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The is the birth place of Peyaalvaar, one of the first three Aalvaars (Mutalaalvaar). One of the weapons of Lord Vishnu ‘Nandakam” the Sword, urged Mahalakshmi to preach the mantras. Mahalakshmi accepted on condition that the Sword must be born in the earth, worship Lord Vishnu and then she would teach. Accordingly, Nandakam was born in the lily flower blossomed in the Mani Kairavini Theertham. He was called “Mahataahvayar”. He was performing the duty of garlanding the Lord everyday and Lakshmi happily preached him. He came to be known as ‘Peyaalvaar’ because of his immense bhakti to Perumal. ‘Pey’means an ‘elderly person’. It is said that he waa called so since he was the seniormost aalvaar. Tirumalisai Aalvaar adopted him as his Guru and received his spiritual teachings (upadesam). In the front mandapam of the Perumal’s sanctum Peyaalvaar is in a separate sanctum, seated and facing south. Even now we can see the Kairavini well where Peyaalvaar was born, at a distance near the temple. The birthday of the Aalvaar is celebrated on the ‘sadayam’ star day of the Aippasi month. On that day, offerings from Arulmigu Parthasarathy Perumal temple such as garland, tulsi, parivattam, sandal and the food offered to the Lord are brought and offered to Peyaalvaar. On the third day of the festival, the Aalvaar goes to his birth-place and enjoys ‘Tirukkovilur celebration’. At Tirukkovilur the Lord makes the Mutalaalvaars – Poigai, Putam and Peyaalvar – meet and Himself reveals to them. This celebration is conducted based on this remarkable episode. During the festival, the Lord on his Garuda carrier appears before them, as they are placed in close proximity. On the ninth day, Peyaalvaar goes in chariot procession. During the Float festival in the month of Thai, the spiritual teaching festivity of Tirumalisai Aalvaar receiving lessons from Peyaalvaar as Guru, is conducted in a grand manner. In the month od Purattaasi, Peyaalvaar goes for a day to Tiruvallikeni (Triplicane). The Aalvaar is welcomed and honoured with the Lord’s ‘cataari’. Then, the Aalvaar would enter the Lord’s sanctum and perform ‘mangalaa-saasanam’ (holy benediction). Along with Parthasarathy perumal he goes in procession and then returns to his sanctum.
Bell Prayer : Sage Bhrigu was in tapasya at the banks of Kairavini pushkarini, praying to beget Mahalakshmi as his daughter. Baby Lakshmi crawled in a flower at the pond, on a Panguni Uthiram day. He brought her up and when she attained marriageable age, the sage got her married to the Lord Himself. As the daughter to sage Bhrigu, she is called ‘Bhargavi’. She is in a separate sanctum at the right side of the Lord. Special homam is performed every Friday morning and she is worshipped with ‘vilva’ leaves by chanting the Srisuktam. This is a very propitious time to worship Thaayaar. The devotees pray to her with vilva leaves to get relief of the impediments to marriage, to flourish in studies and remain healthy. They also worship Her by placing two bells at Her feet and then hang them on the door of the sanctum. The belief is that the bells ring and pray to Thaayaar for their pleas. When their prayers are answered, once again they hang two more bells and thus complete their prayer and offering.
Significance of Sarva Theertham : Chandran (Moon) worshipped this Lord to be relieved from a curse. The Lord appeared before him by making all the holy waters flood here. By taking bath in this water and worshipping the Lord Chandran got rid off his curse. The Lord asked all waters to stay back in this place. Since all waters are united and remained in the same place , it came to be known as ‘Sarva Theertham’, and because Chandran was eased out of his curse, it also got the name ‘Chandra Pushkarini’. Now, it is called ‘Chithirakulam’.
Muppaththu Moovar Ula (Procession of 33 saints) : In the prime sanctum, Aadi Kesava Perumal appears in standing posture. Sridevi and Bhudevi are not with Him. Tirumangai Aalvaar has offered ‘mangalaasaasanam’ to Tiruvallikkeni Parthasarathy Perumal along with this holy place – “maadamaamayilai Tiruvallikkeni kantene” – and Tirumalisai Aalvaar has sung “neelotham vantalaikkum maamayilai”. Sanctums are available for Sri Rama, Chakrathaalvaar, Aandaal, Veera Anjaneyar in the prakaaram. On the ekadasi day, Tiruvonam, Full Moon / New Moon days, and on the first day of the Tamil months Lord Aadi Kesavar with His spouses, Sridevi and Bhudevi takes procession. A significant feature is that different processions are taken by Thaayaar on Fridays and Uthiram star day, Aandaal on the Pooram star, Sri Rama on Punarpoosam, and the Aalvaars, on their star birthdays. Brahmotsavam is performed during the Panguni month. During these 10 days’ festival, in 12 small chariots (chapparam), the twelve Aalvaars and the twenty-one Vaishnava Aachaaryas go in procession along with the Lord. This festival is conducted in a grand manner. Float festival is conducted for five days affixed to Thai Amaavaasai. |
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