Mangalsasanam, Thirumanjanam, Perumal-Ramanujar ul-purappadu today, as it’s the closing of this Utsavam.
9am Ramanuja is brought out. Prasad given to all is some fine jaggery crumbs mixed with cashews and raisins. Ramanuja does one ul-purappadu round and enters the moolasthana shrine. Garbhagriha door shut. (The security guard who had been friendly at first made much noise while I (Arun) was taking photos.)
At 1030 or so the Thirumanjanam begins.
Starts with sankalpam for the ubhayakara family, who are sitting in the inner prakaram doorway area. When the priests ring bells, the nadaswaram starts outside, in the maha mandapa where we’re all seated. Bhattacharya lights the thattu vilakku and the process starts – milk, curd, fruits, honey, elaneer …
There is sambrani producing lots of smoke, veiling the moola Perumal inside, who is totally bare for the thirumanjanam. In front of the Perumal is his utsava murti with consorts (partially clothed). In front and to the side of this, facing South, is Ramanuja.
Each time the priest shows the dhoop, arati deepam, and then thattu deepam to all the figures. In between each abhishekam step, the deities are washed with water. Perumal utsava murti is garlanded first with tulasi, then with flowers. Such a rich and intense scene. The flames of the deepams and aradhanais visible through the smoke, partially lighting the deities is like some occult dream, shining light on parts of yourself within. It was a very paavam feeling not being able to be inside the sanctum with those performing the abhishekam! There is prabandham chanting for some time.
At the end, the curtain is drawn, we stand up, when it’s opened again, there is another water pouring from the kalasa this time (where was it set before? When was it prepared?), but with the use of a special silver pouring instrument, over a plate [sahasra dhaara/ velli jalladai] crafted so the kalasa theertham will come through in a shower. This kalasa theertha is done for the main deity first and then for the utsava murtis, ending with Ramanuja.
Sekar Mama tells us now alankaram will take an hour, I presume at that time there’s another aradhanai and prasadam distribution.
Evening purappadu starts 7pm – April 22 is the most important day, with Perumal and Ramanuja going out on procession together, “ethir sevai” (Ramanuja always faces Perumal, going backwards white He goes forwards). More like 8pm by the time it begins.
Tomorrow is Punar Poosam nakshatram [Punar Paruvam/ Punarpoosam or Punarvasu] – birth star of Rama, so it’s marked with abhishekam and ul-purappadu – though Prasanna said the abhishekam part wasn’t yet confirmed.