[sri ramanuja] Thiruvathirai Celebrations in Emperumanar Sannidhi - Alwarthirunagari.

[Guest guest]

sri Ramanujaya Namaka:

Alwar Emperumanar Jeeyar Thiruvadigale Saranam:

 

Dear Bhagavathas,

 

I have the pleasure to brief this group on the recent Thiruvathirai (Arudhra) celebration happened in Alwarthirunagari emperumanar temple. Normally, any Thiruvathirai day celebration are like a utasavam in this temple. It's a feast to share this anubhavam (experience) with this group.

 

Temple started with routine thirupalliEluchi at 7:00 A.M. and with balabhogam (Prasadham) distribution to HH Sri Devaraja Ramanuja Jeeyar Swamigal. Around 8:00 A.M a grand Alankara Thirumanjhanam (Holy Abishekam) along with ghosti members chanting "Sukthathigal" (Purusha suktham, sri suktham, vishnu suktham etc.) was a very pleasant experience to the devotees gathered to watch this event. Milk, butter milk, honey, sandal paste and Panja Kavyam are used during this thirumanjhanam. At the end of this thirumanjhanam, there is tradition of distributing the Milk and eravaadai theertham (Water from deities wet clothes) to ghosti members and other devotees.

 

Udaiyavar alankaram was done after the thirumanjhanam and it is always a feast to see Udaiyavar with this grant alankaram. At the opening of main sanctum screen, we can always hear an loud ecstatic scream from the devotees gathered for this dharsan.

 

After a brief time of performing devotees archana and other devotee services, focus will be back to performing Ramanuja noorRanthathi Ghosti. During this ghosti, ghosti chants kanninun siruthambu, thirupallandu, thiruppavai, and then ramanuja noorthandhathi. At the end of this ghosti, sathumurai ghosti will be performed and ghosti members will be honored by sampavanai ( with beetal leaves and fruits).

 

A grand prasadham distribution will end the temple activities for the Morning session.

 

During the evening session, around 5:00 P.M Ghadhyatharayam Ghosti has a special significance during any thiruvathirai day. During this ghosti, ghosti chants saranagathi, Sriranga, Vaikunta Ghadhyam and finally end with Ethiraja Vimsathi. By the tradition any ghosti will end with Sathumurai and ghosti sampavani. Finally, this day was ended with Thiruvisagam.

 

It is always a feast to have dharsan of Sri emperumanar during any Thiruvathirai day. Devotees of emperumanar should visit this temple at least one time in their life time to have darshan during a Thiruvathirai day.

 

Adeyan dasan,

Jegannathan M Ramanujam