Thiru NaRaiyoor - Sri Pakshi Raajan - Ursavam and Real Experience - Part 2C

[Guest guest]

DevEndran once gave Garudan a vimaanam and vaira mudi and requested Garudan to

present it to the most suitable Lord. Garudan presented the vimaanam to

thErezhundoor thEvaathi Raajan and Greedam to Chellap pillai of thiru naarayana

puram. Hence Garudan is seen near to the Lord in Therezhundoor. However, it was

said that one of the stone of the greedam was missing and since Garudan felt

that it might have got dropped in maNImuththaa river and he stayed here in

thiru naRaiyoor permanently it seems looking for the gem. The other version is

that at that time a silpi was carving his silai or statue and wished that this

statue should get the life and then suddenly Garudaazhwaar came to this statue

and gave life and flew. Since he came as the messenger to look for vanJuLa

vaLLI he stayed here. His thirumEni is dressed with the nava naaganGal as

aaparanankal.

 

Maargazghi sapthami, and paNguni thasami this utsavam takes place. If one wants

a boon they may pray to this pakshiraajan for 4 thursdays, and make amutha

kalasam using payaththam paruppu paayasam and offer him .It is believed that

Fourth thursday he will bless them their request. Garudan has a separate

sannithi here.

 

A Real Experience with Sri Garudaazhwaar

 

It was evening in naachiyaar kOil, and I was standing in the pOdium near the

sannithi of Pakshi Raajan. Nearly around 8 people, carried his thiruvuruvam

(statue made of stone) and placed him on the urtasava pOdium. This ursava

pOdium is mounted with unusually long ie approximately 20 to 30 feet on either

side, longitunal wooden members (logs). After alankaaram for purappaadu is

over, the aarathi sEvai is offerred to garudmaan. (deepa aaraathanai). At this

juncture, around 120 strong men struggle and somehow lift him. More people jump

in between and give "shoulders" and carry him from the "hill" (sugantha giri -

name of naachchiyaar koil karuvaRai) down to urasava mandapam. I was with my

video camera and suddenly an instinct pushed me into this and I offerred my

shoulders as well to carry him. When we lift something around 35 to 40 Kgs we

cannot stand in one place and we tend to move back and forth and balance

ourselves. Exactly that is what happened as the entire strength of all these

200 people put tohether struggled (more people jump in) to help balance cannot

simply hold him and stand with him steady and instead move (run) back and

forth for about 25 to 30 feet !

 

Some people may fall down but the standing by bakthaas are very watchful and

will pull them immediately to avoid stampede. After running few times 30 feet

forward and 30 feet reverse, the attempt comes to a halt with the help of

pedestal supports applied to supporting the main longitudinal log member at few

places. Even then the weight is so much that after an aarathi it comes to a

bearing limit. At this time of aarathi people shout his name and witness

"sweat" all over his face and dripping through the tip of his nose. What

science can proove this? What logic can explain this ? This is not a story of

milk sucking idol, but a urtsavam being celebrated for centuries.

There are mystical stones that can store water in it for years and ooze them

at

certain temperature conditions. But many of such stones are not used for making

our idols as per the sirpa shaasthram. The Sweating is profuse and it happens

twice a year on this day of garuda sErvai. Even if science pundits will attempt

reasons for the sweat, as above , the weight change can never be explained. I

EXPERIENCED IT MYSELF BY CARRYING HIM AND recommend every one to get his

blessings by participating in this occassion. However I also challenge anyone

who may deny that, to do so themselves as I strongly believe that Sri Garudmaan

physically comes in his statue at this time of the urtsavam. This year the

panguni garuda servai is on to-day and as of this time people in India must be

getting ready for this sEvai ie (8.00PM).

 

praana dEvathaa, panchaathmaa panchathaa thiru pakshi raajan thiruvadikale

saraNam

 

Sampath Rengarajan