Hanumantha Vahanam

After Devathirajan reached kovil on Garuda Vahanam, there was thirumanjanam on the occasion of Narasimha jayanthi. The thirumanjanam took place in front of the Kannadi arai. After that in the evening he left for the Vahana Mandapam to mount the Hanumantha Vahanam.

This is one of the large vahanam next only to the simha vahanam.

Garuda Sevai

By 00:30 the Suprabhadam, Tirupalliezhuchi, Tiruppavai, and Pallandu Ghoshti started. For one day our Devathirajan has excelled Lord Srinivasa of Tirumala, for whom the Suprabhadam starts by 02:30.

At 00.45am , it was the Thayaar's Ghoshti. Then Devathirajan at 1.30 AM, marched out majestically to Desika Sannadhi.This year , the Kerala Vadya Ghoshti with about 20 members gave vibrant "Kottu melam" in front of the "Kodi maram "At 2.30 AM, Devathirajan apppeared on Garuda. At 5 AM.

Devathirajan stepped out of the temple main gate,Gave darshan to "Doddacharya" with the tilted Kodai.just after the 16 pillar mandapam, a pair of Kodais were offered to Devathirajan.

Surya Prabhai

On the second evening of the Brahmotsavam Devadhirajan left the Kannadi Arai towards the Vahana Mandapam to grace us all in Surya Prabhai vahanam. It was a wonderful sight to see Perarulalan standing majestically.

By the time Perarulalan left the raja gopuram the sun had gone hiding shying away and Devathirajan was shinning as bright as the sun. The day dint seem to end as in Kanchipuram they had sun shine for the full day, with the only exception that the sun in the second half was pleasant and soothing.

Hamsa Vahanam

Very early in the morning Devathirajan left the Vaha mandapam on the Hamsa Vahanam.

Coming back to today’s events. Devathirajan literally flew in the Hansa Vahanam today morning and was in full control. Let me elaborate, the shear speed Devathirajan made the sri padam thangies move is second only to his Garuda Vahanam (which is scheduled for tomorrow morning). When I mentioned about control, I meant it literally, watch the pictures closely and you would notice that our Devathirajan has got the lagan (reins) of the Hamsam in his left hand.

I would not do justice to Hamsa Vahanam if I don’t mention about Perumal’s Thiruvadi. In this vahanam, perumal is seen wearing a decorative joothi. He is dressed as a warrior, as he fought on back of hamsam to retrieve the Vedas. Was it not these feet that walked with the Jagat Acharyan all the way from the Vindya mountains to Kanchipuram in one night.

Simha Vahanam

On the evening of the first day of Brahmotsavam Perarulalan left the kannadi arai leaving the ubaya nachiyar’s behind with the Thalukku kondai, as you would recall in the morning he wore the Venkatadri kondai during the Thanga Chaparam purappadu.

Kanchi Varadar Kovil is famous for so many things, like Perumal, Thayar, Kuzhal idli, Golden lizard, Silver lizard, Nammazhvar, Thirukkachi Nambigal, Ramanujar, Swami Desikan, Chakrathalvar……… the list Is endless. Kanchi Kodai is also one among the list as this is the widest Kodai. Every year Perarulalan gets new set of Kodai during the Brahmotsavam. This year also one devotee has done this kainkaryam.

This Kodai’s service for Perarulalan starts from his Purappadu in Simha Vahanam in the evening of the first day. There is no Kodai in the morning in Thanga Charpam as the charpam itself is the cover.
As Devadhirajan, is the king of all Devas aptly for him, he is majestically seated and comes around in the tallest of his Vahanas, Simha Vahana.

Thanga Chappram

This is the first purappadu for our Devathirajan during this years Brahmotsavam.

Devathirajan and ubaya nachiyars are under a Charpam (Canopy), which is richly decorated.

The kridam worn by Devathirajan and ubaya nachiyars is called Venkadathri kondai. This is the kridam worn on first day of all utsavam. Interesting information about the alankaram. There was a devotee by the name Venkathadri who wanted to present a kridam for to Devathirajan. He had no means to do that and the only way was to set aside a portion of his earning everyday till he had accumulated enough money. He was so involved in his kaimkaryam that if for some reason his daily wage was not enough money, he would forgo his food and keep the money for the kaimkaryam. Thus he got the kridam done and presented to Devathirajan on a Panguni uthram day. Devathirajan from that day onwards has made it a point to wear this alankaram on the first day of utsavams.

Dwajaaarohanam

Today early in the morning, Perarulalan left his asthanam with ubaya nachiyars and reached the vahana mandapam.

Perarulalan got on in the Thanga Charpam (Golden canopy) which was richly decorated, the lotus bud malai was icing on the cake.

Yesterday one Bhatter was nominated to officiate the Brahmotsavam and as a sign got Rakshaa Bhadhanam, the person is choosen by rotation (morai). This nominated person got the mariathai (Sri sadari and mali) from Perarulalal and proceeded towards the Dwajesthambham and hoisted the garudan flag. The hoisting of the flag (Dwaja aarohanam) markes the official beginning of the Brahmotsavam.

Alwar Thirunal

Today Vishvaksenar went around the entire route that Perumal would visit during his procession during the Brahmotsavam. He is Commander-in-chief of Perumal's army. By his visit he oversees all the alakarams and the readiness of the Raja veedhis.

Our Devathirajan, as the name implies is the king of all the Devas, that is reason the veedhis (street) that he travels is also called Raja veedhies.

Once Vishvaksenar came back inside the temple he proceeded to the yaga shaala, where he was received with poorna kumbham honor. During Brahmotsavam, Vishvaksenar is the pradhana yajaman (chief conductor) of yagnam.

With this the Brahmotsavam is all set to start, tomorrow morning the dwaja aarohanam (hoisting of the Garuda flag) will be done.

Brahmotsavam Schedule

The wonderful Brahmotsavam for Devathirajan of Kanchipuram is scheduled to start on 25th May 2010 and would last for 10 glorious days.

The schedule is:

Day	Date	Morning	Evening
1	25-May	Thanga Charpam	Simha Vahanam
2	26-May	Hamsa Vahanam	Surya Prabhai
3	27-May	Garuda Sevai	Hanumantha Vahanam
4	28-May	Sesha Vahanam	Chandra Prabhai
5	29-May	Mohini Avatharam	Yali Vahanam
6	30-May	Charpam (Venugopalan Thirukolam)	Yanai Vahanam
7	31-May	Thiruther	-
8	01-Jun	Totti Thirumanjanam	Guthurai Vahanam
9	02-Jun	Alla mel Pallakku	Punyakoti Vimanam
10	03-Jun		Vettiver Charpam

Kadai Velli

Our Perarulalan is getting ready to shower his grace on us during his Brahmotsavam, which is starting on 25th May 2010.

There are no words to describe the compassion of Perundevi thayaar, who wants to shower all her compassion by showing the refuge for all of us on the Friday before the Brahmotsavam.

On the last Friday before Brahmotsavam, (known as Kadai Velli)Thayaar during her purappadu in the evening would let us all have the glimpse of her thiruvadi. It is indeed a very rare sight as we could only have this dharshan only for a couple hours in a year, even during thirumanjanam, thayaar’s thiruvadi are always covered.

For more pictures of the purappadu please follow the link in 'Picasa Photostream'