The annual #Panguni Utsavams have commenced in #Srirangam. Yesterday evening, the Purappadu of Viswaksenar happened. He goes around the Maada veedhis to inspect if everything is ok. Today onwards Namperumal with Ubhaya Nachiyar is taken in a procession.
Will do a thread. 😀🙏
The dreaded Chniese Vrius had attacked just before the Panguni Utsavams last time. And for two years, everything was conducted within the temple premises. The residents of Srirangam have been eagerly waiting for two years now!
Finally this year they are happening, like before!😀
Earlier this morning, before sunrise, the Dhwajaarohana Mahotsavam happened. Sharing images and videos as received.
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#Panguni2022
Short video of the same.
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#Panguni2022
And that is Namperumal in his Adhishtana Mandapam.
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#Panguni2022
A closer look!
Ranga! Ranga!
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#Panguni2022
And this evening, Namperumal with Ubhaya Nachiyar Serthi Sevai around the outer most of the seven Prakarams, the Chitra Veedhi.
After two long years!
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#Panguni2022
What a sight it was!
Ranga! Ranga!
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#Panguni2022
Words are not enough to describe the beauty!
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#Panguni2022
Who knows that entire poem?
Srirangam la Nadai Azhagu
Kanchipuram la Kodai Azhagu
Tirumalai la Vadai Azhagu...
And so on...
You'll have to experience it personally to know!
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#Panguni2022
Preperations for Day 2 of the Panguni Utsavams began last night itself. The Garuda Mandapam was decorated with beautiful Kolams. Just check how effortlessly these Maamis put them! Everything is improvised!
Pure magic! 🤩🤩🤩
#Panguni2022
Just observe how Maami's hand flows! And the design emerges like it was stenciled! This Arasimaavu Kolam is a speciality of Tamil Nadu. I haven't found such huge intricate designs anywhere else!
Absolutely amazing!
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#Panguni2022
Drawing these is some serious art I tell you!
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Day 2 evening of the annual Panguni Utsavams in Srirangam. Namperumal all ready to make a visit to Jiyapuram, about 15 kilometres away. The Purappadu starts by night.
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#Panguni2022
Namperumal on his way to Jiyapuram. In that cute cute palanquin!!
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#Panguni2022
And that's how he is taken. A ritual for centuries!
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#Panguni2022
At around 2 AM, he reached the Vrikshi Mandapam and Punnaga Theertham. All along the way, hundreds of devotees stayed up waiting outside their homes to welcome him.
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#Panguni2022
The fifteen-kilometres long journey is a rough terrain. It is filled with rough sand and stones that prick your feet. There are potholes and ankle-deep sand, and the water of Kaveri. Hundreds of Sripaadathangis carry the palanquin and walk barefoot.
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#Panguni2022
There are certain Aagamic protocols to be followed. For example, the murti doesn't cross a bridge. So he has to be taken the long route, through the river bed of the Kaveri. Last night, the water was upto waist level. But there have been times it was higher!
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#Panguni2022
And all along the journey, the Veda Ghoshti continues behind the palanquin.
Looking at this, I could only imagine how difficult it would have been to smuggle him out of Srirangam, when Izlomik invaders attacked and plundered temple. The sacrifices of Pillai Lokacharyar etc 🙏
Vedanta Desikar and others. How much they would have struggled to keep Namperumal safe!? Centuries ago when there was no other technology to help them. And this is just a short 15 kms route. They ran for days and nights into wild forests and mountains. 🙏🙏🙏
#Panguni2022
And notice how none of the Sripaadathangis or the devotees walking along wear anything on their feet!
And after a 15 km walk, they reach the Adhishtana mandapam in Jiyapuram.
You wonder why this arduous journey? The history behind it is absolutely beautiful.
#Panguni2022
A poor grandmother from Jiyapuram doted on her shepherd grandson. She was a staunch devotee of Lord Ranganatha though she had not seen him, staying far away Jiyapuram. Every day she offered the lord Curd rice and some greens (Keerai) and sought his blessings.
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She would then pack that Curd rice and Keerai to her grandson who would go for work into the fields and return late. Pleased by her devotion, lord Ranganathar appears one day, in the disguise of her grandson. She wonders how he returned home so early and feeds him the food.
The boy eats and leaves. Later in the evening, the grandson returns saying he was very hungry and couldn't come home to pack his usual food as he got held up with some work. The grandmother is shocked. But he did come and she fed him everything she cooked!
#Panguni2022
The grandson denies eating anything or coming home!
Only then they realise it was Lord Ranganatha himself who had blessed her. And that happened to be in the Panguni month.
It is in her honour that Namperumal makes this annual visit. On the third day of the Panguni Utsavams.
The Nagaswaram Vidwan suddenly began playing Tyagaraja Swamy's famous Kriti "Nannu Paalimpa Nadachi vachitivo". One could see many of the Sripaadathangis and devotees with eyes filled with tears of happiness for having completed the promise of Namperumal to that grandmother. 🙏
After placing Namperumal into the Mandapam, fresh Curd rice and Keerai are offered as Naivedyam. And the same is served as Prasadam.
This ritual continues for centuries now!
And after a 15 km barefoot walk/trek, one Donnai of this divine Prasadam is enough! 🤩
#Panguni2022
All of today, Namperumal stays in Jiyapuram and blesses devotees around that area. Hundreds flock to see him. By sunset, he starts his journey back to Srirangam.
The same arduous journey back 15 kms!!
The Sripaadathangis and other devotees have a field day!
#Panguni2022
This often-heard Kriti in Mohanam never felt more emotional! The sight of Namperumal, taking this long journey and coming year after year to bless his devotee in Jiyapuram is the power of Bhakthi. May it inspire everyone!
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#Panguni2022
And the #Panguni2022 Utsavams continue. Today Namperumal visits the Jiyapuram Agraharam and blesses everyone there.
God knows from where these Sripaadathangis have all this unlimited energy! None have slept a wink. Performed their rituals along the river and back to serve! 🙏😀
Namperumal Darshanam in Jiyapuram Adhishtana mandapam.
Ranga! Ranga!
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#Panguni2022
Earlier this evening, Namperumal began his journey back to Srirangam before sunset. Observe the mud road. Full of stones. But these wonderful Sripaadathangis with their unlimited energy, are up for every condition, as long as they are serving him.
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#Panguni2022
It is actually a photographer's delight to shoot his return! As the sun sets, a golden glow surrounding the Purappadu, the thin dust adding to the effect till they reach the Kaveri.
Check this. 🤩🙏🤩🙏🤩
Wish I was equipped with a better camera! Sigh!
#Panguni2022
Some more snaps of the evening. Before sunset.
Remember the journey is over five hours long! And he has to reach before ten pm and retire for the day!
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#Panguni2022
Short video from yesterday evening. The journey is difficult in the day time itself. Imagine in the darkness of the midnight with only firelight! There are so many stories of how Sripaadathangis have been bitten by scorpions and snakes. They couldn't care!
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#Panguni2022
A 5th gen. Sripaadathangi was carrying the palanquin through the river bed, wading in waist-deep water. He felt something prick his leg but carried on. Walked another ten minutes out of the water to see a scorpion hanging to his veshti. Plucked it aside and carried on! 🙏🥹
This evening began with another fantastic Mallari.
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#Panguni2022
And it is Garuda Sevai tonight!
Absolutely stunning!
Ranga! Ranga!
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#Panguni2022
A closer look.
Absolutely gorgeous!
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#Panguni2022
Ranga! Ranga! 🤩🤩🤩
Two eyes are not enough to absorb the beauty of Namperumal!
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#Panguni2022
In the Thiruvandhikkapu Mandapam...
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Auspicious Ekadasi early morning Purappadu in the Chitra Veedhi. Shesha Vaahanam.
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Sunrise ☀️☀️☀️
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The majestic Rajagopuram in the background!
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Notice the detailing of the Vaahanam. Ashta Diggajas stand on Sri Kurmam. On them rests Adi Shesha.
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The Amarakosha mentions all their names.
Airavata
Pundareeka
Vaamana
Kumuda
Anjana
Pushpadanta
Sarvabhauma
Supratika
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#Panguni2022
And he is back into his Asthana Mandapam.
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"Brahma Kadigina Paadamu....."
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#Panguni2022
This evening was Kalpavriksha Vahanam.
Someone had passed away in one of the Veedhis, so as per temple rules, the regular Purappadu didn't happen. Within the temple premises itself everything was done.
But Namperumal was stunning, as usual!
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#Panguni2022
Ranga! Ranga!
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#Panguni2022
Today is the birthday of Sri Kamalavalli Thayar of Woraiyur. And Namperumal is making his annual visit to the ancient temple of Azhagiya Manavala Perumal.
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#Panguni2022
Look at that stunning palanquin!! Once a year, he takes a journey in it to visit Woraiyur Thaayar.
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#Panguni2022
The Purappadu began at 3.30 AM from the Moolasthanam. Along the way, Namperumal will receive several Ubhayams.
Check him out, all cozy, inside the palanquin.
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#Panguni2022
The palanquin came outside the Rajagopuram and all the way down to Ammamandapam before getting into the Kaveri. Yet another wonderful day out for Namperumal. And the Sripaadathangis with their unlimited energy and love are at service again!
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#Panguni2022
She waits for his arrival.....
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And there we are! Woraiyur!
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Welcoming Namperumal into Woraiyur.
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Celebrations galore at Woraiyur!
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And they finally meet, face to face!
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Namperumal Kamalavalli Thayar Serthi Sevai 2022.
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A better image.
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So many gorgeous images coming in now!
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Worth framing!
The Woraiyur Serthi Sevai 2022.
#Panguni2022
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Several friends asking how was the journey to Woraiyur. Well....it was short but not easy! The road was tough. But our Sripaadathangis wouldn't stop for anything! 😀🙏😀
#Panguni2022
Past midnight Namperumal began his return journey to Srirangam from Woraiyur.
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And he returned by 4 am! Check out the Veda Ghoshti behind the palanquin. They've been at it in the to and fro journeys!
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#Panguni2022
This evening he is out with Ubhaya Nachiyars in a flower chariot!
But before that was another beautiful ritual!
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#Panguni2022
On the 7th day of every Utsavam, is a quaint ritual called 'Nallelavai'. Being the lord and king of Srirangam, Namperumal with Ubhaya Nachiyars take an account of the granary. Certain ancient count of paddy and other pulses is presented before him. He surveys this.
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In ancient times, in temple-run economies, whatever was produced in the fields was offered to the king, who in turn offered it to the temple. They would make a presentation of all the produce before distribution. And take back whatever they received as Prasadam😀🙏
Different counts of Paddy, wheat, other pulses and spices like pepper etc were measured and announced so everyone knew. 😀🙏
After this ritual, Namperumal with Ubhaya Nachiyars did rounds of the Chitra Veedhi in his chariot decked with flowers!
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#Panguni2022
Always a delight to see him decked in the Pandiyan Kondai and the Vimana Pathakam.
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Sriman Narayana Nee Sripaadame Sharanu..
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#Panguni2022
An extremely important day in the history of Srirangam. The 8th day of Panguni Utsavam. Centuries ago, Ulugh Khan and his army invaded and attacked the temple. Killed thousands of innocent devotees. Some counts say 12,000. Some say 16,000! A day written in blood!
#Panguni2022
The Moolasthanams of Lord Ranganathar and Ranganayaki Thayar were sealed with walls by devotees. The Utsava Murti of Namperumal was saved by smuggling it out. For the next 45 years, Srirangam was never the same!
Who will make #SrirangamFiles?!
#Panguni2022
The Guruparamparai, the Prapannamritam, the Acarya Sukti Muktavali and the Kovil Olugu have detailed accounts of Ulugh Khan's invasion. All these works date the invasion to 1323. The #Panguni Utsavams were underway. Over 12,000 devotees had gathered on the banks of the Kollidam.
The Pradhana Archakar Sriman Srirangarajanatha Vaduladesikan got a sense of the oncoming attack and immediately arranged for the Murti of Namperumal to be saved. On knowing that the Murti was missing, Ulugh Khan ordered the slaughter of all the devotees.
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Kovil Olugu refers to this incident as "Pannirayiramtirumudi-tiruttina-kalabham” or the invasion which took 12000 heads. It took weeks before all those bodies could be disposed. The river bed of Kaveri was cluttered with dead bodies. Kaveri turned red with the blood of devotees!
It was at that time, the philosopher Sri Vedanta Desikar saved the famous manuscript of 'Suta Prakasika'. He tied it into his Shikha and lay down among the dead bodies that night, pretending to be dead. By sunrise the next day, he managed to escape that place.
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It is 'Shruta Prakashika'. Not Suta. Typo.
It was Sudarshana Suri’s commentary of Ramanujacharya’s Sri Bhashyam. The aged Suri had shifted to Srirangam and was living there with his two sons Parankusa Bhatta and Vedacharya Bhatta. Desika was also serving as a priest there.
The Kodiettru Mandapam, Dhwajasthambam, and the Pranavakara Divya Vimanam were all gold plated in the 12th century. The Pandya King Sadayavarman Sundara Pandiyan I, who reigned between 1250 and 1284 AD, a great devotee of Lord Ranganathar donated much.
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Legend has it that the Pandya King conducted a Gaja thulabaram, balancing mounds of gold against the weight of his royal elephant with him seated atop on the waters of the Cauvery using two barges, and donated all the precious gold and jewellery to Lord Ranganatha.
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Khan plundered the temple and looted all that gold and jewellery! Devotees tried to save whatever they could. But imagine the entire temple complex, the maada veedhis and all of Srirangam was cluttered with thousands of dead bodies of devotees! Thousands!!😭🙏
#Panguni2022
All this history will not be found in any textbooks. The plunder of Srirangam, Madurai and other such ancient temples was glossed over. Secular historians of the @INCIndia Darbar whitewashed everything in the last seven decades. 🙄😤
#Panguni2022
Even as #Panguni Utsavams are underway in Srirangam and several other temples, it is another occasion to remember the pain and sacrifice of thousands of devotees. It is on the pedestal of that pain that we continue to safeguard whatever is there of our Sampradayam.
#Panguni2022
This evening Namperumal took a round of the Chitra Veedhi on his 🐎!
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#Panguni2022
In a beautiful tradition called Vyali... Namperumal is given a quick galloping experience on his horse in the Goratham corner of Chitra veedhi. Huge crowds assemble to witness this.
Mind you, it is not easy to carry that Vahanam and run! But our Sripaadathangis do wonders!🤩
Another video of the same! This is really a high energy activity! And our Sripaadathangis have been at service for 15+ hours every day for the last week. Any one else would have given up with fatigue! But here they only seem to gain more strength!
#Panguni2022
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And a very auspicious and happy #Panguni Uthiram to everyone!! Also a beautiful Friday!
May goddess Ranganayaki Thayar bless you all!
Today is going to be some fun in the Panguni Utsavams!
Wait and watch!
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#Panguni2022
This morning Namperumal takes rounds of both the Chitra Veedhi and the Uthira Veedhi, blessing all his devotees!
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#Panguni2022
A new drama unfolds! Someone at home is not amused! Namperumal has been going around the Veedhis, secretly asking for a quick loan of some money. He is actually going around without any sound! No noise. And Sripaadathangis are collecting money door to door.
What's happening?😜
The palanquin goes around the Veedhis without any usual fanfare. No Nagaswaram or Thavil. Even the horses and elephants walk around silently. Devotees living in the Veedhis come out and offer whatever money they can, within their strength.
But why this drama?! 😜
#Panguni2022
So our Namperumal has been happily tomtoming about the country side. Of course, his purappadu with Ubhaya Nachiyars, his visit to Woraiyur, his malai exchange with Veli Andal and all his jolly Vahanams around the Veedhis! He returns to find Thayar has shut her doors on him! 😶
In addition to that, a gold ring is missing!!! 😶
Where did it go?! Who else has been the recipient of such generosity!? 😶
Namperumal has many uncomfortable questions to answer! 🫢😶
And he wants to explain but the doors are shut!
Who will tell her?! 🫢
#Panguni2022
In addition to that,in her irritated mood, things are being flung. Big balls of butter and pots of curds come flying out of the door! 🥴
Namperumal is now ready to face anything! So far as she calms down.😂
The beautiful Mattadi ritual takes place. But someone has to help him!
The only person who can meditate is Nammazhwar. He is called to help Namperumal wade through this trouble.
A long and interesting dialogue begins. Thayar has some tough questions. Namperumal has some tricky answers. She isn't convinced so easily. 😜😂
#Panguni2022
After an hour long dialogue and mediating, she is finally half-convinced.
Namperumal needs to work a bit more! He offers her over a hundred different varieties of foods! Wasn't he the one who went galavanting around the countryside?! What did he bring for her?! 🥴
#Panguni2022
The way to one's heart is through the stomach and nobody knows this better than Namperumal! 😜😎
Finally she is ok and allows him in.
Namperumal and Thayar spend time in Ekantam.
Everyone is waiting outside wondering what is going on. Pending dose of tantrums 😂
#Panguni2022
Finally he emerged and headed to the Serthi mandapam.
And looked very happy after all the goof up!
Thayar has been convinced. 😂
#Panguni2022
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