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Thiru Ka:rhigai AND Thirumangai A:zhwa:r Thirunakshathram Celebrations In Sholingur:

Reported by: Sri:ra:m Swa:mi, Chennai, 25th November 2007.

It Is Auspicious to vist sholingur in the month of Karthigai (Mid-November To Mid-December). That too on Sundays, its even more auspicious as it is believed that Lord Yoga Narasimha of Sholingur opens His Eyes after His Yogam in this month. So, this month attracts maximum number of Pilgrims.

Thirukarthigai Mahotsavam And Thirumangai A:zhwa:r Thirunakshatram are celebrated in a grand way in Sholingur. Thirumangai A:zhwa:r(Kaliyan) had a great attraction towards Yoganarasimha Peruma:l of Sholingur. He did mangala:sa:sanam as Akkarakani (A Fruit Of Sugar). A 10 day Festival is celebrated For Thirumangai Azhwar With Four Thousand Divyaprabhandha Sevai.

Thirukarthigai Utsavam is also celebrated on the Poornami Day(fullmoon day) of the Month. In The morning, Peruma:l enjoys Thirumanjanam (holy bath) along with Thirumangai A:zhwa:r. In the evening Deepams (candles) will be lit and arathi (camphor light service) is performed to Peruma:l. After A:rathi Peruma:l comes out of the shrine (Procession Deity comes in the town near the Sholingur Hill). And enjoys ‘Chokkapanai’ like ‘Campfire’ a structure made up of palm leaves is set to fire. Peruma:l enjoys the heat in that cold Weather. After that, Peruma:l enjoys the procession on the streets with Thirumangai A:zhwa:r listening to ‘Ra:ma:nuja Nootrandha:dhi And Upade:sa Rathna Ma:la’.

After reaching the A:stha:nam Perumal enjoys the Thiruneduntha:ndakam and the last Decade of Thiruva:imo:zhi. The Kaliyan Uthsavam ends with “4000” Sathumurai. After the Sathumurai Peruma:l calls the ‘Kanakupillai’ (The Village Writer) to make a ‘Sa:sanam (order)’ to A:zhwa:rs and the village people, stating that ‘as the sanskrit ve:das have the Anadhyayana And Adhyayana Period (time to and not to recite), Dravida Vedha should also have anadhyayana Period from Karthigai Poornami(Fullmoonday) to Ma:rgazhi (Next Month) Ekadasi Day. Till then all take rest and apply oil to the throat and be silent’. After making the document, Peruma:l applies oil on His Thirumeni (divine body) and sends the oil prasa:dham to A:zhwa:r to apply on his throat. The document is kept in the A:zhwa:r Sannidhi(sanctum) and the Sa:sanam is read there once for all the people in front of A:zhwa:r. The oil prasa:dham is distributed among the go:shti (gathering).

From the next morning, there is no recitation of Divyaprabandham. Instead, Peruma:l lends His ears to Ma:munigal’s Upade:sa Rathna Ma:la and Thiruva:imo:zhi Nootrandhadhi.

Note : In Sriperumbu:du:r Kooratha:zhwa:n, Ma:munigal And Pillai Lo:ka:cha:ryar comes to the Swa:mi’s shrine for the Thodakkam Of Upade:sarathnama:la on the next day of Thirukarthigai.