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What is the reason for anadhyanam period for Divyaprabandams?

Article by: Sri:ma:n Sri:ra:m, Chennai.

What is anadhyam: During 2 months period starting with the fullmoon day in karthika month (~october - November), up until Hastha star constellation in Pushya month (~December-January), the 4000 songs of Divya Prabandams are not recited. All the Divya Prabanda recitation service in all Divya Desams (holy lands) will also be stalled during this period.

Historical and causal facts:

Thirumanga A:zhwa:r (Kaliyan’s) period:

During the times of Swa:mi Thirumangai A:zhwa:r, Namperuma:l (the Procession Paragon of Sri:Rangana:tha) made a sa:sanam (divine order), asking to bring (Procession Paragon of) Sri: Namma:zhwa:r from A:zhwa:r Thirunagari for attending thiruvadhyano:thsavam (the Festival of chanting the 4000 Divya Prabandams). Kaliyan went to A:zhwa:r Thirunagari (thirukurugur) and brought A:zhwa:r from there to Sri:Rangam and celebrated the adhyayana Uthsavam. Namperuma:l gave His festival of “manjakuli” to Azhwar as a reward for fullfulling his divine Order of attending Adhyayana Uthsavam. Geographically, Sri:Rangam and A:zhwa:r Thirunagari are seperated by a lot of distance. Because of that, and various other reasons, this process of bringing Namma:zhwa:r for the Adhyayana Uthsavam was stopped after Thirumangai A:zhwa:r’s period.

Nathamunigal’s period:

It was only during the Na:thamunigal’s period again the thiru adhyayana Uthsavam resumed. Na:thamunigal made arrangements to bring kaliyan from A:zhwa:r Thirunagari to Sri:Rangam for adhyayana uthsavam. After Kaliyan's Thirunakshathram is celebrated, the sa:sanam (divine order) of Namperuma:l is announced for all, and all the Sri:Vaishnavas in Thiruvali Thirunagari (the birth place of kaliyan) bring Thirumangai A:zhwa:r's Procession Paragon to Sri:rangam. From thereupon, along with namperumal’s ‘tholukiniyan’ (palanquin ), they go to A:zhwa:r Thirunagari and bring Namma:zhwa:r to srirangam on the palanquin of Namperuma:l. After 10 day Thiruvaimo:zhi thirunal (adyayanothsavam), A:zhwa:r is escarted back to A:zhwa:r Thirunagari. On the way, A:zhwa:r stops at Tholaivillimangalam divyadesam for his masi utsavam and reach his native place later. kaliyan enjoys the ‘manjakuli’ utsavam in Cauvery and leaves to his native place too. This utsavam is considered as a combining festival of south and North Sri:Vaishanavas.

Emperumanar’s period:

The distance between Sri:rangam and A:zhwa:r Thirunagari became a very big problem for the uthsavam and also the fear of thieves became a great treat to Sri:Vaishnavas to do the uthsavam. So, Swa:mi Emperumana:r installed Namma:zhwa:r with ANJALAI HASTAM (the posture with folded hands) inside the Sri:Rangam temple itself and restarted the uthsavam in the presence of Thirumangaia:zhwa:r paragon of Sri:rangam.

Anadhyayanam:

Since this celebration of bring Namma:zhwar to Sri:rangam used to involve all Sri Vaishnavas on the move, there used to be none in the divyadesams to chant Divyaprabandas. Hence this period is called anadhyanam period.

Namperuma:l’s desire is to make divya prabandhams of A:zhwa:rs equal in status to Sanskrit ve:das. He wanted the (to recite and not to recite)anadhyayanam and adhyayanam periods to be implemented for dravida ve:dam also as for Sanskrit Ve:dam. Even after emperumanar’s period when there is no need to actually stop chanting divya prabandams, the successive Preceptors decided to observe the that (supposed to be) travel time(~2months) as anandhyayanam. Hence, no festivals or Thirumanjanams(holy shower) are pfferemd to Perumal during this period.

Even today, we are supposed to honor the same custom of our Previous Preceptors and act according to namperumal’s Divine Desire. But this does not affect pasurams in jeeyar padi (worship procedure graced by Sri Manava:la maha:muni) thiruvaradhanam. Only sevakalam is prohibited. But, in mantra pushpam we should drop “sendral kudaiyam” pasuram and add “emperumanar darisanam yendre edharku” pasuram from upadesa rathna malai. Each Divyadesam has its own date to restart the divyaprabhandhams. But in all houses and aacharyan’s divine mansions, prabandham recitation is resumed only after koorathazhwan’s sathumurai. (thai(pushya month)- hastam (star)).