Brahmotsavam - Yanai Vahanam @ Kanchipuram Varadarajar Kovil

Namaskaram to All,

 

Yesterday (18^th May) evening our Varadar would bless us all when he rides on his favorite vahanam.

 

Perarulalan is closely associated with Yanai. Varadar resides on top of Hasthigiri. Hasthi, in sanskrit, means elephant. Some say that Iravadam, elephant of Indra that appeared during churning of the milky ocean and was given to Indra to ride on, took the form of a hilllock so that Varadar could reside and bless us all permanently. It is also Varadar who had rushed to save Gajendaran from the jaws of the crocodile. It was elephant, gajendaran, who had worshipped Varadr in treta yugam.

 

The yanai in the vahanam in our kovil is unique!! In all other temples you would see the elephant either sitting or standing but in all the case you could see the legs of the elephant but in our kovil the legs of the yanai are not visible. The reason being, the legs of the yanai are under water at the time of Gajendra moksham. It would be appropriate to say that Our Perarulalan is riding on Gajenderan while in the other temples yanai vahanam is literally to the word.

 

We got a glimpse of history yesterday as this is what would have transpired after Gajendaran was relieved. He showed as how he took Varadar around the various streets in Kanchipuram. Gajenderan has four tusks and while he did come down majestically during the purappadu, at times he did come charging down to the delight of the assembled devotees. At one point got the chance to witness the yeashal.

 

Devathirajan's beauty in this vahanam is unparalleled. Swamy desikan in his Thiruchinamaalai had praised the beauty of this vahana purappadu by singing "Aanai pari mel Azhagar Vanthar".

 

While on the subject of Gajendran, Sri Parasara bhatter in his commentary on Sri Vishnu Sahasranamam, Bhagavatguna Darpanam, faithfully reflects the greatness and grandeur of Lord's traits. He had identified 34 names referring to Gajendra moksham.

 

After all the purappadu, after dismounting from the vahanam, Varadar would relieve himself of the maalai's would head to kannadi arai. Here thirumanjanam would be performed. If in the purappadu Varadar was alone the he would have ekantha thirumanjanam. If Ubhaya naachimar were also present during the purappadu then we all get another dose of divine blessings. This happens irrespective of the time, yesterday after Gajendra vahanam, Varadar had his ekantha thirumanjanam at around 11:45 in the evening. We all should also take a note and follow this simple message on maintaining personal hygiene after every trip outside.

 

In my next mail I would cover the Thiruther.

 

Andavan thiruvadiya charanam

Perundevi sametha Devathirajan thiruvadiya charanam

 

Dhasan,
Kausik Sarathy