Today is Mutthumariamman’s big day, with an early morning Gopuja, a second homam kaalam, a 108 Kalasa Abhishekam and finally this evening a Muthu Pallakku Veethi Ula
Morning after 7:15 AM 2nd Kaala Yagam: Go Puja, Ashtothara Satha Kalasa Pujas, Special Mantra Puja.10:15 AM: Special Abhishekam for Sri Mutthumariamman, Homam, Purnahuti, and 108 Kalasa Abhishekam
11:30 AM: Maha Deeparadhanai, Prasadam & Holy Water (Teertham) distribution.
12:15 PM: Annadanam (Grand Food Offering) Deeparadhanai.
730PM: Special Chandana Kaappu Alankaram (Sandalwood Paste Decoration) and Street Procession (Thiruveethi Ula) of Sri Mutthumariamman in the Muthu Pallakku (Pearl Palanquin).
Gopuja. Cow seems new, not used to this. Cow represents/contains all 33cr gods.The back is Mahalakshmi, front is her sister Moodevi (whose name should not be said), so the puja is always at the back and not the front. I heard a lot of “Kama” in the recitations, but maybe it was always Kamadhenu so the priest probably thought my question about this rather foolish.
Kamadhenu is also well-known through its other five forms: Nanda, Sunanda, Surabhi, Susheela and Sumana. Also Kamaduha, Surabhi.
1030am - northwest and southwest kalasas used for koshtha murtis abhishekam. From southwest all, northwest 8. Ganapati and Pecchayiamman Kalasas used for respective shrines.
Astra homam, done by Arasoo mama after the conclusion of the other abhishekams–while the other priest attended to the homam. A recording is on drive.
Arasoo also sang the Abhirami padhigam (verse 1 after Vinayaka kaappu) beautifully. Partial recording on drive. Explained here. Also Sung here in Kaapi. Sirkazhi Govindarajan also has a 1970 film rendition.
கலையாத கல்வியும், குறையாத வயதும்,ஓர் கபடு வாராத நட்பும், கன்றாத வளமையும்,குன்றாத இளமையும், கழுபிணி இலாத உடலும்,சலியாத மனமும், அன்பு அகலாத மனைவியும்,தவறாத சந்தானமும், தாழாத கீர்த்தியும்,மாறாத வார்த்தையும், தடைகள் வாராத கொடையும்,தொலையாத நிதியமும், கோணாத கோலும்,ஒரு துன்பம் இல்லாத வாழ்வும்,துய்ய நின்பாதத்தில் அன்பும் உதவிப்,பெரிய தொண்டரொடு கூட்டு கண்டாய்;அலைஆழி அறி துயில்கொள் மாயனது தங்கையே!ஆதி கடவூரின் வாழ்வே!அமுதீசர் ஒரு பாகம் அகலாத சுகபாணி!அருள் வாமி! அபிராமியே!
kalaiyaatha kalviyum, kuRaiyaatha vayathum,kalaiyaatha kalviyum, kuRaiyaatha vayathum,oar kapatu vaaraatha nhatpum, kanRaatha vaLamaiyum,kunRaatha iLamaiyum, kalzhupiNi ilaatha utalum,chaliyaatha manamum, anpu akalaatha manaiviyum,thavaRaatha chanhthaanamum, thaalzhaatha keerththiyum,maaRaatha vaarththaiyum, thataikaL vaaraatha kotaiyum,tholaiyaatha nhithiyamum, koaNaatha koalum,oru thunpam illaatha vaalzhvum,thuyya nhinpaathaththil anpum uthavip,periya thoNtarotu kuuttu kaNtaay;alaiaalzhi aRi thuyilkoL maayanathu thanGkaiyae!aathi katavuurin vaalzhvae!amutheechar oru paakam akalaatha chukapaaNi!aruL vaami! Apiraamiyae!
Knowledge that you do not forget, age that does not diminish,A friendship that does not diminish, A wealth that does not deteriorate ,A youth that does not diminish, a body that is free from all diseases,A mind that does not get bored, a wife whose love never diminishes,A progeny that is regular, a fame that never diminishes,The promises that are never broken, the charity that never has a road block,A treasure that is never is lost, a government which is always just,And a life which never has any sorrow and love towards your very pure divine feet,And if you also bless me with the company of your great devotees,Oh sister who sleeps on a leaf floating in the sea, Oh life of ancient Kadavur,Oh Goddess who does not move away from one side of Lord Shiva,Oh Goddess who holds a parrot, Please grant me all these Abhirami.
Abhirama Bhattar, Translated by P.R.Ramachander
EVENING: Mutthupallakku came from Perumal, a massively long caterpillar like thing. Maniyakkarar told me to pay attention to it turning corners and how it flexes there but it did not seem to have any particular character there at all. The drummer team was good but the sounds never came together and beyond a point, along with pataas and all, it was just noise. Amman in the garbhagriha was Kamakshi (both feet folded, had one been hanging she’d have been Raja Rajeshwari; they put a kili in one hand but normally there’d have been a flower one of the pusaris told me). Utsavar was Mariamman herself, in full form. Jnanavel Swami was very pleased. It was 9 by the time the procession started (pallakku stopped at the head of the street, utsavar was carried out to meet it), and it seemed to hang for long in front of the temple. So we left around 9 or thereafter.
Spent some time talking to an elderly lady called Saroja of one of the stone inscriptions, whose name is Tamil Arasi or just Tamil. Distinguished looking lady. She said her mother had been the one to build the older gopuram, and then she + others did a layer each of the present one at the last Kumbhabhishekam. But the older inscription is gone–temples appear not good at all about keeping their histories in this way. Clearly this made her feel sad. Spoke a bit about how there had been problems in the temple admin. before and so she and some others had been brought in as the nirvagam. Govt. officer appointed 1980. But who knows what they do?