Manthra pushpam kainkaryam @ Thiruvallikkeni divyadesam

 பூக்கள் அழகானவை; நறுமணம் தர வல்லன.  பூக்களை அழகாக  தொடுத்து இறைவனுக்கு சாற்றி வழிபடுவது நெடுங்காலமாக உள்ளது. ஒரு நாட்டில் அதிகமாக மலர்கள் காணப்படுவதனை வைத்தே அந்த நாட்டின் நீர்வளம், நில வளம், மக்களின் மனவளம், ஆகியவற்றை நன்கு உணரலாம்.   பக்தி இலக்கியத்திலும் மலர்கள் முக்கிய பங்கு பெறுகின்றன. வண்ண நறுமணம் வீசும் மலர்களையே எம்பெருமானுக்கு சமர்பிக்கின்றனர்.  சைவ குரவர் திருஞானசம்பந்தர் -  முதல் திருமுறையில்,   திருக்கோலக்காவில் பொற்றாளம் பெற்றுச் சீர்காழி திரும்பி உடன்  நேரே ஆலயம் சென்று "பூவார் கொன்றை" எனத் தொடங்கும் திருப்பதிகத்தைத் தாளமிட்டுப் பாடினாராம்.  நமது ஸம்ப்ரதாய வழிபாட்டு முறைகளில், பூஜையின் முடிவிலும் மலர்களால் அர்ச்சனை செய்து முடிந்த பின் மந்திரங்களால் அர்ச்சனை செய்வார்கள். இதை மந்திர புஷ்பம் என்பார்கள். 

 

Flowers have a  very special place in our worship – symbolizing purity, devotion, and sacred connection with the divine.  Floral tributes (Pushpanjali) in our Sanatana Dharma are sacred offerings representing devotion, purity, and nature (Prakriti), used to invoke divine blessings during pooja (worship).  In the Bhagavad Gita, flowers symbolize pure devotion, renunciation, and divine beauty, with the lotus (kamal) being the most prominent, representing detachment, purity, and spiritual elevation, similar to how it rises above murky water without being soiled. 

In the holy scripture, having  established the benefits of worshipping the Supreme, Shree Krishna  explains how easy it is to do so.  In the worship of the devatās and the ancestors, there are many rules to propitiate them, which must be strictly followed.  Supreme  God accepts anything that is offered with a loving heart.  If you have only a fruit, offer it to God, and He will be pleased.  If there is no fruit available, offer Him a flower.  If it is not the season for flowers, offer God a mere leaf; even that will suffice, provided it is a gift of love.   It is the bhakti of the devotee that is pleasing to God, and not the worth of the offering.

 

पत्रं पुष्पं फलं तोयं यो मे भक्त्या प्रयच्छति ।

तदहं भक्त्युपहृतमश्नामि प्रयतात्मनः ॥ २६ ॥

 

             Lord Krishna declares: patraṁ puṣpaṁ phalaṁ toyaṁ yo me bhaktyā prayacchati ("If one offers Me with love and devotion a leaf, a flower, a fruit or water, I will accept it").   Krishna emphasizes that He does not need grand rituals or expensive items. He desires sincere love and devotion.  This verse indicates that anyone, regardless of wealth or status, can worship God by offering simple, natural, and easily available items.  The core requirement is that the item is offered with bhakti (devotion) by a prayatātmanaḥ (pure-minded/sincere devotee).  

 

Mantra pushpam is a Vedic hymn that is sung at the time of the offering of flowers to deities at the very end of the Pujas. The mantra is considered to be the flower of Vedic chants. It is part of the Taittiriya Aranyaka and speaks of the unlimited benefits which will be conferred by the secret knowledge of the waters, fire, air, the sun, the moon, the stars, the clouds and time 

யோ॑பாம் புஷ்பம் வேத॑³ । புஷ்ப॑வான் ப்ர॒ஜாவா᳚ன் பஶு॒மான் ப॑⁴வதி ।

 

At Thiruvallikkeni – during  Thiruvaradhanam, manthra pushpam occurs – designated kainkaryabar stands near the Battachar and chants the slokas.  Understand that here is a combination of select verses of Chatur Vedas, Ithihasa puranas as also verses from Divya prabandham.

In Dec 2025, Thiruvallikkeni sadly lost one of the doyens of Srivaishnavism – Manthrapushpam Bashyam Swami.  Tall, ever smiling, he endeared himself to all by his way of living, pleasing manners and sharing his knowledge with youngsters.  He was a respectful high official with Tamil Nadu Govt working in various capacities and retiring as Dist Development Officer.   He was a very regular  in arulicheyal kainkaryam at Thiruvallikkeni divyadesam and did ‘Manthrapushpam’ kainkaryam for more than 3 decades.  Even after turning 94, he was fit and had firm steps – and continued his kainkaryam pleasingly.

After his demise, the mantle has now passed on to his relative, young (around 57 years of age) Sri U.Ve. Sridhar Sampath.  Sridhar well known to Triplicanites as a Cricketer assumed the duty of this kainkaryam and debuted in the grand festivity of 10^th day of Chithirai Brahmothsavam in Dwadasa Aradhanam at Thiruvaimozhi mandapam when all Emperumans and Azhwar, Acharyar had assembled at the mandapam with the chanting of whole Thiruvaimozhi.

Poliga, poliga, poliga !  - let kainkaryams continue unabated. 

adiyen Srinivasadhasan. 
Mamandur Veeravalli Srinivasan Sampathkumar
11.5.2026