Vaikasi Brahmotsavam concluded in Kanchi Varadaraja Perumal temple with the winding up of the Garuda kodi (flag) on May 28th. Two days after this that is May 29th and 30th was ‘Vidayatri utsavam’. Vidayatri means rest. At 11.00 a.m. Varadan and Ubhaya nachimars came in purappadu from kanadi-arai to 100 pillared mandapam after stopping at swami Desikan sannidhi. The 100 pillar mandapam is by the side of the ‘Anantha-Saras’ and is filled with amazing sculptures and carvings. The perforations allow free flow of air and this place is cool even at 12.00 noon.
Once Perumal is in the mandapam ‘kshema-thaligai’ is offered and everyone gets cool ‘thayir sadam’ spiced with chillies and ginger, raw mangoes and cucumbers. Tirumanjanam starts as the ‘kattiyam’ is chanted with fervour recalling His pastimes. The water is poured ever so gently reminding one of the baths given to a newly born infant by the mother. Garlands adorn Him and He gets covered with sandal paste which is gently offered and as the green Tulasi gets wound round His crown and garlanded sahasradhara Tirumanjanam takes place. It is a shower of Mercy and cools the onlooker. The crown is wound with a dry towel shown over the sambrani smoke and His wet clothes are deftly changed to dry ones. After Harathi, theertham Srisathari viniyogam happens followed by prasada distribution.
At about 4.00 p.m. ‘Nada samarpanam’ that is music performance by leading artistes takes place. At 6.30 p.m. Perumal goes in purappadu on sannidhi street along with parivaram and returns to ‘kanadi-arai’ for the night. This happened for three days.
On May 31st at about 8.00 p.m. Varadan and His Consorts left in pushpa pallaku and blessed the residents of sannidhi street and the mada veedhis. A golden palanquin was beautifully decorated with flowers of various hues and fragrances and Varadan and His Ubhayanachimars sat facing each other. At the 16 pillar mandapam the two white umbrellas were offered and there was a display of fireworks. After returning to the temple Varadan and His Consorts ascended the Atthigiri. With this the curtains have come down on Durmukhi varsha Vaikasi Brahmotsavam.
The following are the photos taken during the Utsavam:
Day 1 Utsavam
Day 2 Utsavam
Day 3 Utsavam
Photos: Sri Krishna Durai, Write – up: Smt Vyjayanthi Rajan
Thank you so much for your wonderful coverage of this year’s Brahmotsavam events every day at Kanchi, and to the ever so many people who have volunteered their time and effort in service to the Temple.
It is due to acharya anugraham and Varadan’s grace. Thank you Smt. Geetha srikrishna for your acknowledgement.