Madurai Chithirai Festival or Chithirai Thiruvizha at Kallazhagar Ethir Sevai Part Two

Lord Kallazhagar's Long Procession From Alagar Koil to Madurai

!4th Day: Kallazhagar (Ethir-sevai) Enter into Vaigai River at Madurai

The main events of the Chithirai festival or Chithirai Brahmotsavam observed by Arulmigu Sundaraja Perumal Temple, Alagarkoil is Ethirsevai. As explained in part one of the posts Lord Kallazhagar (Lord Vishnu) takes out long procession to Madurai to attend his sister Sri Meenakshi’s marriage with Lord Sundareswarar. As a brother he carries lot of gifts (the formal seer varisai) to his sister Sri Meenakshi.

Lord Kallazhagar’s Procession to Madurai

The Lord’s well decorated palanquin will leavehis temple on the tenth day of Chithirai Thiruvizha (festival) amidst the ritualistic music and dance performed by devotees. The procession passed through the villages such as Thenur, Poikaraipatti, Kallandri, Appan Thirupathi and will reach Moondrumavadi Village on the eleventh day at about 06.a.m. Thereafter the procession continued and reached the conventional halting places (Mandagapadi) like Mariamman Temple, Pudur (around 09.00 a.m), Mariamman Temple, Reserve Line (around 10.30 a.m), Ambalakarar Mandapam, Outpost (around 05.20 p.m), Prasanna Ventachalapathy Temple, Tallakulam (around 09.30 p.m), and Karuppanaswamy temple (around 02.30 a.m). Thousands and thousands of devotees gathered all along the en route to welcome the Lord and worshiped the lord with aarthi.

Mandooga Maharishi

At Thenur village the Lord is relieved the curse of sage Mandoogar (Maharishi) also known as Suthapas. The sage was cursed sage Durvasar to become frog. The mandooga means frog. The sage observed penance and appealed the Lord to relieve his curse. The lord was graceful and relieved his curse. The villagers at Thenur will enact this event every year during the procession.

Sri Andal’s Garland

At Prasanna Venkatachalapathy Temple, Tallakulam, the Lord will receive and wears the garland forwarded by Sri Andal Temple, Srivillipuththur (located at Virudhunagar district, South Tamil Nadu). The poet / saint Sri Andal (‘Soodithantha sudarkodi’ or ‘Kothai Nachiyar) is one of the 12 azhvars. Lord Vishnu accepted her as his consort and married her.

Lord kallazhagar on Golden Horse at River Vaigai

The entry of the Lord to Madurai will be considered as good sign. On fourteenth day of the festival, the Lord will be assumed as Lord Sundararaja Perumal and will be mounted on a beautiful golden horse. The Lord’s entry into the holy river Vaigai will takes place in   between in the early morning around 6 a.m. to 9.00 a.m.

The Lord will eagerly make an entry in the holy river Vaigai, wherein he will be informed about the celestial marriage between Lord Sundareswarar and goddess Meenakshi by Veeraraghava Perumal. Soon the Lord gets angry and decides to get back to his abode back. In the meantime he accepts the invitation extended by his woman devotee (the woman comes from the Islamic faith / family) and visits her place.

The color of the silk robe adorned by the Lord is the most significant one. There are lot of beliefs on the color. Green color signifies food production from agriculture. White, yellow and even red colors are also considered as auspicious.

Mohana Avatar / Flower Palanquin

On the fifteenth day, there will be Mohana Avatar in the morning and in the night the Lord will appear in Pushpa Pallakku (flower palanquin).

Return Back to Alagarkoil

When the Lord returns to his temple, his consort goddess Mahalakshmi will get angry with her spouse for the visit paid to the Muslim devotee and prevents him at the door step. The Lord will be waiting at the door step for days together. Later he will enter into the temple and unites with his consort.

Sri Kallazhagar temple, Alagar Kovil Devasthanam, Madurai – 625 001 Tirumaaliruncholai  Divya Desam 102 Pandya Naadu·       

•    Prime Deity: Azhagar, Malalangarar, Maalirunsolai Nambi.
•    Consort (Thaayar): Sundaravalli ·       
•    Tower (Vimaanam): Somasundara Vimanam ·       
•    Posture : Perumal at this Divya Desam is in Nindra thirukkolam (Standing Posture) ·       
•    Direction Facing: Facing East Direction ·       
•    Holy Water (Theertham): Noopura Gangai or Silambaaru, Hanuman theertam, Garuda theertham. ·   
•    Timings: Morning 5.00 – Afternoon 12.30 and Evening 4.00 – Night 8.30 ·       
•    Festivals: Chithirai Festival, Vasanthotsavam – Tamil month Vaikasi, Brahmotsavam Tamil month Aadi (car festival), Gajendra Moksham – Tamil month Maasi, Celestial wedding – Tamil month Panguni ·       
•    Hymns (Pasuram) Mangalasasanam performed by: Periyalsar, Andal, Tirumangaialwar, Bhootattalwar,Peyalwar, Nammalwar – 128 verses

Reference:

1. Alagar Koyil Wikipedia
2. Alagar Kovil (Temple Website)
3. Thousands take part in `ethir sevai' The Hindu May 04, 2004
   

Youtube

Alagar Kovil Madurai by Hanuman Templetours

Kallazhakar Purappadu Madurai by SK Karthick

Kallazhagar Procession: 3rd Halt (Mandagapadi) at Narasingampatti Amabalakarar Mantapam

Kallazhagar Ethirsevai at Vaigai River, Madurai

Kallazhagar Muthangi Sevai by AC Vignesh·

Madurai Chithirai Festival or Chithirai Thiruvizha at Meenakshi Amman Temple Part One

Aerial View of Sri Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple, Madurai (Wikimedia Commons)

10th Day: Meenakshi - Sundareswarar Celestial Wedding

11th Day: Therottam Early Morning (Ratha Utsavam, Chariot, Car Festival) (Wikimedia Commons)

The Chithirai Festival or Chithirai Thiruvizha or Chithirai Brahmotsavam of Sri Meenakshi Sundareswarar temple, Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India is considered as the most significant festival celebrated at the temple capital in a grand splendor. The southern districts of Tamil Nadu attach much importance to this festival.

Sri Meenakshi Amman

The first day of the festival commences with Dwajarohanam or the conventional hoisting of the temple flag. Thousands of devotees witness / participate in the specific pooja performed after flag hoisting. The festival comes to a conclusion on the full moon day of the Tamil month Chithirai (April 14 - May 15). Therefore the festival is named as Chithirai festival. The main event of Sri Kallazhagar (Lord Vishnu) Darshan  at Vaigai river takes place on the full moon day of the Tamil month Chithirai or Chithra Pournami.

Legend

The Pandiya King Kulasekhara Pandiyan established his Pandiya country and founded Madurai. King Malayadwaja Pandiyan is his successor. The royal couple King Malayadwaja Pandiyan and Queen Kanchanamala did not have children. They prayed and appealed Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva made goddess Parvati to incarnate herself as Meenakshi. Goddess Meenakshi miraculously appeared as a child at the sacrificial altar.

The child was named as Tataatakai. The child was found with three breasts. The King  got worried and prayed Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva with his divine prophecy consoled the King and told that the third breast will disappear at the mere sight of her would be bridegroom / prince.

Tataatakai became a grown up girl and as a valorous princess of Pandiya Kingdom. She was also called as Meenakshi since eyes resembled the shape of the fish. The princess proceeded on Dig-Vijaya (waging war across the length and breadth of the entire countries). She reached Mount Kailas, the abode of Lord Shiva. She was fortunate enough to have Lord Shiva’s grace and at the sight of Lord Shiva her third breast disappeared. She also blushed on seeing Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva promised her that he would come to Madurai and get her married. After this Princess Meenakshi returned to Madurai.

Lord Shiva (Lord Sundareswarar), descended down to Madurai with the purpose of marrying his consort goddess Parvati (Princess Meenakshi). Lord Vishnu (Lord Kallazhagar) also descended down to Alagarkoil in order to get his sister married to Lord Sundareswarar.

Importance of Celestial Marriage

This Chithirai festival was started by King Thirumalai Nayak (Nayakar Ruler circa 1623 to 1659) with an intention to unite four (Saivism, Vaishnavism, Saktham, Skandam) of the six-important faiths or Hindu religious sects (Shanmatha) i.e. Saivism (Lord Shiva), Vaishnavism (Lord Vishnu), Saktham (Goddesses), Souram (Lord Surya or Sun God), Ganapathyam (Lord Ganapathy) and Skandam (Lord Subramanya). The celestial wedding anniversary of Goddess Meenakshi (Parvati) and Lord Somasundareswarar (Lord Siva) is an important occasion of this festival. Lord Subramanya, (Thirupparankunram Devasthanam – near Madurai), the younger child of Lord Siva, participates in this festival.

14th Day: Sri Kallazhagar at Vaigai River

Lord Kallazhagar  of Sundararaja Perumal Temple at Alagarkoil (located 21 km from Madurai), the brother of goddess Meenakshi, takes a long procession Madurai to participate in his sister’s marriage. Before he reaches Madurai, the celestial marriage takes place in the absence of Lord Kallazhagar. Therefore he gets angry and enters in to the holy river Vaigai. Afterwards the Lord bestows his grace to the devotees at various places at Madurai. Thereafter the Lord returns to Alagarkoil.

The Seventeen days Chithirai Festival Program is shown below:

Venue: Sri Meenakshi Sundareswarar temple, Madurai
First Day - Flag hosting and Start of the Festival -  Karpaga Vriksha, Simha Vahanam (Vehicle)
Second Day – Bootha Vahana (Vehicle), Anna Vahanam (Vehicle)
Third Day  – Kailasa Parvadham, Kamadhenu Vahanam (Vehicle)
Fourth Day –  Golden Palanquin (Thanga Pallakku)
Fifth Day - Vedar Pari Leelai - Golden Horse (Thanga Guthirai) Vahanam (Vehicle)
Sixth Day - Saiva Samaya Sthabitha Varalatru Leelai -
Seventh Day - Nantheekeshwarar, Yaali Vahanam (Vehicle)
Eighth Day -  Goddess Sree Meenakshi Pattabhishekam (Coronation) Evening - Velli Simhasana Ula
Nineth Day - Sree Meenakshi Digvijayam - Indra Vimana Ula
Tenth Day - Sree Meenakshi Sundareshwarar Thirukalyanam (Celestial Wedding) Forenoon - Yaanai Vahanam (Elephant Vehicle), Pushpa Pallakku (Flower Palanquin)
Eleventh Day - Thiru Ther - Therottam Early Morning (Ratha Utsavam, Chariot, Car Festival) - Sapthavarna Chapram (Trolley)
Twelfth Day - Theerthavari, Festival Ending at Madurai Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple, Madurai; Rishaba Vahanam (Bull Vehicle)
Venue: Lord Kallazhagar  of Sundararaja Perumal Temple at Alagarkoil (located 21 km from Madurai).
Twelfth Day - At Arumigu Kallazhagar Thirukoil, Alagarkoil - Velli Virutchaba Sevai Kallazhagar (Kallazhagar)
Venue: En route Madurai - Sri Prasanna Venkatachalapathy Temple in Tallakulam
Thirteenth Day - Sri Kallazhagar Thallakulathil Edhir Sevai
Venue - At  the North Bank of Vaigai River - under Albert Victor Bridge
Fourteenth Day -  Sri Kallazhagar Vaigai Aatril Ezhuntharural (Presence of Sri Kallazhagar at Vaigai river) - 1000 Pon Chapram (trolley) - Night Saithyobacharam at Vandiyur village
Venue - Thenur Mandapam - Tenur Village near Madurai & Ramarayar Mandapam, Northern part of river Vaigai
Fifteenth Day - Sri Kallazhagar Vandiyur Thenur Mandapam - Sesha Vahanam (Vehicle) in Morning - Garuda Vahanam (Vehicle) in the afternoon - Moksham for Manduga Maharishi - Dasavathara Katchi at Ramarayar Mandapam in Night
Sixteenth Day - Morning Mohanaavatharam - Night Kallazhagar Thirukollam in Pushpa Pallakku (Flower Palaquin) at Mysore Mandapam, Northern part of river Vaigai
Seventeenth Day -  Sri Kallazhagar Thirumalai Eluntharural (Returning back to Arumigu Kallazhagar Thirukoil, Alagarkoil).

Highlights of the Festival

1. In the year 2011 the temple authorizes have made a gold ‘Rishaba Vahanam (Bull vehicle)  at a cost of Rs. 90 lakh with over 3.5 kilograms of gold. The procession on Bull vehicles will takes place on the 12th Day of the Festivals.
2. The coronation (‘pattabhishekam’) of Goddess Meenakshi will be performed on the eighth day
3. Celestial marriage is a colorful festival. The idols go on procession. You can witness colorful umbrellas and multi-colored huge fans. The hymns of Thevaram will be sung by temple staff.
4. The celestial wedding will take place at the temple premises – the wedding hall (‘Tirukkalyana Mandapam’) at the junction of West-North Adi streets on the 10th day of the festival.
5. You will see thousands of devotees assemble at the hall to view the beautifully decorated idols of Lord Sundareswarar and goddess Meenakshi and to witness the Thirukkalyanam rituals.
6. There will be two temple priests assuming the role of Lord Sundereswarar and goddess Meenakshi. Both of them will put flower garland to the idols and exchange them thrice. There will also be tying of mangalsutra
7. The Religious Endowment Trust will arrange and offer the wedding feast to 50,000 devotees after the wedding.
8. The devotees were given Prasadam which included Mangalsutra.
9. It is believed that the celestial couple is ruling Madurai.

Car Festival

The eleventh of the festival will be the car festival. There will be huge procession all over the four main roads of Madurai (Four Masi Streets). Lord Sundareswarar and goddess Meenakshi will go on procession in a well decorated huge wooden car with large wheels. The car will be pulled by devotees using thicker ropes. People will throng at their front courtyard of the houses or at every corner of the streets to have the glimpse of the prime deities.

Nb: Masi is the 11th month according to Tamil Calendar.

Reference

1. Arulmigu Meenakshi Sundareshwarar Thirukkovil (Website)
   
2. Chithirai Thiruvizha, Wikipedia
3. Meenakshi Amman temple, Wikipedia 

You Tube

Meenakshi Amman Temple - Madhurai - South India - Tamil Nadu - A place to visit By KVN Vasu

Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple (திருஆலவாய்) Madurai by Ramamurthy

Madurai Meenakshi Thiru Kalyanam

Chithirai Peruvizha - Madurai Car Festival - Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple Therottam by RED PIX