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[sv-rituals] Fwd: NavarAthri celebrations at Kaanchipuram : PerumAL-ThAyAr SErthi sEvai for 10 days: Part I of Two.

From the Bhakti List Archives

Mani Varadarajan • Mon Oct 07 2002 - 14:48:05 PDT 


--- In sv-general@y..., Sadagopan  wrote:
SrI:

SrI Mahaa Devi SamEtha Sri VaradarAja ParabrahmaNE nama:

Dear BhakthAs:

Today is the first day of the NavarAthri Uthsavam
at Kaanchi . adiyEn wishes to share with you a wonderful
description of this Uthsavam written up by Varadha GuNAmrutha-
varshi R.SrInivAsa Varada tatachAr Swamy,the sishyar of 
the famous AchAryan , Thirupputkkuzhi SrI Nrusimha TaatArya 
MahA Desikan :

Kaanchi is famous and unique for the joint kolu of
the dhivya dampathis. During the evening of MahALaya 
AmaavAsyai ( this evening) , SrI VaradharAjan travels 
through Sannidhi Street upto the Sannadhi of AnjanEyar
and returns back to the western temple gate. He is now facing
East awaiting His Jaganmohani-PirAtti to arirve. She 
exits out of ThoNDaradippodi MaNDapam now and travels 
west towards the site , where Her Lord is waiting .
Once She reaches the four pillar maNDapam , Lord 
VaradharAjan hurries to meet His SahadharamchAriNI,
who stands by Him and supports Him in all His 
sankalpams and avathArams and dhivya chEstithams.
The Lord's lotus eyes are filled with joy now 
as He meets Her . Both now turn and face northward
and a single white umbrella is held over the dhivya 
dampathis to remind us of their Yeka chatrAdhipathyam .
Karpoora Haaratthi , upahAram offering take place next.
After the upachArams , the divine couple gently move
towards the 100 pillar maNDapam to the accompaniment of
MangaLa Vaadhyams. ParichArakaas hold a white folded
vEshti firmly at one end and gently unfold at the other end 
like a slowly opening fan . This is called the nadai paavAdai 
upachAram , where the kalpaka flowers are collected 
from the DevAs hovering above to witness this wonderful 
sErthi ulA of the dhivya dampathis .The abhinayam to catch
those divine flowers without falling on ground is 
the symbolism behind the nada pAvAdai upachAram.
It is like a setting for ThirukkalyANam for the divine
couple of Kaanchipuram.

At the 100 pillared maNDapam , there are special decorations,
Pandhal, ThOraNams and lamps . The dhivya dampathis climb
the steps and seat themselves on the elevated stone platform
inside the MaNDapam facing South.For two full hours , they 
hold court (Kolu) .Devotees feast themselves on this rare 
and dear anubhavam of sErthi sEvai.

ThiruvArAdhanam takes place next with manthra Pushpam
and NaivEdhyam.After viniyOgam of PrasAdham , the divine
couple descend from their seats and there is a special way 
in which they are carried on the backs of the Paadham thAngIs
down the steps of the MaNDapam . They move ever so gently 
and delight the eyes of the fortunate ones assembled there.
Now they arrive at the ThoNDardipodi maNDapam , where Thiruvanthi-
Kaappu (Saayarakshai ) rites are performed and Haaratthi 
takes place. They continue their ulA upto AbhishEka 
MaNDapam , while listening to Naathasvaram music 
offering naadah naivEdhyam in KedAra gouLam 
and Yadhukula KaanbhOji raagams.During that travel together ,
the individual golden Prabhais of the PerumAL and ThAyAr
gently touch each other . They ascend the steps of 
AbhishEka maNDapam and face westwards. MangaLa Haarathti is
performed there. The curtain is now drawn and the dhivya dampathis 
enter the Mirror room for the night's rest.The first day
of NavarAthri uthsavam is thus concluded.Early next morning ,
the Visvaroopa sEvai takes place in front of the Mirror room
(KaNNADi aRai). 

adiyEn will cover the NavarAthri celebrations from 
the second to the tenth day and the special alankArams and
AabharaNams the dhivya dampathis adorn during these ten days.

Few months back, number of you supported the Nandavana
Kaimkaryam at Kaanchipuram . The many flowers and TuLasi
grown there are used daily to adorn the ThirumEnis of 
Lord VaradarAjan and PerumdEvi ThAyar. During the NavarAthri
days, more than the normal volume of the flowers are used
to construct lovely garlands for the dhivya dampathis by 
the ladies of Kaanchipuram . adiyEn wants to thank you
for your participation in this kaimkaryam , which brings
us all close to Their ThirumEni every day in general and
during NavarAthri sErthi uthsavam days in particular.

SrI MahA Devi samEtha Sri HasthigirIsAya NamO nama:

Daasan, Oppiliappan Koil VaradAchAri Sadagopan
--- End forwarded message ---




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