Consolidation of important events in emperumanar sannidhi Alwarthirunagari.

[Guest guest]

sRi:

 

sRimathe rAmanujaya naMa:

aLwar eMperumanar jeeYar tHiruvadigale saRanam

 

 

Dear Bhagavadas,

 

This time, I have the pleasure to consolidate all the important events that happened during the tamil month of Thai (Jan-Feb) in emperumanar temple - Alwarthirunagari. This is one of the month were no utasavadigal were scheduled for emperumanar temple.

 

 

Kaanum Pongal or Kanu pongal:

Tamil festival Kanu/kaanum Pongal is celebrated to emphasis the Brother-sister relationship. In tamil srivaishnava houses, ladies in the family get up early morning hours of kanu day. There is a tradition of making variety rice (Sweet pongal(left over from last day), pongal, Red rice, yellow rice etc.) This variety rice will be served in a turmeric leaves to various birds and all the ladies in a family gather around and say "kaka kurviku kalyanam". Finally, they pray for the well being of their brothers. Now, Brothers inturn visit their sisters and presenting them with money or nice gifts for remembering and praying for them during this day. This festival is reminiscent of Raksha Bandhan and Bhai Dooj of North India.

 

sagothara-sagothari (brother-sister) bhavam:

In emperumanar temple this festival was celebrated in grant manner to emphasis the sagothara-sagothari (brother-sister) bhavam.

There are several quotes exist in our history to establish this sagothara-sagothari relationship between Emperumanar and sri Andal. I like to refresh our memory with those quotes.

 

In Nachiyar Thirumozhi, Sri Nachiyar's love for emperuman is so ecstatic and in this ecstatic state she takes a vow of making 100 vessels of sweet pongal to thiruMaliruncholai nambi (Lord Azhagar - Madurai).

 

Please refer Nachiyar ThiruMozhi (9.6)

 

narunarum pozhil mAlirunchOlai nambikku nAn

nooru thadAvil vennai vAinErindhu parAvivaiththEn

nooru thadA niraindha akkAravadisil sonnEn

AruthiruvudaiyAn endru vandhu evai kollungolO

 

But opportunity never came for Sri Andal to fulfill her vow. But, "Thiruppavai Jeeyar" sri emperumanar, realizes this vow and he is fulfilling this vow during his avatharam. In turn, Sri Andal welcome sri emperumanar by calling him "nam kovil annan". Moreover, in one of the Andal Vazhi thirunamam says " Perumbhoodur mAmunikku pinnAnAl vAzhiyE" (Here andal is referred as the younger sister of perumbhoodur mAmuni, Sri emperumanar).

 

 

Celebration in emperumanar temple:

During the day of kanu, adi nachiyar and kuruka nachiyar visited the emperumanar temple. Both nachiyar's are adored with brand new cloths and other simple presents from emperumanar temple. There was special thirupavai and nachiyar thirumozhi ghosti during this celebration. Many devotees visited the temple and watched over the celebration of brother-sister bhavam.

 

Kooratthalwan Thirunakchathiram:

 

During the early hours of this day, Kooratthalwan visited naMaLwar temple. There is a tradition in naMalwar temple to wait for kooratthalwan on this day and kooratthu alwan will do the "Thirumanjanam" for nAmalwar. This is a special honor for kooratthalwan in namalwar temple. Later, kooratthalwan visited emperumanar temple. Now, kooratthalwan will do the thirumanjanam for emperumanar. Ramanuja noottru andhathi ghosti and sathumurai ghosti happened after this thirumanjanam. There was a bhogam and distribution after this ghosti. This day was ended with Kooratthalwan returning to his temple.

 

 

First alwarthirunagari emperumanar Jeeyar Thirunakchathira celebrations:

 

I already briefed this group on this activities marking the very first emperumanar jeeyar thirunakchathiram.

 

It is always feast to see a festivity in this temple. This is a ecstatic anubhavam for emperumanar devotees to see the smiling face Sri emperumanar and HH emperumanar jeeyar heading Ghosti.

 

Long Live this anubhavam,

Long live Sri emperumanar temple,

Long live HH Devaraja Ramanuja Jeeyar swamigal,

 

adeyan dasan,

Jegannathan M Ramanujam