This starts today and will continue for 10 days. The process is usually this: morning thirumanjanam for the Alvar utsavam. Alankara is done, and in the evening the adhyapakas recite specific verses from the Alvar’s repertoire (mangalasasanam). This is followed by an ul-purappadu, and saattrumurai. On the last day, there may be variations – Perumal gets an abhishekam, there is an ethir sevai, a special alankara etc. We’re not there for the beginning though.
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…
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.…
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…
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…
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…