Brahmotsavam Day 9, the day of the chariot! Is it a coincidence that the Chetty Koyil had its Thiruther vizha on Panguni Utthiram (also special for Murugan) and the Vedapuriswara Koyil has it on Vaikasi Vishakam (Murugan's nakshatra naal)? We arrive as the homam concludes. Even before the deities board the ther, there is magic in the aradhanai that preceded it under the rays of the rising sun. The utsava murtis are kept outside the library-mandapam. We see the completion of the homam; and piercing this sacrificial smoke are the rays of the morning sun meeting the flames of the aradhanai. The deities proceed to an ul-purappadu after which Somaskanda is raised and seated onto the ther. The ropes are grasped, the wheel-blocks are removed, and after the last of the aradhanais – pull! The ratha of Somaskanda rolls ahead. The ther’s journey around the madaveethi lasts long, and is significantly obstructed by cables and trees, which necessitate immediate chopping and slashing.
Later in the day we do a recording with Thirunavukkarasar Odhuvar. He spoke about the Malaimatri padhigam, malai-matri or the malai of words that stays the same when turned around or recited forwards and backwards–effectively a palindrome:
யாமாமாநீ யாமாமா யாழீகாமா காணாகா
காணாகாமா காழீயா மாமாயாநீ மாமாயா
This first line read backwards makes the second line. Discourses can be given on these lines and their poetic construction, but here is a rough translation:
“Are we gods? No. You alone are truly God—yes, indeed!
O great Lord who plays the yaazh, O One of irresistible beauty!
O One who wears serpents openly, O One who made Kama invisible!
O Lord of Kazhi [Sirkazhi], O great Maya! Remove us from the dark impurities of maya.”
This is the third Thirumurai Tevaram song composed by Thirugnanasambandhar. It belongs to the 'Thirumalaimarthu' genre of pictorial poetry for the Sirkazhi Tirutthalam
The day's schedule:
7:00 AM - 8:30 AM - Rathotsavam (Temple Chariot Festival) or Thiruther vizha
6:00 PM - Abhishekam.