Foremost among the 108 ‘Divya Desams’ this year, no doubt, an atmosphere of devotion and bhakti descended on the temple town of Srirangam, the abode of God Ranganathar - where the annual Ekadasi festival - a 22 day event split into: ‘Pagal Pathu’ (10days) followed by ‘Raa Pathu’ (10 days) began with the ‘Thirunedunthandakam’ on Thursday night. The ‘Raa Pathu’ ‘Uthsavam’ commences from January 2. The ‘Thirukaithala Sevai’ is on January 8 followed by Thirumangai Mannan ‘Vedupari’ on January 9. The final event is Namazhawar Moksham.
On the day of opening of Paramapadavassal - the main event on 2nd january, 2023 the urchavar deity - Sri Namperumal will pass through it and will be kept at the ‘Thirumamani Asthana Mandapam’ for darshan to the devotees.
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| Pagal pathu event Dec. 2022, Srirangam. .thehindu.com |
Above image: Pagal pathu event, Vaikunda Ekadasi, 2022-23, Srirangam: processional deity at Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple being carried around the temple on Friday..............
‘Thirunedunthandakam’ written by Thirumangai Azhvar is said to be his last prabandham before his eternal journey to paramapadham but is considered as one of the most important ones among divya prabandhams. Sri Parasara Bhattar and Nanjeeyar mentioned in the glorious vaibhavam. Peruya Vachanpillai, was so much impressed, wrote a commentary -vyakyanam (commentary) for this prabandham.
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| Thirunanari temple, upload.wikimedia.org |
Above image: Thiruvali - Thirunagari temples dedicated to Lord Vishnu located 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) from Sirkali (Mayiladuthurai district), TN are revered together in Nalayira Divya Prabhandam, the 7th–9th century Vaishnava canon, by Kulasekara Azhwar and Thirumangai Azhwar.
During the new moon day of the Tamil month Thai, the festival deity of Thirumangai Azhwar is brought to the Pushotama Perumal temple from Thiruvali-Thirunagari to celebrate Thirumangai Azhwar Mangalasasana Utsavam in that month (January–February). An interesting festive event is urchavar idol of Thirumangai Azhwar and his consort Kumudavalli Naachiyar are also brought on a Hamsa Vahanam (palanquin) and taken to those 11 temples. On God Shiva's request Vishnu appeared in different forms at these temples.It was Vishnu who subdued the rage of God Shiva after the death of his consort Uma. The highlight is his paasurams (verses) dedicated to those eleven temples are recited during the occasion. in the respective shrines. This festival in this area attracts a large number of devotees. Thirunagari is the birthplace of Thirumangai Azhwar ..................
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| Thiruvali Thirumangai Azhwar Anudhinam org. |
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| Thirumangai Azhwar with kumudhavalli nachiyar,at thiruvali thirunagari |
As it has been customary ,the 10-day ‘Pagal Pathu’ ‘uthsavam’, a part of major annual Ekadasi festival, started on Friday with the processional idol Sri Namperumal being taken out in a religious procession in the early hours within the temple premises from the sanctum to the Arjuna Mandapam where a large number of devotees offered prayers to start the new year afresh on a good not. The deity was taken back to the garbagriha - sanctum that night.
The Tiruchi City Police have made elaborate security covering the entire uthsavam as lakhs of devotees will throng this place during the festivities. .
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thiruvali-Thirunagari
