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The Mahotsavam of Nallur
temple
by Sivanandini DURAISWAMY
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Courtesy: Dominic Sansoni (www.threeblindmen.com)
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A shaft of sunlight touched the Nallur
temple towers as the faint crimson blush in the eastern firmament
ushered in the dawn of the month of Aadi (July). Basking in the golden
warmth, thousands and thousands of devotees watch Nallur Kandan in His
chariot and worship Him with implicit faith and devotion. The faith of
the devotees re-affirms the tenacity and strength they demonstrate in
their daily lives. The devotees come to Him not only during the festival
but throughout the year carrying their stresses, strains and worries and
return with a sense of peace and solace. He is conceived of as
Paramatman of the Universe while the devotees are children who come to
offer their love and devotion.
The celebrated temple with all its grandeur and magnificence stands
sublime in silent meditation amidst its natural settings in Nallur. The
Annual festival is one of the most intricate, choreographed and
spiritually powerful ritual in Tamil Hindu culture. The fourth month of
Aadi in the Hindu solar calendar is dedicated to temple festivals in
Tamil tradition. The Nallur festival therefore, starts just after the
annual festival in Kathirkaamam. It is indeed rooted in the millennia of
the culture encouraging total surrender to a sense of unity with the
Supreme One. Yogar Swami says, Nalluraan tiruvadiyai naan ninaiththa
maathiraththil Ellaam marappenodi kiliye, Nalluraan tanjamedi.
The moment I think of the Feet of the Lord residing at Nallur, I
forget all my problems for He is my Refuge, I surrender unto him. The
annual festival begins with the hoisting of the flag - the Kodi-etram,
for which the cloth is ceremonially brought from the neighbouring
Saddanathar temple, a medieval era temple that was  patronized by the
Arya Chakravarthy kings of Jaffna. The hoisting of the flag is followed
by various yaagams, abhishekams, pujas and ceremonies over a period of
twenty six days. These ceremonies are conducted in the Moolasthaanam,
the Sanctum Sanctorum and in the Vasanta Mandapam where pujas are
offered to the utsava Murti. The panchalati ritual at the end of the
pujas is performed at all the shrines simultaneously creating a beatific
experience in the devotee.
The major festivals during the span of twenty six days are the Manjam,
Thirukkarthikai, Kailasavahanam, Vel Vimanam, Thandayuthapani festival
and Sapparam. The entire period is sanctified by these festivals where
the devotees revere the Lord making it the social, cultural and
spiritual milieu of Hindu society.
The Ther-tiruvila is the colourful chariot festival followed by the
Theerthotsavam, the water-cutting ceremony on the next day. The
Tirukkalyaanam, the symbolic wedding ceremony is also conducted and
finally the lowering of the flag, Kodi-irrakkam. Each one of these
events has a deep significance corresponding to the panchakrityas or
five activities of godhood, namely creation, preservation, dissolution,
obscuration and granting of grace in one’s own life. The highlight of
the festival is the ther or the chariot ceremony.
It commences at the auspicious hour the Brahma Muhurtam when the
devotees gather to witness the glamorously attired Lord, the King of
Kings and Commander-in-Chief of the celestial armies, regally brought
out to be placed on an elaborately designed silver throne. He is the
mighty warrior who fearlessly wields the Vel, the lance of light and
spiritual knowledge which overcomes the demons of darkness and
ignorance. At that hour, the temple bells ring, the conch blows, the
nadasvara orchestra reverberates, flowers are strewn from above (by the
air force plane) as tens of thousands of devotees throng to catch a
glimpse of the Lord and win His grace. The air resounds with the words
Haro-hara Haro-hara! as the deity arrives regally at the entrance
surrounded by priests chanting mantras, with royal guards in attendance.
Time stands still for one moment as the Lord steps out majestically to
enable the devotees to capture the splendor and colour of His beauty. In
His regalia this is indeed Alankara Kandan showering blessings on his
devotees.
The Chariot festival is followed by the Theerthotsavam, the water
cutting ceremony where the utsava murti is taken to the temple pond, the
Kerni and is dipped in the water. The devotees then plunge in to cleanse
themselves of their sins. This signifies ‘bathing’ in the Grace of God.
On the night of the Theertham, is the Tirukkalyaanam, the actual
wedding ceremony conducted by the priests and with the tying of the
Thaali by the bridegroom, the Lord and His Consort are worshipped. The
mysticism symbolizes the union of the individual with the Supreme.
He descends from the chariot on the last day of the festival swaying
fully clad in green and the whole atmosphere reverberates with the
scintillating words Earu mayil eari vilayaadu mukam onre” a beautiful
finale to an enchanting mahotsavam. With the lowering of the flag, the
curtain comes down on the Mahotsavam.
The Temple of Nallur is indeed an altar raised to the Eternal.
Through worship and prayer, the intuitive Light in the Soul will
naturally look for the Eternal in the sacred edifice. In recent times
when crisis broke out tens of thousands of refugees from different parts
of Sri Lanka took shelter at the Lord’s Abode Yogar words of prophesy
panjam padai vandhaalum (come to memory).
Even if we are plagued by war and  The world burnt down to ashes,
Will there be fear for Lord Arumugan is our Refugee.
And the Lord is there for all of us, why fear, I am here.
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