Rare event in Alwarthirunagari Nam-alwar Kovil (Temple)

[Guest guest]

srimathe Ramanujaya Namaha:

aLwar eMperumanar Jeeyar Thiruvadigale Saranam

 

Dear Bhagavadas,

 

I am very happy to brief this group about an rare event happening today in Alwarthirunagari divya desam. Here, I am quoting some of the anubhavams that I heard from the respected elders. Please Pardon me for any mistakes made in this write up or understanding the concepts.

 

Pagal Pathu (10 days of day time Utasavadigal) and Ra Pathu (10 days of Night time Utasavadigal) has great significance during the tamil month of Margazhi in all divya desams. For quick understanding, Pagal Pathu utasavadigal starts 10 days before Vaikunda Ekadasi and Ra Pathu utasavadigal starts on/after Vaikunda Ekadasi for another 10 days.

 

In Alwarthirunagari divya kshetram, Adoring Nam-Alwar as Sriman Narayan has a special uniqueness and spiritual significance during Pagal Pathu days. Nam-Alwar will be decorated as Sri Krishna, Mokini Avatharam and various other forms of Sriman Narayanan. This adoration is a feast to all srivaishnava devotees. There isn't any thing documented about why Nam-Alwar is adored as Sriman Narayanan in alwarthirunagari, but this tradition is being followed for many hundred years. There are many Anumana Pramanam (Analysis from assumption) about this event. One such big motivating evidence is from Sri Manavala Mamunigal's Upadesa Rathinamalai slogam.

 

Refer Upadesa Rathinamalai (50)

 

namPerumal Nam-Alwar * nanJeeyar Nam-Pillai enBar*

avarAvar tHam aThaThal * anPudaiyur Sathu Thirunamangal *

tHan Ennu nanNejya * EthaThanai Solli Ne eNdru.*

 

Mamunigal verse say that "Very affectionate (affection towards Sriman Narayanan) bhagavadas accepts Nam-Alwar as Nam-Perumal". Mamunigal verse is a strong advice on this belief and probably such beliefs might have lead to adorning Nam-Alwar as Sriman Narayanan in alwarthirunagari (Anumana Pramanam).

 

Before Sri Ramanujar reign, there is a practice of taking Nam-Alwar's "Svayam Vaktha Vikragam" to Srirangam and participate in Pagal Pathu & Ra Pathu utasavam. Later on, due many practical difficulties, this utasavadigal are restricted within alwarthirunagari. So, there can be many similarities between utasavadigal done at srirangam and alwarthirunagari.

 

Current Ra Pathu utasavadigal will focus on doing ThiruMudi Sevai. During Thirumudi sevai, Sriman Narayanan's right foot will touch Nam-Alwar Thirumudi (holy hair). Significance of this event is that Sriman Narayanan come & find Nam-Alwar and granting him Salvation. Here Polintha Nina Piran (Alwarthirunagari utsava perumal) will be taken in hands by two priest (Kaithala Sevai) and polintha Nina piran will be taken to Nam-Alwar sannidhi. Two priest will hold polintha Nina Piran over the head of Nam-Alwar vigragam, so that Right Leg of Polintha Ninna Piran will touch Nam-Alwar. Wow..., there are no words to describe this anubhavam. This seva takes place every day during Ra Pathu Utasavam and this sevai ends with Nam-Alwar Mocham (salvation).

 

Moreover, all 4000 verses of prabhantham will be completely uttered by the ghosti members during this significant Pagal Pathu and Ra Pathu utasavam. During this time, Araiyar (representative of sriman Nathamunigal) do the abhinaya bhavam for some of the pasurams. During this events, EMPERUMANAR utsavar will be always with Nam-Alwar till the end of this utsavadigal. EMPERUMANAR utsavar is a svayam Vaktham vigragham from emperumanar sannidhi - alwarthirunagari.

 

Rear Event of SriEmperumanar:

 

1.) Today (suklabhaksha dasami) marked with the very rarest event for emperumanar devotees. In alwarthirunagari, Nam-Alwar will adored as Pallikonda Perumal (Similar to Sriranga perumal Posture) and Emperumanar will be adored like SriDevi Nachiyar. Adored emperumanar will be touching the lotus feet of Sri Nam-Alwar. Nayaga - Nayagi bhavam between Nam-Alwar and emperumanar is the rarest moment here. The sampradhayam of doing this Nayaga - Nayagi bhavam existed from the period of Sri Thiruvaimozhi Pillai.

 

2.) Marghazhi Thiruvadhirai (1/3/07) is also a significant day for emperumanar devotees. This day is marked with SErthi Thirumanjanam (Joint Thirumanjanam) with Alwar. Nam-Alwar will visit emperumanar temple and a sErthi thirumanjanam will take place here for Nam-Alwar and emperumanar.

 

There are many events in the past had established a linkage between Nam-Alwar and emperumanar. Nam-Alwar did a Mangalasasanam in Thiruvaimozhi (5.2.1) for Bhavishyathacharian. In his verses, Nam-Alwar is saying that "ill effects of Kalki yugam are vanished due to the birth of Bhavishyathacharian (future guru)".

 

poliga poliga poliga!

pOyiRRu valluyirch chaabam

naliyum naragamum naindha

namanukkiNG giyaadhonRu millai,

kaliyum kedumkandu koLmin

kadalvaNNan boodhangaL maNmEl,

maliyap pugundhisai paadi

yaadi yuzhitharak kandOm

 

Amudhanar inturn in his Iraamanusa nooRRanthaathi did mention about the emperumanar's affinite towards Maran (Nam-Alwar) particularly about Parankusa Nayaki Bhavam.

poomannu maathu porunthiya maarpan pukazhmalintha

paamannu maaRan adipaNin thuynthavan

 

So, linkage of Sri emperumanar and Sri Nam-Alwar existed even before the thiruAvatharam of Sri Emperumanar.

 

All the devotees are welcome to attend this rare moments of emperumanar - Nam-Alwar seerthi.

 

Adeyan Dasan,

Jegannathan M Ramanujam