Thiruvarangam Viruppan Thirunaal Chitrai Brahmotsavam Days 1&2

Azagiyamanavalanin Viruppan Thirunaal Chitrai Brahmotsavam Day 1

As we even think about Srirangam, it not only brings us the thought about Lord Ranganatha but it also brings the bliss and joy in our hearts. Srirangam is a place of great history, each and every festival that is celebrated at this holy place is celebrated for the people so as to bring the the people together.

On April 29, 2013, Azagiya Manavalan’s Brahmotsavam commenced.

Namperumal blessed everyone as he passed by the Chitra streets of Srirangam early morning and evening because he is Rangarajan, the King of Kings and Legend of Srirangam to make sure that his subjects in this beautiful city are all happy and peaceful. His blessing is not only with all the people of Srirangam but also with the others who not only worship him as a lord but feel him as an Acharyan /a problem solver /a friend.

On Day 1, Azagiya Manavalan left from the Kannadi Arai (Palace of Mirrors) with Ubayanachiar (Sreedevi and Boodevi) with Oyyara Nadai (Walking with Pride) in the Chitra Street inquiring the welfare of each and every one when he passed through the street, people shared their desires and the worries with him about which he discusses with Ubayanachiyar. After this he proceeded to Yahasala (Fire Ceremony Place) to attend the Pachagni Homam and Thirumanjanam with Sreedevi and Boodevi. Around 1 am yesterday morning he went back to Kannadi Arai and Ubayanachiyar proceeded to their Moola sthanam (Sanctum Sanctoram).

After just 6 hours of rest at around 7 am he proceeded in Pallaku (Palanquin) through the Chitra Streets and around 6 pm he proceeded in Karpaka vriksham (The Sacred tree that blesses people with whatever that they desire).

Azagiyamanavalanin Viruppan Thirunaal Chitrai Brahmotsavam Day 2 (April 30, 2013)

Yesterday was the second day of the uthsavam. Lord Namperumal started early at 6:30 AM from the Kanadi Arai(Mirror Palace) and walked (oyyara nadai) around the Chithra streets and arrived at the Asthana Mandapam of Kodiyalam Seshadri Iyengar Mandapam at 10:30 am. There are many mandapams in Srirangam where the Deity is brought over for resting for sometime on the way to Aasthana Mandapam along the way there are also many holy ponds, some of which are Vraja theertham, Sarayu theertham, Vriksha theertham, Kadamba theertham, Shanku theertham, Aja theertham, Chandra pushkarani Surya pushkarani etc., over which unfortunately many buildings and many flats have been constructed currently!

On the way towards Aasthana mantapam all the ubayadars (Donors) did the kainkaryam of our Namperumal offering fruits/flowers and prasadams. The Lord provides darshan to all His devotees at the Asthana Mandapam until 6:30 pm before getting on His Karpaga Vriksha Vahanam. After going around the Chithra streets, Lord Namperumal arrived at the Vahana Mandapam at 8:45 pm. At 9:15 pm, Lord Namperumal retired back to His temporary abode of Kannadi Arai.

Now, let us see about the Karpaga Vriksham and its significance starting with my personal experience:

It is believed (and I personally think it as a FACT) that while having Darshan of Azhagiya Manavalan on the Karpaga Vriksham, the whole Earth is cooled and there is ALWAYS rain. I have seen this personally many years as Archagar. It always rains when Namperumal gives Darshan on the Karpaga Vriksham. It was no different this year! The amazing thing about this year was that while our Namperumal was making His rounds on the Chitra streets, there was NO rain. Because our Ranganthan, while being the Supreme, is also like a Baby, and it is not right for Him to get wet. But as soon as the Lord finished his rounds and reached the Vahana Mandapam, it was a DOWN-POUR!! It is truly amazing to me, how nature itself bends to His will. It rained heavily in Sri Rangam cooling the Earth, and giving the much needed water of life by the Grace of Lord Ranganathan!

Karpaga Vriksham is a wish-fulfilling divine tree that is mentioned in the Rig Veda. Along with the Kamadhenu, or ‘wish-giving cow’, the Kalpavriksha originated during the churning of the milk ocean, and the King of the devas, Indra returned with it to his paradise. The wish tree is one of those prized possessions of the earlier era when humanity was in its infant stages. Science was practically non-existent and for human beings to survive, a source was needed to fulfill its basic requirements and necessities. At this stage, there were Karpaga Vriksha spread all over so that one could ask for anything one wished and all wishes were fulfilled then and there. Wish Tree is an individual tree, usually distinguished by species, position or appearance, which is used as an object of wishes and offerings. Such trees are identified as possessing a special religious or spiritual value. By tradition, believers make votive offerings in order to gain from that nature spirit, saint or goddess for fulfillment of a wish.

Here is a verse from Sri Brahma Samhitha, a Sanskrit Pancaratra text, composed of verses of prayer spoken by Brahma to Govinda at the beginning of creation quoting Karpaga Vriksha or Kalpa-vriksha being abundent in Sri Vaikundam.

Chintamani prakara sadmasu kalpa-vriksha
Lakshavriteshu surabhir abhipalayantam |
Lakshmi sahasra sata sambhrama sevyamanam
Govindam adi purusham tam aham bhajami ||

Worship Govinda, the Primeval Supreme Lord. His Divine Abode is strewn with beautiful houses built with touchstone, surrounded by millions of Desire Trees. There the Lord, served with utmost love and respect by hundreds of thousands of Goddesses of Fortune, looks after the well-being of millions of Surabhi cows, who give unlimited quantities of milk.

With our Namperumal mounted on the Karpaga Vriksha vaganam, one who seeks His blessings under this tree gets all their prayers answered and fulfilled. Thus the Lord grants all that is wished by His true and shows them the path of enlightenment that leads His bhakthas to His lotus feet.

The following are some of the photograhs and videos taken yesterday…

For detailed schedule of the utsavam, please visit http://anudinam.org/2013/05/01/thiruvarangam-viruppan-thirunaal-chitrai-brahmotsavam-commences/

Also visit http://anudinam.org/2013/04/26/thiruvarangam-chitra-pournami-gajendra-moksham-at-kaveri/?preview=true&preview_id=45264&preview_nonce=3909f4a44a for Chitra Pournami Gajendra Moksham celebrations at Thiruvarangam.

Write-up Courtesy: Sri Narasimha Bhattar: Photo Courtesy: Srirangam Today Community, Sri Rengarajan Ravi and Sri Elangovan Ramalingam; Video Courtesy: Srirangam Viji