The First Ones Who Set The Divine Ball Rolling
Dear Fellow-Bhagavathas,
Come Aippasi, the Tamil month, we will have three Azhwars’ Avathara Days lined up – that of Poigai Azhwar, Bhuthath-Azhwar and Peyazhwar, known as the First Azhwars.
| Features of their Avathara are as follows: | |||
| Poigai Azhwar | Bhuthath-Azhwar | Peyazhwar | |
| Star of Birth | Thiruvonam | Avittam | Sathayam |
| Place of Birth | Thiruvehka | ThirukKadal Mallai | Thirumayilai |
| As Manifestation of | Conch | Mace | Dagger |
It was this trio that set the ‘Divya Prabandham’ ball rolling so to say, after the Azhwars had a chance meeting in ThirukKovalur.
Poigai Azhwar first went there to worship the Lord on what turned out to be a rainy night. He took shelter in the verandah of a small house and thinking that he would worship the Lord on the morrow, he lay down there. After some time, Bhuthath-Azhwar, with the rain intensifying, reached the same place and since there was just enough space for two to sit only, they both sat there. Then entered Peyazhwar, fully drenched, and the three could barely stand there. Amidst thunder and lightning and under pitch-dark condition, they felt that they were being pressed hard against as someone else was (apparently) trying to squeeze himself in.
They realised through their insight that the 'imposing' fourth person was none other than the Lord Himself. Their joy knew no bounds and they burst into rapturous verses on His greatness.
To start with, Poigai Azhwar removed the external obscurity (darkness) with the Earth as his Lamp, the Ocean as the Oil and the radiant Sun as the Flame. He offered a Garland (Mudhal Thiruvantaadhi) at the feet of the discus-wielding Lord, so that we may cross the misery-ocean.
Bhuthath-Azhwar followed suit as he obliterated internal obscurity (ignorance) with his Love as the Lamp, Eagerness as the Oil and his Heart as the Wick. Melting himself, he lit a Lamp and offered a Garland of Knowledge (Irandaam Thiruvantaadhi) to Narayana.
The darkness having been wiped out completely, Peyazhwar had a wonderful vision of the Lord and His Consort on His frame, launched into his Moonraam Thiruvantaadhi, starting with “ThirukKanden, Ponmeni Kanden”. “I have seen the lotus-dame on the frame of my ocean-hued Lord, who has the radiance of the golden Sun. He wields a fiery discus and a dextrous conch in his hands.”
Of special significance is the Thiru Avathara Day of Peyazhwar at our Temple. This being his Avathara Sthalam, there is an exclusive shrine for the Azhwar. A 10-day festival culminating in Aippasi-Sathayam is conducted at the Temple. This year, the Avathara Days of the Azhwars fall on October 27, 28 and 29 respectively. Peyazhwar Uthsavam will commence on 20th October with procession in the mornings and Aasthanam with Perumal and Thiruvoymozhi chanting in the evenings. On the Satrumurai day (29th) there will be a grand purappadu in the evening.
The Vaazhi-Thirunamam of Peyazhwar which is chanted daily at the Temple is given below:
| திருப்பொலிந்த மாமயிலை நகருதித்தோன் வாழியே |
| சீர் ஐப்பசியில் சதயம் செழித்த வள்ளல் வாழியே |
| நெருக்கமுடன் இடைகழியில் நின்றபிரான் வாழியே |
| நேசத்தால் திருமாலின் வடிவுகண்டான் வாழியே |
| 'திருக்கண்டேன்' என நூறும் சொன்ன செல்வத்தோன் வாழியே |
| சீராழி வண்ணனையே தெய்வமென்றான் வாழியே |
| பெருக்கமிகு மழிசையர்கோன் ஏத்தநின்றான் வாழியே |
| பேயாழ்வார் இணையடிகள் பெருநிலத்தில் வாழியே. |
| “Hail to the one who rose in the City of Thirumayilai! |
| Hail to the generous one who hailed on Aippasi-Sathayam! |
| Hail to the one who stood in a packed vestibule; |
| Hail to the one who, out of sheer devotion, had the vision of the Lord Vishnu! |
| Hail to the affluent one who sang a hundred verses starting with ‘ThirukKanden’! |
| Hail to the one who regarded only the discus-wielder as the Lord! |
| Hail to the one who was praised by Thirumazhisai Azhwar! |
| Hail to Peyazhwar’s feet, in this great world!” |
ThirupPavithra Uthsavam
Meanwhile, much before the Azhwars' Uthsavams, a very important event is coming up at the Temple, in fact in a couple of days. The ThirupPavithra Uthsavam is being held from 4th October (Sunday) 2009. The week-long purification ceremony will conclude with a grand Poornaahuthi on 10th October (Saturday). The Uthsavam, which is mandatory for every temple, is considered to be very auspicious
The Homam will be performed from 08.30 to 10.30 in the mornings and 8.00 to 10.00 in the evenings. There will be procession in the evening on all days, with a grand one slated for the final day. Veda, Divya Prabandha, Ithihasa, Purana, Grantha parayanam will accompany the Homam.
The uniqueness of the Uthsavam in our Temple is that devotees can do Pradakshinam covering the Lord, the Yaga Sala, all the Ghoshtis and all the Sannidhis in one go.
Devotees are requested to attend in large numbers and receive the blessings of Lord Srinivasa, Goddess Alarmelmanga Thayar, Sri Peyazhwar and Swami Vedantha Desika.
Meet you in the next Note.
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