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| 1868 Srivilliputhur temple chariot, TN reddit.com/ |
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| Andal temple Chariot festival, Srivilliputhur, TN. india.postsen.com |
At Srivilliputhur Andal-Rangamaar temple, Aadipuram festival (July August) - a vibrant 10 day annual event is taking place now and it is a joyous celebration of the birth of Sri Andal (Goddess Lakshmi) ; Andal Jayanthi in Aadipooraa nakshatra (as per Tamil Calendar). A large number of devotees regard her as an incarnation of Sakthi Devi as well.
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| Chariot festival Andal temple Srivilliputhur thehindu.com |
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| Chariot Andal temple Srivilliputhur upload.wikimedia.org |
Above image: Srivilliputhur Andal temple chariot photo taken in 1940. It appears the wooden base was not in good shape awaiting repair work. A jerry-rigged cover is put on the wooden base to safeguard the wooden carvings. ........................
The highlight of the event is Chariot event (Aadipoor Therottan) that is to be held on the first of August (Aadipooram date). At Sri Villiputhur the car festival had been taking place for more than 162 years; consecutively for the past 29 years since 1985.
On completion of early morning special pujas - ninth day celebrations “Ekantha Thirumanchanam” will begin at the temple in the early morning and priests will perform special pujas and aradhanas. After the rituals are over the urchavars (processional idols) of the presiding deity Andal (goddess Lakshmi) and Rengamannar (Sri Vishnu) will be taken in a palanquin to the specially decked-up ratha amidst chanting of “Govinda…Gopala…” by the devotees.
The huge decorated chariot with well-fixed canopy, festoons, etc over it will begin the yatra - journey in the morning roughly between 7 to 8 am and will be pulled by hundreds of devotees with dedication and Bhakti all along the four Ratha streets around the temple. While the huge ratha is wending its way through four streets ardent devotees chanting of Azhwar pasurams will be accompanying the chariot. The Yatra will end at the temple back before early afternoon. The Therotam takes place after a gap of two long years due to covid-19 threats and lakhs of devotees in Virdhunagar district and other places are looking forward to this awe-inspiring moment either to hold the giant rope to pull the chariot or watch the giant ratha trundling along the four Ratha streets.
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| The Srivilliputhur car festival.thehindu.com/ |
The Andal temple chariot used to be heavy above 600 tons and 40 m tall long long ago. As the wooden chariot, donated by Madurai Naik ruler Thirumalai Naicker, was damaged, at the initiative of Sri Ranganarayana Jeer, the 19th head of Vanamamalai mutt (a monastic institution), new chariot was made.
After some gap, the ratha (chariot) had its maiden run in 1849 C.E. This is the same ratha that is being used today for the Therottam. It is 75 ft in height and is as tall as a nine - story building. ''The panels and woodwork from the old chariot can be seen in the Gopala Vilasa mandapam in the temple.''
I understand that hydraulic braking system is provided to stop the huge rath then and there. The car connected to the giant ropes at both sides will be easily pulled by the devotees and can be stopped with ease without causing anxiety . Besides, heavy bulldozer or heavy-duty tractors will be used from behind the car to push the rath forward.
As to the origin of this temple, it is subject to debate, however there are temple inscriptions from Chola, Pandya and Nayak period, - 10th to 16th centuries. With respect to the original structure, it was built by Tribuvana Chakravarthy Konerinmai Kondan Kulasekaran and the Andal temple by Barathi Rayar.
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| Sri Andal temple, Srivilliputhur, TN..maalaimalar.com |
Tit-bitts
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| Andal temple, perumal in sayanakolam with Andal.in.pinterest.com.(templefolks.com) |
Above image Today 30th July is Sayana Utsavam in Srivilliputtur Andal Temple. Sri Rangammannar on Sayana Thirukolam (on Sri Andal Lap). Devotees had blessings of Sri Andal & Sri Rangamannar (templefolks.com).
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https://www.navrangindia.in/2018/05/hindu-temple-chariot-ratha-36-engaging.html
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