26th February 2016 (Manmatha Maasi Hastham) happened to be a Friday. Friday Perundevi Thayar’s ‘Sukravara purappadu’ to ‘Dorai Thottam’ takes place.
Hastham is the nakshatram Varadan decided to take avatharam on. So every Hastham there is Tirumanjanam in the morning and purappadu on Sannidhi Street. So what happens when Hastham and Friday come together? Well we devotees enjoy ‘irattai-purappadu’ (Twin purappadus).
In the morning at about 9.30 there was Tirumanjanam for Varadaraja Perumal and Ubhaya Nachimars at the mandapam infront of ‘kanadi-arai’. In the evening at about 6.00p.m. Perumal wearing a beautifully fitting crown of diamonds along with His Consorts went in purappadu on Sannidhi Street after stopping first at Swami Desikan Sannidhi where maryadhai was accorded to swami. After visiting ‘Tiruvadi koil’, He returned to the temple waiting for Perundevi Thayar.
Thayar in Fanta coloured silk resplendent in sarvalankaram came in purappadu from Her Sannidhi and joined Perumal. They both stood together to listen to the ‘Arulichezhal goshti’ before proceeding to ‘Dorai Thottam’. Here Theertham, Srisathari and prasada-viniyogam took place. The Divya Dampathis then went along Azhwar Tiruchuutru accompanied by Vedagosham and prabhandha gosham. ‘Pathi ulathal took place in the dwajasthambam area and the Duo stopped by at Tondaradipodi where Harathi was offered. Perumal and His Consorts moved to kanadi-arai mandapam while Thayar waited for the curtains to be drawn. Thayar then was taken to Her Sannidhi where unjal took place. After Thayar entered Her sannidhi we came down and waited for Perumal.
Perumal had changed His crown to a golden one. Ubhaya Nachimars were together in another pallaku. Perumal stopped at Andal Sannidhi where garland exchange took place.(it is a usual practice which Perumal does before ascending Atthigiri). Perumal then returned to Asthanam and we went home filled with thoughts of the ‘irratai purappadu’.
The following are the photos taken during the Utsavam:
Photos : Sri Elangadu Ranganatha Chakravarthy & Write – up: Smt Vyjayanthi Rajan
