Brahmotsavam Day 15, Vidaiyatri Day 5. More special than we imagined. Ayyappan swami had said in the morning when I went with Dyuman that today Gurumama would be the Instagram star (ha ha ha). Indeed, it was special. 12 Thirumurai all dressed up to look much like a siva lingam. Naalvar abhishekam in the morning, and they’re propitiated and taken out in procession (ethir sevai), followed by the thirumurai, and finally Chandrasekara and Gauri. Pushpaka vimana alankaram for Siva on Vrushabha. The Naalvar got a chariot, as did the Thirumurai.
Each year a group is called in to sing Thirumurai songs – a mixed bunch this time, not at all all from the Thirumurai. Yennappan allava, from the Nandanar Charitram by Gopalakrishna Bharati. Naada Bindu, which is Thiruppugazh’s last song. Nadaswaram played முத்தைத்தரு பத்தித் திருநகை – which again is Thiruppugazh. “Thodudaiya Seviyan” is a favourite, but I’ve only heard it sung once at the Chandikeswara abhishekam deeparadhanai. The group this time were young girls from Chennai led by a teacher. Each year there’s a different group to sing. I guess it’s a way of encouraging the classical arts and singing in general, which is for its own sake lovely.
The day's schedule:
9:00 AM - Vidaiyatri Abhishekam
7:00 PM - Thirumurai Utsavam