Sarangapani Koil Vedantha Desikar Utsavam

The next gen came to the fore on the Satru Murai day at the 10 day Vedantha Desikar Utsavam at the Sarangapani Divya Desam in Thiru Kudanthai. 35 year old V Prasanna, a staffer at RR Donnelly in Madras, has been very devotionally attached right from his childhood. His patti, Lakshmi, daughter of Desika Patrachar, created a great interest for him in Amudan. Right from his school days, he has been visiting the Divya Desam (during special utsavams of which Adyayana Utsavam is a favourite. The sacred verses of Thiru Mangai Azhvaar are of special interest to him as is the Vaaraai Varuvaai verse of Nam Azhvaar.  He was an integral part of the final day celebrations (at the Sarangapani Temple, the Desikar Utsavam takes place for ten days from Puratasi Shravanam) carrying the Kudai during the inside procession and ringing the bell. He was at his devotional best reciting the sacred verses at different times on this final day. Prasanna, a resident of Saidapet, Madras, is a regular at Vedantha Desikar Srinivasa Perumal temple in Mylapore.

For another next gen, the 27 year old newly appointed archakar at the Vedantha Desikar Sannidhi, K Sudarshan (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2021/09/sarangapani-koil-desikar-sannidhi-new.html), this was his first as the official archakar of the Sannidhi. At the Eastern Entrance of the temple, he was busy organizing things for the morning Thirumanjanam. It is a great experience for him with so many senior service personnel around including Ramanuja Patrachar who is the dominating person of the day direction the course of action. Thirumanjanam was followed by Theerthavari.  Historically, Vedantha Desikar went on a trip to the Cauvery for the Theerthavari Utsavam on this day. With restrictions on street processions, the Theerthavari formalities were performed as a simple event performed at the Desikar Sannidhi.

After alankaram, Vedantha Desikar went to the Komalavalli Thaayar and Sarangapani Koil for Mangalasasanam. Following this, the Prabhandham members presented Thiru Kurunthandagam, Thiru Nedunthandagam as well as Thiru Ezhu Kootrirukkai (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2017/06/thiru-ezhu-kootrirukkai_22.html), Thiru Mangai Azhvaar’s exclusive Prabhandham on Thiru Kudanthai. 

While the seniors who are present everyday at the temple for seva kalam were seen in good numbers today, Prasanna made a big difference on this occasion. His devotional high pitched recital of the above verses provided the spark for everyone else in the team. It was close to 1pm when the Thiru Mozhi Satru Murai took place. Prasanna says that the credit for initiating him into Prabhandham and this mode of recital goes to his acharya, Thiruvazhi Kannan Swamy “He is my inspiration in Prabhandham Kainkaryam.”

This was followed by mangalasasanam at Andal Sannidhi following which Vedantha Desikar returned to his sannidhi. Komalavalli Thayar and Sarangapani Perumal made their way to the Desikar shortly after 1pm bringing to end the morning events.

Shortly after, S Soundararaja Bhattachar showcased his alankaram skills with a 2hour decoration exercise. By 5pm, he had transformed Sarangapani and Komalavalli Thayar and the Serthi Sevai on the evening left the devotees stunned. Most of them who entered the Desikar Sannidhi refused to come back as they continued to admire every aspect of the alankaram. It was only the arrival of Paravakottai swami (Poundareekapuram Ashram) that led to the devotees leaving the Sannidhi.

If for over two hours he had shown his alankaram skills, Soundararaja Bhattar (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2017/06/sarangapani-koil-thiru-kudanthai.html) now presented his devotion to Amudan and Komalavalli Thaayar that he has come to be renowned for over the last four decades. In almost a 10 minute archanai, he provided a pleasant surprise to Paravakottai Swami with his musical rendition of a long full fledged archanai. He followed this with description of the greatness of Sarangapani and Komalavalli Thaayar that brought in a big smile to the face of the Swami.

Paravakottai Swami had mentioned earlier that during his childhood he had listened to the beautiful archanai presentation of Soundararaja Bhattar’s appa L Srinivasa Bhattachar ( Chellappa) who had performed kainkaryam at this temple for several decades “Chellappa Bhattachar’s musical rendering of the archanai is still fresh in my memory” Paravakottai Swami told Soundararaja Bhattar.

Shortly after 6pm, a large contingent of Prabhandham members began the presentation of the final canto of Tiruvomozhi that was followed by Ramanujam Nootranthathi.

Prasanna was once again at his devotional best during the Satru Murai “A special feature that I have liked for long at this temple is the separate full length Satru Murai of all the 20 verses of Pillayanthathi that you do not find anywhere else.”

Many devotees in Thiru Kudanthai, especially a good number of senior women and long time residents, came in specifically to enjoy the presentation of the Periya Satru Murai of Pillayanthathi. The high pitched presentation that sent positive devotional vibration to those present in the evening was a great culmination to the daylong celebration of the 10th day of the Desikar utasvam. 

Madapalli Specialist, another Sudarshan, had the final word on the evening. He led the preparation of the wide range of Thaligai - multiple varieties of sweet, kaaram, Chakkarai Pongal and Puliyotharai- that was presented at the Desikar Sannidhi. 

One could also find a great bit of happiness and satisfaction in the face of the young K Sudarshan Bhattar after his debut presentation of the Utsavam as the official archakar of the Desikar Sannidhi.

Just after 10pm, Sarangapani and Komalavalli Thayar bid goodbye to the Vedantha Desikar and made their way back to their respective abodes bringing to end the ten day Utsavam.