Arupathimoovar (அறுபத்திமூவர்)

Arupathimoovar (அறுபத்திமூவர்)

I have been meaning to write a series on Arupathimoovar after the series of Azhwars, but never got around doing same till now.

The first time I tried, I wanted to begin with the Arupathimoovar festival in Mylapore, but since I could not combine with it, I dropped the idea.

Now right after this year’s Arupathimoovar festival, I hope to start with a blog on one Nayanmar on every Monday and Thursday.

To begin with, Arupathimoovar festival is something I have only heard of all these years. Despite being a Chennaite, I have never had the opportunity to see the festival.

This year, I wanted to go at least on one day and as usual thanks to my sister Jayashree’s persuasion with a bit of pressure on me, I visited on the day of Arupathimoovar urchavam.

I have to say that I was zapped by the sight of the whole area. First of all, vehicles were stopped at the junction of Luz Church Road and only pedestrians were allowed beyond this point. I was stunned to see the ever empty Thirumayilai MRTS station full of people.

It was a great sight to see refreshments being distributed free of cost at a number of thannir pandals (தண்ணீர் பந்தல்) (these are still called thannir pandals though they offered right from biryani, sambar rice, biscuits, chocolates and what not!). As far as I could see these thannir pandals were not just around the temple but in the whole area all the way to Alwarpet.

The path was already full with roadside vendors selling a variety of stuff right from coconut/banana/camphor to be offered to the Lord to toys for the kids. 

One eyesore were the paper plates and cups strewn on the same path as well as in the median. Some had even thrown leftover eatables. Of course this was the first time I was there during the festival so I am not sure whether this happens every year or it was messier this year!

The crowd was so much that people were really pushing each other to move forward. I managed to reach the junction before the theppa kulam and there was some breathing space. I could hear the police announcing names of people from different parts of the city who had missed their kith and kin and was in search of them which made me feel a bit bad about not making an attempt to attend this festival even once despite having lived in Chennai all my life!

In front of theppa kulam was a long line of Gods and I saw Kolavizhi Amman first followed by Draupathi Amman, Periyanayaki sametha Vaaliswarar and Ganapathy. 

Kolavizhi Amman (கோலவிழி அம்மன்)

Draupadi Amman (திரௌபதி அம்மன்)

 

After these Gods were the great Arupathimoovars preceded by Poompavai and Sivanesar!

 

I could read the name placards of some of the deities only as it was a procession of four nayanmars on each palanquin.

As I was slowly taking photos of the first few rows, suddenly the procession started moving at a good speed and I managed to catch a small movie of same.

All this while, my sister Jayashree was somewhere in the crowd and we were communicating only on the mobile. Jayashree, who is more familiar with the rituals of the day as she had visited last year, said that what I saw was only the tip of the iceberg and processions of many Gods and Goddesses led by Kapaleeswarar and Karpagambal were elsewhere. As I did not have much time and was a bit keen to catch the CSK match and had a long way to go home, I called it a day.

Kindly wait for the blog on Nayanmars on Thursday, 12 April 2012!

Temple Trails Tamil Nadu : Golu at Mylai Karpagambal Temple

Golu at Mylai Karpagambal Temple


After the last year's visit to this temple for Golu, I was very keen to go there this year also

The temple was decorated beautifully with lights and did not look very crowded mainly because the Golu was spread in different parts and the crowd was scattered.

I prayed at the Ganapathi and Murugan sannidhi and had a look at the small mandapam opposite the Murugan sannidhi on my right in front of the main Golu mandapam. This had Sivan in penance in Himalayas with all the rishis in the front. Ganges was falling from Sivan's head.

There was huge kolam made out of various food ingredients right from raw rice to pulses, dhaniya, sago, jaggery and even red chillies and tamarind. It was looking very beautiful.

A closer view of the food grains on the kolam

I also heard that a new kolam is being drawn here everyday with different items. Only wish that I had the time to visit on all days.

I proceeeded to the main Golu mandapam and yesterday's alangaram was Ambal on Rishaba vahanam. As usual the decoration was beautiful and Ambal looked majestic with Lakshmi and Saraswathi on either side. I went around the deity to have a look at the pinnal alangaram - it was a very cute plait with flowers and cashews on each knot of the plait!

Next was the mandapam on the left side of Murugan sannidhi, right side of Dwajasthambam. A photograph of the moolasthanam of this temple with a huge rangoli of Samhara Bhairavar  with his consort. See the weapons in his hands and his dog vahanam!

On the left side of the Dwajasthambam, near the passage to Karpagambal sannidhi was the Golu with dolls arranged in seven steps.

There were also many Ganapathis arranged on a table. The ratham and procession looked very cute. There were many dolls kept on floor level and I liked the Santhanagopalakrishnan and the wedding set best!

I then proceeded to Karpagambal sannidhi. Though the queue was long, it moved quite fast and darshan was great! Next was Kapaleeswarar sannidhi. The Lingam looked majestic as usual and crowd was quite less here.

I had the chance to get chakrapongal prasadam and while washing the hands noticed the green light in the garden near the main mandapam. This had plants for various nakshatrams with the plants marked with their names and the star they represent. 

 


I went inside the main golu mandapam once again to have one last look at the Ambal in rishaba vahanam before leaving.

Though the Golu was definitely not as grand and impressive as last year, it was quite nice and different.