The Tradition of Araiyar Sevai

[Guest guest]

SrImatyaI GodayaI Nama:

 

Recently there have been some queries about Araiyar sevai and with the

adyayana utsavam commencing today i thought of sharing some information on

Araiyar Sevai to supplement the information on this list/archives.

Knowledgable members are requested to add/correct anything to this as they

think appropraite/necessary.

 

ARAIYAR SEVAI AND ITS ORIGIN

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The term Araiyar Sevai denotes "service of the Araiyars".Sometime around

9th century AD Swami Nathamunigal retrieved the Nalaiyira

divya prabhandam which had been lost at that time and classified the

divya prabhandam into Iyarpa which was meant to be chanted and Isaippa which

was suitable for singing.

With his nephews Keelai Ahatthu Aazhwan and Melai Ahatthu Aazhwan

Swami Nathamunigal set the pasurams of Isaippa to tune(pan) and trained

his nephews to sing and worship the prabhandams in front of the Lord at

SriRangam.So they were the first Araiyars who

performed in front of the lord at SriRangam. Since then this tradition has

been handed down through the succesive generations of the descendents of Swami

Nathamunigal and i believe our generation is VERY FORTUNATE to be able to

witness the Araiyar Sevai in its pristine form even after more than a thousand

years at places like SriRangam and Srivilliputtur.I would recommend all

Bhagavathas who have not witnessed the Araiyar Sevai to atleast plan and

try to witness it once in their life time at either SriRangam or Srivilliputtur.

 

COMMENCEMENT OF THE ARAIYAR SEVAI IN TEMPLES

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The Araiyar Swamigal performs the service only in front of the Utsava

Murthy,usually within the temple.

The Araiyar sevai commences with the AruLa paTTu(Issuance of the gracious

commandment by the Lord to the Araiyar) through the BhaTTar when the

officiating bhaTTar calls out: Thiruvaranga PerumaaL Araiyar

 

Araiyar Swamigal Comes forward saying: aaindhen Aaaindhen

 

Araiyar Swamigal while comming forward puts on the 'kulam' or the 'Araiyar

Kullai'(on the head) which is cylindrical and slightly tapered towards the

top,and has a red outer color with the shangu ,chakram and thiruman.This

'kulam' is very special as it has been handed over the succesive

generations.The BhaTTar swamigal will then tie a parivattam(Piece of garment

used by the lord) on the "Kulam" and then put on a large Special

garland(Perumal Malai) on the Araiyar Swamigal. Araiyar Swamigal will then

take a suitable position a few yards in front of the lord and start the

sevai using a pair of cymbals called 'kulittalam' for maintaining rhythm.The

first few notes from the cymbals and Araiyar Swamigal will be in a

special private communion with the Divya Dampathis during the service.

 

ARAIYAR SEVAI

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Araiyar Sevai consists of the following

 

1)Kondattam

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These are short phrases extolling the Vaibhavam of Perumal and Thayar

(Nachiyar).The phrases for thayar ends with the word ...Nachiaar and for

perumal the phrases end with the word ...Perumaal.A few phrases for both

Thayar and Perumal are recited.Usually after this a Mangalam is also recited.

This set of phrases end with ...Mangalam and during finishing the last one

will end with ...Mangalaaamee.During this the Araiyar Swamigal maintains

the rhythm with his cymbals.It is a divine experience to listen to the

Kondattam rendered in a unique rhythm and melody,and after listening once

one would like to hear again and again.This service to the Divya Dampathis

is rendered on many occasions during various festivals and not just during

Adyayana Utsavam.Also Araiyar Swamigal on certain occasions may sing some

songs in praise of the lord in simple language with thalam.These songs are

known as pallupattu.

 

2)SINGING OF PASURAMS,ABHINAYAM AND EXPLANATION OF PASURAMS

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This service is done during the Thiruadyayana utsavam.Depending on the

particular day the Araiyar Swamigal will take up a select set of

pasurams sing them along with the rhythm using the cymbals and perform

abhinayam to convey the import of the pasurams with Hand gestures,steps

using their legs and body/facial gestures.These gestures are not elaborate

as seen in the Natyam traditions but subdued and used sparingly.Also

the Araiyar swamigal may walk a few steps in front or back or

sideways.The explanation of the pasurams is done with the TampirAn-paDi

commentary.A certain pattern is followed in the choice of pasurams at

Srirangam,Srivilliputtur and Azhwar Thirunagari corresponding to the local

history and tradition of the temple.To illustrate this i shall

mention a part of the pattern at Srivilliputtur during Nammazhwar

Moksham day.

On this day (rather night),the Araiyar Swamigal after completing

Muthukkuri will be say a few feet in front of the processional diety at

the chintamani chettiar mandapam on the outer prakaram of the Andal temple.He

will sing one pasuram with Thalam perform abhinayam and take a few steps

backwards and stop.The KainkaryapArars with the pallaku move few steps forward

(Since the Araiyar Swamigal is facing Perumal and thayar he will move

back and perumal and thayar will move forward) and stop.Now Araiyar Swamigal

will sing another pasuram and perform abhinayam .This goes on for a few

times with one pasuram recited and abhinayam done on each occasion.This

way both Araiyar Swamigal and perumal will proceed to the

sannidhi.The pasurams that i could identify were from Nachiyar Thirumozhi

one was Sindura cempodi...(Thirumaalirumsolai pasuram),another was

Menn Nadai annam pirandhu Vilaydum..(Pasuram on Srivilliputtur) and some

other pasurms were from the pathu on Ranganatha Perumal (Nachiyar

Thirumozhi).Later on there would be thodakkam of Thiruvaimozhi last PathU

which starts with the famous pasuram on Thirumogoor Emperumaan

ThaaLa Thaamarai Thadamani Vayal Thirumogoor...

 

In the Mandapam Perumal and Thayar are in the centre ,Araiyar Swamigal

facing perumal and Thayar also in the centre towards the entrance ,the

adhyapaka ghosti and other bhagavathas sit on the sides

During this Service the son may join the father sometimes as Araiyar

Swamigal sings the Pasurams.The Araiyar Swamigal also Explains the

pasurams with the TampirAn-paDi commentary.for some pasurams there

may be no commentary for some a brief commentary and a lomg one for

some of them(Eg the commentary on Muniye .. lasts for more than an hour)

 

 

This is something about how the tradition is at Srivilliputtur

on the day of Nammazhwar Moksham

 

3)Dramatization of Certain episodes

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The Dramatization of certain episodes with appropriate abhinayams

is done on selected days at Srirangam ,Srivilliputtur and Azhwar

Thirunagari during the adyayana utsavam.The slaying of kamsa,the Vamana

Avatharam,the churning of the milky ocean and the birth of Sri Andal are

enacted on special days.The slaying of kamsa is done on the 4rth day

of pahal pathu and Vamana Avatharam on the 7th day of pahal pathu at

SriRangam.On the 10th day of Pahal pathu Amrutha mandanam (churning of the

milky ocean)is done at Srirangam and Srivilliputtur(It is probably

Nachiaar Thirukkolam at Thiruvallikkeni on this day).At Srivilliputtur

Abhinayam on the birth and life of SrI Andal is also done.

 

4)Muthukkuri

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In this sevai the prediction of future /good fortune is made by the

Kattuvici(soothsayer) to the love-lorn lady (Nayaki),with the help of pearls.

Here Araiyar swamigal sings certain pasurams and perfoms abhinayam

simultaneously taking the role of Nayaki,her mother and the soothsayer

(Kattuvici).This is performed on the ninth day of pahal pathu at

SriRangam, the 10th day at Azhwar Thirunagari

and on 3 occassions at Srivilliputtur-during Margazhi Masam,Thai Masam and

Adi Masam-on the day after the Temple car reaches its Nilay after

Thiruvadipooram

 

ARAIYAR SEVAI TRADITION AT OTHER PLACES

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Apart from SriRangam,Srivilliputtur and Azhwar Thirunagari ,Araiyar

Sevai is also done at Melkote(karnataka).Here the Araiyar Swamigal sings

the pasurams but does not perform Abhinayam.At Thirukkurungudi a very

famous Divya desam with a rich tradition of Araiyar Sevai,i was told

the Araiyar swamigal is very old and thus cannot perform Service.There is

also evidence that Araiyar Sevai existed at Kanchipuram and Thirumalai in

the past.There are famous anectodes related to Kanchipuram and Thirukkungudi

which can be found in the Archives.

 

A PRAYER FOR THE TRADITION TO CONTINUE

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Araiyar Swamigal has the foremost role in the commencement/conduct of the

rituals during various utsavams at Srivilliputtur and SriRangam,and may

the Lord SrI Rangarajan,SrI Rangamannar and Thayar SrI Ranga Nachiyaar and

SrI Goda Nachiyaar be pleased to grace the Araiyar families who are

continuously engaged in singing Nithya Mangalam to the Divya Dampathis

with Kula abhivriddhi and therby continued and uninterrupted service for all

times to come.

 

 

adiyen Ramanuja dasan

Venkat S Iyengar