Fw: The Lord Rides a Bird

[Guest guest]

- sadagopaniyengar

; Oppiliappan ; tiruvenkatam ;

ramanua

Sunday, June 26, 2005 3:17 PM

The Lord Rides a Bird

Srimate SrivanSatakopa Sri Vedanta Desika Yatindra Mahadesikaya nama:

 

The Lord Rides a Bird

 

There is an air of eager expectancy among the huge crowd that has assembled.

>From the elderly to the babes in arms, everyone’s eyes are fixed on the

entrance. Unwilling to miss even a second of the scintillating spectacle, none

takes their eyes off the space between the tall doors that stand wide open.

There is just standing space for everyone, with people standing shoulder to

shoulder, occupying all vantage points. The rich and poor jostle together and

the learned Vidvans rub shoulders with the unlettered, all barriers of social

and economic origin temporarily banished. All of them tingle with anticipation

of the unparalleled spectacle that is about to unfold. Though the event occurs

with predictable regularity, you would think, going by the fervour of the

assembled sea of humanity, that this would be the last such spectacle for the

century.

 

“Will you come to the point?” enquires my daughter with exaggerated

politeness. However, readers would appreciate that there is nothing like a good

build up to set the proper tone to the article.

 

If there is one single event that never fails to attract a multitude, a single

annual occurrence that people eagerly look forward to, one spectacle that never

fails to enthral and enchant, it must definitely be the Kanchi Garuda Seva.

Though the annual Brahmotsavam for the Lord lasts ten days, with Emperuman

ensconced on different carriers or Vaahanams ranging from the solar orb to the

palanquin, it is definitely the Garuda Seva, which captures everyone’s

imagination and is a terrific crowd-puller. Garudotsavam in general is an

extremely popular event with all and sundry. Based on scriptural texts, many

regard witnessing the utsavam as a sure-cure for even long-standing diseases.

And though the festival is celebrated at all the temples of the Lord, big and

small, the event at Kanchi has something special about it which can only be

experienced and not described.

 

The curtains open pretty early in the morning, at the Vaahana Mandapam inside

the temple, revealing the breath-taking spectacle of Deva Perumal ensconced on

His favourite carrier, Garuda. Bedecked in His numerous glittering and glorious

ornaments from head to foot, with His sacred feet stretched out to rest safely

in the wide palms of the beautiful bird, Sri Varadan presents a magnificent

sight to our sore eyes—a sight even the celestials, who keep constant

company with the Lord, would hate to miss. Clad in all His finery, with a

beautiful headgear, Sri Tepperumal leans back regally, every bit the

Magnificent Monarch—Devaadi Rajan. The pockmarks on His divine

countenance, signifying His origins from the sacrificial fires, add to His

boundless beauty. As always, He sports the Sudar Azhi and Ven Sankham—the

Divine Discus and the Cosmic Conch-- which He is loathe to part with even for a

second, for fear that it might delay a rescue mission for saving a devotee.

Huge garlands encircle His tirumeni, trying in vain to add to His fragrance.

 

And down below, Garuda presents no less of an enthralling sight. His countenance

bears a broad and beautiful smile, obviously occasioned by the pride and

privilege of carrying the Parabrahmam itself on his shoulders. What adds to his

delight is the honour of bearing both the Lord’s feet in his palms. If you

look close enough, Garuda’s clutch of the Lord’s tiruvadis is

extremely gentle, reflecting his fear that these delicate feet might get

bruised even with tender handling. His long beak curved majestically, Garuda

appears ready to take off, with one knee bent and poised for flight.

 

Even in these wee hours, a virtual sea of humanity gathers at the spot, to pay

obeisance to the stationary Lord. And precisely at 4a.m., a loud cracker goes

off, signifying the start of the proceedings. Immediately, the Lord launches on

His sojourn, to the delight of everyone present. After leaving His dressing room

(the Vaahana Mandapam), the Lord pauses a moment at the lower steps, as if to

afford all His devotees an opportunity to drink in His splendour. Thereafter,

there is no stopping Him. Circling the temple corridor, Sri Varadaraja presents

honours to His devoted servants of yore—Sri Nammazhwar, Sri Ramanuja,

Swami Desikan and Sri Manavala Mamunigal. In the dimly lit Praakaaram of the

temple, the Lord presents a tantalising spectacle, half-seen and half-unseen.

After pausing for the commencement of Aruliccheyal recital, Teppurumal arrives

finally at the Gopura Vaasal, to the delight of all those assembled there. A

huge cry of “Varada!” goes up, emanating from thousands of lips

simultaneously the Lord stands there majestically, with a huge ball of camphor

lit to display Him in all His magnificence. The huge umbrellas above dip just

for a moment, hiding His countenance—tradition has it that during that

second, Sri Varadan travels to Cholasimhapuram, to enable Sri Doddayacharyar to

have a glimpse of His splendour.

 

Once he leaves the temple entrance, Garuda gathers speed and carries Sri

Varadaraja with expedition, pausing only at a few places, en route to Gangai

Kondaan Mandapam in Siva Kanchi. The progress of the Lord along this route is a

spectacle to be witnessed and is remarkable for its speed, majesty and

magnificence. The speed makes it look as if the Lord, finding Garuda’s

pace inadequate, spurs him on, literally running

Himself—“Taarkshyam aaruhya dhaavan”. This is borne out by

Sri Nammazhwar’s line, “Odum Pul Eri”. While it may be

natural for people to fly on birds, have you ever heard of anyone running while

riding a bird? This is what Emperuman does, practically running while ensconced

on Periya Tiruvadi. In His haste to save devotees in distress, the Lord finds

His carrier’s speed inadequate and ends up running. We must consider here

that the Lord is riding on no ordinary bird, but the swiftest of them all. Yet,

His hurry makes Him impatient, just as we find the taxi’s speed

inadequate, when we are in a tearing hurry, even though the driver might be

going at the maximum speed.

 

If we imagine that only we mortals are assembled in huge numbers at Kanchi to

witness this magnificent spectacle, we would be sadly mistaken, says Swami

Desikan. The thirty-three crore and odd Devatas, led by Indra, Agni, Vayu and

others, line the streets of Kanchi, hoping to sanctify themselves with the dust

raised by the Lord’s majestic progress on Garuda, says the Acharya in the

following sloka from Hamsa Sandesam—

 

“Taam aaseedan pranama nagareem bhakti namrena moordhnaa

Jaataam aadou Krita yuga mukhe Dhaatu: icchaa vasena

Yat veetheenaam Karigiripate: vaaha veha avadhootaan

Dhanyaan renoom tridasa patayo dhaarayanti uttamaangai:”

 

Thus, exalted Devas stand shoulder to shoulder with us mortals at Kanchi,

(though invisible) their heads bowed in devotion and poised to receive the

sacred dust generated from the speedy progress of the Lord on Vainateya.

 

Any account of the Kanchi Garudotsavam would be incomplete without a mention of

the Veda Parayana Ghoshti, who follow the Lord wherever He goes, singing His

praises as recorded by the Veda Purusha. These mahatmas mind neither the hot

sun blazing above nor the blistering heat of the tarred roads, but continue

their resonant intonation with all sincerity and devotion, never leaving their

Lord for a second, till He returns to His abode, safe and sound. It is the Veda

Ghoshti at Kanchi which springs to our mind, whenever mention is made of ananya

prayojana kainkarya paras, sincere servants of the Lord who seek or expect

nothing from Him but the pleasure of constant service to Him and His votaries.

With the large and distinguished Divya Prabanda Ghoshti ahead of Him and the

Veda Parayana Ghoshti trailing Him, Varadan’s face is wreathed in a

beatific smile, reflecting His enjoyment of the branches of Shruti, one is

Tamizh and the other in Sanskrit.

 

The Garuda Vahanam is the most Vaidika vahanam of all. If you think I am

exaggerating, do listen to the Shruti, which admits that this Divine Bird is

indeed the embodiment of all Vedas. It is not for nothing that Sri Alavandar

describes him as “Vedaatma” (the soul of all scripture). Describing

the Lord’s triumphant travel across the skies, the Shruti tells us that

the various Vedic metres are but parts of Garuthman’s magnificent body,

constituting a chariot in which Emperuman rides majestically—

 

“Tasya Gayatri Jagati cha pakshou abhavataam,

Ushnik cha Trishtup cha prishtyou,

Anushtup cha Panktischa dhuryou,

Brihati eva uktirabhavat,

sa evam cchando ratham aastthaaya etam adhvaanam anu samacharat”.

 

And this is what Sri Varadaraja’s progress along the streets Kanchi

reminds us of. It is as if the Paramapurusha Himself has come down to Kanchi,

to let us all have a glimpse of how He travels in style.

 

It is perhaps a unique distinction of this Vaahanam that it figures specifically

in Bhootattaazhwar’s tribute, specifically extolling the praises of the

Lord atop the Great Bird—“Atthi ooraan pullai oorvaan” says

Azhwar, who too has been apparently impressed beyond measure by the Garuda

Sevai. The magnificence of this Emperuman has mesmerised not only Sri

Vaishnavas of all hues and persuasion, but everyone irrespective of caste,

creed, religion or even race, as would be evident from the composition of the

crowd thronging the festival. Proof, if such were needed, of this Lord’s

votaries transcending races, is available in the form of the Makara Kandi, a

priceless jewel offered to Perarulaalan with love and devotion by Robert Clive

of the East India Company.

 

The weather is oppressive and makes you sweat like a pig; the crowds are huge

and push and pummel you till you are sore in every limb;

the policemen don’t let you stand anywhere in peace, in their anxiety to

avoid a stampede; and wherever you do stand, a taller person stations himself

right in your line of vision, with his devotion prompting him to extend his

hands above his head, thereby further blocking your view. However, all these

minor inconveniences disappear in a trice, once you have your eyes’ fill

of Sri Varadaraja and His splendour. For that moment, you are unable to think

of anything but His magnificence, His majesty, His brilliance and His beauty

beyond compare. Your eyes fill with involuntary tears—“aananda

kanneer”—caused by the blissful experience. You now realise what

made Swami Desikan vow to forego even Paradise and opt for a constant sight of

Devapperumal in His various vaahanams—“Satyam sape Vaarana saila

naatha! Vaikunta vaasepi na me abhilaasha:”

 

It is no accident that the Lord dresses Himself and gets atop His various

vaahanams at the Vaahana Mandapam, which is also the sannidhi of Swami Desikan.

True to his ardent wish that he should constantly enjoy Emperuman’s

splendour in His various carriers, without even a moment’s interruption

caused by the blinking of the eye, (“anudinam animeshai: lochanai:

niriviseyam”) the Lord confers upon the Acharya the rare privilege of

enjoying the entire proceedings from extremely close quarters.

 

We have heard of people entrusting their souls to the Lord. A special feature of

this year’s Garuda Sevai was that one gentleman had entrusted his yellow

cloth bag and its contents to Garuda, hanging it from the Divine Bird’s

fingers, apparently to ensure its safekeeping. This has been captured for

posterity by a candid camera, which has faithfully recorded this “Bhara

Samarpanam”.

 

Srimate Sri LakshmiNrisimha divya paduka sevaka SrivanSatakopa Sri Narayana

Yatindra Mahadesikaya nama:

dasan, sadagopan