← Field notes

Varadaraja Perumal Koyil Brahmotsavam Day 3

Varadaraja Perumal KoyilBrahmotsavamPurappadu

Today's Brahmotsavam Day 3 Schedule:

07:00 AM: Yali Vahanam Procession

10:00 AM: Thirumanjanam

08:00 PM: Procession on Hanumantha Vahanam – Alankara as Rama, but of course!


More from Varadaraja Perumal Koyil

Varadaraja Perumal Koyil · Navaratri Day 10Varadaraja Perumal · Navaratri Day 10

Over Before We Know It

Today was the last day of the Vaishnava Navaratri utsavam, and we thought we’d not miss the ambu poduthal here for sure – but we were wrong. The patrikai said 7pm, but for some…

Varadaraja Perumal Koyil · Navaratri Day 6, Purattasi ShaniVaradaraja Perumal · Navaratri Day 6, Purattasi Shani

The Last Purattasi Saturday

We went next to Perumal – it’s the last Saturday of Purattasi, and the last of his major alankarams. Moolasthanam just opening. Hanuman in a charming embroidered green suit.…

Varadaraja Perumal Koyil · Navaratri Day 1Varadaraja Perumal · Navaratri Day 1

Sri Vaishnava Navaratri Starts a Day Later Than Everyone Else’s

Perumal Koyil starts Navaratri on Dwitiya, unlike everyone else–we cannot figure out why, since amavasya (associated with pitru karma) is long over by the time of sunrise. We…

Varadaraja Perumal Koyil · Navaratri PrathamaiVaradaraja Perumal · Navaratri Prathamai

Starting Navaratri Before the Sri Vaishnava Navaratri

We go after 9pm. Dance in the makeshift mandapam outside, invoking the Dashavataras. Temple doors only left slightly ajar as everything closes down inside. We are called for the…

Varadaraja Perumal Koyil · Desikar Utsavam Vidaiyatri Day 4Varadaraja Perumal · Desikar Utsavam Vidaiyatri Day 4

Vedanta Desika on the Two Seas

It is the second Saturday of Purattasi, and the temple is thronging. When I reach the temple around 730pm, Desikar was on the first round of his ul-purappadu. He was rounding the…

See all field notes →