Every Pongal night Varadaraja Perumal leaves Kanchipuram for Pazhaya Seevaram. Pazhaya Seevaram is about 20km. away from Kanchi. On 16/1/2016 at about 9.30 p.m. the residents of Vishnu Kanchi gathered in the area around the 100 pillared mandapam to see-off their Varadan on His long journey. Bullock-carts with goods loaded could be seen and everyone waited patiently for Perumal to arrive outside Swami Desikan sannidhi. He came in a closeable wooden palanquin wrapped in three layers of coverings showing only His ‘Tirumukhamandalam’. As usual swami Desikan was accorded maryadhai and devotees craned their necks to have a glimpse of Him. Whenever there was a camera flash we could see Him well. Fruit and camphor offerings were made enroute and Kanchi vasis prayed for His safe journey. Many went along with Him till Toll gate but it was the Veda Paraya goshti which followed Him all through with their Vedarakshai. When He is the Protector is there a need to worry? A devotee is so involved with Him that he worries about Him and prays for His safety, victory etc. All along the route devotees waited with their offerings and Perumal stopped at several villages to bless devotees before reaching His destination that is the mandapam atop the hill in Pazhayaseevaram where there is a temple for Lakshminrisimha swami. Tirumanjanam took place at the mandapam and then there was sevai for devotees.
When we reached there at about 3-00 p.m. He stood in the mandapam in the middle of surya pr abhai sporting a blue silk vastram, red turban with ornaments pinned all over. He sported a red vrikshi garland which made the ornaments visible and when one went in pradakshinam the ‘pin-alankaram ‘ was seen as also a champaka flower garland. Devotees came from Chennai and other places to partake in this annual event at the serene hills offering a beautiful view of the rivers below, the Palar bridge and the white gopuram of Lakshminrisimha temple. Devotees placed themselves along the steps and when Varadan emerged bedecked with huge garlands and the two white umbrellas following the divya prabhandha goshti and followed by the Veda parayana goshti devotees descended the steps and turned back to drink the Beauty of ‘Sakshath Manmatha Manmathan’ standing amidst the golden surya prabhai with the evening sun’s rays falling on His Tirumukhamandalam’. There was a stampede of sorts when He turned around the four-pillared mandapam outside the Narasimhaswami temple and procceeded into the temple. Devotees descended down the steps and waited on the highway to have a glimpse of Him and Narasimhaswami descend the steps and moved along with Them to Tirumukoodal where Appan SriVenkatesa Perumal joined them.
At about 9.00p.m. Varadan’s journey back home began. Accepting the mandagapadis enroute He reached Vishnu Kanchi at about 8.30 am. on Sunday the 17th of January. Residents thronged to see their ‘Beloved’ with their tray offerings of fruits and camphor and rejoiced to see Him back safely. There was a devotee who offered a silver pot of milk to the Lord. At Rangaraja veedhi He stopped ouside swami Desikan’s temple and sent His Srisathari to His Beloved swami Desikan. The pallaku moved along Anai-kati street to Sannadhi Street to the sound of ‘Varada! Varada !’ As He made His way inside He stopped at Tondaradipodi, the palanquin was raised high-up so that everyone could see Him clearly. ‘Ghata-harathi ‘and offerings were made and as He entered the temple precincts the residents of Kanchi were relieved and happy to see their Varadan back home.
The following are the photos taken during the Utsavam:
Courtesy: Smt Vyjayanthi Rajan
