Melkote Vairamudi Festival

[Guest guest]

March 21 , 2005 is an EkAdasi day , when the devout fast all

day . It is also a day of feasting for the eyes of almost two laks

of devotees of Seluva Naarayana , the presiding deity of the ancient

temple at the sleepy town of Melkote . These devotees assemble at

Melkote known also as Thirunarayana Puram on this day

for having the darsan of their Lord adorning the legendary

diamond-studded crown , the Vaira Mudi . Seluva Narayana adorns

this ancient crown presented by Lord Krishna Himself on this night

and is taken in procession around the main streets around the temple

until the wee hours of the morning . People position themselves

at every vantage point to have the sacred darsan of the Lord

adorning the Vaira Mudi , while seated on a golden Garudan

with His divine consorts . Tradition has it that anyone , who has

the good fortune of worshipping the Lord in person on this occasion

will be freed from all their sins and will recieve the special blessings of

Seluva Narayanan.

 

The legend also has it that the Vaira Mudi was the crown worn by

Sriman Narayana at His abode at the Milky ocean ; it was stolen by

Virochana , the son of Bhaktha Prahlada , when the Lord was

sleeping . Virochana ran away to the nether world with the stolen

crown of the Lord and hid there . Garuda was requested later by

the devotees of the Lord to go after Virochana and recover

the Vaira Mudi . Garuda descended to the nether world , fought

with Virochana , defeated him , recovered his Lord's crown

and was flying back to his Lord's abode , when he saw child Krishna

playing in the mid day heat with His friends at Brindhavan . Garuda

spread his wings over his Master , the young Krishna to provide shade

and then placed the Vaira Mudi on the head of Lord Krishna .

Local legend states that Lord Krishna came later to Thirunarayana

Puram from Dwaraka and presented the Vaira Mudi to Seluva Narayanan.

 

Based on the temple traditions , Vaira Mudi is not to be seen in day light .

Hence , it is brought to Thirunarayana Puram from Mandya District treasury

on the day of the festival in a special casket shielded from the Sun's rays .

There is special police protection for this casket during its journey

from Mandya treasury to the temple at Melkote and back on this day .

When the casket containing Vaira Mudi arrives at the boundaries of the town ,

it is recieved with temple honors and brought to the temple on a special

palanquin . The sacred crown arrives at the temple around 5.30 PM .

It rests in front of Acharya Ramanuja's sanctum for another four hours.

Here , the Lord Seluva Narayanan is fitted with the Vaira Mudi by

the temple priest before the adoring eyes of Acharya Ramanuja .

No one can see the Vaira Mudi until the Lord adorns it . Hence ,the officiating

priest covers his eyes with a silk garment , lifts the Vaira Mudi from

the casket and places it on the Lord's head as a part of the coronation

ceremony . Now the procession starts and lasts until the early hours of

the morning of the next day .The majesty of this festival is matchless .

The quiet town of Melkote comes to life during this special festival.

 

Lord Seluva Narayanan is the darling child or Sella Pillai of AchArya

Ramanuja , who arrived at Melkote , when he was 82 years young

and stayed for 12 long years at Melkote worshipping the Lord .

Seluva Narayanan is also known as Rama Priyan since He was

worshipped by Lord Ramachandra during His incarnation as

the son of King Dasaratha .

 

Thirunarayana Puram (Melkote) has a sacred temple on the hill

for Lord Narasimha consecrated by Prahlada . Many Vaishnavite

Acharyas like Nanjeeyar and the first Jeeyar of Ahobila Mutt were born

here . A famous Sanskrit Acdaemy is located at Melkote and has

its research center in sylvan settings not too far from the temple .

Melkote is also famous for a local sweet preparation named

Melkote Manoharam , the sacred white clay used by Vaishnavas

on their foreheads , Ulundurai , a variation on the traditional

Pongal using black gram and special handloom clothings .

Many Hoysala Temples are within driving distance of Melkote

and have enduring links to the times , when Acharya Ramanuja

stayed in Karnataka desam .

[Guest guest]

March 21 , 2005 is an EkAdasi day , when the devout fast all

day . It is also a day of feasting for the eyes of almost two laks

of devotees of Seluva Naarayana , the presiding deity of the ancient

temple at the sleepy town of Melkote . These devotees assemble at

Melkote known also as Thirunarayana Puram on this day

for having the darsan of their Lord adorning the legendary

diamond-studded crown , the Vaira Mudi . Seluva Narayana adorns

this ancient crown presented by Lord Krishna Himself on this night

and is taken in procession around the main streets around the temple

until the wee hours of the morning . People position themselves

at every vantage point to have the sacred darsan of the Lord

adorning the Vaira Mudi , while seated on a golden Garudan

with His divine consorts . Tradition has it that anyone , who has

the good fortune of worshipping the Lord in person on this occasion

will be freed from all their sins and will recieve the special blessings of

Seluva Narayanan.

 

The legend also has it that the Vaira Mudi was the crown worn by

Sriman Narayana at His abode at the Milky ocean ; it was stolen by

Virochana , the son of Bhaktha Prahlada , when the Lord was

sleeping . Virochana ran away to the nether world with the stolen

crown of the Lord and hid there . Garuda was requested later by

the devotees of the Lord to go after Virochana and recover

the Vaira Mudi . Garuda descended to the nether world , fought

with Virochana , defeated him , recovered his Lord's crown

and was flying back to his Lord's abode , when he saw child Krishna

playing in the mid day heat with His friends at Brindhavan . Garuda

spread his wings over his Master , the young Krishna to provide shade

and then placed the Vaira Mudi on the head of Lord Krishna .

Local legend states that Lord Krishna came later to Thirunarayana

Puram from Dwaraka and presented the Vaira Mudi to Seluva Narayanan.

 

Based on the temple traditions , Vaira Mudi is not to be seen in day light .

Hence , it is brought to Thirunarayana Puram from Mandya District treasury

on the day of the festival in a special casket shielded from the Sun's rays .

There is special police protection for this casket during its journey

from Mandya treasury to the temple at Melkote and back on this day .

When the casket containing Vaira Mudi arrives at the boundaries of the town ,

it is recieved with temple honors and brought to the temple on a special

palanquin . The sacred crown arrives at the temple around 5.30 PM .

It rests in front of Acharya Ramanuja's sanctum for another four hours.

Here , the Lord Seluva Narayanan is fitted with the Vaira Mudi by

the temple priest before the adoring eyes of Acharya Ramanuja .

No one can see the Vaira Mudi until the Lord adorns it . Hence ,the officiating

priest covers his eyes with a silk garment , lifts the Vaira Mudi from

the casket and places it on the Lord's head as a part of the coronation

ceremony . Now the procession starts and lasts until the early hours of

the morning of the next day .The majesty of this festival is matchless .

The quiet town of Melkote comes to life during this special festival.

 

Lord Seluva Narayanan is the darling child or Sella Pillai of AchArya

Ramanuja , who arrived at Melkote , when he was 82 years young

and stayed for 12 long years at Melkote worshipping the Lord .

Seluva Narayanan is also known as Rama Priyan since He was

worshipped by Lord Ramachandra during His incarnation as

the son of King Dasaratha .

 

Thirunarayana Puram (Melkote) has a sacred temple on the hill

for Lord Narasimha consecrated by Prahlada . Many Vaishnavite

Acharyas like Nanjeeyar and the first Jeeyar of Ahobila Mutt were born

here . A famous Sanskrit Acdaemy is located at Melkote and has

its research center in sylvan settings not too far from the temple .

Melkote is also famous for a local sweet preparation named

Melkote Manoharam , the sacred white clay used by Vaishnavas

on their foreheads , Ulundurai , a variation on the traditional

Pongal using black gram and special handloom clothings .

Many Hoysala Temples are within driving distance of Melkote

and have enduring links to the times , when Acharya Ramanuja

stayed in Karnataka desam .

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