SquareShooter

The Rendaam Kaappu past mid-night is one of the difficult and but quiet and beautiful event of the utsavam. For what is called the second vow, Varada leaves his aasthanam at 1.30 in the night goes back to the hastigiri. The quiet lonely walk in the middle of the night is a beautiful sight. I stepped out of the sannidhi while the thiruvaradhanam is on to catch some air under one of the giant fans in the prakaram. I don't generally get a chance to chat with and get into the local gossip - but this time there was one known face and we got talking. I asked him if he would help me identify the Bhattachar's or the hereditary priests who figure in  Iyengar's book and to show me if any of their descendants are around this year. What a coincidence - Rangarajan knew of "DR" well as Dindigul Ramaswamy Iyengar was fondly referred and also about the book. He was thrilled to know I had a copy of the book. We quickly got into a plan to republish the book even befor...

https://picasaweb.google.com/117457435121435010099/Utsavam2012

The Perarulalan, Kanchi Varadarajan ’s Brahmotsavam has begun. I missed the early morning walk to the temple and up into hill of Athigiri, the elephant hill to see that Lord leave the Moolasthanam, sanctum sanctorum to come down and preside over the Dwajarohanam. There were years when we would walk a km or two in the early hours to cross the Toll Gate, which is considered the boundary of the town to escape being caught in the “kodi”. It is a custom that once you are there when the Dwaja or kodi is hoisted that you should stay in the town till the Dwaraavarohnam which happens after the 10 day festival is over. Some of us who wouldn’t stay for all the ten days will go and stand outside the Toll Gate, till we heard the loud single cracker go up. For every single step of the Lord is announced by bursting the loud cracker. The first sound tells you the Lord has left the Moolasthanam. The second when he enters the Vaahana Mandapam – Where the vehicle of the day or vahana is kept ready....