The Utsava Deity went on a procession around the Prakara before resting himself for an hour long display on the Oonjal
Bhattars double up as Vedic Reciters during the Oonjal Utsavam
Around a hundred devotees watched the start of the three day Oonjal Utsavam at the Koodal Azhagar Divya Desam in Madurai on Wednesday (Nov 13) evening, a day when the Utsava deity at another Divya Desam, Azhagar Koil, not far from here went on a trip atop the Thiru Maliruncholai hills for Thailakkappu utsavam at Noopur Ganga. At 7.30pm, the utsava deity with glittering pathakam on his chest and seen in a grand white silk vastram went on a procession around the prakara with Sathatha Vaishnava, who continues to perform the Kainkaryam at this temple, leading the way.
The Greatness of this Divya Desam
It was after invoking the blessings of Koodal Azhagar that Vishnu Chittar arrived in the court of Vallabha Deva to present his views on 'Parathaththuvam'. His description of Lord Narayana as the Supreme Being and his narration of references from the Vedic Scriptures and the suggestion that worshipping him in one’s life time with devotion was the highest form of worship thrilled Vallabha Deva Pandya.Even as he was finishing his speech, the golden coins were showered on him for Vallabha Deva instinctively realised that he had found the ultimate solution.
It was then that Vishnu Chittar was conferred the title of ‘Bhattar Piran’ by Raja Simhan I (Vallabha Deva) with the king ordering a royal procession for Vishnu Chittar to be taken around the streets of Madurai.
When Vishnu Chittar heard dissenting voices from his detractors asking him if he could show the Lord, Bhattar Piran, once again, invoked the blessings of Lord Koodal Azhagar. And shortly after, much to the delight of everyone there, Koodal Azhagar, appeared on his Garuda Vahana from above the Ashtanga Vimana along with Goddess Lakshmi.Worried that evil eyes should not fall on this beautiful Lord, Vishnu Chittar falling into a trance, showered verses of praise expressing concern for the Lord’s safety using the bell tied to the elephant as his Thaalam.
பேர் அணிந்த வில்லிபுத்தூர் ஆணி தன்னில்
பெருந் ஜோதி தனில் தோன்றும் பெருமானே
முன் சீர் அணிந்த பாண்டியன் தன் நெஞ்சு தன்னில்
துயக்கற மால் பருத்து வத்தை திருமாசெப்பி
வானர மேல் மதுரை வளம் வரவே
வானில் கருட வாகனமாய்த் தோன்ற
வாழ்த்தும் ஈரணி பல்லாண்டு முதல் பாட்டு
நானூற்று எழுவத்து ஒன்று இரண்டும் எனக்கு உதவு நீயே – Vedanta Desikar's praise of Periyazhvaar's Royal Procession
A beautiful alankaram
The devotees watched in awe the beautiful decoration of the Lord and even found a happy smile on his face as the priest moved the swing in a slow manner. Devotees, who also gathered in good numbers from the North, were particularly curious about the Muthu Kondai and posed queries about its significance.
Shortage of Vedic Scholars at this Divya Desam
While in the century gone by, there were Vedic Scholars presenting the Vedas during this utsavam, it is now left to the priests themselves to present the Vedas during the Oonjal. Following the Thiru Aradhanam, Balaji Bhattar along with his brother also doubled up as the Vedic Scholars to recite the Vedas.
By this time, the devotee crowd had gathered steam and they lined up the two sides of the Oonjal for the presentation of Theertham, Shatari and Prasadam.
Shortly after 8.30pm, the Sripatham were back at the Oonjal to carry the Lord back to his abode bringing to end day one of the rather simple Oonjal Utsavam at this historical Divya Desam.