Azagiya Manavalanin Adhi Brhmothsavam Day 1

[Guest guest]

Sri:

 

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Theeratha Venai Anaithum Theerkum Koil

Thiruvarangam Ana Thigazum Kiol Thaney "

 

 

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Dear Sriranga Sri members and friends,

My sashtanga Namaskaram to Namperumal and Sri RangaNachiyar!.

Srirangam is a legendary town in this world, also called the Bhuloga

Vaikundam. It is the grand palace of Lord Sri Ranganatha. Today, at

Srirangam, the Adhi Brahmothsavam has started. We would like to share

the significance of each day with all our dear members and friends at

.

Today is the First day of Adhi Brhmothsavam(Panguni Thirunaal) in the

town of Thiruvarangam - The adhipathi of the representative of the 4

vedas: The very famous Pranavakara Vimanam. While writing about the

festival, the thoughts of Srirangam and its glory embrace me. I cant

stop getting lost in the thoughts of those beautiful chitra streets

where our own child, Namperumal strolls through everyday. One footing

on these streets would explain the whole greatness of the place. Such

is the divinity in all parts of Srirangam.

On this day, Namperumal, as usual, goes to Chitra Strees from HIS

moolasthanam. My sincere prayer is that HIS beautiful voiyyara nadai,

kasturi thilakamum, the pleasent smell of the soil along kaveri and

everything that has any relation with Sri Ranganatha must always be

with us

 

Adhi Brahmothsavam starts with ThirumULai. It begins in the evening

at Sri Ranganathar’s Sanctum Sanctorum (Moolasthalam / Garbagruham).

Archakas of Srirangam tie the Rakshabhandhanam (sacred thread) on

Periya PerumAL (mUlavar). Then the Rakshabhandhanam is tied to

Azhagiya Manavalan (uthsavar) followed by Namperumal’s

commander-in-chief Senai Mudhaliyar (Vishvaksenar).

At Srirangam, Senai Mudhaliyar with go on a procession to Sri Ranga

Nachiyar sannidhi. Following this, they visit Sthala Vruksham, which

is the Bilva Tree near Sri Ranga Nachiyar sannidhi. From the bottom

of the Bilva Tree, the three take the soil for Palika Sthapanam or

preparation of Palika for the sacred event to follow. Afterwards, they

return to their own sanctums.

 

Senai Mudhaliyar goes on a procession around the Chithra streets

around the temple to ensure that the streets are prepared for the

grand festival and also to ensure that the people of Srirangam are in

good health. He lets the people of Srirangam know that NamperumAL

will be making visits during the Adhi Brahmothsavam to bless and take

care of His adiyarkku adiyars (devotee of devotees).

 

Adhi BrahmOthsavam was a sacred festival created by Lord BrahmA

himself for Lord RanganAthA. It is celebrated on the day when Lord

Ranganatha arrived on the Bhuloka (earth) from Sathya loka. In

Srirangam, Adhi BrahmOthsavam was first celebrated by Chozha King,

DharmavarmA, RavaNA’s younger brother and the newly crowned ruler of

Sri LankA, Sri VibheeshaNan. On the Lord RanganAthA’s

thirunakshathiram (birth star) of Rohini in the sacred month of

Panguni, which falls between the Gregorian calendar months of

March-April, the festival is started with the kodiyEtham or

DwajarohaNam (flag hoisting). The festival lasts 11 days. The most

sacred day of the 11 days is sacred day of Panguni uthiram, which

falls on the 9th day, when the Divya thambadhigaL, Sri Azhagiya

MaNavAlan and Sri Renga NAchiAr are seen together for one whole day

(serthi sevai) on the day of the star of uthiram in the month of

Panguni. Sri RamAnujAchAriar had waited for this sacred day of the

year to compose his great work of “Gathyathrayamâ€. This is the only

day in a year that is completely blessed by both Sri Ranganatha and

Sri Renga Nachiar together.

On the first day, the DwajarOhanam or kodiyatham happens in the early

morning hours. Sri RangaNatha starts his procession at 3:30 AM in the

morning, on his vengala ratham (Bronze Car). The flag is then hoisted

in the Dwajasthamaba mandapam in His presence between 4:30 AM and

5:00 AM. After the flag hoisting, the Lord returns to the kannadi

arai (mirror room) for sevai to His bhakthaas.

By 4:30 PM, they will perform, Beri thadanam, when all the dhevathas

are bonded. This signifies that since the kodiyatham has happened,

nobody in Srirangam is allowed to leave the town until the end of the

uthsavam.

At 6:30 PM, Lord Ranganatha and Ubaya Nachiyar go on a procession

around the Chithra streets of Srirangam. They both arrive at the yaga

sAlai (place where yagas or rituals are performed). The Lord will

have Thirumanjanam up to midnight while the pancha kunda homam (ritual

with fire) will happen. Then the Lord returns to kaNNAdi arai for the

rest of the night. This concludes day 1 of the uthsavam.

 

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