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| Lord Kallazhagar's Long Procession From Alagar Koil to Madurai |
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| !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·
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:
- Alagar Koyil Wikipedia
- Alagar Kovil (Temple Website)
- 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·
