Anushtana Utsavam at Kanchipuram

[Guest guest]

> Swamy Deshikan Thiruvadigale Sharanam !!!

>

> Sriman Shathakopan has already described this mega event in a very

> spectacular way. adiyEn shall add a few more observations to this.

>

> Margazhi morning at Kanchipuram. Varadan seats himself in the Kannadi

> mantapam. Ramanujar in a prostrating posture seats beside him. Varadar

> could be seen wearing a velvet garment with the Thiruppavai pasuram for

> the day inscribed on it.

>

> At around 11 in the morning the procession amidst a huge sea of Veda

> goshti and Prabandha goshti leaves the temple with Perumal inside a

> palanquin and Ramanujar following Him.

>

> The procession stops at the entrance of Thuppul, where in maryaadai is

> offered to the Lord and Ramanujar. The goshti immediately proceeds further

> and reaches the sAlai kiNaru. Meanwhile shARRumuRai is completed at

> Thuppul and Deshikan is ready decking himself for the occassion.

>

> The procession reaches the mantapam next to sAlai KiNaru. Arrangements for

> Thirumanjanam are made. The representative of Thatha Deshikan brings in

> water from the Kinaru amidst a big Veda goshti. Detailed Thirumanjanam is

> performed amidst Kattiyam seviththal etc. Thirumanjanam is followed by

> Nivedanam, shaRRumuRai, teertha goshti and prasadam. Perumal is now decked

> with Bow and arrow signifying His manifestation as a hunter and huntress

> in escorting Ramanuja from the forests to Kanchipuram. Perumal now leads

> the way and Ramanujar follows behind him, signifying as to how the Hunter

> escorted Ramanuja.

>

> As soon as the procession crosses the Thuppul agraharam bend, Deshikan

> comes out of his sannidhi and waits anxiously at the entrance.

>

> Deshikan adored in the finest of garments and ornaments. wears a crown of

> velvet with konDai enmeshed with pearls. Vadyams double and the goshti

> almost triples at this stage.

>

> As soon as the procession arrives at the entrance of Thuppul, Deshikan

> first does maryadai to Varadan with pattu-vastrams etc and then to

> Ramanujar. Deshikan then recieves maalai from Varadan and Ramanujar and

> traces his steps back in an act of welcoming his guests. He stands at the

> mukha dvaram of the temple and allows Varadan and Ramanujar to move into

> the temple and then gently follows them. Varadan is then seated on a

> simhasanam. To His left Ramanujar is seated on an acharya peetam. To

> Varadan's right Deshikan seats himself on the floor ! (This shows the peak

> of his acharya bhakti). The confluence is bewitching.

>

> Deshikan then performs Thiruvaradhanam to Varadan. TaLigai is then offered

> by Deshikan to his roya; guests. Soon after this Varadan blesses Ramanujar

> with his shatari and malai, which is in turn conveyed by Ramanuja to Swamy

> Deshikan. This is followed by teertha goshti and prasadam.

> Soon after this Varadan and Ramanujar decied to take leave of Swamy

> Deshikan. Deshikan moves first in an act of escorting them and stands at

> the entrance to see his guests off. He then follows them for a few more

> yards and stays there for a minute or two. Delighted beyond limits he

> retires to his asthanam after this.

>

> vAzhi vyAkhyAmuddirak kai !!!

> vedAntasUri haraNau sharaNam prapadye !!!