azhagiya Singar in Aani, which is presently on – and today 1^st July 2018 is day 9 day of the Uthsavam.  On  8th  day morning it is ‘VEnnak thazhi kannan’ for Sri Parthasarathi, while it is ‘Lakshmi Narasimhar’ for Azhagiya Singar.

Dravidian architecture  has been in prominence for over thousand years now.  It consists of  pyramid shaped temples which are dependent on intricate carved stone in order to create a step design consisting of many statues of deities, warriors, kings, and dancers.  These type of temples are abundant in the Southern states and flourished during the various kingdoms of Pallavas, Cholas, Cheras, Pandyas, Chalukyas, Vijayanagara empire and Hoysalas.   Some are also found in parts of Srilanka, Maldives and Southeast Asia.  In this style of Temples -     the principal part is the Vimanam, the porches or Mantapams which precede the door to the garbagriha,  Gate-pyramids, Pillared halls or choultries. Besides these, a temple always contains tanks or wells for water—to be used either for sacred purposes .

On  Ninth day evening it is  – Kannadi Pallakku – the palanquin embedded with beautiful mirror work for Sri Parthasarathi, - for Sri Thelliya Singar, there is no ‘kannadi pallakku’ but, the imposing  – ‘Punniyakodi vimanam’.   The most beautiful Azhagiya Singar true to His name, has purappadu from the Western gopuram, comes through Peyalwar Kovil street, ascends the Vimanam –  this year, it was memorable as there was rendition of Periya Thirumozhi with goshti occupying every possible space between the vimanam and Nammazhwar sannathi for close to an hour.

Then there was  kulakkarai purappadu. There was no periya mada veethi, as the purappadu culminated at Sri Azhagiyasingar vassal (western gopuram).  Here are some photos taken during the purappadu.

In recent times, this vahanam gets referred to as ‘Sada darsha vimanam’ in all official communiqué – in the panchangam and in the posters.  My friend Sri Kuvalai Raghavan clarifies that is not appropriate to term it ‘sathadarsha vimanam’ .. ..  in Sanskrit,   it is saha dadarsha, which means the glorious Emperuman as seen under the vimana. In our sannidhi it is Anandha vimaanam only. Sa dadarsha vimanashca madhye bhaskara rochishaha  ~  meaning, He was seen under the vimaana blazing brilliantly like sun.  So the Vimanam is Ananda vimanam – and the radiance is of His.

adiyen Srinivasa dhasan.