Thai amavasya which corresponded with 8/2/2016 of the English calendar was very special this year. When amavasya falls on a Monday in the month of Thai, when Sravana nakshatram is in ascendence the day is very auspicious and is a rare occurence. Devotees made use of this opportunity to bathe in the sea (samudra snanam) at Tirupullani and Mahabalipuram.
At Vishnu Kanchi the residents had the darsana saubhaghyam of Devadhirajan coming to their doorsteps on His way to the Vanabhojana utsavam at Palar at daybreak. We had ‘Udhaya Varada Sevai’. Varadaraja Perumal along with His consorts left the temple at 4.30 a.m. and when the ‘maina-pallaku’ came to South Mada Veedhi it was about 5.00a.m. Kolams were ready and devotees waited with their offerings of fruits and camphor.
Usually Swami Desikan comes in purappadu along Sannidhi street and the mada- veedhis in the morning but on that day the purappadu took place late evening .
At about 10 a.m. Sravana Tirumanjanam took place for Deepaprakasar and His consorts, Hayagreeva and Swami Desikan. It was a visual and aural treat to be present there that day and see the beautiful tirumanjanam done with milk, curds, honey, raw coconut water, turmeric and sandal-paste accompanied by the ‘Veda gosham’. The sahasradara tirumanjanam for Swami Desikan with Lakshmi Hayagreeva swami sitting on the silver sieve was particularly great. By the time tirumanjanam was over it was 1.00 p.m. Perumal theertham, Srisathari, and sumptuous prasadam were distributed to all devotees.
Varadan aradhanam at Swami Desikan sannidhi at Srirangarajaveedhi
Varadaraja Perumal and His consorts who had left for ‘Palar mandapam’ for vanabhojhanam returned at about 7.00 p.m. Devotees lined along the route with their offerings. Perumal and His Consorts stopped at Swami Desikan’s temple on Srirangarajaveedhi where aradhanai took place. The temple was filled with aesthetic kolams. The notes of ‘The Vedas’ and Azhwar Pasurams filled the air. The temple was packed with devotees who were all blessed with theertham, srisathari and prasadams. After this Perumal went via Anai-kati street and sannidhi street to the temple. Swami Desikan from Thoopul was waiting for Him on Sannidhi Street and went back to Thoopul after having darshan of his favourite Deity. It was past nine p.m. then. Varadaraja Perumal after entering the temple stopped at Swami Desikan sannidhi within the temple premises before returning to asthanam.
The following are the photos taken during the Utsavam:
Photos & VIdeos: Sri Sundararajan, Write up: Smt Vyjayanthi Rajan
The title should read Thoopul Swami Desikan Thai Sravana Tirumanjanam and Kanchi Varadan’s return to aasthanam after vanabojanam.