Lord Venkateswara in all His glory with gold, pearl, coral adorned all over Him, sitting on top of Adhisesha! As the Thiruveedhi is a short distance and a small place, they had to stop the procession every one step so that they can complete all the required maryadha to the King of Kings who is coming on Thiruveedhi Ula!
Divyaprabhandham, annamayya songs, Rig, Yajur and Sama Veda gosham, Venkatesa Gadyam and aarti for the Ula Nayakan.. He seemed to be smiling and enjoying all the attention... I spotted one of the Birla family ladies watching the procession and participating in the festivities. Blessed family!
I got to hear Gadyam after a long time... I had heard it as a child in AIR Vijayawada station which used to come very clearly in Madurai. I have not heard it afterwards anywhere.. it is a pleasure listening to the clear flow of good sanskrit in the voice of the Pundits... names of all ragas come and I was happy that I could remember some parts of the Gadyam.
I quickly searched for Gadyam in youtube and was pleasantly surprised to get exactly the one I was looking for! Thanks to the punyathma who had uploaded it, and here is the link to Gadyam... listen till the end to hear all the names of the ragas...
The Prana of the God is into the Utsava moorthy now. Again, the concept of Moolavar and Utsavar is a very good one... those who are sick, old people, pregnant ladies, ladies with small children, those who have other problems due to which cannot go to temple ... thinking of these people, our religion came up with a solution by establishing Utsava Moorthy who goes on procession giving Darshan to those who cannot come to temple.
When He/She goes out, how can it be a simple thing? Even we want to go all decked up while going on a visit to friends and relatives... hence, He is decked up with all fineries, silk, jewellery etc. and goes in a grand way - Nadaswaram, melam, ( in my childhood days I have seen karahattam preceeding the deity - which used to be our main attraction) followed by Tamil veda pundits ( divya prabhandham / thevaram) and Sanskrit Veda pundits, Bhajan group.
He stops wherever people stop him with Kumbam and aarti and gives prasadam... what a beautiful tradition. It takes care of the economic, social, and religious needs of the society. There is no distinction of caste, creed or community... He goes to all the streets and stops everywhere and the people who carry him are from all communities. People happily do their respective roles. Tradition cannot be blamed if vested interest has corrupted the system!
Coming back to the Hero of this post, I was wondering whether I should visit the Moolavar when Utsavar is still on procession. Then I remembered that the grand-old-man of the house sits in the house and gives rights to the young members to do some parts of his role, which does not reduce his power! So, I decided to have Darshan of the Moolavar and went up.
He has got complete gold Kavacham and gold ornaments which are not used on a daily basis due to security issues. These 9 days of Brahmotsavam, the temple authorities bring it out and adorn the Moolavar with these fineries.......
He looks good on all days - but his black face with gold on Him looked extra beautiful; with red backdrop and lots of well-designed flower garlands; decorating the God itself is an art! Whoever had done it had done it so well... God seemed to be very happy and smiling. Definitely He is spreading positive energy with His presence.
I wonder how our people got this craze for fair-skin when God Himself is black and they can "see" that black is beautiful!
Anjana Vannan; Kondal Vannan; Andal's Karu Manickam and Karundeivam! Andal Thiruvadigalay Charanam! Periyazhwar Thiruvadigalay Charanam!
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