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| Entry of Kallazgagar (vishnu) in the Vaigai river, Madurai,, The Hindu |
The very name Madurai conjurers up the images of the beautiful, massive Meenaskshi Amman temple, her celestial wedding with Lord Shiva (Sundareswarar) and most importantly the entry of Lord Kallazhagar into the Vaigai river; the last being the highlight of the famous Chithirai festival in Madurai. This annual festival has never failed to attract the people of the city and the surrounding places and its grandeur and and style will always make it more colorful and attractive. This year's Chithirai Thiruvizha began on 28 April 2017 with the flag- hoisting - (Kodi yetram) in the famous Meenakshi Amman temple. This festival began on behalf of Azhagarkovil at the Tallakulam Perumal Kovil. The celestial wedding of Meenakshi and Sudareswarar took place on 7 May followed by Therootam - chariot procession along the Main Masi streets on the 8th.
The abode of Kallazhagar, also called Sundaraja Perumal is in Azhagarkovil, a quiet hilly place. According to the temple legend his purpose of visit to Madurai was to relieve (Sabha Vimochanam) Manduga Maharishi (sage) from the curse cast upon him by Rishi Durvasar, to accept Andal of Srivilliputhur as his consort and to attend the wedding of his sister Meenashshi with Lord Shiva. Lord Kallazhagar began his arduous journey towards Madurai on the 8th of this month disguising as Kallar (robber). He was brought on a golden palanquin and passed through places like Kallathiri, Appanthirupathy, Kadachanenthal and other places. He reached Moondruvaadi on the 10th early morning. He was well received by his devotees in thousands and they sprayed water at him from the water bags, they were carrying. He gave darshan to thousands of people at more than 450 locations (Mandakapadi).
Then, he came to Prasanna Venkatesa Perumal temple in Tallakulam on the 9th and at midnight Thrumanjanam (abhisekam) was performed on him and later he was mounted on a golden stallion vahana (mount). That time, the lord accepted the flower garland specially made by Sri Villiputhur Andal (daughter of Periazhvar, a great Vaishnavite poet) brought from the Andal temple.
On the 10th early morning 2.30 am, he reached Karupannaswami temple and gave Darshan to the devotees. Till early morning, there were pujas and aradhanas performed for him. Around 3 am in the early morning, on the golden stallion, wearing resplendent green silk dress, Kallazhagar began his journey to the river. On that night people of Madurai in thousands spent sleepless night on the street to have a glimpse of him in the early morning.
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| Entry of Kallazgagar (vishnu) in the Vaigai river, Madurai,, The Hindu |
Later he left the river and went to Ramarayar Mandabam where the devotees wearing the dress of a robber sprayed water on him (Therthavari). Around 11pm Kallaghagar was taken to Vandiyur Veraraghava Perumal temple and on the 11th May around 6 am Thrumanjanam was done to him. The main event is he was taken to Theenur Mandabam where he gave Sabha Vimochanam to Monduga Maharishi (sage Sudhabas who got back his human form from frog (mandukam in Sanskrit it means frog)). Sage Duruvasa, upset with his behavior cursed Sudhabas Maharishi to become a frog. He also told him to pray to Vishnu and his curse would be removed by the lord.
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| lord in matsya kurma and vamana alankara. ISKCON Times |
On the night of 11th May Lord Azhagar appeared in Dasavataram (ten avatars) after Thirumanjanam. On 12th (Friday) morning 6 am he took Mohini avatar and around 11 am he reached via Goripalayam Ramanathapuram Mannar Sethupathy Mandabam where he changed his attire back to Kallar (robber) and blessed the devotees from the flower-decked palanquin. At the Tallakulam Perumal temple, farmers and others offered paddy and other food grains as part of their prayer. On the 13th 8.30 am, he went to Ambalathukarar Mandabam from where Kallazhagar around 11 am resumed his return journey to Azhagarkovil and through out his journey at various places like Appantirupathy, Moodrumavadi, etc thousands of people had a good darshan of the lord. Festivities continued all the way. After more than a week, lord Kallazhagar reached his abode Azhagarkovil around 10.30 am on the 14th May.
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| Madurai location Navrang India - blogger |
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| Lord Vishnu (Azhagar) on the golden stallion, Madurai tamil.oneindia.com |
Tit-Bits:
01. The entry of Kallazhagar into the Vaigai river is a significant event of this Chithirai festival.
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| Kallazhagarkovil, near Madurai Panoramio |
02. Every year, during the later part of the festival there will be a drizzle. This year, the sky was overcast and it rained briefly.
03. The Palanquin with golden stallion on which Kallazhagar (Vishnu) is mounted is taken around from place to place by hereditary bearers and they have been doing it for generations.
04. Quite interesting ‘ parai ’ music by folk artistes engaged by almost every group of devotees could be heard everywhere.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chithirai_Thiruvizha
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