Minnuruvaai
From silence to the sound of recitation After a period of “silence”, the anadhyayana period starting from Kartigai Kartigai, Thirumangai Alvar’s birthday temples would reverberate with the recitation of Nalayira Divya Prabandham the scared text of Sri Vaishnavas, the compilation of 4000 songs of the Alvars from Margazhi when the Adhyayana Utsavam starts. Today (14-12-2020), a day ahead of the beginning of Adhyayana Utsavam across Vishnu temples, sounds of Thirunedunthandakam would fill the Santanu mantapam, when Araiyars start the festival in front of Periya Perumal. The 21-day Adhyayana Utsvam is unique in that it is a complete celebration of a text and its recitation. For hundreds of years it has continued, keeping the text and the tradition alive. The days prior to and ten days following Vaikunta Ekadasi is celebrated as Adhyayana Utsavam, when the first ten days the first two thousand of the 4000 is recited during the day time literally called “pagal pathu” utsavam, and after...