MARAN’s Mesmerizing Moksham 

(Song tuned  by my eldest sister Smt. Dr. R. Lalitha Rukmani M.A.,Phd., Principal, Kalakshetra,

Chennai. Sung by her & her students )

 MARAN’s Mesmerizing Moksham

(Shri S.Raja Desikan)

It is the 11th Day of ThiruAdyayna Utsav. The day before this, Namperumal has taken a fresh long …Thirumanjanam and adorns the TiruMAmanimandapam.

After a 20 long days of hectic Utsav (Festival) schedule with packed events viz, PurappAdu, OyiAra Nadai, Padiyetham, ThollikinnaUyarthi Sevai (after a Padiyetham), ThiruvandiKappu, PodhuJana Sevai, (Listening to) Arayar Sevai, (Accepting) Ubhayakarar Mariyadhai , starting to Sanctum Sanctorum late nights in Chill weather, hearing Veenai Ekantham and Showing Special Sevas like Nachiyar Thirukollam, Kaithala Sevai, Performing a Vibrant Vailyali and subsequent Vedupari with ThirumangaiAlwar by chasing him and accepting his Saranagathi, Staging a THeerthaVari and ornamenting with various Keerdams and heavy jewels viz Vimana Pathakam, Manga Malai, Bhuja keerti (jewel weared above the arms), wearing new garlands thrice a day….(OH..OH! Think how much efforts NAMPERUMAL puts for this 20 days Utsav?),

NAMPERUMAL (as said earlier) gets a fresh long Thirumanjanam (Holy shower) in hot water and wears the NithyaPadi Neelanayakam, Pavithram (9 rows of Sacred thread) with a simple silk dhoti and silk Angavastaram. Even HE prettifies with a single garland.

NAMPERMAL waits for the dawn. The auspicious time smacks. NamAzhwar who is also called as MARAN, dresses with the Tulasi Malai (Garland), Pure White Dhoti and Thirumankappu on his forehead and body is also ready fresh for the moment.

Three NAMPERUMAL’s Archakas representing the NityaSuris assemble and get NamAzhwar in their Kaithalam without the Tulasi garland. NAMPERUMAL unique Thirumuthu Kudai (regular golden umbrella) in the back and ThiruvenSAmarams either side of NamAzhwar are also provided as backdrops. Two of the Aryars hymn the Pasurams starting from ‘SuzhVisumpaniMugil…’ This is the phrase which explains the path of a Chetanan (Jeevan) on his way to Moksham (The eternal abode).

Archakas show NamAzhwar’s Archarathi Vigraham (Idol) for the crowd in same Kaithala Seva before getting towards the Mandapam. This gives a picture as if, the sea of devotees assembled to get the Darshan of the event, has a final look (farewell) to NamAzhwar before he attains Moksham.

Now NamAzhwar’s convoy takes a round and reaches the Mandapam where NAMPERUMAL is waiting for NamAzhwar from last night. NamAzhwar is now positioned down towards the feet of NAMPERUMAL with his head placed in the lotus feet of NAMPERUMAL. Archakas covers NamAzhwar with sacred Tulasi. This symbolize that JEEVan-NamAzhwar has attained Moksham and has mingled with the PaRamathmA – NAMPERUMAL.(The eternal abode).

Curtain falls down! Crowd Captivates!

The SUNSETS as the SUNRISES…..