Azagiya Manavalan in Thanga kuthurai (golden horse) vahanam

[Guest guest]

Dear Srirangasri members and our respectable and honourable friends

 

My Saashtaanga pranaams to Azagiya manavalan and Sriranga Naachiyaar

 

We have just two more days left for the completion of Virupam Thirunaal

 

Today is the 8th day of Virupan Thirunal festival in Sri Rangam. Our Azhagiya Manavalan goes around the chitra streets in the evening on Golden Horse vahanam (Thanga Kudurai Vahanam)Sri Ranganatha is the savior of all creatures. He protects them as His duty. Since Sri Rangam is the abode of the lord Himself, this is the ONLY  place on earth which is worth being called as " Bhooloka Vaikuntham " . Blessed are those who are born in Sri Rangam, those who live in Sri Rangam and those who end their materialistic existance by leaving their body, in Sri Rangam.One must always consider it a goal in life to visit Sri Rangam at least once, though not plan to live there. But the best thing to do is - Be born, live and get Moksham in Sri Rangam. One must think only of those activities that are connected with Sri Ranganatha -

 - Buying vegetables that are grown on the banks of holi kaveri river that washes the feet of the Almighty - Eat food that is prasadam after offering to Sri Ranganatha  - Have water (Theertham) that was offered to Him 

 - Get blessed by Him through the Sri Shatari (Sri Sadagoppan - Lotus feet of the Lord).

As mentioned in one of my earlier mails, legend holds that Perumal and Thayar personally appear in Sri Rangam to take the departed souls to Vaikuntham.

All the creatures on earth always crave to be a vahanam for Him. Simha Vahanam, Yali Vahanam, Hamsa Vahanam etc justify the fact. These are the cratures in Deva Lokha that represent other earthly creatures. The silver horse vahanam that carried the Lord this morning was evidently very happy as he got such a great chance to carry Perumal on his back.

Similarly, the Golden Horse Vahanam in the evening is so ecstatic for obvious reasons. He moves gracefully with all the bhaktas around. He screams at the top of his voice, the lord's name ... " Ranga.... " and takes Perumal around all the chitra streets on his back. Once the shadow of our Azhagiya Manavalan's feet falls on kizh chitra street, the horse spots the heavenly charriot decorated by all the Muppattu Mukkodi Devathas waiting to carry the Lord. They very sight of the charriot makes the horse lose its senses. The very thought that Perumal would get off his back makes the horse go crazy. He loses his mind and even forgets that he is carrying the lord on his back and starts running criss cross and zig zag across the east chitra street near the charriot. This is such a wonderful site and certainly holds so much meaning in it. It is for us, humans, to see the depth in the devotion of the horse and learn from this incident.

The lord then passifies and controls the horse and gets off his back on reaching the temple. Look at Azhagiya Manavalan's face - You would see that He so serious, all this ornaments and clothes are drenched as he was sweating while controlling the horse. " Oh Ranganatha, though we have always tried to keep you from sun's rays and rains, you have got drenched in your own sweat today. My sashtaanga Pranamams to you on behalf of our members, Sri Ranga Sri groups, and all those who read this emails and all their families, friends and kinds " . Having done all the rounds in Sri Rangam and contorlling the horse, our Azhagiya Manavalan moves to Kannadi Arai(palace of mirror) where he has a relaxing bath (Thirumanjanam) in warm water. He adornes a very delicate yet grand garland made of jasmine, vrukshi flower and pathiri flowers from Thondaradi podi azhwar's gardens, Madhura Kavi ahwar's garders. Afterwards, he is offered Aravanai (similar to chakkara pongal without moong dal, made of rice, jaggery, saffron, cardamom and ghee) and Milk with sugar and saffron. Then He goes to shayanam in the kannadi arai!!

Tomorrow, early in the morning, at 3AM, namperumal would move out of Kannadi Arai and proceed towards Thiru theru (Chariot). He would reach the chariot at 4:30 AM, in Meena Laghnam. On His way, He enjoys Siriya Thirumadal and Periya Thirumadal, Veda Vinnappam goshti. AT sunrise at around 6AM, the chariot would leave for procession. So, I request all devotees to go to bed early tonight as we need to wake up early in to morning tomorrow and be present at the temple at 3AM! Please wake up in the morning and take a lopok at your palms - Right palm being Ranganatha and the left palm being Ranganayaki.

A very important significance of chitirai utsavams is that Azhagiya Manavalan Himself travels to all the near by villages and urges the people to attend the Rathotsavam and drag the charriot on the 8th day. This is the reason why people from near by villages visit Sri Rangam on the 8th day chitirai utsavam along with their frinds and family. They carry water in pails and pitchers and sprinkle it on the streets in order to leave the streets cooler. Devotees scream " Ranga...Ranga...Ranga..Ranga... " at the top of their voices and perform " Anga Pradakshanam " as other devotees continue to sprinkle water on the streets ahead of them. This is such a beautiful sight and experience that can never be described by anyone by any means - email / word documents / any publications. The devotion of the villagers who come to the festival is so deep that it can be understood only by Perumal Himself. The depth of their devotion is unmatched.

My father, Anna Ranga Raja Bhattar once told me when Perumal came in front of our house during the 8th day of Chittirai Ustavam that it was on the 8th day of this festival that the great saint-composer, Thyagaraja composed the song, " rAju veDale jUtAmurArE kastUri ranga " in Todi Ragam.

I sincerely pray to Lord Ranganatha who is currenlty resting in kannadi arai, to bless all those who attended and worshipped the lord on this great day and also the people who read about Him and enjoyed His pictures though this mail.

 

 

" Our parents and grand Parents used to say if we do mischief in our childhood “don’t do that, if you do that again, see the arrow at Rangan’s hand that will hurt your eyesâ€. I want to point out that Sri Ranganatha’s Arrow will remove all our obstacles, worries in our life. "

 

Incase anyone amongst you find some mistake please kindly apologise.