Durmukhi Aani Utthiram (July 10th 2016) was the fifth day of ‘Kodai-utsavam’ at Kanchi Varadaraja Perumal koil. At about 5.30 p.m. Varadan and His Ubhaya Nachimars left in separate kedayams from the ‘kanadi-arai’ mandapam. During this festival They are wrapped in different coloured ‘porvais'(wraps) daily when They leave in purappadu on Sannidhi Street. As is the practise the first blessing is to swami Desikan and then to Hanuman when tiruvadi koil is reached. On returning to the temple ‘oonjal’ takes place simultaneously for Varadan in one mandapam and for Ubhaya nachimars in the facing mandapam. After this the ‘kokku’ (crane shaped rosewater silver sprinkler) and the flower basket as also the wet perfumed white cloth containing the saffron paste and sandalwood paste bundled up arrive ceremoniously with waving chamarams and music.
It is interesting to note that Varadan’s ‘poo-sarthu’ utsavam coincides with ‘Periazhwar’s tirunakshatram’; celebrations. Periazhwar sang the beautiful ‘poochutal pasurams’ and Varadan is wound with choice flowers like shenbhagam, mallikai, padiri’, iruvatkshi, marukozhundu, shenkaineer, punnai, karumukhai, kurukatthi, mazhiyam and kanakabharam, Thazhampoo etc.
After paneer(rose-water) is sprinkled liberally, harathi is offered and after Perumal theertham, Srisathari and prasada distribution Perumal leaves the poo-sarthu mandapam and is joined mid-way by Ubhaya Nachimars who enter Tondardipodi together. At this spot Ghata-harathi and karpoora harathi is offered first to Perumal and then The Nachimars and fruits/sugar candy offerings are made. Then They proceed to ‘kanadi-arai mandapam’ where harathi and fruit offerings are made and the curtains come down. Devotees rush to Periazhwar sannidhi for Theertham, sathari and prasadam. Sayanotsavam takes place at ‘kanadi-arai’during this period.
The following are the photos taken during this occasion:
Courtesy: Sri Elangadu Chakravarthy & Write up – Smt.Vyjayanthi Rajan
