Pey Azhvaar Thiruvallikeni Trip Puratasi 2022

For two decades Chairman of Trustees of the Kesava Perumal temple had anchored Pey Azhvaar’s trip to the Parthasarathy temple in Thiruvallikeni. Just a month ago, he was suspended for the second time in a year with the HR & CE taking charge of the temple.  And thus for the first time in decades, the HR & CE put out the invitation for the annual trip on the Ekadasi day in Puratasi.

Of course nothing else has changed. The priests continue to do a quiet almost unnoticed service at the temple as they have in the decades gone by. The Sripatham carrying the Mylapore born Azhvaar to Thiruvallikeni were there at the temple.

Following the mangalasasanam in front of Kesava Perumal, Pey Azhvaar left at 2.30pm on Wednesday (Sept 21) for Thiruvallikeni via his birth place on Arundel street. It was a short stopover for mandagapadi and the Sripatham carried on to reach the Western entrance just after 4pm. The Prabhandham ghosti were present in good numbers as were the residents of Thiruvallikeni to welcome Pey Azhvaar on to the TP Koil street. 

With the recital of Moonraam Thiruvanthathi, Pey Azhvaar made his way to the Vahana Mandapam at the Eastern entrance of the Parthasarathy Perumal temple with the Sripatham of Thiruvallikeni taking over the process of carrying the Azhvaar from the Mylaporean Sripatham personnel.

Shortly after 5pm, for an hour, he made his way to each of the sannidhis at the temple with the vibrant Prabhandham ghosti (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2018/07/thiruvallikeni-prabhandham-ghosti.html)  presenting Thiru Mangai Azhvaar’s Periya Thirumozhi verses on Thiruvallikeni - Parathasarathy Perumal (விற்பெரு விழாவும் கஞ்சனும் மல்லும்), Vedavalli Thaayar (வேதத்தை வேதத்தின்), Varadaraja Perumal (மீனவர்  பொய்கை நாண்மலர் கொய்வான்), Thelliya Singar (பள்ளியிலோதி வந்த தன்  சிறுவன்......தெள்ளிய சிங்கம் ஆகிய தேவை) and Andal (இன் துணை பதுமத் ..... பஞ்ச பாண்டவர்காகி) in that order.

The devotees on each of the Mada Streets were decorating their entrances with white pulli kolam welcoming the Azhvaar into their homes.

For close to 90minutes, Parthasarathy Perumal and Pey Azhvaar provided joint darshan around the four big streets accompanied by Prabhandham and Vedic recital. There were Bhajan members too presenting their own version of devotional songs tagging along the procession.

Shortly after 9pm, it was time for Pey Azhvaar to bid adieu for yet another year and he left Thiruvallikeni to the beating of the drums. It had been a devotionally enjoyable evening for the residents of this Divya Desam. Back at the Kesava Perumal temple, Giri Bhattar was ready at the Raja Gopuram to welcome the Azhvaar back. It was close to 10.30pm when Pey Azhvaar made his way back to the Sannidhi Street listening to the presentation of the Moonraam Thiruvanthathi. 

The Chairman of the Trust Board who was the face of the trip for years was missing (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2022/09/kesava-perumal-temple-mylapore-nc.html) but the trip went well without a hitch. Interestingly, the HR & CE office was open past 10.30pm with even the staff present!!!