Who started the Adhyayana Uthsavam?

[Guest guest]

Quoted from the Nivedana's Forwarded mail:

 

" Adhyayana Utsavam was not started by De:sika Swamy. It

was started by Thirumangai Alwar only. "

 

Thiru Adhyayana Uthsavam actually not started by Sri Thirumangai Azhwar. The

Adhyayana Uthsavam was conducted even

before Sri Thirumangai Azhwar. But in those days only Veda parayanam was done

for Sri Namperumal. (Which is true because even now in all the temples during

the Iraappathu uthsavam, Vedam has been recited during the day time. On the day

of Vaikunta Ekadesi we start with Veda Vinnappam and on the day of Sri Azhwar's

moksham, we first do the Veda Satrumarai and then only Thiruvaimozhi

Satrumarai.) But Sri Thirumangai Azhwar added the Dravida Vedam to it and

brought Swami Nammazhwar's Archa Thirumeni to SriRangam (from Azhwar

Thirunagari).

Adiyen got these information from a book written by Sri Puththur Krishna Swami

Iyengar. Sri Puththur Swami also quotes from Periyavachan Pillai's " Kaliyan

Arulpadu " with regards to the Thiru Adhyayana Uthsavam.

 

The legend goes as follows:

 

Once Sri Namperuaml was very pleased with Sri Thirumangai Mannan's

ThiruNedunthandagam (Actually Thirumangai Mannan

was the first Arayar , who sang and performed abhinayam for

Thirunedumthandakam Pasuram in front of SriRanganatha) and told

Arachakas to honor Thirumangai Mannan. At that time Thirumangai Azhwar

asked SriRanganatha a boon. During the Adhyayana Uthsavam (which was

celebrated ten days starting from Margazhi Sukla Paksha Ekadesi)

along with Vedas, Sri Ranganatha should also hear Dravida Vedas. And

Ranganatha was very happily granted this boon to Thirumangai Azhwar.

During this time, Thirumangai Mannan used to bring Swami Nammazhwar's

thirumeni from Azhwar Thirunagari to SriRangam.

For this Thirumangai Mannan will start from Srirangam on the day

of Karthigai Karthigai (his own thirunakshatram) with a special message from the

Lord saying that Swami Nammazhwar should come to the ThiruMamani mandapam (Where

Sri Namperumal usually hears all the Vedas during the ten days of Adhyayana

Uthsavam) therefore Sri Namperumal would hear Swami Nammazhwar's Thiruvaimozhi

in the presence of Azhwar's thirumeni from Azhwar Thirunagari.

Even today this tradition is followed in most of the temples where the

Kattiyakarar or the Sthalathar who has the traditional rights along with

temple's Paricharakas goes to Swami Nammazhwar's shrine and read the message

from the Perumal.

The day Swami Nammazhwar would arrive in SriRangam on the day of Sukla Paksha

Ekadasi (Sri Vaikunta Ekadasi).

On this auspicious day, Swami Nammazhwar was adorned with Muthangi

and Namperumal with Rathnangi.

Starting from Ekadasi, next ten days, Swami Nammazhwar's prabhandhams

was recited in front of Namperumal. After the days of Sri Thirumangai Azhwar,

the practice was slowly stopped. Later Sri Nathamunigal restarted this practice

along with other Azhwar's prabhandhams. Ten days were added before the original

Adhyayana Uthsavam and it was called as Pagalpaththu.

And one more day for Iyarpa and the total days of celebrations were 21.

Later during the days of Sri Parasara Bhattar, one more day was added to give a

special importance to ThiruNedunthandagam. Therefore total

celelbrations would go for twenty two days. (Remember because of

ThiruNedunthandagam recitation only everything else started)

First Day: ThiruNedunthandagam

Next ten days: PagalPaththu (for Other Azhwar's prabhandhams)

Next ten days: IrapPaththu (for Sri Nammazhwar's Thiruvaimozhi) [The original

Adhyayana uthsavam was conducted only for this duration)

One day: for Iyarpa

After Thirumangai Mannan, due to practical difficulties, a

Thirumeni of Swami Nammazhwar must have been installed in SriRangam

temple. The Anadhyayana period is the time when Swami Nammzhwar is on transit to

Srirangam.

Therefore, our Poorvacharyas might thought, it is not appropriate for us to

recite, as the entire 4000 Pranbhandhams was considered as

the Pranbhandhams of Swami Nammazhwar (Nathnakku Nalayiramum alithan

vazhiye).

Most of these information are available in Sri Puththur Swami's book. If anyone

would like to refer to it please let me know. I will try to send it.

Thanks,

Ramanujadasan Kannan

 

 

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[Guest guest]

 Sriman Kannanji, Thanks for your kind interest in responding to the genuine question. Now I am more confused though. Can you please answer in lay man terms ( with as many english words as possible)

1. What is Adhyayana Utsavam? 2. Why is this utsavam done? What is the significance before Sri Thirumangai Azhwar's period and after His period?

3. What did it contain before Sri Thirumangai Azhwar?

4. Why is it done on each of the day?

5. Is this same festival for both the sampradayas?

6. If only Veda Parayana was done before Sri Thirumangai Azhwar why was it call Adyayana Utsavam. 7. In US people started doing Thiru Adyayana Utsavams which include only chanting Divya Prabandham during dhanurmasam period and I was told that the utsavam was  being done because it is prohibited to chant divya prabandham in the homes and hence they are chanting in the temple. thanks for your time and kindness.

Nivedana