Bhoopathy Thirunaal ----- Thai Utsavam

Bhoopathi Thirunaal First Day 18 01 13

It is close to 5:30am on 18^th Jan 13 and Namperumaal is about to have HIS purappadu. Prior to that , two kainkaryakarars hold a half white curtain of approximately 10ft by 6ft  in which Garduda’s figure  is drawn. This curtain is taken in procession in front of Naamperumaal. Today there are just about  20 persons who witness this Thaiththirunaal purappadu.

HE reaches Dwajastambam in HIS majestic Nadai. Near the Hanuman statue and the Dwajastambam, the Garuda curtain is mounted on a triangular wooden stand. HE is seated in the mandapam behind the Anjaneya sannindhi near the dwajastamabm. Then the Garuda curtain is taken in a procession and the Garudadwaja is wound around the dwajasthambam.

Namperumaal stays in the Kannadi arai in Santhanu mandapam  till about 4 pm when HIS Ubhayanachimars join HIM in his seat .The Kingly Perumal calls forth to all the elements to participate in His UtsavamsThis is done by beating many percussion instruments. These are placed in front of Him and a small puja performed for all the drums. Then dramatically these drums are played calling forth to the Devas, the elements, and all fellow beings of the Universe to take part in this beautiful utsavams.

At sharp 6:30pm, Namperumaal decides to take a stroll outside HIS temple along with HIS  Ubhayanachimars  seated in front of HIM , facing each other. Namperumal   is dressed in sky blue vastram and wears about 9 haras with different pendants and goes thru Ul Thurai (Uthra) veedhi and reaches the kannadi arai after Thrumanjanam  around midnight. The Boopathy thirunaal is all excitement for Namperumal.

During the entire period of Bhoopathi thirunall, Namperumal’s abode for the night is temporarily shifted to the kannadi arai. Every day in the wee hours , HE moves to the vahana mandapam near Ranga vilas and retires to the kannadi arai late in the night.

Bhoopathi Thirunaal 2nd Day 19 01 13

On this day HE  has purappadu around 5:30am  goes around Uthara veedhi, reaches Thayar sannidhi and is seated in the mandapam near the front of Thayar sannindhi. .  HIS elephant, “Aandal” and HIS white  horse , “Hari” also go in front of with Namperumaal thru utharaveedhi. HE wears a typical white vashti and a long kaasu malai haram and one can have a very close darshan of HIM as there are hardly any dev otees!!!

In the evening Namperumaal goes around Uthirai veedhi on a huge silver  hamsa vahanam. The vahanam is decorated with Red, yellow, Green and Blue velvet vastrams. He sits majestically on this huge vahanam wearing a pandiyan kondai.  “Aandal” and “Hari” as customary go in front of Namperumaal.

Bhoopathi Thirunaal 3rd Day 20 01 13

On this day HE has purappadu from Kannadi arai at about 4:30am and reaches Vahana Mandapam near Ranga Vilas Mandapam. From here HE goes around Uthirai Veedhi on Simha Vahanam , around 5:30am and reaches Thayar Sannidhi. Then HE stays in “Karuthurai Mandapam”, behind Kamba Ramayana Mandapam and adjacent to Sri Vedantha Desikan Sannidhi  till about 4 pm. HE is dressed in a white vashti and sports a long kaasu malai.

A small interesting anecdote is quoted here. It is said, Nmaperumal comes to see his bride the previous day and on this day the 3^rd day of his Thirunaal He comes near thayar sannidhi and stays in a small alcove behind Desikar sannidhi near the radha Krishnan sannidhi  presumably to gather information on Thayar’s reaction to HIS proposal. It is very amusing to know that like evbery other groom HE also sits there quietly awaiting HER consent !

In the evening Namperumaal goes around UThirai veedhi on a huge silver Yali (YAnai plus LIon?) vahanam.  As usual, the vahanam is decorated with Red, yellow, purple, Green and Blue velvet vastrams. He sits majestically on this huge vahanam wearing a pandiyan kondai.   “Aandal” and “Hari” also go in front of with Namperumaal thru u Thiraiveedhi.

Bhoopathi Thirunaal 4^th Day 21 01 13

On this day HE has purappadu from Kannadi arai at about 4:30am and reaches Vahana Mandapam . From here HE goes around Ul Thiru Veedhi on Irattai Prabhai Vahanam . This vahanam is the normal Prabhai placed inside Chandra Prabhai.  HE is dressed in a crimson red vastram and wears HIS normal Blue padakkam , Horse shoe shaped Diamond padakkam and a gold chain.  “Aandal” and “Hari” as usual go in front of with Namperumaal thru Ul Thiruveedhi.

Today HE goes out of the temple to a place known as “Veereswara Mandapam” on the banks of River Cauvery near Mambazha Chalai.Namperumal goes to almost all places in and around Srirangam to perhaps facilitate  his darshan to locals living all over.This mandapam is on the banks of Cauveryand He strays rhere for almost 12 hours.

In side the temple, the prakarams,  Mandapams , the path through which Namperumaal takes the procession , local mamis have decorated the floor with small, medium and big sizes Kolams .

In the evening, Namperumal is on the Garuda vahanam. The Garudalwar is in a sitting posture holding out his palms for Namperumal to keep HIS feet on them.  His right leg is bent backward  and Garuda is almost on a Takeoff position,  with his wings spread majestically on both sides, and  his face at an upward tilted angle . Namperumal, goes through the Ul Thurai veedhi before HE reaches the vahana mandapam and then the  Kannadi arai.

Bhoopathi Thirunaal 5^th Day 22 01 13

On this day HE has purappadu from Kannadi arai at about 4:30am and reaches Vahana Mandapam . From here HE goes around Ul Thiru Veedhi on Sesha  Vahanam . This vahanam consist of three animals depicting the concept of creation of universe as per mythology. On the bottom there is a huge Koorma , about 6” in height with raised head and 4 legs seated on the platform, on the Koorma there are eight Elephants ( Ashta digh Gajangal) standing with raised trunks. These elephants are about 18” tall  and on the back of these elephants  the Sesha vahanam  is mounted .  HE is dressed in a light yellowish green  vastram and wears HIS normal Blue padakkam , Horse shoe shaped Diamond padakkam and a gold chain. As HE walks, the hood of the sesha sways slightly both sides as if alive!

 “Aandal” and “Hari” as usual go in front of with Namperumaal thru Ul Thiruveedhi.  Today HE goes out of the temple to a place known as “Transporter Ramarao Mandapam” on the road leading to AmmaMandapam .

In the evening, Namperumal is on the Hanumantha vahanam . The Hanuman is in a sitting posture again bearing the weight of Namperumal on his palms , his right leg in a backward bent posture, with his tail pointed upwards, his face at a tilted angle upwards. Namperumal, goes through the Ul Thurai veedhi before HE reaches the vahana mandapam and then the  Kannadi arai.  “Aandal” and “Hari” as usual go in front of with Namperumaal thru Ul Thiruveedhi.

Bhoopathi Thirunaal 6^th Day 23 01 13

On this day HE has purappadu from Kannadi arai at about 4:30am and reaches Vahana Mandapam . From here HE goes around Ul Thiru Veedhi on Karpaga Vriksham  Vahanam . This vahanam is seated on a rectangular peetam which has the figures of a raised korma head and on the four corners and four sides are heads of elephants ( total 8) and Namperumal stands elegantly with about 7 haarams and on HIS back the Kaprpaga Vrisksham stands. On the trunk of this tree  there is a figure of Seshan .

In the evening Namperumaal goes around Uthirai veedhi on a huge silver (plated?) Yanai vahanam. This yanai is about 7 feet tall and is in a standing posture. There are 4 kainkaryapars also on this Yanai vahanam, two standing on each side and two sitting on the yanai.. one holding Namperumal and one holding the Kudai. One could see about 40 to 50 Sri Padam Thangigal  lifting this huge yanai vahanam. Namperumal is wearing a torquise blue vastram and sports about 7 to 8 haaras each with different pendants. “Aandal” and “Hari” as usual go in front of with Namperumaal thru Ul Thiruveedhi. 

Then around 9:30pm in front of Ul Aandal sannidhi , facing HER , Namperumal stands for about half an hour and both of them exchange their flower maalai. Then Namperumal retires to his abode.