Celebrate the divine get-together
PREMA NANDAKUMAR
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It is time `Serthi' utsavam is restored at the Srirangam temple, with Aadi Pooram falling on August 8.
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The gopuram with the road leading to it from the front mandapam.
There is a never-failing charm when we think of Andal coming to Srirangam to worship in the temple and then getting entranced with the deity. Her complete absorption is recorded not only in her hymns in Nachchiyar Tirumozhi but in the legend that she ascended the seat in the sanctum of the temple and merged with Lord Ranganatha.
Tradition avers that the Cauvery used to flow from the west to the east near the present Raya Gopuram area in the eleventh century. When Periazhwar and others came to Srirangam, their first stop would have been on the northern bank of the Cauvery near the entrance to the temple. The Pandya king Vallabhadeva happened to be one among the group that witnessed the divine unison of Andal with the Lord. It was but natural for him to consider Andal's first resting place in Srirangam as holy, and so he built a temple for her on the Cauvery bank, known as Veli Andal Sannidhi. Worship in the temple was stopped when the marauding forces of Malik Kafur and later Ulugh Khan looted and destroyed the temple city of Srirangam. In the 18th century the temple had its share of troubles from the invading forces of Chanda Sahib, Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan. The devotees took the icon of Andal to the safety of Rama's Grove (near the present Ranga Vilas Mandapam) and hid the precious treasure deep down the earth.
Long after worship was restored to Ranganatha, the image was taken out and re-consecrated by Bhu Chakra Raya of the Uttama Nambi's dynasty. This shrine is now known as Ul-Andal Sannidhi. Worship for the Moolavar idol of Andal was restored in Veli Andal Sannidhi too. Lord Ranganatha continues to visit this shrine during the months of Panguni and Adi, when a garland from the Andal sannidhi adorns the Lord. It is commonly believed that before the Muslim rule, the `serthi' utsavam was celebrated to mark the divine union of Andal with Lord Ranganatha. This ritual is similar to the one at the temple of Goddess Kamalavalli in Woraiyur (March) and Senkamalavalli Thayar in the main temple (April).
The anomalies created to numerous Brahmin priests by the forces of Ulugh Khan seem to have resulted in the lapse of certain rituals at Sri Ranganatha temple and now `serththi' utsavam is not celebrated in the Veli Andal sannidhi. Perhaps, the `exchange of garlands' between Sri Ranganatha and Andal, held both in the Ul Andal and Veli Andal sannidhis, could be a symbolic continuation of a ritual given up long ago. Since the Utsavar idol of Andal Nachiyar had been settled in Rama's Grove permanently, the restoration of the festival in the original site might have become difficult.
As there is a spiritual beauty about each religious ritual associated with Sri Ranganatha, the `serththi' utsavam too could be restored in Veli Andal Sannidhi, which is a rare combination of grace, authority and loveliness. All pujas are performed for the Moolavar idol. Since Andal was born on Pooram day (this year it falls on August 8) of Aadi month, she will be specially decorated on the day and through out the month. Lord Ranganatha would visit her shrine in connection with Aadi perukku.
Guru Parampara Prabhavam describes King Vallabhadeva coming forward to decorate the pathway to Srirangam for Andal's sojourn. So we may yet hope that the Veli Andal Sannidhi will regain its original grandeur, and the long-neglected `Serththi' utsavam will be performed again.
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