Kanchi Sri Varadaraja Perumal Temple Vaikasi Brahmotsavam – Day 7

May 27, 2016

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Durmukhi Vaikasi Pooradam(May 25th 2016) was the seventh day of Vaikasi Brahmotsavam at Kanchi Sri Varadaraja perumal koil. Therottam or Chariot car run for Varadarajaperumal took place on the streets of Kanchipuram. As early as 3.00a.m. devotees had gathered near vahana mandapam to have darsan of Varadan and His ubhayanachimars who would be leaving for Therottam. At about 4.00 a.m. the Tiruchinnam was sounded and DevaPerumal along with Ubhaya nachimars left kanadi-arai mandapam and headed straight out for the gopuravasal. The temple bell rang continuosly. The stop outside Swami Desikan sannidhi was short. The speed with which the purappadu took place was stupendous. The arulicheyal goshti’s slow chanting gives us some time to gaze at Him but today we had a short glimpse of His sikkhuthadai and bejewelled Tirumeni and He ran off. People ran after Him and the smart ones waited outside the gopura vasal and escaped the trampling and chaos inside. The umbrella propping near the 16 pillared mandapam happened in a jiffy and the stop outside Sri Ahobila Muth where Srimadh Azhagiasingar waited afforded a short break. It was running running all the way to Theradi which is about 2kms away. It seemed as if the young, the old and the infirm were participating in a marathon.

He seemed to be in a tearing hurry to ascend the ‘Tiruther’ which was majestically stationed and fully decorated with flower strands and thombai embellishments. The dwarapalakas stood majestically on either side. A pink Garuda with prominent shanku and chakram looked ready to take His Master on the big ride. Two horses on either side sporting bright tirumans were like flying horses waiting to pull Devadhirajan’s ‘Tiruther’. Perumal along with His Consorts sporting long braids made a pradakshinam of the chariot. Harathi was offered. Rock salt and pepper were placed near the wheels as also lemons and white pumpkins. Bhajans were being sung at the adjacent Hanuman temple. After listening to the chants of the Divya prabhandhams and the Vedic Benedictions Varadan climbed the stairs leading to the mandapam of the ‘Ther’. We got to enjoy His ‘Adhbhutha soundaryam’ for sometime. There were crowds climbing up to see Him at close quarters and receive Srisathari blessing. Those standing below were craning their necks for His darsan. Coconuts were broken into halves and offered along with karpoora harathi. At 6.00 a.m. the Tiruchinnam was sounded and ‘vadam-pidithal’ was done. A green flag was waved and the run began. In the past the chariot was pulled all through but nowadays bulldozers are used to push the chariot.

Devaperumal was in the chariot giving darsan to the devotees who had lined up and waited in the blazing heat. At about 7.00 p.m. Tirumanjanam took place and the return purappadu took place by 8.00 p.m. It was about 8.45 when Perumal arrived at Tiruvadi koil to a rousing welcome by the residents of Vishnu Kanchi who came with their upaharams of fruits and flowers . Perumal’s pace was slow and the bell was rung continuously as He moved inside the temple. Therottam being over the crowds had thinned considerably.

To view the previous days Utsavam please visit: