Went in the morning, around 1030. Saw preparations for the evening. Stands and trays have been arranged for Deepams to be lit and placed.
44th Anjaneyar Abhishekam for Varsha Pirappu just began. Watched about half of it and left. Remarked that abhishekam items were being used very generously. Apparently this anjaneyar abhishekam tradition began 44 years ago to mimic the same tradition already existing at Thiruvahindrapuram in Cuddalore. A bhaktar used to go there regularly, saw the ceremonial marking and sought to reproduce it here.
We went again at 730pm, the Ramanujar utsavam chanting was about to begin (Deepa got chastised for not having a pottu! It had fallen off. Used kunkumam and looked like mahakali for the rest of the evening). 4 priests sat in front of the Ramanujar shrine and chanted from the Prabandham, closing as always with Periyalvar’s “Pallandu pallandu,” which never fails to move: பல்லாண்டு பல்லாண்டு பல்லாயிரத்தாண்டு பலகோடி நூறாயிரம்
மல்லாண்ட திண்தோள் மணிவண்ணா! உன் சேவடி செவ்வித் திருக்காப். It is not mere closing but a mangalasasanam, as we will learn—uttering protective blessings for the Lord, expressing the devotee's anxious concern that nothing should befall the Lord's sacred form.
We watched people light lamps and mill around the Anjaneyar shrine which was still active (and he looked super smart in embroidered clothes, set amidst so many colourful flowers), spoke to the lady removing leaves from Tulasi bunches who has been here doing this work for 20 years, she says – people offer tulasi, it gets tied/comes tied in bunches, goes to the sannadhis and comes out for her to remove leaves – then is distributed again from the perumal sannadhi.
"Perumakoil" is the local colloquialism for Perumal Koyil. Say it fast, you'll see.