Nammazhwar temple in his special Hamsa Vahana for
the street procession.
Azhwar Tirunagari was abuzz with activity as devotees were queuing up to have the first glimpse of the Nava Tirupathi Lords during the Azhwar utsavam held recently.
Aadhinatha Azhwar Temple in Azhwar Tirunagari played host to the grandest of the festivals, azhwar utsavam, held this past week at Nava Tirupathi (nine Vishnu temples) on either sides of the River Tamirabarani off the Tirunelveli - Tiruchendur state highway. On the fifth day (Wednesday June 8) of the utsavam, the utsava deities of all the nine temples congregated at Azhwar Tirunagari as a gesture to thank Nammazhwar for his significant contribution to the 4000 sacred verses (Nalayira Divya Prabhandham).
After his birth, Nammazhwar did not consume anything. Neither did he open his mouth for 16 years. God was everything to him as he sat quietly under the Tamarind tree at Thiru Kurugur (another name for Azhwar Tirunagari). Moved by his steadfast devotion, the Lord appeared in front of him.
Ahead of the visit of the Nava Tirupathi Lords, Azhwar Tirunagari, the only divyadesam to be named after an Azhwar, wore a festive look. The women on the Sannidhi Street started their traditional pulli kolam early in the morning. Temporary shops sprung up on both sides of the street. Nammazhwar was being decked up inside the temple which was abuzz with activity as devotees were queuing up to have the first glimpse of the Nava Tirupathi Lords.
While Azhwar Tirunagari was getting ready for the big event, the other eight ‘Nava Tirupathi’ Lords began their procession to this divyadesam from their respective abodes to join the ninth Lord (Polintha Ninra Piraan, utsava deity of Aadhinatha Azhwar Temple).
Welcoming gesture
Nammazhwar, with a beautifully decorated and colourful green umbrella atop him, made his way to the Ramayana mandapam at the entrance of the temple to welcome the deities from their abodes. Shortly after, Nammazhwar, who is the only Azhwar to have sung in praise of all the Nava Tirupathi temples, received the first three of the Nava Tirupathi Lords – Kallapiran of Sri Vaikuntam, Vijayasayanar of Varagunamangai (Natham) and Kaisina Venthar of Thiru Pulingudi.
Welcoming them, Araiyar Nadhamuni of Azhwar Tirunagari (Azhwar Tirunagari is one of the only three divyadesams where araiyar sevai is still being performed) presented Nammazhwar’s Thiruvoimozhi verse – ‘Pulingudi Kidanthu, Varagunamangai Irunthu, Vaikunthathul Ninru……’ - in which he sung in praise of all three of them in one go referring to the standing lord of Sri Vaikuntam, the one in a grand sitting posture at Varagumangai and the sleeping lord of Pulingudi.
Nammazhwar accepted the parivattam (the turban linen) and the garland from the first of the three Nava Tirupathi Lord. Over the next hour, he accorded a similar welcome to the rest of the Nava Tirupathi Lords.
Nammazhwar refers to Aravinda Lochana and Devapiran (Erettai Tirupathi) as the prosperous temple in Thulai Villi Mangalam on the Northern Bank of Porunai River (Tamaraibarani) where there was constant Vedic Chanting. This was followed by Mayakoothan from Perungulam who Nammazhwar referred to as a wonder dancer riding on Garuda in the West in Southern Kulanthai. His reference to groves and big mansions indicates that this was a prosperous location in centuries gone by.
Nammazhwar then welcomed the last two of the Nava Tirupathi Lords, from the East, Nigaril Mugil Vannan from Then Thiruperai, who he refers to as ‘Makara Nedun Kulai Kaadhan’ (the one with the Makara ear rings) and Vaitha Maa Nidhi from Thiru Kolur, birth place of Madura Kavi azhwar.
While Nammazhwar received garland from all the 9 Nava Tirupathi lords, Madura Kavi Alwar, who pronounced Nam Alwar as his God, received the garland from the Alwar himself.
Natha Muni, who came here to compile the Naalayira Divya Prabhandham which had been lost to the world, first met with Madura Kavi Alwar and picked up his ‘Kanninun Sirutha Ambinaal’ composition. It was after reciting these verses 12000 times that Nam Alwar shared with Natha Muni the contents of the Naalayira Divya Prabhandham.
After Thirumanjana and Alankara through the evening and recital of 273 verses from the Divya Prabhandham (173 verses of Andal’s Thiruppavai and Nachiyar Thirumozhi and 100 verses from Nam Alwar’s Thiruvoimozhi), all the Nava Tirupathi Lords were all set to mount on their respective Garuda Vahana.
Much awaited Event - Once in a year procession
At 11.30pm, much to the delight of the 10000plus devotees who had gathered at the temple for the big event of the Alwar Utsavam, Nam Alwar, on his Hamsa Vahana, and Madura Kavi Alwar, on a special Parangi Narkali (Bamboo chair), came out to a loud cheer and positioned themselves at the entrance of the temple. For the next hour, beginning with Polintha Ninra Piraan, all the nine Utsava deities with extensive flower decoration came out one after another on their Garuda Vahana providing this special darshan to Nam Alwar.
Well after mid night, all the Nava Tirupathi deities along with Nam Alwar and Madura Kavi Alwar went on the once in a year procession, first around the four Mada streets and then around the Car streets of Alwar Tirunagari to provide darshan to devotees who had stayed awake through the night to witness this marvellous spectacle..
By 6am, the next morning, all of them were back at the Aathi Natha Alwar Tirunagari temple and shortly afterwards it was time for them to bid adieu to Nam Alwar and head back to their respective abodes in Nava Tirupathi.
Alwar’s send off - Special Gesture
Being the farthest from Alwar Tirunagari, Mayakoothan of Perungulam (10kms away) was sent off first by Nam Alwar, followed by Kallapiran, Vijayasayanar and Kaisina Venthar.
Having seen Devapiran of Erettai Tirupathi as his own father and mother (Sinthaiyaalum Sollaalum, Seigaiyinaalum Devapiranaiye Thanthai Thaai Enru Adaintha Van……..Thiruvoimozhi verse), Nam Alwar in a special gesture of showing that extra care for his ‘parents’ waited a few extra minutes till Aravinda Losana and Devapiran of Errettai Tirupathi went completely out of sight at the Eastern end of Sannidhi Street past the Nayaka Mandapa on his way back to their abode. Following this, Nam Alwar saw off for another year Nigaril Mugil Vannan and Vaitha Maa Nithi.
To the Tamarai Barani
On the occasion of his birthday (Vaikasi Visakam) - the 10{+t}{+h} day of the Utsavam this Monday (13{+t}{+h} June) - Nam Alwar entered the Tamarai Barani for one of the only two occasions in the year (the other being in Maasi) for Theertha Vari accompanied by the loud rendering of Divya Prabhandham verses bringing to end Nava Tirupathi’s biggest utsavam.
How to reach Alwar Tirunagari
Aathi Nathan Alwar Divya Desam at Alwar Tirunagari is about 30kms East of Tirunelveli on the Tirunelveli-Tiruchendur highway off the Southern banks of Tamaraibarani and is also referred to as Aathi Kshetram, Varaaha Kshetram, Theertha Kshetram, Thaantha Kshetram and Sesha Kshetram and Thiru Kurugur.
Buses ply every 15minutes from Tirunelveli. A Taxi from Tirunelveli Station to cover all the Nava Tirupathi temples and back will cost Rs. 1200.
One can start the Nava Tirupathi trip from SriVaikuntam at 7am, then go to Alwar Tirunagari and finish in the West at Varagunamangai at 2pm. Auto/ Taxi from Sri Vaikuntam to all the Nava Tirupathi temples will cost around Rs.500.
Features of Alwar Festival
Nava Tirupathi’s biggest and grandest Festival
Araiyar Seva of Nam Alwar’s paasurams on Nava Tirupathi
Alwar’s Hamsa Vahana 6hour procession through the night along with Nava Tirupathi deities
Alwar accords special welcome and send off to all the Nava Tirupathi Lords
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