Kanchi Varadhar Avathara Uthsavam (3)

              The order of paying obeisance at any Perumal temple is Dwajasthambam first ,then Garudan then Thayar  and next Perumal . All other Sannidhis of Narasimhar , Ramar,  Alwars the Gurus like Ramanuja and Desikar later. 

 

                 The Varadharaja temple teems with history. Ramanujar before shifting to Srirangam , Desigar , Ramanujar ‘s Guru Thirukachchi Nambi , his right hand man Kurathalwan  all are from here or nearby areas and have been associated with this Temple. So  you can satisfy yourself fully only on an unrushed visit , taking time to go round the Alwar Praharam leisurely. 

                   Now  we enter the Thayar’s Sannidhi. Perundevi  Thayar . Or if you translate, she is  Mahalakshmi . Extremely beautiful . Rich jewels adorn her . We give the flowers we have brought . Though there are people standing in queues we are identified by the priest and given special consideration. Hurry , hurry he says.   

                     So we rush to Perarulalan aka Devarajaswami or Varadharajar Sannidhi. Tall majestic benign. The giver of boons . Here too we give the flowers we have brought . The second year I was accompanied by Jayamma . As soon as she gave the flowers , the  Bhatter said “ அந்த மஞ்சள் கனகாம்பரம்”. Yes she nodded . 

                      This is the legend😁. Jayamma’s  step brother and sambandhi ie my father in law’s father ,  had taken up this vow of getting golden yellow kanakambaram  for the 2 nd day morning function of the Brahmotsavam   every year. That function is called இரண்டாம் காப்பு.   So a day earlier on the day of the flag hoisting at the temple he would buy the flowers at the Broadway flower market bring it to Kanchi . Distribute it amongst his neighbours . They would all tie it up , thick as a Garland  . Then the flowers would adorn , Moolavar , Uthsavar and the Devi’s on the second day morning. This practice stopped a few years back on his death . 

                      So every year  after that  request from the Bhatter  Jayamma made me her hand for the job.  5 days earlier I would reserve the flowers by visiting the shop . Then I would get up early the day before and  reach Broadway by 5.30  am . Walk in the seru  ( slush) to get flowers in seru 😅 . ( 300 gms of flowers is called 1 seru) . Down the years some other relatives would pick up the tied flowers from us and submit. Some years we were giving only to Uthsava Murthy at Gangaikondan Mandapam on Garuda seva day.  Nowadays I get the flowers the day before Avathara Uthsavam tie it up and bring  it on the  Uthsavam  day.  . Now the whole town seems ablaze with this  flower. 

                      

                      We give the touristy Golden Lizards a wide berth.

                     Vadiyam sound and one  lone cracker burst.   The Uthsava Murthy is ready in his birthday finery  to walk down the street and visit our home. The formal invitation by the head of our family or his representative  over  and  Varadhar , starts off majestically.  Stops at the Desigar Sannidhi. Then near the 4 pillared Mandapam. Prabandham recital in full swing .  Then out of Gopura Vasal. 

           He will walk straight up the street turn right and reach Vadakku Mada Veethi where the Avathara Uthsava Bungalow is located. Meanwhile we can rush along the wall and reach home to welcome Him with full honours. .