Anushtana Utsavam at Kanchipuram

[Guest guest]

Swamy Deshikan Thiruvadigale Sharanam !!!

 

Sriman Shathakopan has already described this mega event in a very

spectacular way. adiyEn shall add a few more observations to this.

 

Margazhi morning at Kanchipuram. Varadan seats himself in the Kannadi

mantapam. Ramanujar in a prostrating posture seats beside him. Varadar could

be seen wearing a velvet garment with the Thiruppavai pasuram for the day

inscribed on it.

 

At around 11 in the morning the procession amidst a huge sea of Veda goshti

and Prabandha goshti leaves the temple with Perumal inside a palanquin and

Ramanujar following Him.

 

The procession stops at the entrance of Thuppul, where in maryaadai is

offered to the Lord and Ramanujar. The goshti immediately proceeds further

and reaches the sAlai kiNaru. Meanwhile shARRumuRai is completed at Thuppul

and Deshikan is ready decking himself for the occassion.

 

The procession reaches the mantapam next to sAlai KiNaru. Arrangements for

Thirumanjanam are made. The representative of Thatha Deshikan brings in

water from the Kinaru amidst a big Veda goshti. Detailed Thirumanjanam is

performed amidst Kattiyam seviththal etc. Thirumanjanam is followed by

Nivedanam, shaRRumuRai, teertha goshti and prasadam. Perumal is now decked

with Bow and arrow signifying His manifestation as a hunter and huntress in

escorting Ramanuja from the forests to Kanchipuram. Perumal now leads the

way and Ramanujar follows behind him, signifying as to how the Hunter

escorted Ramanuja.

 

As soon as the procession crosses the Thuppul agraharam bend, Deshikan comes

out of his sannidhi and waits anxiously at the entrance.

 

Deshikan adored in the finest of garments and ornaments. wears a crown of

velvet with konDai enmeshed with pearls. Vadyams double and the goshti

almost triples at this stage.

 

As soon as the procession arrives at the entrance of Thuppul, Deshikan first

does maryadai to Varadan with pattu-vastrams etc and then to Ramanujar.

Deshikan then recieves maalai from Varadan and Ramanujar and traces his

steps back in an act of welcoming his guests. He stands at the mukha dvaram

of the temple and allows Varadan and Ramanujar to move into the temple and

then gently follows them. Varadan is then seated on a simhasanam. To His

left Ramanujar is seated on an acharya peetam. To Varadan's right Deshikan

seats himself on the floor ! (This shows the peak of his acharya bhakti).

The confluence is bewitching.

 

Deshikan then performs Thiruvaradhanam to Varadan. TaLigai is then offered

by Deshikan to his roya; guests. Soon after this Varadan blesses Ramanujar

with his shatari and malai, which is in turn conveyed by Ramanuja to Swamy

Deshikan. This is followed by teertha goshti and prasadam.

Soon after this Varadan and Ramanujar decied to take leave of Swamy

Deshikan. Deshikan moves first in an act of escorting them and stands at the

entrance to see his guests off. He then follows them for a few more yards

and stays there for a minute or two. Delighted beyond limits he retires to

his asthanam after this.

 

vAzhi vyAkhyAmuddirak kai !!!

vedAntasUri haraNau sharaNam prapadye !!!