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| king rajaraja's Sathaya Vizha, 2022, Thanjavur amil.asianetnews.com |
Every year the Sathaya Vizha is celebrated on ‘Sathayam’ the day of the birth star of the greatest Chola emperor Rajaraja, a staunch Saivaite in the Tamil month of Aipasi. It is said it also marks the commemoration of coronation of the great ruler in 985 CE
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| abhishekams Sathaya vizha, 2022.newindianexpress.com |
It is a grand festival in honor of a popular Chola ruler who was an efficient administrator, patron of arts and a builder of Hindu temples. The world famous 11th century Shiva temple Sri Brihadeeswara temple of Thanjavur built by him still stands as his legacy.
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| Sathya Vizha illumination at Big temple, Thanjavur. dailythanthi.com |
Last Thursday of this month (4th November) marked the 1037th Sathaya Vizha of Sri Rajaraja and the function was celebrated with gaiety by the local people and civil administrators with the participation of local politicians. The statue of Sri Rajaraja outside the temple in the Cholan Park close to the Shivaganga park entrance was garlanded by prominent people.
Prior to garlanding function, there was a ceremonial procession in which the manuscripts of ‘Thirumuraigal’ from the big temple were taken atop an elephant to the accompaniment of music rendered by artists in the front. The highlight of this procession is a group of 48 Odhuvars rendering the Tirumurai devotional hymns through out the procession in the presence of hundreds of devotees Thiru gnanasambandhar’s Thirumurai is a rare compendium of devotional songs in chaste Tamil on Lord Shiva normally rendered by Oduvars at temples as part of Puja ritual. A historical fact is the original manuscripts of this rare gem, it is believed, came to light for the first time during Rajaraja's reign.
Following this ceremony, at the Big temple special abhishekams were performed with devotion and religious fervor by the priests to the huge 13-foot-tall Shiva Lingam (Peruvudayar)- one othe tallest monolithic lingams in India.
What is unique about this anointment / special ablution on the day of Sthaya Vizha is the abhishekams were done with 48 substances, including milk, tender coconut water, sandal paste, turmeric paste, panchamirtham, vibuthi (sacred ash), juice of various citrus fruits and rice. It was done before a large group of prominent people of this area. This will be normally followed by Perundheepa vazhipaadu in the afternoon and Swami purappadu (holy procession) within the temple in the evening.
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