In the wee hours of May 31st 2015 we went to attend the ‘Irandam-kaapu’ on the Hasthigiri hill. Usually ‘Raksha bhandanam’ happens at the start of a utsavam. Why then a second kaapu? In the 17th century when Muslims plundered our temples the original divyamangalavigrahams were kept safely in a place near Tiruchi and puja was done for newly installed  vigrahas. By the efforts of Attan Tiruvenkata Ramanuja jeeyar swami Raja Todar Mal brought  the original vigrahams back to Kanchi on the 2nd day of Vaikasi Utsavam. Overjoyed a second Kaapu utsavam was conducted. We had darsan of Thayar before proceeding to Perumal sannidhi. Utsavar stood facing Moolavar and Tirumanjanam took place. Because of the crowds we  could see Perumal in fits and starts. Seemed as if He was peeping at us intermittently. Once the kaapu was over Perumal descended the steps followed by delighted devotees. We returned to our room took some rest and came down to the vahana mandapam when the cracker-burst was heard. We listened to the instrumental music till the curtains were open to reveal Varadan on a silver ‘Hamsa- vahanam’. The Hamsa can separate milk and water and represent acharyas (paramahamsas) who remove the ‘asaaram’ and give us the saaram(Prapatthi). As Perumal procceded on Hamsa vahanam along sannidhi the procession stopped at different places to accept ubhayams. The second umbrella was hoisted at the 16 pillared mandapam and the procession went to bless the devotees everywhere. At about 10.00 a.m. Varadan returned back after accepting offerings. Once inside the vahana mandapam after ‘kullukal’ divya prabhandham and vedams were recited and the curtains came down for the Hamsa vahana purappadu.
The evening of 31st May 2015 Atthigiri Varadaraja Perumal captivated everyone as He came resplendent on His Surya Prabhai vahanam. Clad in orange flowing silk, as He stood in the middle of the golden surya prabhai He reminded us that He was brighter than a thousand suns. The Lord has as one Eye the sun and all planets work as per His sankalpam. At about 5.30 as devotees thronged to have His kataksham the procession started after the ‘kullukal’ and excited crowds craned their necks to have a glimpse of Varadaraja Perumal as He made His way through the roads and lanes of Kanchipuram blessing everyone. Outside the Ahobila Muth 46th Srimadh Azhagiasingar offered pranams and did mangalasasnams to Sri Perarulalan. It is almost 10.30p.m. when He returns to the vahana mandapam where divyaprabhandhams and Vedic salutations bring to a conclusion the day’s event.
The following is the video and some of the photos taken on the occasion.
Video Of Sri Perarulalan Surya Prabhai Purappadu
Courtesy :Elangadu Ranganathan Chakravarthy , Smt Vyjayanthi & Sundararajan
Perumal Rathnakiel jolippu.
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