Pagal Paththu ... Kodiyalam Ubhayam

The Kodiyalam ubayams

For the entire Pagal pathu utsavam of Marghazhi , the Kodiyalam family ( another renowned family in Srirangam) holds the right of ubayam. Ubayams are given to people for every  few yards. Hence there are hundreds of people waiting for their share of the Lords darshan , mariyadhai ,satari and theertham.

And so it happened that a cousin belongs to the Kodiyalam family asked us also to accompany her in having a close darshan and receiving the mariyadai…..karumbu thinna kooliya?  We joyfully go in at 6pm daily and stand at the nominated place awaiting Namperumal who comes to us decked up, looking adorable and formidable at the same time. On Iindaam thirunaal he was wearing a beautiful huge diamond Ranga mandapam padakam….no mere words can describe the beauty of this pendant with intricate carvings and studded fully in diamonds, his usual harams with padakams  and another rich necklace which became more beautiful on Him……a 10 string pearl with a pendant with only rubies of all sizes. I’m sure such pieces of jewels could have been offered to the Lord only  by royalty .

Sometimes  I have wondered if the Namperumal’s expression can change but believe me …I have seen that sometimes He looks stern ,and other times He looks very adorable ,many times I have felt he looks  rather  fatherly…… may be am I imagining???

7^th day utsavam and another kind relative offered to take us in at 4am for Thirupalli Ezuchchi Sevai. So we were ready at 3.30 and the temple looked quite empty….as we walked in through the East gate  Right into the sannidhi and we waited eagerly to have a glimpse of what it is like in the Vaikundam   true enough there was sambirani smoke with a divine smell  and the Arayar (the youngest) began ringing his thalam…. and started the Thiruppalli Ezhuchi followed by Thiruppavai….no one else is allowed to recite along with him. So it is a monologue between the Arayar and The LORD. The Arayar stops the Thiruppavai at the 29^th ‘Chitranchiru kale’ and goes inside to get mariyadhai and then comes out and recites the 30^th and the days Paasuram. The Thiruppavai done, Veda vyasa battar is called upon ,after him  ,the 4 vedas are recited shortly by 4 different persons ,who clean their hands and hold the thulasi in their hands as they recite the Vedas and hand over the Thulasi to the Assistant to the Archakar.

The feeling is beyond description as one is transported beyond this world and physical becomes non existent…..it is only the Lord and oneself. Every dialogue between the individual and Lord becomes meaningful and what is more significant is   the self and its wants disappear and we ask for nothing more than this on earth .We felt as if we had been granted a small peep into Vaikundam. Need we ask for more?

We are allowed inside for a closer darshan and we see the Lord reclinihng on his Serpent bed ,all dressed in pearls called the muthangi…. The Namperumal is covered in a shawl and both his consorts covered well in shawls as well.

We walk to thayar sannidhi for a repeat performance but no arayar sevai ,only the Veda vinnapam recitals and are blessed with a darshan of Ranganayaki simply clad in a green saree. The Main thayar inside was clad in a pure white maybe to indicate that one should enter her premises with a pure heart………It is with a light step and a lighter heart that we return home with the satisfaction of having had a full meal ,with vadai and payasam……palapazham ,vazhapazham and mambazham….

The good Samaritan friend suggested we see the Namperumaal nadai azhagu, when he returns to his abode in the night. So we went in at 8.30 pm and waited  and as Namperumal goes in for his rest  he walks in like an elephant, lion, tiger, bull and king.  and if he walks in a style that moves from right to left then his Kodai also moves from side to side ,the chamaram moves, the visiri moves, the arayars also move from right to left swaying to His rhythm and the Nai(Ghee)Pandhams sway !!! Flower petals are showered on Him and He is taken in gently after bidding a cheerful good night.