Thirupaan Azhvaar Srirangam Birthday Celebrations 2024

On Saturday (Dec 14) morning, on the occasion of his birthday, Thiru Paan Azhvaar brought back memories of his unflinching devotion towards Ranganatha Swamy from the banks of the Cauvery and the way he was rewarded by Periya Perumal.

The legendary tale of Thiru Paan Azhvaar’s devotional endeavour still holds good over a thousand years later. Over a 1000 years ago, Thiru Paan Azhvaar presented a great lesson for the devotee world to follow in their every day lives. His devotional way of life was clear. Being an outcaste, he was restricted from entering the Srirangam temple but he showcased to the world with his devotion that no matter who you are, if you show sincere faith in the Lord he will take care of you. 

The story of Thiru Paan Azhvaar is a classic illustration of the Lord sharing the pain with the devotee and being by the side of a devotee, when he needs HIM the most.

The Baanar community lived in Srirangam on the Cauvery river banks near Melur. The Baanars were well known for their special penchant for playing sweet music. Among them was one who developed a special affection for Lord Ranganatha from a very young age and who later went on to compose 10 beautiful verses - Amalanaathipiraan in praise of the Lord of Srirangam.

Being denied entry into the temple, this young man, Thiru Baanar (Thiru Paan Azhvaar), had only heard of Lord Ranganatha and had never seen him. Every morning, he would wake up early  and before dawn walk up to the banks of the Cauvery with a Veena in hand and facing the direction of the temple immerse himself in the thoughts of the Lord. This man would visualise the Lord, engage himself in deep conversation with the Lord day in day out and sing praises of the Lord as visualised by him in his thoughts.

One morning, Sage Loka Saranga came to the banks of Cauvery to bathe and to then proceed to meet the Lord in Srirangam. Finding this man blocking his way, the sage indicated to him with a show of hands to move away from his path. Finding no reply, the sage lost his patience and mistakin this lack of reaction for arrogance, he threw a stone at the man. With blood oozing from his forehand, the man opened his eyes and found the sage behind him in an angry mood. The man soon realized that he had obstructed the path of the sage and had delayed the sage’s bath and his visit to the Lord Ranganatha temple. Immediately, he moved away from this place so the sage could carry on with his devotion to the Lord.

After completing the formalities, the sage proceeded to the Lord Ranganatha temple. On reaching the sannidhi, he found to his shock blood from the fore head of Lord Ranganatha. That night, in his dream, he saw Lord Ranganatha unhappy with him and expressing his displeasure about the sage‘s treatment of the devotee who was immersed in his morning prayers. The Lord said ‘To those who show utmost devotion, I become one among them and share their pains. You have hurt Baanar, who despite not being able to visit me, has been relentless in his devotion from the Cauvery banks. I am today sharing the pains of Baanar.”

Realising his folly, the sage pleaded with the Lord to forgive his actions and asked for a reprieve. The Lord wanted the sage to carry this devotee on his shoulder from the Cauvery river banks and bring him to his sannidhi. Obeying the Lord’s orders, the sage went to the southern banks of Cauvery the next morning where he found the man immersed once again in his prayers facing the direction of the Srirangam temple. Falling at his feet, the sage requested Baanar to allow him to follow the instructions of the Lord to carry him all the way to the Ranganatha temple.

The sage, accompanied by his disciples, carried him into the Ranganatha Sannidhi and for the first time Baanar entered the temple and found himself in front of the Lord who he had only visualised till then. So thrilled was Baanar at the sight of the Lord that he instantly showered verses of praise of Lord Ranganatha beginning with the loving legs of the Lord 

He ended his praise of the Lord with the words “En Amuthinai Kanda Kangal Matronrinai Kaanaathey”. Now that he had seen the Lord, he wanted nothing else in this life and wanted the Lord to take him along. The Lord was truly impressed with this composition and the devotion of Baanar that he took him in along with him. In front of a startled Sage and all his followers, Baanar merged with the Lord and attained moksham.

At 5am on Saturday, he made his way from his abode at the Southern entrance of the Ranganathaswamy temple to the Periya Perumal Sannidhi for Vishwaroopa Sevai. Five hours later, the bhagavathas had gathered in good numbers to carry Thiru Paan Azhvaar on the street procession around the four Chitrai Streets of Srirangam(the official temple Sripatham did not carry Azhvaar on this procession). The Vedic members were already presenting the sacred verses standing in front of Thiru Paan Azhvaar and they followed the Azhvaar on the two hour street procession.

The azhvaar who presented his only verses of praise on Lord Ranganatha is accorded a great send off from the Perumal Sannidhi with a Parivattam, Shawl and a Flower Garland. 

His first stop on the procession was at the Nam Azhvaar Sannidhi. At the Therku Vaasal Gopuram, the Chief Priest of the Thiru Paan Azhvaar Sannidhi is presented with a flower garland that he drapes around his head. 

The Prabhandham Ghoshti begin the recital of the Ramanuja Nootranthathi verses at the South Chitrai Street on this cloudy Saturday morning when the devotee crowd is relatively less at the temple. It is 11am when Thiru Paan Azhvaar makes his into the Ranganayaki Thayar Sannidhi. It is a special occasion for Thiru Paan Azhvaar for it is the only day in the year when he makes it to the Thaayar Sannidhi. Following Theertham and Shatari, Dhadhyonam is presented to the 50 odd devotees who have gathered in front of the Thaayar Sannidhi.

Thiru Paan Azhvaar had dedicated his entire life to the Divine Couple of Srirangam and there seemed to a happy smile when he entered the Thayar Sannidhi. The service personnel who carried the Azhvaar on the occasion of his birthday too sported a big smile through the entire procession.

It is noon when after going around the Chitrai Streets, he made his to the Ul Andal Sannidhi via the Therku Gopuram. He goes around the Andal Sannidhi as do the Prabhandham Ghoshti. After another round of Theertham and Shatari, Dhadhyonam is presented to those present before Thiru Paan Azhvaar headed back to his Sannidhi at 12. 30pm where the Prabhandham Ghoshti members presented the Satru Murai verses of the Ramanuja Nootranthathi following the completion of the sacred verses of the Vedic members bringing to end the annual utsavam on this Rohini day in Karthigai.

It had been over seven happy hours for Thiru Paan Azhvaar as he celebrated his birthday at the Ranganatha Swamy, Ranganayaki Thayar and Ul Andal Sannidhis while also providing darshan to devotees around the four Chitrai Streets.