The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : A new car for Goddess will also be pulled this year

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Sunday, May 04, 2008
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

A new car for Goddess will also be pulled this year

At the festival of Sri Thyagarajaswamy Temple at Tiruvarur today

— Photo: M. Srinath.

SACRED: A view of Sri Thyagarajaswamy Temple in Tiruvarur.

The very mention of Tiruvarur conjures up the image of the biggest car festival of Sri Thyagarajaswamy Temple. The giant size car weighing 260 tonnes without decoration and 300 tonnes after decoration is pulled by thousands of devotees during car festival every year in the month of either April or May.

This year, the car festival is held on May 4. The car is a marvel made of wood with exquisite carvings. Called as ‘Azhi ther,’ meaning a car like ocean (Azhi refers to an ocean, Azhi peralai is tsunami in Tamil), its structure and design have four segments. The first one is 1.2 mts high from the ground level, the second one 1.8 mts high and the third and the fourth one in which Lord Thyagaraja is seated are 1.8 mts high.

The platform is octagonal in shape. The car is fitted with giant wheels made of iron rims having a diameter of 2.5 mts. Hydraulic brakes designed by the Bharat Heavy Electricals in Tiruchi are fitted to the car.

The car is decorated with palmyrah posts, bamboo sticks and 3000 mts of “ther cheelai” i.e. decorative clothes, Thombai, doll of Brahma, the charioteer made of paper, four dummy horses and a snake raising its hood amidst them. In the olden days, it took even six months for the car to reach its stand as it was massive and pulled by people. Now it is pushed using bulldozers, besides being pulled by devotees from the front.

Hydraulic brakes have done away with the old system of putting “Muttukattais” (wooden blocks) under the wheel to stop and turn the car. Hence, it reaches its stand quickly.

It is a rare sight to see the giant size car moving along the four raja veedhis. It becomes spectacular when it moves on the banks of Kamalalayam tank.

The old wooden car of the temple was gutted in in 1926. Then a new car was made in 1928. For reasons unknown, the festival was stopped in 1947.

Again it was revived in 1969 when M. Karunanidhi became the Chief Minister. A unique feature of this year is a new car for Goddess will also be pulled.

Well-known

Tiruvarur is well-known for its cultural and historical background.

It was ruled by Manuneedhi Cholan, who is known for rendering justice, Abayakula Cholan, who published ‘Tirumurai’ literature, and Musukunda Chakravarthy, who brought the idol of Siva i.e. Maragatha Lingam from Lord Indra to the temple. Tiruvarur is one of the sapthavidangasthalams of Sri Thyagaraja i.e. seven temples for Thyagaraja.

It is also the panchaboothasthalams for Lord Siva — a place meant for land i.e. earth.

There is a stone car in the town depicting the history of Manuneedhi Cholan. It is said that Manuneedhi Cholan’s son Veedhi Vidangan who was riding a chariot ran over a calf which came in its way. The calf died. The cow alarmed the bell meant for seeking justice at the king’s palace and the king who learnt the misery of the cow, rendered justice by running his chariot over his son.

Later, due to Lord Siva’s grace, the king’s son came alive. Such is the importance given by the Chola kings in rendering justice.

The sprawling temple was first built in granite by Aditya Chola I in ninth century. It was revamped by Raja Raja Chola I and was upgraded and rebuilt by Rajendra Chola. The temple has a sprawling tank called Kamalalayam.

The temple has a unique musical instrument called Panchamuga Vadyam with five faces. The faces are ornamented — one with a snake, another with lotus, one plain without design and yet another with a swatik design. The central face is covered with deer skin.

Legend has it that the instrument was played when Lord Siva danced. Saint Thirugnanasambandar and Thirunavukarasar sang in praise of the Lord in the temple. Sundarar’s life, another Nayanmar, was intertwined with Tiruvarur.

Lord Siva himself helped for the marriage of the Nayanmar, according to the legend. Yet another unique feature of the town is that it is the birthplace of music trinities i.e. Sri Thyagaraja, Muthuswamy Dikshithar and Shyama Sastrigal. Elaborate arrangements have been made by the police and the district administration for the festival.

A total of 1,300 police personnel are on duty along with hundreds of home guards and NCC cadets.

Cameras have been fitted at various places to watch the movement of people. Medical teams are on duty.

G. Srinivasan.

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