The Tradition of Araiyar Sevai
From the Bhakti List Archives
• December 16, 2001
SrImatyaI GodayaI Nama: Recently there have been some queries about Araiyar sevai and with the adyayana utsavam commencing today i thought of sharing some information on Araiyar Sevai to supplement the information on this list/archives. Knowledgable members are requested to add/correct anything to this as they think appropraite/necessary. ARAIYAR SEVAI AND ITS ORIGIN ****************************** The term Araiyar Sevai denotes "service of the Araiyars".Sometime around 9th century AD Swami Nathamunigal retrieved the Nalaiyira divya prabhandam which had been lost at that time and classified the divya prabhandam into Iyarpa which was meant to be chanted and Isaippa which was suitable for singing. With his nephews Keelai Ahatthu Aazhwan and Melai Ahatthu Aazhwan Swami Nathamunigal set the pasurams of Isaippa to tune(pan) and trained his nephews to sing and worship the prabhandams in front of the Lord at SriRangam.So they were the first Araiyars who performed in front of the lord at SriRangam. Since then this tradition has been handed down through the succesive generations of the descendents of Swami Nathamunigal and i believe our generation is VERY FORTUNATE to be able to witness the Araiyar Sevai in its pristine form even after more than a thousand years at places like SriRangam and Srivilliputtur.I would recommend all Bhagavathas who have not witnessed the Araiyar Sevai to atleast plan and try to witness it once in their life time at either SriRangam or Srivilliputtur. COMMENCEMENT OF THE ARAIYAR SEVAI IN TEMPLES ********************************************** The Araiyar Swamigal performs the service only in front of the Utsava Murthy,usually within the temple. The Araiyar sevai commences with the AruLa paTTu(Issuance of the gracious commandment by the Lord to the Araiyar) through the BhaTTar when the officiating bhaTTar calls out: Thiruvaranga PerumaaL Araiyar Araiyar Swamigal Comes forward saying: aaindhen Aaaindhen Araiyar Swamigal while comming forward puts on the 'kulam' or the 'Araiyar Kullai'(on the head) which is cylindrical and slightly tapered towards the top,and has a red outer color with the shangu ,chakram and thiruman.This 'kulam' is very special as it has been handed over the succesive generations.The BhaTTar swamigal will then tie a parivattam(Piece of garment used by the lord) on the "Kulam" and then put on a large Special garland(Perumal Malai) on the Araiyar Swamigal. Araiyar Swamigal will then take a suitable position a few yards in front of the lord and start the sevai using a pair of cymbals called 'kulittalam' for maintaining rhythm.The first few notes from the cymbals and Araiyar Swamigal will be in a special private communion with the Divya Dampathis during the service. ARAIYAR SEVAI ************** Araiyar Sevai consists of the following 1)Kondattam ************ These are short phrases extolling the Vaibhavam of Perumal and Thayar (Nachiyar).The phrases for thayar ends with the word ...Nachiaar and for perumal the phrases end with the word ...Perumaal.A few phrases for both Thayar and Perumal are recited.Usually after this a Mangalam is also recited. This set of phrases end with ...Mangalam and during finishing the last one will end with ...Mangalaaamee.During this the Araiyar Swamigal maintains the rhythm with his cymbals.It is a divine experience to listen to the Kondattam rendered in a unique rhythm and melody,and after listening once one would like to hear again and again.This service to the Divya Dampathis is rendered on many occasions during various festivals and not just during Adyayana Utsavam.Also Araiyar Swamigal on certain occasions may sing some songs in praise of the lord in simple language with thalam.These songs are known as pallupattu. 2)SINGING OF PASURAMS,ABHINAYAM AND EXPLANATION OF PASURAMS ************************************************************ This service is done during the Thiruadyayana utsavam.Depending on the particular day the Araiyar Swamigal will take up a select set of pasurams sing them along with the rhythm using the cymbals and perform abhinayam to convey the import of the pasurams with Hand gestures,steps using their legs and body/facial gestures.These gestures are not elaborate as seen in the Natyam traditions but subdued and used sparingly.Also the Araiyar swamigal may walk a few steps in front or back or sideways.The explanation of the pasurams is done with the TampirAn-paDi commentary.A certain pattern is followed in the choice of pasurams at Srirangam,Srivilliputtur and Azhwar Thirunagari corresponding to the local history and tradition of the temple.To illustrate this i shall mention a part of the pattern at Srivilliputtur during Nammazhwar Moksham day. On this day (rather night),the Araiyar Swamigal after completing Muthukkuri will be say a few feet in front of the processional diety at the chintamani chettiar mandapam on the outer prakaram of the Andal temple.He will sing one pasuram with Thalam perform abhinayam and take a few steps backwards and stop.The KainkaryapArars with the pallaku move few steps forward (Since the Araiyar Swamigal is facing Perumal and thayar he will move back and perumal and thayar will move forward) and stop.Now Araiyar Swamigal will sing another pasuram and perform abhinayam .This goes on for a few times with one pasuram recited and abhinayam done on each occasion.This way both Araiyar Swamigal and perumal will proceed to the sannidhi.The pasurams that i could identify were from Nachiyar Thirumozhi one was Sindura cempodi...(Thirumaalirumsolai pasuram),another was Menn Nadai annam pirandhu Vilaydum..(Pasuram on Srivilliputtur) and some other pasurms were from the pathu on Ranganatha Perumal (Nachiyar Thirumozhi).Later on there would be thodakkam of Thiruvaimozhi last PathU which starts with the famous pasuram on Thirumogoor Emperumaan ThaaLa Thaamarai Thadamani Vayal Thirumogoor... In the Mandapam Perumal and Thayar are in the centre ,Araiyar Swamigal facing perumal and Thayar also in the centre towards the entrance ,the adhyapaka ghosti and other bhagavathas sit on the sides During this Service the son may join the father sometimes as Araiyar Swamigal sings the Pasurams.The Araiyar Swamigal also Explains the pasurams with the TampirAn-paDi commentary.for some pasurams there may be no commentary for some a brief commentary and a lomg one for some of them(Eg the commentary on Muniye .. lasts for more than an hour) This is something about how the tradition is at Srivilliputtur on the day of Nammazhwar Moksham 3)Dramatization of Certain episodes ************************************ The Dramatization of certain episodes with appropriate abhinayams is done on selected days at Srirangam ,Srivilliputtur and Azhwar Thirunagari during the adyayana utsavam.The slaying of kamsa,the Vamana Avatharam,the churning of the milky ocean and the birth of Sri Andal are enacted on special days.The slaying of kamsa is done on the 4rth day of pahal pathu and Vamana Avatharam on the 7th day of pahal pathu at SriRangam.On the 10th day of Pahal pathu Amrutha mandanam (churning of the milky ocean)is done at Srirangam and Srivilliputtur(It is probably Nachiaar Thirukkolam at Thiruvallikkeni on this day).At Srivilliputtur Abhinayam on the birth and life of SrI Andal is also done. 4)Muthukkuri ************** In this sevai the prediction of future /good fortune is made by the Kattuvici(soothsayer) to the love-lorn lady (Nayaki),with the help of pearls. Here Araiyar swamigal sings certain pasurams and perfoms abhinayam simultaneously taking the role of Nayaki,her mother and the soothsayer (Kattuvici).This is performed on the ninth day of pahal pathu at SriRangam, the 10th day at Azhwar Thirunagari and on 3 occassions at Srivilliputtur-during Margazhi Masam,Thai Masam and Adi Masam-on the day after the Temple car reaches its Nilay after Thiruvadipooram ARAIYAR SEVAI TRADITION AT OTHER PLACES **************************************** Apart from SriRangam,Srivilliputtur and Azhwar Thirunagari ,Araiyar Sevai is also done at Melkote(karnataka).Here the Araiyar Swamigal sings the pasurams but does not perform Abhinayam.At Thirukkurungudi a very famous Divya desam with a rich tradition of Araiyar Sevai,i was told the Araiyar swamigal is very old and thus cannot perform Service.There is also evidence that Araiyar Sevai existed at Kanchipuram and Thirumalai in the past.There are famous anectodes related to Kanchipuram and Thirukkungudi which can be found in the Archives. A PRAYER FOR THE TRADITION TO CONTINUE *************************************** Araiyar Swamigal has the foremost role in the commencement/conduct of the rituals during various utsavams at Srivilliputtur and SriRangam,and may the Lord SrI Rangarajan,SrI Rangamannar and Thayar SrI Ranga Nachiyaar and SrI Goda Nachiyaar be pleased to grace the Araiyar families who are continuously engaged in singing Nithya Mangalam to the Divya Dampathis with Kula abhivriddhi and therby continued and uninterrupted service for all times to come. adiyen Ramanuja dasan Venkat S Iyengar -------------------------------------------------------------- - SrImate rAmAnujAya namaH - To Post a message, send it to: bhakti-list@yahoogroups.com Archives: http://ramanuja.org/sv/bhakti/archives/ Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
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