The combination today of Guru Peyarchi with Nayanmar Abhishekam and the Thirukalyanam is hectic madness. We decide Arun will stay put at the Sivan temple (where Dakshinamurti is propitiated as Guru as much as the Guru of the Navagrahas is) while I (Deepa) will move to other temples for shorter periods and return. The hope is to catch the essence of everything, but this means timing it all perfectly. And God knows with delays all over, that’s as tricky as it gets. Thank goodness Pondicherry is small though, and the temples are clustered. I catch only a portion of the Nayanmar abhishekam and One of the Odhuvars enjoying a rhythmic session with the Thavil player before heading out. I miss the miss the Guru Peyarchi Abhishekam for the Sivan Koyil’s Dakshinamurti and Guru himself, but Arun gets that.
When all the scramble is done, it’s Thirukalyanam today, another ladies’ event! They seem to know when to come, where to sit, what to look for, and what to take away. It’s like a jolly outing! Photos speak for themselves. The event happened in the ardhamandapam, spilling out into the area right of the dhvajastambha.
Saw Ghouse’s son Kadir come pick up some decorations from the Sivan Koyil; he stayed for the Thirukalyanam. Thursday (tomorrow) starts the Vishakam event at the Ghousiga Balasubramaniya Swami temple (Thursday May 27 to Sunday May 30). Friday is the Laksharchanai. Saturday is Murugan’s nakshatra birthday, Sunday is Panchamurti purappadu 7pm
In the evening is the Nayanmar procession, a form of ethir sevai as the Sri Vaishnavas would say, because all face Siva and move backwards in his presence. Wait no, they don't only face Sivaperuman. They face the whole Pancha Murti procession. The Nayanmar carriages move ahead of them, there is a Kailaya Vadyam group leading the pancha murtis, entirely drowning out the mangala vadyam nadaswaram players who are also present, and then the grand 5, all on silver vahanas. It is a a long, grand procession that rivals the kinds we see on the big national holidays, but with none of the security and distance. Way at front are a group of women presumably from the Nayanmar Sabhai, singing songs. Stunning because of the numbers, the silver, the glint and grandeur, and the uniformity in the variety of Nayanmar forms.
Brahmotsavam Day 5 Schedule:
7:00 AM - Procession. 10:00 AM - Thirukalyanam (Divine Wedding)
9:00 AM - Sri 63 Nayanmar Festival Mahabhishekam.
7:00 PM - Silver Rishabha Vahanam (Silver Bull) Procession.
7:00 PM - 63 Nayanmar Street Procession