Day 21: Aadi 24: 9AM Manjal Neer utsavam, arava bhupati moksham
After what must have been a long and rain-washed night of procession, the ther returns to the temple at around 8 in the morning. I’m told that the deities will leave for the aravan moksham at Muthialpet by 930. Perhaps it’s here that the Manja neer utsavam gets its name, from the abhishekam? Because nothing else in the day’s events explains it.
930 arrives, but the post-abhishekam alankaram still going on for Draupadi Amman in the sanctum. Another hour goes by. 1030 arrives, when Bhagavatar sir calls me and says nothing will happen until evening. He is very kind and offers to call me when the procession begins. The priest tells me the same as I take leave.
My phone rings at 415pm. Bhagavatar sir informs me he is leaving for the ground. At 430 I go to the Ajanta signal and unfailingly find the purappadu on their way. They reach the ground by 445. Once in the ground, the vandi placed so the deities face South, towards the temple’s side entrance. There’s a naga shrine alongside a stone figure with a hand-drawn face who I’m told is Pidari Amman. Potthu Raja is placed near Aravan’s head, and Bhagavatar takes his seat next to Potthu Raja. He recounts the story of Aravan’s birth through Arjuna and Uloopi, his watching of the great war, and his subsequent rebirth and slaying of Kutasura (who is born of the ashes of Kama).
A final Aradhanai for Aravan, Potthu Raja, and Draupadi-Perumal-Arjuna. Aravan’s head is taken off and wrapped up in a towel, placed at the back of the deity-vandi and taken back to the temple. Sundal Prasadam that I share with Bhagavatar. Over.
Was it today that the Kodi came down? Oddly enough, it must be so but we’re not sure. The Patrikai is no help in this matter!