7am we were there as Ayyappan Swami called us to be, but the palliezhucchi was barely over and the abhishekam was already done! I was instructed to get 2 large lamps, which I dutifully did. Light them! He said, so I did. Quick puja, I’m asked for family names and nakshatrams, and then handed a big bag with yesterday’s malas, still very fresh. (“How did you know it’s my nakshatra naal (Hindu calendar birthday)?” I asked Ayyappan Swami later. He didn’t skip a beat. “I didn’t,” came the instant reply. Gesturing to the garbhagriha: “He told me,” he said).
Dakshinamurti is always in velli (silver) kavacham on Thursdays, with black channa malas and a yellow attire. Yellow is associated with Brhaspati, the Guru to the Devas, and with the planet Jupiter (Guru). Dakshinamurti being the supreme Guru, the yellow garment reinforces the association with divine instruction, wisdom and illumined learning.
Mutthu called us to see the kulam being cleaned, in anticipation of rains. So we went out back and hung out there for a while with all the ladies in blue looking very picturesque against the neat grey stair rows.