Aavani Avittam, it being pournami. Men at the kulam at the back – puja at home, bath in the kulam being auspicious as Thathacharya said, it’s completed here and the poonal changed. The poonal as we know is yagnopaveetam. Yagna + upaveetam which is “covering”. I wonder if there’s a link between this and the “chattaradu”/saattrumurai/ saatthupadi.
On Yagnopaveetham as being a Pavitram
Ganesan sir later tells us there is no particular need to change poonal on this day, but it’s to do the Kanda Rishi Tarpanam that this is done – and the Tarpanam is a prayascitta, like the Pavitrotsavam. This is also the period of “veda arambham” so closing one learning cycle and opening another.
Morning homam only on the two square kundams, unlike yesterday which was only in the circular one.
We leave and intend to return for the theerthavari which is happening by the time we return. The Utsavars from the yagasala brought to witness, the thirumanjanam here for the little perumal who also came to the kadal theerthavari. He’s then placed by the taller 3 to their right, and the group returns to the yagasala but faces it. Homam re-commences. Long “spout” into which ghee is poured, the offerings include fruits and vettiver are walked around the andal sannadhi and then one by one “touched” to the spout and offered. The final yellow cloth in fact is just soaked in ghee and offered. Roaring, beautiful fire. After this, Perumal and entourage return to the garbhagriha and doors close. By now it’s already late, we wait until 130/2pm, doors still closed, so we have to leave, presuming what follows is “only” the (alankaram and) saattrumurai.
The murti who goes for theerthavari looks like the selvar (Vishwaksena) who went for the purappadu on Brahmotsavam flag hoisting day. And seems to make sense for it to be Vishwaksena as an astramurti equivalent for Perumal.
Today’s published schedule:
8:00 AM — Visesa Homam; thereafter Chandra Puskarini Theerthavari; Maha Purnahuti; Yatradanam; Kadam; Perumal procession (Purappadu); Kattu Proksanam; Saattrumurai
7:00 PM — Sri Perumal Thiruveethi Purappadu (procession through the streets