On the fifth and final day of the Veli Kodai Utsavam, Namperumal provides darshan with Senkazhuneer flower garland at the Poochatru Mandapam in the Manal Veli
Earlier in the day, on the occasion of Rama Navami, he provide Serthi Sevai with Chera Kula Valli Nachiyar at the Arjuna Mandapam
It is the one day in the year when Namperumal, the utsava deity at the Ranganathaswamy temple in Srirangam, provides serthi sevai with Chera Kula Valli Nachiyar. Just under a month ago, he provided Serthi Sevai with Ranganayaki Thayyar at the Panguni Uthiram mandapam. On Wednesday, on the occasion of the Rama Navami utsavam, hundreds of devotees lined up in a long queue at the Arjuna Mandapam to have darshan of this once in a year presentation with the daughter of Kulasekara Azhvaar.
Unlike many other Divya Desams in Tamil Nadu, the Rama Navami utsavam is celebrated on the Navami (9th day after the No Moon Day) day in Chitrai at the Ranganathaswamy temple. It is the day of the coming together of Chera Kula Valli Nachiyar and Namperumal and the one day in the year when the otherwise secluded and almost unnoticed sannidhi North West of Arjuna Mandapam comes to light.
Kulasekara Azhvaar's devotion towards Lord Ranganatha
King turned Saint Poet Kulasekara Azhvaar, of Thiru Vanjikalam, was a great devotee of Lord Rama and he had a special liking for Lord Ranganatha. He himself was born on Punarvasu. Relinquishing his kingdom, he came and settled down in Srirangam and was taken over by the idol presented by Lord Rama to the residents of Srirangam.He was so moved by the Lord of Srirangam and the devotion of the residents that he dedicated the first three decads of his Perumal Thirumozhi to the Lord and his devotees at Srirangam. With each passing decad, Kulasekara Azhvaar, from being a new entrant to this temple town showcases how well entrenched he had become at this sacred town and how he now knew the Lord very well.
தேட்டருந்திறல் தேனினைத் தென்னரங்கனை
திருமாதுவாழ் வாட்டமில் வனமாலை மார்வனை
வாழ்த்தி மால்கொள் சிந்தையராய்
ஆட்ட மேவியலந்தழைத்து
அயர் வெய்தும் மெய்யடியார்கள் தம்
ஈட்டம் கண்டிடக் கூடுமேல்
அது காணும் பயனாவதே
After thus beginning with three decads to the Lord of Srirangam, Kulasekara Azhvaar ends Perumal Thirumozhi with three decads dedicated to Lord Rama including narrating the entire Ramayana in the final decad of ten verses. So heartwarming was his experience here in Srirangam that he wanted to give the hand of his daughter to the Lord of Srirangam. This episode of Kulasekara Azhvaar’s daughter being seated alongside Namperumal is played out every year on the occasion of Rama Navami utsavam.
Serthi Sevai at Arjuna Mandapam
On Wednesday (April 17) morning, Namperumal made his way from his abode at 7am to the Arjuna Mandapam. Shortly after 3pm, devotees lined up both sides of the mandapam for this once in a year sevai. Chera Kula Valli Thaayar was dressed in a beautiful white silk saree and seated alongside Namperumal. The entire talk on this afternoon was around the daughter of Kulasekara Azhvaar. As the devotees stood in front of the two, one was reminded of the elevation of spirit referred to by Kulasekara Azhvaar in his Perumal Thirumozhi and there seemed to be a mood of true devotion reverberating around the Arjuna Mandapam.
மெய்யில் வாழ்க்கையை
மெய்யெனக்கொல்லும்
இவ்வையந் தன்னொடும்
கூடு வதில்லையான்
ஐய்யனே அரங்கா என்று அழைக்கின்றேன்
மையல் கொண்டொழிந்தேன்
Kulasekara Azhvaar describes the prayers offered by the people of Srirangam. The residents are seen clapping their hands and singing the Lord’s praise as a group. He finds the loud beating of the drum, a scene probably during a festival. Describing a methodology to invoke the Lord’s blessings, he wants to roll on the ground and dance around in joy praising the Lord.
தூராத மனக் காதல் தொண்டர் தங்கள்
குழாம் குழுமித் திருப்புகழ்கள் பலவும் பாடி
ஆராத மனக் களிப்போடு அழுது கண்ணீர்
மழை சோர நினைந்துருகியேத்தி
எந்தன் மாலுக்கே
After a day long stay at the Arjuna Mandapam, Namperumal began his procession at 6pm to the Manal Veli for the fifth and final day celebrations of the Veli Kodai Utsavam. Being the Rama Navami day, Namperumal is welcomed at the three Rama Sannidhis on his way to the Manal Veli- Mela Pattabhiramar on the Western side, Kulasekara Azhvaar- South facing Kothandaramar Sannidhi and the Keezha Pattabhiramar Sannidhi.
Huge crowds thronged the Ramar Sannidhis on this evening to have darshan of the special alankarams at these sannidhis.
Around 7pm, devotees congregated at the Poochatru mandapam at the Manal Veli for the big event of the evening. Before settling down for over an hour at the Poochatru Mandapam, Namperumal provided darshan to devotees along the manal veli with Sripatham carrying him in a majestic walk to the South end of the Manal Veli and back.
Saathatha Vaishnava clan's Pushpa Duppatti
Sathatha Vaishanavas (http://prtraveller.blogspot.in/2014/12/saathaatha-vaishnavas-saathaanis.html), the clan assigned by Saint Ramanuja to perform various services at the temple have also been assigned the task of making the exclusive summer garland for Namperumal on each of the days of the Poochatru Utsavam. Referred to as Pushpa Duppati, the special garland on the occasion of Poochatru Utsavam, involving a special skill and an artistic touch, takes at least three hours to design and create.
Vaishnavite Saint Poet Periyazhvaar dedicated an entire decad of verses praising the favourite flowers of the Lords in different Divya Desams. In one of the verses, Periyazhvaar lures the Lord of Srirangam, whom he describes as one seen in a Sleeping Posture referring to Iruvatchi flowers.
ஆமாறு அறியும் பிரானே
அணி அரங்கத்தே கிடந்தாய்
ஏமாற்றம் என்னைத் தவிர்ந்தாய்
இருவாட்சிப் பூச்சூட்ட வாராய்
Senkazhuneer Flower Garland
Devotees were curious as to what the flower garland would look like on this 5th evening and the entire manal veli was abuzz with high expectations. And they were not let down with the Saathatha Vaishnavas making it an evening of Senkazhaneer flower garland. The priests draped Namperumal with the heavily weighing Duppati and sprayed the fragrant rose water on the Lord much to the delight of the devotees. Soon after, the Sripatham lifted Namperumal to display the special Pushpa Duppatti of the day to all the devotees gathered at the Manal Veli.
புள்ளினை வாய் பிளந்திட்டாய்
பொருகரியின் கொம்பு ஒசித்தாய்
கள்ள அரக்கியை மூகோடு
காவலனை தலை கொண்டாய்
அள்ளி நீ வெண்ணெய் விழங்க அஞ்சாது அடியேன் அடித்தேன்
தெள்ளிய நீரில் எழுந்த செங்கழுநீர் சூட்டவாறாய்
Historical Poochatru utsavam at 1000 Pillar Mandapam
The Araiyar of the evening, Baradwajan Araiyar (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2023/01/barathwajan-araiyar-srirangam-goair.html), who is also a Pilot, has an interesting view on the Sripatham lifting high the Lord to display the fragrant flower garland. Shortly after this episode, he told this writer at the Manal Veli that historically Namperumal made his way to the Poochatru Mandapam on the East side inside the 1000 Pillared Mandapam
“At the far east in a now secluded and unvisited corner of the 1000 pillar mandapam was where the Poochatru Utsavam was celebrated historically. The entire East Uthira street comprised of Araiyars and they would present each of the verses of Periyazhvaar’s Poochoodal verses. Delighted at the devotional presentation of the Araiyars, the Sripatham lifted Namperumal high and tall above the huge Eastern wall built by Thiru Mangai Azhvaar so he was visible to the Araiyars through the entire stretch of the Keezha Uthira Veethi. It was also an expression from Namperumal to showcase his special flower garland to the Araiyars and ask them if they liked the ‘Garland of the evening’ as praised by Periyazhvaar."
Araiyar Barathwajan and his appa Krishnan Araiyar presented Periyazhvaar Poochudal verses on the evening at the manal veli.
A heavily weighing ‘Dhindu Thaavadam, Pushpa Duppatti’ and a fragrant Panneer on Lord Namperumal on the occasion of the annual ‘Festival of Flowers’ made it a colourful and devotional evening for the devotees. Sripatham carrying Namperumal with the heavy flower garland for well over an over at the Poochatru Mandapam was a remarkable effort and a display of their unflinching devotion.
It was almost 8.30pm when the Sripatham presented another special walk from North to South end of Manal Veli providing another darshan to devotees of the Pushpa Duppati before he made his way back to the Santanu mandapam through the Nazhi Keettan Gopura Vaasal bringing to end the Veli Kodai Utsavam.
Well past 9pm and at the end of the day's events, scores of devotees head back to the Chera Kula Valli Nachiyar Sannidhi for one last glimpse of Kulasekara Azhvaar's daughter on this celebratory evening.