Anushtana Utsavam at Kanchipuram

**Anushtana Utsavam at Kanchipuram -** 01-27-2004, 04:02 AM

> Swamy Deshikan Thiruvadigale Sharanam !!!
>
> Sriman Shathakopan has already described this mega event in a very
> spectacular way. adiyEn shall add a few more observations to this.
>
> Margazhi morning at Kanchipuram. Varadan seats himself in the Kannadi
> mantapam. Ramanujar in a prostrating posture seats beside him. Varadar
> could be seen wearing a velvet garment with the Thiruppavai pasuram for
> the day inscribed on it.
>
> At around 11 in the morning the procession amidst a huge sea of Veda
> goshti and Prabandha goshti leaves the temple with Perumal inside a
> palanquin and Ramanujar following Him.
>
> The procession stops at the entrance of Thuppul, where in maryaadai is
> offered to the Lord and Ramanujar. The goshti immediately proceeds further
> and reaches the sAlai kiNaru. Meanwhile shARRumuRai is completed at
> Thuppul and Deshikan is ready decking himself for the occassion.
>
> The procession reaches the mantapam next to sAlai KiNaru. Arrangements for
> Thirumanjanam are made. The representative of Thatha Deshikan brings in
> water from the Kinaru amidst a big Veda goshti. Detailed Thirumanjanam is
> performed amidst Kattiyam seviththal etc. Thirumanjanam is followed by
> Nivedanam, shaRRumuRai, teertha goshti and prasadam. Perumal is now decked
> with Bow and arrow signifying His manifestation as a hunter and huntress
> in escorting Ramanuja from the forests to Kanchipuram. Perumal now leads
> the way and Ramanujar follows behind him, signifying as to how the Hunter
> escorted Ramanuja.
>
> As soon as the procession crosses the Thuppul agraharam bend, Deshikan
> comes out of his sannidhi and waits anxiously at the entrance.
>
> Deshikan adored in the finest of garments and ornaments. wears a crown of
> velvet with konDai enmeshed with pearls. Vadyams double and the goshti
> almost triples at this stage.
>
> As soon as the procession arrives at the entrance of Thuppul, Deshikan
> first does maryadai to Varadan with pattu-vastrams etc and then to
> Ramanujar. Deshikan then recieves maalai from Varadan and Ramanujar and
> traces his steps back in an act of welcoming his guests. He stands at the
> mukha dvaram of the temple and allows Varadan and Ramanujar to move into
> the temple and then gently follows them. Varadan is then seated on a
> simhasanam. To His left Ramanujar is seated on an acharya peetam. To
> Varadan's right Deshikan seats himself on the floor ! (This shows the peak
> of his acharya bhakti). The confluence is bewitching.
>
> Deshikan then performs Thiruvaradhanam to Varadan. TaLigai is then offered
> by Deshikan to his roya; guests. Soon after this Varadan blesses Ramanujar
> with his shatari and malai, which is in turn conveyed by Ramanuja to Swamy
> Deshikan. This is followed by teertha goshti and prasadam.
> Soon after this Varadan and Ramanujar decied to take leave of Swamy
> Deshikan. Deshikan moves first in an act of escorting them and stands at
> the entrance to see his guests off. He then follows them for a few more
> yards and stays there for a minute or two. Delighted beyond limits he
> retires to his asthanam after this.
>
> vAzhi vyAkhyAmuddirak kai !!!
> vedAntasUri haraNau sharaNam prapadye !!!