Today, November 29, 2013; Vijaya Varusha Karthigai Hastham, Sahasra Deepams (1008) were offered to the deities housed at Srirangam Sri Dasavatharan Sannidhi and at the Brindavanams of 41st, 44th and the upcoming Brindavanam of 45th Srimath Azhagiyasingars. Hastham being the avathara Thirunakshatram of Mukkur Srimath Azhagiyasingar, there was monthly Hastha Thirumanjanam at HH Brindavanam in the morning. In the evening at about 6 pm, lamps were lit inside the Dasavatharan Sannidhi and all around the prakaram. Beautiful brass lamps of varying sizes and varieties were lit. There were hamsa villakus, adduku (tiered) villakus, Kerala style villakus and kuthuvillakus. Series of earthern lamps were lit at the sannidhis of Thirumangai Azhwar, Swami Desikan and Adivan Sathakopan.
The work started yesterday itself. Five ladies gathered and cleaned the mud lamps and applied kumkum paste on the mud diyas. The process took about 3 hours to complete. Today at about 3 pm, several devotees worked in unison to ready the lamps to be lit. Some made cow-dung balls at equal distances on bamboo planks which were strategically placed outside the temple, leading to the Brindavanam and also inside the Brindavanam. Some placed mudlamps on the cowdung balls. Mud lamps were also placed all around the prakaram in the Sannidhi and around the Brindavanam. Several devotees placed wicks dipped in oil in the lamps while others poured oil in the lamps. This process took about three hours. More than a dozen people worked continuously. At the stroke of 6, hundreds of devotees lit the lamps and the whole place looked splendid. By then the chief guest arrived to light the kuthuvillaku in the sannidhi. Nadaswaram was played to add to the festivity. At about 6.30 pm, Sahasranamam chanting started. In Srirangam, there is a Sahashranamam Sabha whose members gather at different sannidhis within Ranganathaswami temple and also at sannidhis outside to chant Sri Vishnusahasranamam. There are usually two sittings everyday. After Sahasranamam, theertham, SriSathari and prasada viniyogam(arisi upma) took place.
The following are some of the photographs and videos taken earlier today….
Srimath Mukkur Azhagiyasingar Masa Thirumanjanam (Morning)
Sahasra Deepam and Vishnu Sahasranamam Parayanam (Evening)
HH 45th Srimath Azhagiyasingar Brindavanam Progress
Courtesy: Vyjayanthi and Sundararajan
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