Thiruveedhi Purappadu

Sri Parthasarathi thunai

Srimathe Ramanujaya namaha

Srimad vara vara munayE Namaha

Sri vAnAchala mahA munayE Namaha

Pranams,

Now Shri Parthasarathi is ready for the Thiru veedhe purappadu. The first dol (beat of the drum) is given. This is to indicate that the purappadu is going to commence shortly. Then the second dol is given and then the screen in the vahana mandapam opens giving us the beautiful site of Sri Parthasarathi on the vahanam. Then the band starts and the sripadhathangigal get ready to lift the emperuman. Coming out of the vahana mandapam the ayakKal (the stand on which emperumans vahanam is placed during the purappadu) is tied with the thandu (block of wood used to carry emperuman) and then the umbrella on both sides are taken up to the vahanam and the archakas does this kainkaryam of holding this heavy kodai through out. Now the emperuman is fully ready for the Purappadu.

After this the Divya Prabhandha ghosti starts. Anyone new to Thiruvallikeni will be astonished to see so many people in the ghosti. When emperuman goes on the thiruveedhi we will find half the veedhi full of ghosti. I have heard elders say that in no divya desam a person can see such a massive ghosti. One may see in some places during special occasions big ghostis but in those ghostis we will find people from different places who have come there just for the occasion but Parthasarathi has such a big ghosti just for himself and he does lend some of the ghosti members to other perumals when required.

The chief adyapaka, Mudhal Theerthakarar (experienced ghosti members are called adyapakas) of that day starts the ghosti pasuram and the others follow him. The archaka takes the Sri Sadagopan (sadari) from the feet of emperuman and places it on the heads of the ghosti members. The emperuman blesses the devotees for the kainkaryam rendered by them. Then the purappadu starts with the Iyal (prabhandha) ghosti in front and the Veda ghosti at the back. Parthasarathi being the geethacharyan has a big veda ghosti also to his credit. But here we have to note one thing. The purappadu of emperuman itself shows the highness of the alwar’s prabhadams. Emperuman who is so impressed by the amudha mozhi (sweet language) of the alwars follows at the back of the prabhandha ghosti and the Vedam, which is trying to show the emperuman to the world, is following him.

The Band and other instruments are played in front of the emperuman. I remember when I was young the purapadu of Sri Parthasarathi. It will be like a raja coming through the streets. A flag will be held first across the streets. Then there will be a horse, an elephant, a cow, then the vehicle bearing the murasu then the prabhandha ghosti, then perumal then the veda ghosti and the whole street will be full. Though a lot has changed now but still the purapadu of Sri Parthasarathi even today gives us a divine experience.

During these utsavams the archakas have a hectic time. They rarely have time to sleep or eat. One after another there is something to be done. The dedicated archakas in Thiruvallikeni have to be given a great credit. The dedication they show while doing the alankaram to the bhagavan is extraordinary.

There is one more important thing which will make us awe struck during the purappadu of Sri Parthasarathi. At the back of the veda ghosti we will find so many small prototype perumals in purappadu which we call kutti perumals there. The small kids in thiruvallikeni decorate their perumals in various vahanams and bring the perumals along with the original Parthasarathi purappadu. Really the dedication of the kids, what shall I say about it. One can see 4 or 5 kutti perumals all so nicely decorated. Sometimes, we enjoy these perumals more. Fortunately parthasarathi utsavam falls in the summer holidays and Thiruvallikeni kids spend their time making kutti vahanams and decorating their perumals. It is an excellent site to see. My father used to say that this is a practice, which is being followed generation after generation. He says when we were young we did the same and now the next generation is doing. The whole world may change to software field, but there is one place, which still maintains the old traditions-Thiruvallikeni. The enthusiasm of the kids has to be surely appreciated and with that the support given to them by their parents should also be appreciated. The parents are actually happy seeing their kids involved in bhagavat kainkaryam more so the grand parents who are really in a state of ecstasy to see their grand children involved in kainkaryam.

So now Sri Parthasarathi finishes his Thiruveedhee purapadu through the main Maada veedhees and returns back to the vahana mandapam. The ghosti satrumarai is done and perumal is taken out of the vahanam and goes into the temple again and the day’s festival comes to an end.

Actually I planned to say about the various vahanams also in this posting but since it has already become a big posting I stop now and let us continue in the subsequent postings.

Adiyen Ramanuja dAsee

Sumithra Varadarajan