Traditions in Tirumalai - 1

[Guest guest]

Dear Brothers and Sisters

 

In response to my earlier posting re. Prathivadi

Bhayankaram Annan, i.e., the moolapurusha of PB family

and the suprabhatham, I am encouraged by a few members to

share some little bits of information that I have on the

traditions in Tirumalai. I propose to do this over a few

postings, rather than in one go.

 

These details have been collected from a few

sources :

a. HH Srimannarayana Jeear Swamy vari speeches and

writings in Bhaktinivedana and other publications;

b. TTD publications under the Alwar Divyaprabndha

Project; in particular material written by Sriman U.Ve.

T.A. Krishnamacharya swamy;

c. Sriman U.Ve. Velukkudi Varadacharya swamy's discourses

in 1990-91;

d. Sriman U.Ve. Velukkudi Krishnan Swamy's discourses in

1998;

e. Hearsay (spell?) from elder members of family.

 

Adiyen is solely responsible for any mistakes that may

crop up.

 

1. Reciting of suprabhatam in Tirumalai :

 

Since the discussions started with Srivari suprabhatam,

during the visit of Manvala Mamuni to Tirumalai, PB

Annan, at his acharya’s sankalpam, recited the

suprabhatham (29 verses), stotram (11 verses), prapatti

(16 verses), and mangalam (13 + 1 = 14 verses). Manavala

Mamuni then ordered that every day except in the month

of Margazhi, these four stotras be recited at the time

of opening of the temple in the morning. There has been

a tradition of rendering Alvar’s hymns at the temple

(even before Bhagavad Ramanuja’s visit ) and in line

with that tradition, in the month of Margazhi,

Thiruppalliezhichi is recited instead of Suprabhatham.

 

2. Thomala Seva :

----------------

There are different opinions on the origin of this

expression - one school of thought attributes this to

general exuberance of flowers in Tirumalai -

hence the name 'thota' or garden for the place. Probably,

again, this term is a tribute to the great kainkaryam by

Ananthalvan. (I am sure everyone heard of the great

mahatma Ananthalvan who used to pushpa kainkaryam at

Tirumalai. One evening he chases away a young couple -

Lord and piraatti in disguise...the young man escapes and

leaves behind piratti. Alvan arrests her and awaits the

young man....Next morning, when the temple was opened,

the bhattachar was aghas to find that piratti is absent

and at that instance he realises what must have happened.

Anantalvan then presents piratti along with the flowers.

by this incident, Anantalvan becomes father in law to the

Lord - hence as a mark of respect, on rathotsavam day

during brahmotsavam, Lord accepts veshti and uttariyam

from members of Anantalvan's family. Apologies for the

digression.). The other school of thought is that at the

end of thiruvaradhana, a garland is offered to the Lord

placing it on His shoulders ('thol' in tamil).

 

During morning thomalaseva - Thippalliezhichi and

Tiruppavai are recited; in the evening thomala seva

(which is slightly longer) 15 decads are recited, namely :

Periyalwar : poochudal, kappidal, senniyongu,

Andal : vinneela melappu,

Tirumangai : Taye tandai, vadamarudidai, ezhai ethalan

Nammalwar : Ozhivil kalam, ulagamundaperuvaya, Kangulum

pagalum, and azhiezha

Tiruppani : Amalanadipiran

Madurakavi : Kanninun chiruttambu.

 

(To be continues in the next post).

 

Adiyen

PB Anand

 

 

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