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Thousands get a glimpse of Vairamudi

Staff Correspondent

`Chellapillai' and his consorts taken in a grand procession

a DAZZLING SIGHT: The `Vairamudi' adorns Lord Cheluvarayaswamy during the Brahmohtsavam at Melkote on Thursday night. — PHOTO: M.A. Sriram

MYSORE: T housands of the people thronged the temple town of Melkote in Mandya district, near here, on Friday night. Adorned with the famed Vairamudi (diamond crown), the presiding deity Cheluvaraswamy, along with his consorts, Sridevi and Bhoodevi, were taken around the temple town in a procession amidst chanting of Vedic hymns.

Amid a sea of humanity, the palanquin carrying the Lord, fondly called Chellapillai by devotees, and his consorts were taken around the temple town in the procession that began shortly after 8.30 p.m.

The deity was taken around the temple on "Garudavahanam."

Later, the procession went through the bylanes of the town.

Rajamudi

Earlier, the Vairamudi, which is kept in the Mandya treasury, was brought to Melkote. Along with Vairamudi, another crown studded with precious stones, Rajamudi, was brought to the temple town.

A large number of devotees, particularly from Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh, had gathered in Melkote for the annual festival, which is considered more of a folk festival than an orthodox one. "Vairamudi Brahmotsava" is celebrated for 10 days in Melkote and the deity is decorated with the diamond crown on the fourth day of the celebrations.

Scholars believe that this festival symbolises the mastery of the Lord over the Vedas. Garuda is considered a personification of the Vedas and the Lord sitting on him shows that it is he who gives all the splendour to that knowledge

The Vairamudi Utsava is considered one of the four most important festivals, which are renowned in the four major Divyakshetras of the Srivaishnavas. The other three are Garudotsava at Kancheepuram, the Kotharotsava in Srirangam and the Brahmotsava in Tirupati.

The legend has it that the Vairamudi or the diamond crown lost its blue gem on the crest while being brought back by Garuda. Garuda recovered the diamond crown from the demon, Virocana, the grandson of Bali.

The blue gem from the Vairamudi fell off the crown near Nachiar Koil in Thanjavur while Garuda was flying over the place and the gem turned into a stream. Hence the stream is called Manimuttaru.

"Garudotsava" was celebrated in Melkote on Thursday, a day before the Vairamudi festival.

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