1/9/2015 was the fourth day of Manmatha Varusham Pavitrotsavam at Kanchi Sri Varadaraja Temple. Morning Perumal with ubhaya nachimars gave darshan in the Abisheka mandapam infront of Kanadi-arai while the Vedic chanting filled the air and the smell of the samith and ghee emanated from the yaaga sala making the atmosphere charged with spirituality. Poornahuti was over by noon.
Evening by 5.10 p.m. all the participants were getting ready for the ‘Purappadu of Devadhirajan’. Kolams were being made on the yagasala pradakshina margam Perumal would be taking. The woman carrying the petromax lamp was feeling all important for she was carrying light for One who is brighter than a Thousand suns. The peshkar holding the silver stick with shanku/chakram was not an ordinary person. He alone enjoyed the privilege of going with the aradhakars and chamaram wavers when Srisathari and flower garlands would be offered at Swami Sri Desikan sannidhi and at Anjaneyaswami sannidhi. The swamis carrying Perumal and ubhayanachimars were a happy lot with wide smiles for they enjoyed the privilege of carrying The One who carries the entire creation in His Belly. The flower garlands and pavitra malas though achetanam had the privilege of adorning Devadirajan. The Bhattar swamis holding the Srisathari and offering the sugar-candy or dry-fruits or apples cut neatly or bananas peeled completely were proud of their Perumal, the cynasore of all eyes. The drummers, nadaswaram players, the Tiruchinam blower are a blessed lot for sure for their music is dedicated to Him. The Veda parayana swamis, The Divyaprabhandham swamis and last but not the least us common people who thronged to look at Perumal and ubhaya nachimars again and again and get the Srisathari placed on our heads felt ‘Ah this is Srivaikuntam’.
The following are some of the photos taken during the occasion…
Writeup : Vyjayanthi Sundarajan , Photography : Elangadu Ranganathan Chakravarthy
