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 reach Perumal Koyil just as He leaves from the garbhagriha–alone, hand resting on his gada or mace, noticeably without Sridevi and Bhudevi as he is about to go have his annual time with Thayar. 3 times pradakshina, and then Perumal is taken backwards to his seat beside Thayar, in her sannadhi. Door closes for what feels like an eternity. It opens to a long deeparadhanai and sodasha upachara. It is by now after 8pm, so we leave to make sure we get to other temples on time (have been out since 530pm, temples close at 9 or so), so we plan a return by 9.
When we come back, the puja in Thayar sannadhi is finishing. No sevai, no adhyapakas around. Perumal has a big bunch of damana in his hand though–a sight that makes us laugh, as that’s a sign of Kamadeva on him, just as he’s come to see Thayar. Are people just not telling us what they know about this plant and what it represents? Are they assuming we know already and don’t need telling because it’s a matter of some shyness? Anyway, the door closes again, and opens with Perumal robed in a veil and damana knocked out of his hands and left with Thayar. Aiyo! The veil, we’re told, is to cover His shyness after having spent this time with Thayar. So there is this human-humorous dimension to Sri Vaishnava practice, too. He goes around the back of his own shrine (can’t circumambulate Thayar) and then back to his asanam – position in the garbhagriha. Done for the day!