Thiruvallikkeni Sri Varadharajar Hamsa vahanam - day 1 - 2022

For a  Srivaishnavaite, Perumal Koil refers to “Sri Varadharaja Swamy thirukovil’ at Kanchipuram.  Legend has it that Brahma performed Asvamedha yaga at mokshapuri i.e., Kanchi and Lord Vishnu emerged out of the fire with Sanku Chakram. It is believed that the annual Uthsavam was initiated by Brahma himself. Indira’s white elephant Iravatham took the form of a hill called Hastigiri on which shrine of Varadharajar is located. This Swami is known by various names, prominent among them being : Devarajar, Devathirajar, Thepperumal, Varadhar, PerArulalar … 

Six Indian sites, including the temples of Kanchipuram in Tamil Nadu, the Ganga ghats in Varanasi, and the Satpura Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh, were added to the tentative list of UNESCO’s world heritage sites, the Ministry of Culture, recently announced.  The submissions were made by Archaeological Survey of India, which is responsible for the conservation and preservation of Indian monuments.  The six sites are namely Satpura Tiger Reserve, Iconic riverfront of the historic city of Varanasi, Megalithic site of Hire Benkal, Maratha Military Architecture in Maharashtra, Bhedaghat-Lametaghat in Narmada Valley- Jabalpur, and temples of Kanchipuram.

Synonymous with spirituality, serenity, and silk, the temple town of Kanchipuram in Tamil Nadu, is dotted with ancient temples that are architectural marvels and a visual treat, states incredibleindia.org. Situated on the banks of River Vegavathi, this historical city once had 1,000 temples, of which only 126 (108 Shaiva and 18 Vaishnava) now remain. Its rich legacy has been the endowment of the Pallava dynasty, which made the region its capital between the 6th and 7th centuries and lavished upon its architectural gems that are a fine example of Dravidian styles.

Thirukachi to Srivaishnavaites, Kanchipuram is one of the seven Mukthi kshetras ie., Mokshapuris (cities of liberation from the bondage of birth and deaths) – Ayodhya, Mathura, Haridwar, Kasi, Avantika (Ujjain), Kanchi and Dwaraka. It has been a place of worship for Sakthi cult (Kamakoti Peeta and Kamakshi temple) – seat of learning and Ghatika (University) for vedic studies that thrived during 4th century AD.   Chidambaram is Akasa kshetra, Kanchi is known as Akasa peetha as mentioned in Soubhagya Chintamani. Besides Pallava history, one needs to study something about Thondaimandalam and its Kings too for understanding  Kanchi in its perspective.. .. ..

Now is the time for the annual Brahmothsavam of Sri Devathi Rajar.  Garuda Sevai and   Thiruther  are among the most important ones drawing crowds in lakhs.  At Thiruvallikkeni, during Sri Varadharajar uthsavam,  purappadus are in the evening only except Garuda sevai purappadu which would be in the morning.   Tomorrow Varadhar will have purappadu in the morning as it is Madhurakavi azhwar  thirunakshathiram.

                                  ஆரே  அறிவார் அனைத்துலகும்  உண்டுமிழ்ந்த,

பேராழியான் தன் பெருமையை,- கார் செறிந்த

கண்டத்தான் எண் கண்ணான் காணான், அவன் வைத்த

பண்டைத்தானத்தின் பதி. 

ஈரேழு  உலகங்களையும்,  (பிரளய காலத்தில்) உண்டு  (பிறகு) உமிழ்ந்த  பேராழியான் (சிறப்பு  வாய்ந்த திருச்சக்கரமான திருவாழிதனை) தனது கரங்களில் ஏந்திய எம்பெருமான் ஸ்ரீமன் நாராயணனின் பெருமையை அறிபவர் ஆரே ! என கேள்வி எழுப்பிய திருமழிப்பிரான், தனது நான்முகன்  திருவந்தாதியிலே தானே பதிலையும் அளிக்கிறார்.  .. அவ்வளவு சிறப்பு வாய்ந்த எம்பெருமானின் மகிமைகளை முழுமையாய் அறியக் கூடியவர் யார்? (ஒருவருமில்லை).  அவ்வெம்பெருமான்  முன்பே ஸாதித்து வைத்த பரமபதமார்க்கமென்னத் தகுந்த சரமச்லோகத்தை, நீலகண்டனான சிவனும், நான்கு முகங்களை உடையவனும் கூட காண்கின்றிலர் .. .. அவர்களே   அறியமாட்டாதபோது மற்றபேர்கள் அறியமாட்டார்களென்பது சொல்ல வேணுமோ? .. .. நமக்கு எளிய உபாயம் அவனது திருவடிகளை பற்றி இருப்பதே ! ~  திருமழிசைப்பிரான் தனது நான்முகன் திருவந்தாதியில். 

Here are some photos of Sri Varadharajar in Hamsa vahanam on day 1 of Uthsavam at Thiruvallikkeni this evening. 

adiyen Srinivasadhasan
Mamandur Veeravalli  Srinivasan Sampathkumar
13.5.2022

PS :  our village Mamandur is situated less than 10 km from Kanchi on the way to Vandavasi (Thiruvathur) identified as Doosi Mamandur by Dhoosi its  twin hamlet.