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Veeraswamy Krishnaraj

The new temple car in Alagarkoil on a trial run.— Photo: R. Ashok  MADURAI, July 7, 2015  thehindu.com     Lord Sundararaja Perumal Temple at Alagarkoil now has a new temple car. According to local priests, it has replaced a car that was used for nearly 300 years. Work on the new car began nearly two years ago with donations from devotees and philanthropists. The trial run of the car was conducted on Monday. “The Anandhanarayanan thiru ther was used by the temple for the last 300 years for the annual procession during Adi festival,” said Sundaranarayana Bhattar, the head priest of the temple. On the features of the new temple car, K. Selvam, the stapathi who built it with a team of 15 artisans, said that they had used Vengai tree wood for the structure and Burma teakwood for sculptures. “We have tried to replicate the intricate craftsmanship on the old temple car, while maintaining the traditional design in the new car. There are more than 500 sculptures of sages, celestial beings and deities on it,” he said. Finishing touches to the new car, built at an estimated cost of Rs. 81 lakh, were given on Saturday morning and it was decked up before it was taken on a trial run on the route taken during Adi utsavam .   The car built using Vengai tree wood will be taken out in a procession during Adi festival

 

May 3, 2015. thehindu.com  Lord Kallazhagar, the presiding deity of the Kallazhagar temple at Alagarkovil began his journey to Madurai as part of the temple’s Chithirai festival here on Saturday evening (2nd May). The deity was brought out from a mandapam inside the temple on a palanquin at 6.15 p.m. amidst chanting of hymns by thousands of devotees who thronged the temple to get a glimpse of the Lord before He started His journey to Madurai. Edhirsevai’ The procession is expected to reach Moondrumaavadi at 6 a.m. for the ‘Edhirsevai’ on Sunday (3rd May, 2015). Temple authorities said that there were 410 ‘mandagapadis’ where the procession was expected to stop. As one of the highlights of the festival, Lord Kallazhagar will enter the Vaigai river at 6.45 a.m. on Monday. A temple official said that following talks with the city police, they had set up LED screens at five vantage points where the crowds were said to be the maximum to enable the public to see the proceedings. The LED screens will be set up at three places near the Vaigai riverbed, at the Tallakulam Perumal Temple and at Goripalayam junction. May 04, 2015 Monday. report on May 5, 2015 05:59 IST  thehindu.com Lord Kallazhagar making His entry into the river as a part of the Chithirai festival, here on Monday. A festive spirit prevailed in the temple city all through Sunday night as devotees dressed in colourful attire took part in celebratory dances and chanted hymns. Since the river was in full flow with the release of water ahead of the festival, the public began assembling on the banks of the river from as early as 4 a.m. to witness the spectacle. Lord Kallazhagar, the presiding deity of the Kallazhagar temple at Alagarkovil, arrived near the river bed at 6.25 a.m. amidst loud chants of ‘Govinda Govinda’ by devotees. He was received by Lord Veeraraghava Perumal who was mounted on a silver horse, as is the custom. While the celestial wedding of Goddess Meenakshi and Lord Sundareswarar, and Lord Kallazhagar’s entry in the Vaigai were a part of two separate Chithirai festivals, it was during the reign of King Thirumalai Naicker that the two were linked. Lord Kallazhagar entered the Vaigai at 6.45 a.m. and was taken in a procession around the mandapam erected in the riverbed near the Albert Victor Bridge. The popular belief is that Lord Kallazhagar, who sets out from Alagarkovil to attend the marriage of His sister Goddess Meenakshi, is stopped by Lord Veeraraghava Perumal, who tells him that the marriage has already been solemnised. Dejected on hearing this, Lord Kallazhagar chooses not to cross the river but goes into it. MADURAI Alagharkoil   thehindu.com MADURAI, May 7, 2015 Updated: May 7, 2015 05:58 IST Ten avatars re-enacted The sixth day of the brahmotsavam of Sundararaja Perumal Temple at Alagarkoil featured Lord Kallazhagar appearing in the ten avatars, Dasavataram, of Lord Vishnu at Ramarayar Mandapam on the northern bank of the Vaigai in Madurai on Tuesday night. This was followed by an early morning procession on Wednesday. According to a legend, Mandooga Maharishi, after his redemption from Doorvasar’s curse by Lord Kallazhagar near the Thenur Mandapam the previous day, expressed a desire to see all the 10 avatars of Lord Vishnu. Granting his wish, Lord Kallazhagar appeared in Dasavataram on the banks of the Vaigai. This event is re-enacted on the sixth day of the Chithirai festival. People, who flocked to Madurai in large numbers during the Chithirai festival, assembled around the Ramarayar Mandapam to see Lord Kallazhagar in Dasavataram – Matcha, Koorma, Varaha, Narasimha, Vamana, Parasurama, Rama, Balarama, Krishna and Kalki avatars. The belief is that Lord Vishnu descends on earth whenever dharma is threatened by evil forces.

 

December 25, 2012 Tuesday. Thousands of devotees thronged the Vaishnavaite temples in Madurai, in the early hours of Monday (Dec 24, 2012) on the occasion of ‘Vaikunta Ekadasi’.

Vaikunta Ekadasi falls on the 11th day of the Sukla Paksha (waxing phase of moon) of Dhanur (Margazhi) month.

The ritual of opening of ‘Paramapada Vaasal’ was performed at Prasanna Venkatachalapathy Temple in Madurai and Kallalagar Temple in Alagarkovil at 5 am. Devotees braved the chill weather to catch a glimpse of Lord Vishnu coming out of the temple as part of the ritual of entering the ‘Paramapada Vaasal’. thehindu.com பரமபத வாசல் = Paramapada Vaasal = Gateway to SriVaishnava heaven.

 

Kallazhakar_Temple  Kallaz5.jpg

Azhagar hills (அழகர் மலைகள்) grace the landscape twelve miles north-east of the city of Madurai, whose resident Goddess is Madurai Meenakshi. Soundararaja Perumal, the brother of Meenakshi, is the resident God of the land adjoining the temple on its south. Here you can see the family constellation of Saivite Meenakshi and Vaisnavite Perumal. Azhagar, meaning The Beautiful, is the tutelary deity of Kallars (கள்ளர் = the name of a caste) Azhagar goes by many names: Sundarajar, Paramaswamy, Rishabhadrinathar, Kallazhagar. This temple exists from the early part of Christian era, according to one account. The stone Mantapam is the Pavilion in a temple or other place used during festivals for the reception of idols when they are carried in procession, generally a square or rectangular hall with a flat roof. The Lord is in a standing position as in the photo holding the conch, the discus, the club, the bow and the sword, known as the five weapons (= பஞ்சாயுதம் = Panchayutha).

The temple is mentioned in Puranas. The story goes like this. Yama the Lord of Death was on a pilgrimage, landed in this place, fell in love with it and sat down to perform Tapas. Sriman Narayana appeared before him and offered salvation. Not pleased with salvation just for himself, he begged Narayana to stay in there and offer blessings and salvation to all the people. Yama saw a halo of the moon surrounded the place. Yama asked Visvakarma, the architect for the gods to build a Vimanam (விமானம் = temple) in that very spot graced by the halo of the moon. Narayana and His Consorts BhUdevi and Sridevi took residence in the temple. This Vimanam is known as Soma-Sundara-Vimanam (Moon-beauty-temple), Soma-Skanda-Vimanam (Moon-Skanda-Temple = God Skanda also resides here with His Consorts) and Somachanda Vimanam.

Silambar river flows near the temple and brings fruition of desires of the bathers. When Vamana (the Dwarf Avatara of Vishnu) expanded and lifted his left foot which reached the firmament, wherein Brahma washed the foot with water from his Kamandalam (= கமண்டலம் = Water-vessel used by ascetics). Ablution of the foot displaced the diamond anklet (NUpura) a bit and the water trickled down from the anklet and flowed as the river Silambar. silampu = சிலம்பு = Tinkling anklets; silampar = சிலம்பன் = Skanda, as Lord of the hilly tract; silampu = சிலம்பு = Mountain slope.  The River Nupura Ganga flows from the spring at the feet of RakkayI Amman Temple.

This temple was sung in Paripadal and dates back to 2000 years. Sthalapuranam (= history of the place = ஸ்தலபுராணம்) indicates that king Malayadvaja built this temple. Alvars (ஆழ்வார்) sang on the glory of this temple; 123 of the poems can be found in Nalayira Divya Prabhandam, the Tamil Veda of SriVaishnavites. Pandya and Naick Kings were the main sponsors in the upkeep of the temple. This temple is one of the 108 holy places for SriVaishnavites. Hyder Ali looted the temple blind in the 18th century.

The hills are the abode of temples for Ganesa, Skanda, Bhairava and Siva.

The Azhagar temple as usual has a MUlavar (மூலவர் = mūlavar = Idol fixed in the sanctum sanctorum) and Urcavar (உற்சவர் uṟcavar = Idol taken out in processions; Processional deity).  Azhagar is the processional deity; Paramaswamy is the Mulavar or the fixed deity. Azhagar, the beautiful, the Processional Deity Idol) (உற்சவர்) is flanked by His consorts. Paramaswamy, the Presiding and fixed Deity (மூலவர்) in the shrine sports the discus in a prayoga state (பிரயோகம் = imminent stage of deployment).

The temple has shrines for Vinayaka and Sarasvati. Ordinarily, Vinayaka sports his proboscis pointing towards the left. In the other form as in this temple, his proboscis is bent towards the right; this pose earns him the name Valampuri Vinayakar (வலம்புரி விநாயகர்). Vinayaka with dextro-positional proboscis is installed in well-to-do temples.  Kallaz2.jpg

 

Lord Bhirava rides on a dog with a trident, long nails, and fierce teeth in one shrine. There are shrines for Andal and Sundaresvarar, the latter with 16 hands carrying weapons on each, three eyes and long teeth showing his Gora Svarupam (Fierce appearance), going by the name Jvala Narasimhar (blazing man-Lion). The ceiling in the shrine has a hole which helps dissipate the heat of His disposition. The priests cool him down by abhisekam (ablution) with milk and dairy products. The place has plethora of shrines for Alvars, Ramanuja, minor deities, Ashtabhuja Krishna, Nartana Krishna, Manduka Maharishi, Parthasarathi, Sarasvati....  Kallaz3.jpg

 

 

The guardian deity of the temple day and night, a form of Krishna Putra, is Karuppannaswami (Black Deity). He is the one without a shrine; the two massive doors are dedicated to him perching at the top of 18 steps. I assume he has to guard without being seen by others. These doors stay closed always except once in a year, when Brahmotsavam is celebrated. Anyone ascending the 18 steps and going through the open doors should be a truth sayer with a stipulation that the errant soul may face misery. Consider "Janus the ancient Roman god of doorways, of beginnings, and of the rising and setting of the sun, usually represented as having one head with two bearded faces back to back, looking in opposite directions, east and west."--Dictionary.

 The water brought everyday for ritual ablution of the deities should be declared clean from NUpura Ganga at the doors. The doors being the surrogate for the invisible Karuppanna Swami stand there as the witness in front of whom the list of jewels of Azhagar are declared before the jeweled Azhagar departs to attend His sister's (Meenakshi) marriage in Madurai. This enumeration is a daily event in the temple. The guardian of the 18 steps and the door is called Patinettuppadi Karuppan (the 18 step Karuppan). Around the temple locale, there are many shrines for snake worship indicating that this area was once inhabited by Naga tribals (Snake-worshipping tribals). There are many Tirthams with holy water from which water is brought for ritual ablution of the deities.

 

The important festival is Chitra Pournami (Full moon in the month of Chitrai), when Azhagar goes to Madurai to attend Meenakshi's marriage to Siva (Sundaresvarar). This is an instance of bringing the Saivites and SriVaishnavites together.

Festivals: The Chittirai festival is a grand one, where on the fourth day, Azhagar is taken to Madurai, where he resides on the banks of the Vaigai river for five days and then returns. Chittirai is the month of great festivities in Madurai, for it is when, the grand Chittirai Tiruvizha of Madurai happens, attracting thousands of visitors. The festival images (gold) here are of great beauty. Bhramotsavam is celebrated in the month of Aadi, Vasantotsavam in Vaikasi. Tirukkalyanam is celebrated in the month of Pankuni, when Sri Devi, Bhu Devi, Kalyanasundaravalli and Andal are seen with Vishnu. On Dwadasi in the bright half of Aippasi, the festival image of Azhagar is given a ritual bath in Noopura Ganga. http://www.templenet.com/Tamilnadu/df102.html  http://hubpages.com/hub/Alagar-malai-Alagar-kovil

 

பழமுதிர்சோலை paḻam-utir-cōlai  is a temple on the hill for Kanthan also known as Skanda.

A shrine sacred to Skanda, one of six paṭai-vīṭu, q.v.; முருகக்கடவுளின் படைவீடு ஆறனுள் ஒன்று. (திருமுரு.

 

Here are the verses in Divyaprabhandam with reference to Kallazhakar, the presiding God of the Temple and His sacred  exploits.

 

The following Divyaprabhandam verses are relevant to this Sthalam.

226: மைஆர் கண் மட ஆய்ச்சியர் மக்களை மையன்மை செய்து அவர் பின் போய் கொய்ஆர் பூந்துகில் பற்றித் தனிநின்று குற்றம் பல பல செய்தாய்; பொய்யா! உன்னைப் புறம் பல பேசுவ புத்தகத்துக்கு உள கேட்டேன் ஐயா! உன்னை அறிந்து கொண்டேன் உனக்கு அஞ்சுவன் அம்மம் தரவே. 3.4 (DP226) 226. You induced love in cowherd girls with collyrium-laden eyes, went behind them hanging on to their beautiful pleated Saris and perpetrated many (many) harms in secluded places.  O Liar! I heard many slanders about you and could write a book containing all the slanders about You.  O Father (ஐயா)! I have come to know You well.  I would be afraid to let You suckle my breasts (அம்மம்).  (Krishna as a suckling infant killed an ogre who offered her breasts laced with a poison; Bhagavan sucked her breasts and killed her.) Translation: Veeraswamy Krishnaraj Copyright In Ayarppa, there is a mention of the place, Malirumsolai, the king and the bridegroom of Malirumsolai.

338 அலம்பா வெருட்டாக் கொன்று திரியும் அரக்கரைக் குலம் பாழ் படுத்துக் குலவிளக்காய் நின்ற கோன் மலை சிலம்பு ஆர்க்க வந்து தெய்வ மகளிர்கள் ஆடும் சீர்ச் சிலம்பாறு பாயும் தென் திருமாலிருஞ் சோலையே 1 The Arakkars (Anti-gods) were roaming and subjecting the living beings to trouble, travail and massacre. The Lord destroyed them by root (and trunk) and stood as the Shining light of family in the TiruMalirumSolai Hill, wherein the celestial damsels with jingling anklets indulged in water play in the Nupura Ganga.   Translation: Veeraswamy Krishnaraj Copyright

 

339 வல்லாளன் தோளும் வாள் அரக்கன் முடியும் தங்கை பொல்லாத மூக்கும் போக்குவித்தான் பொருந்தும் மலை; எல்லா இடத்திலும் எங்கும் பரந்து பல்லாண்டு ஒலி செல்லா நிற்கும் சீர்த் தென் திருமாலிருஞ் சோலையே 2 The Lord, who cut asunder and cast the heads and the shoulders of the mighty Arakkan (Demon Ravana) and the nose of his evil sister (Sūrpanaka), abides in famous MalirumSolai hill, wherein there is no place the sound of Pallandu does not abound and pervade. Pallandu = Felicitation of the Lord to live gazillion years.  Translation: Translation: Veeraswamy Krishnaraj Copyright

 

340 தக்கார் மிக்கார்களைச் சஞ்சலம் செய்யும் சலவரைத் தெக்கு ஆம் நெறியே போக்குவிக்கும் செல்வன் பொன்மலை; எக் காலமும் சென்று சேவித்திருக்கும் அடியரை அக் கான் நெறியை மாற்றும் தண் மாலிருஞ் சோலையே 3 The sea farers (சலவர் = euphemism for the demons among us), having subjected the worthy and virtuous persons and the great ones to trouble, are put on the Southern Path by the Selvan (the Lord of Great wealth) abiding in the Golden Hill. The servitors, going always to His place for worship, receive preventive guidance through the forest of Karma; that is the greatness of the cool TirumālirumSolai.  Note: The Southern Path is for the impure souls to take after their death to go to hell.  Translation: Translation: Veeraswamy Krishnaraj Copyright

 

341 ஆனாயர் கூடி அமைத்த விழவை அமரர்தம் கோனார்க்கு ஒழியக் கோவர்த்தனத்துச் செய்தான் மலை வான் நாட்டில் நின்று மாமலர்க் கற்பகத் தொத்து இழி தேன் ஆறு பாயும் தென் திருமாலிருஞ் சோலையே 4 The Lord, having stopped the festival in honor of Indra by the gathering cowherds, made it the festival of the Govardhana Hill. TiruMalirumSolai is the Hill wherein the nectar from the great celestial Kalpaka flowers flow (as the Nupurta Ganga).  Translation: Translation: Veeraswamy Krishnaraj Copyright

 

342 ஒரு வாரணம் பணி கொண்டவன் பொய்கையில் கஞ்சன்தன் ஒரு வாரணம் உயிர் உண்டவன் சென்று உறையும் மலை கரு வாரணம் தன் பிடி துறந்து ஓடக் கடல்வண்ணன் திருவாணை கூறத் திரியும் தண் மாலிருஞ் சோலையே 5 வாரணம் = elephant. திருவாணை= Royal Order. பிடி = female elephant The Lord delivered, out of the mouth of the crocodile, the elephant that went into the lotus pond to fetch flowers for worship (of the Lord). The Lord, taking the life of another elephant (Kuvalayapida), set on by Kamsa to kill the Lord, abides in the hill.  That hill is TirumālirumSolai wherein the female elephant escaping the pursuit of the black male elephant returns on the Royal order of the Lord of color of the ocean. Translation: Translation: Veeraswamy Krishnaraj Copyright

 

343 ஏவிற்றுச் செய்வான் ஏன்று எதிர்ந்து வந்த மல்லரைச் சாவத் தகர்த்த சாந்து அணி தோள் சதுரன் மலை ஆவத்தனம் என்று அமரர்களும் நன் முனிவரும் சேவித்திருக்கும் தென் திருமாலிருஞ் சோலையே 6 ஆவத்தனம் āvattaṉam = Property kept in reserve against future dire needs. சேவி-த்தல் = To serve, as under a master; to render service. The Lord of the Hill killed the wrestlers dispatched against Him by Kamsa and smeared the sandal paste on His shoulders. The gods and Munis regard the Lord of the TirmalirumSolai as their treasure reserve and serve Him. Translation: Veeraswamy Krishnaraj Copyright

 

344 மன்னர் மறுக மைத்துனன்மார்க்கு ஒரு தேரின்மேல்* முன் அங்கு நின்று மோழை எழுவித்தவன் மலை;* கொல் நவில் கூர்வேற் கோன் நெடுமாறன் தென்கூடற்கோன்* தென்னன் கொண்டாடும் தென் திருமாலிருஞ் சோலையே* 7 மோழை எழுவித்தவன் = the One who raised water by shooting an arrow on the ground. கோன் = king. தென்கூடற்கோன் = the king of the South Kūdal. Causing distress to the kings (the Kurus), the Lord who drove the chariot for his brother-in-laws (the Pandavas) shot an arrow on the battleground to raise water (for the horses). The Lord lives in TiruMalirumSolai hill, where king Nedumāran of the South Kudal wielded killer-hard sharp spear and celebrated his victory.  Translation: Veeraswamy Krishnaraj Copyright

 

345 குறுகாத மன்னரைக் கூடு கலக்கி வெங்கானிடைச் சிறுகால் நெறியே போக்குவிக்கும் செல்வன் பொன்மலை; அறுகால் வரி வண்டுகள் ஆயிரநாமம் சொல்லிச் சிறுகாலைப் பாடும் தென் திருமாலிருஞ் சோலையே 8
The auspicious Lord of the Golden Hill routs the kings not seeking Him and sends them down narrow path of dense forests. That is TiruMalirumSolai wherein the six-legged banded Bumble bees wake up early in the morning and sing the thousand names of the Lord. Translation: Veeraswamy Krishnaraj Copyright.

 

 

347 எட்டுத் திசையும் எண்  இறந்த பெருந் தேவிமார் விட்டு விளங்க வீற்றிருந்த விமலன் மலை; பட்டிப் பிடிகள் பகடு உரிஞ்சிச் சென்று மாலைவாய்த் தெட்டித் திளைக்கும் தென் திருமாலிருஞ் சோலையே 10 உரிஞ்சு-தல் = To rub oneself; to rub, as beasts; to rub against one another or trees. தெட்டித் திளைக்கும்  =  to copulate with force. Among the umpteen celestial damsels from all eight quarters, the Pure Lord sits on the hill. MālirumSolai is the hill, wherein the elephant cows rub against each other, copulate vigorously with the bulls all night long, and thus disport themselves. Translation: Veeraswamy Krishnaraj Copyright.

 

July 11, 2011 Hindu reports:

The Mahasamprokshanam of the 1,500 year old Kallazhagar temple, 20 km from here was performed on Sunday after a gap of 16 years, with thousands of devotees from all over Tamil Nadu offering worship to the deity.

The temple had been renovated at a cost of Rs.15 crore. More than 150 priests participated in the three-day yaga sala pooja, which concluded on Sunday, following which Holy water in silver pots were carried in a procession.

The Fit person of the temple Venkachalam, State HR & CE Minister S P Shanmughanathan, Electricity Minister Natham R. Viswanathan and cooperative minister Sellur K.Raju were among those present on the occasion.

The Mahasamproksham was last performed in 1995.

The temple had been renovated at a cost of Rs. 15 crore. The highlight of the renovation was gold plating of the Vimanam atop the sanctum sanctorum, using 23kg of gold.

Tight security was in place for the event.

 

April 24, 2013 17:48 IST thehindu.com

When the Gods descend...

Amidst the sea of humanity, fluorescent flash lights, scent of incense sticks and sandal paste, colourful flowers and the chorus chant of ‘Hara Hara Shankara Meenakshi Sundara’ is all that we can see, smell and hear. It’s the evening after the Thirukalyanam and we are in South Masi Street.

There is absolute chaos and yet some order too. We hear the distinct jingle of a bell that announces the arrival of the caparisoned temple elephant leading the procession. Three camels, karagattam dancers, priests, children dressed as deities and a posse of policemen follow.

Bhakti flows in abundance. Milling devotees who throng the place crane their necks to catch a glimpse of the decorated idol kept in the poopallakku. The aartiis lit and in a synchronised movement, thousands of people raise their hands calling out to the queen of Madurai. The golden idol gleams as women offer neideepam.

Every few yards the palanquin stops for the devotees to have darshan, give offerings and get prasadams. We relish the ghee-dripping sakkarai pongal and puliyodharai. It’s a service that Shanmugam has been doing for decades. “Offering prasadams to the people fetches me good karma,” he smiles. “Giving turmeric, kumkum and flowers on the Thirukalyanam day is a traditional practice.”

By 9 p.m. the procession winds up but the crowd of spectators cluster around the streets. We drive across the kalpaalam bridge and find hundreds of people leaning over the parapet to watch the running water below. As the southern bank of Vaigai revels in the joy of Meenakshi’s wedding, the northern side wakes up to Lord Kallazhagar’s entry into the city.

The night before ethirsevai, the arterial Alagar Koil Road wears a festive look flanked by mandapapadiswhich were commercial outlets and eateries until a day ago and now transformed into Lord Kallazhagar’s resting places. As dawn breaks, the Lord reaches the city fringes with his elaborate paraphernalia. A huge hundi, a green flag with the Thirunamam symbol and dancing men dressed as Hanuman and Garuda signal his advent.

The metallic tinkling of ‘Sekandi’ announces the Lord’s arrival. An old man dressed as a clown and playing the thathan thappu, a kind of drum, leads the procession pulling a decorated bull. The family of Karuppaiya Thathan has been doing this for generations. “We do it as a service to God, from the King’s time,” his pride shows. A week before the festival, the thathans visit villages and collect paddy to be cooked and served to devotees.

Says R. Arul Prakasam, a farmer, “Those of us who donate paddy are offered a fistful from the bundles of paddy collected. We use it in our next cultivation because it’s a belief that this practice will increase the yield.” Karuppaiya Thathan is also a temple priest in Sundararajanpatti and a soothsayer for the village. “The right to foretell was given to us by Aandar of Alagar Koil, who is also our guru,” he says.

Aandar is in-charge of all the festivals of the temple. T.R.S. Rangarajan Iyengar, who is the presentAandar, says, “We used to lead the festival procession earlier. We had a separate palanquin which was carried by the people. But now the practice is no longer followed.” “Irrespective of caste and clan, every devotee is given a part to play in the festival,” he adds.

As Kallazhagar reaches Surya Nagar amidst deafening crackers, flower showers and traditional music of Nadaswaram and thavil, the crowd gathers to have the first glimpse of the Lord. Womenfolk welcome the deity with Mulapari (sprouts) and Maavilakku (sweet) offerings. Men dressed in multicoloured pants with anklets, carrying whips and leather water bags follow the Lord while Maralaadis, a group of men dance with torches in front. By the time, the procession reaches Ambalakarar Mandapam at Tallakulam, the crowd swells on the road and spills onto the platforms. The chants of ‘Govinda Govinda’rent the air as the city’s denizens rub shoulders with visitors from neighbouring districts.

“The folk legend of Alagar’s entry into the Vaigai is famous throughout the region. Along the river’s course, the episode is enacted in various places,” says Mariappan, a devotee from Sivagangai.

It is time for the ‘Seer patham thangigal’ (palanquin carriers) to take a break. Says Siva Guru Nathan, one among the 50 carriers: “We don’t do this for remuneration. It’s a service and we feel blessed to carry the lord on our shoulders.” Carrying the massive weight for years together has left them with a hump on both the shoulders. “More than the pain, the travails we go through when people pull down the palanquin trying to touch the lord’s feet are beyond explanation,” he says.

While Chithirai festival is about faith and devotion, for some it’s an experience and excitement. Beyond the myths and legends woven around the occasion, the days are the best for small-time traders.

Shacks encroach the roadsides selling all kinds of colourful wares, toys and balloons attracting women and kids alike. We watch them enjoying a range of mithais, women buying bangles, anklets and earrings, children crying for toys and smiles returning on their faces when the demand is met. Kitschy posters showing a bodybuilder flexing muscles, dot the pavements at Tallakulam. “Nellai thaathupushti halwa” says the poster in bright colours. Mohammed Farooq, a halwa-seller, says, “We have been in this business for generations. We actually do not know why our grandfathers gave this name. It is prepared with wheat and maida extracts, sugar and cashew and we ensure it remains a healthy food.”

Tamukkam, the hotspot on the Lord’s route, lures thousands through the day and night. For some it is a continuous picnic on the streets, some pitch their tents at the annual Chithirai exhibition. The ground turns into an open air bed for the devotees who come from far and near and finally get tired wandering on the streets. Youngsters flock cinema theatres running special mid-night shows. Says college student Ramesh, “It’s purely fun being among the festivities and crowd. Every year, we never miss to watch a film during the festival. As we come out of the show, it is time to witness Alagar entering Vaigai.”

The Chithirai events and all the hype around it come and go each year. What continues to rule the peoples’ mind is the legend and what remains in their memory are the sights and smells of the festivities and the desire to return the next year with undiminished enthusiasm.

The Chithirai thiruvizha is one mega event which gives Madurai its identity and pride and all those who can join in it in some way consider themselves to be blessed and lucky. Aren’t we?