Vibrant Vedupari Vaiyali
(Shri S.Raja Desikan, rajadesikan@gmail.com )
‘Tears rolled down’, ‘Thrilled’, ‘Speechless’, ‘Is it a dream..?’ ’They did it’,
‘See the crowd’, ‘Are we seeing the real show..?’, ‘Oh…what a perfection…!’, ‘A geometric calculation came live…’, and many like this...
What is all about..? All are words of the Bakthas/Rasikas who had the chance to witness the Vaiyali of Namperumal on the event before Vedupari- 8th day of Eraa Pathu.
Vaiyali is the unique event performed by Namperumal alone. No other temple in the world has a festival event like Vaiyali as performed in Srirangam.
Namperumal gathers with a convoy of nearly more than 20 men carrying him on the Kudirai (Horse) Vahanam. Seen dressed to hunt, Namperumal carries HIS sword, HIS archery and arrow bags in the bag of the horse, a Javelin kept tied from HIS foot to the horse’s head, wears the shoes, pearl gown and four tire of silk gowns around HIS waist, left hand gently holding the horse’s neck which swings while HE walks and after the Vaiyali, wears a band of Garland on HIS shoulders, shows HIS sitting posture visible from the back with a bunch of Kathambam rounding (called as tower-poo) HIS seat, adorns HIS usual Muthu Pandyan Kondai, Neela Nayakam and a simple only one Kasu Malai (as jewels are obstacle for fast horse riding), HIS usual Rathna Abhaya Hastham and the horse wearing a regular garland and two Velvette garlands waving from the head, assembles in the ManalVeli for the Vaiyali and Vedupari.
Now Vaiyali has three different Stages. Preparation – Performance – Pinnacle
Preparation:
After getting assembled, the StAnigar (Duty Manager) along with the ManiyaKar (Time Keeper) checks for the steadiness and readiness of the men, normally youngsters called as SriPathantangigal, by coming round Namperumal.
Performance:
Once ready, Namperumal takes a straight run from one end to other end of the Manalveli with the roaring crowd, which witness the scene as a real King trying a run on the horse’s back. Way back, Namperumal runs from the opposite end. Now for the third round Namperumal walks gently upto the center of the ground.
Pinnacle:
Now the show gets ready for the climax…. Namperumal from the center takes a fast run towards the opposite end. Starts to perform the Kona Vaiyali from the opposite end. This is a run in the sideway for 20 yards and then a semi circling and then sideway run and then repetitions of the side-run and semi-circle with utmost perfection covering the entire stretch of the ground for three times. After completing, Namperumal stops.
The gathered crowd claps-cries-comments-celebrates…! A perfectly planned team event..!
A karma yoga driven only by Bakthi Yoga spirited by the Gyana Yoga is visible before our eyes.
Now the horse too sighs after a stunning performance, though Namperumal, as usual, smiles..!
…If u missed it.. Again go and click the Movie clippings of Kona Vaiyali event… You can feel why NAMPERUMAL is dear to all… and will also understand that,
“HE is the epicenter and element of the Event “
“HE is the essence of the Event”
“HE is the EVENT”