Brahmotsavam Day 14 and Brahmotsavam Day 13 respectively, for Sivan and Perumal; Vidaiyatri Day 4 for both. You know things are really closing up when there’s a whole utsavam to Chandikeswara– he’s the last to be offered food before closing the temple at night, the one who follows the processional parades, the great devotee who sits nearby, but outside. And the Perumal Koyil holds grand court as Rajagopalan with a sengkol in his hand, peacock feathers in his hair, and cows at his feet, Sri Devi and Bhu Devi turn into Rukmini and Satyabama. One has a sense of peace, justice and plenty descending on the world.
It’s perhaps fitting that Rajagopal Thathacharya give us some apt closing lines – as he often does, he calls us aside with twinkling eyes and a deeply happy smile because such is the way he takes delight in stories of the Lord, and recites (of course at a moment when the nadaswaram makes it hard to hear anything, even if we are listening with rapt attention) Pasuram 1.1.9 of the Thiruvaimozhi:
உளன் எனில் உளன் அவன் உருவம் இவ் உருவுகள்
உளன் அலன் எனில், அவன் அருவம் இவ் அருவுகள்
உளன் என இலன் என இவை குணம் உடைமையில்
உளன் இரு தகைமையொடு ஒழிவு இலன் பரந்தே.
ulan enil ulan avan uruvam iv uruvukal
ulan alan enil, avan aruvam iv aruvukal
ulan ena ilan ena ivai kunam utaimaiyil
ulan iru takaimaiyotu olivu ilan parante.
If it is said "He exists," He exists, and all these forms are His forms.
If it is said "He exists not," He is formless, and all these formless things are His formlessness.
Because He possesses both these attributes—of existing and non-existing,
He exists in both natures, spread everywhere without end.
There’s still another Vidaiyatri day ahead, but could there be better lines to end a festival of this sort really?
VEDAPURISWARA SCHEDULE
9:00 AM - Abhishekam
7:00 PM - Sri Chandikeswara Utsavam
VARADARAJA PERUMAL SCHEDULE
10:00 AM: Thirumanjanam
07:00 PM: Pushpa Prabhai (Floral Procession)