It was a night filled with fervour and nostalgia at Thiruvali-Thirunagari, a divyadesam about 10 km from Sirkazhi, with over 5,000 devotees gathering to witness the unfolding of the Vedu Pari utsavam on the streets of Veda Raja Puram, a remote village near Thiru Kuraiyalur, the birth place of Thirumangai Azhwar. While Vedu Pari is performed at different divyadesams, the one at Veda Raja Puram is special because it was here that the episode took place and hence re-enacted in a traditional manner.
Vedu Pari relates to the late night robbery that brought about a transformation in Mangai Mannan who later came to be hailed as Thirumangai Azhwar.
After midnight the village gets into a celebratory mood as ‘pandha kaatchi’ (a procession of lamps) takes over the streets and prabandham chants fill the air. The utsavam comes to an end at five in the morning when Thirumangai Azhwar is blessed by the Lord and he performs Vaiyali (the dance of joy) in the agraharam opposite the Thirunagari temple.
Robin Hood style
Mangai Mannan falls in love with Kumudavalli of Annan Koil and wants to marry her. To get him initiated into the devotional path, Kumudavalli lays down tough conditions, one of which is to feed 1,008 Vaishnavites everyday. In the process, Mangai Mannan loses a lot of wealth. But determined to fulfil her conditions, he turns a thief .
One night, Mangai Mannan waylays a newly married couple at Veda Raja Puram and threatens them of dire consequences if they did not part with their jewellery. The bewildered couple obliges. After packing the jewellery in a sack, he tries to flee but is unable to lift the sack.
At this point, the Lord and His consort, who were in the guise of the couple, appear in front of him. With their grace Mangai Mannan, who was a robber a few minutes ago, is transformed into a saint poet.
It was after this episode that he went on to pen over a 1,000 verses in the Nalayira Divya Prabhandham.
Mannan and his ministers
Legend has it that Mangai Mannan’s ministers or associates tip him off about the arrival of a rich newly married couple and that looting them would give their chieftain enough wealth to feed the Vaishnavites. Initially, they request the couple to handover a part of their wealth. When their attempts fail, Mannan appears.
This was enacted at the utsavam by two members of a family that has been presenting the ‘dhoothu’ for several decades. They also presented the mediation between Thirumangai Azhwar and the Lord immediately after the initiation of the Ashtakshara Mantra asking the Lord to forgive him for the robbery.
K. Govindarajan of Veda Raja Puram, donned the role of the policeman. He follows the hoof marks to track down Mannan and conducts a thorough check to ensure that he has not taken away any of the expensive jewellery. His family has been performing this ‘inspection’ during the Vedu Pari utsavam for over five generations as a service to the Lord. Govindarajan feels blessed to play this role.
Spirited verses
The first set of verses ‘Vaadinen Vaadi Varundhinen...’ by Thirumangai Azhwar was composed after he got enlightenment. In these verses, based on his own experience, he provides a solution to devotees with a troubled mind. The belief in Narayana is the way out.
An ode to Thiruvali
Thirumangai Azhwar refers to Thiruvali as a ‘radiant’ town where the sound of conches and vedic chants never seem to cease. Where seers teach the sacred verses and perform the rituals with great devotion amidst beautiful Ashoka, Punnai and Serundi trees. Peacocks are seen dancing in big numbers. Cool lakes are filled with swans and blue water lilies. Bees hum sweet tunes sipping nectar from the jasmine and shenbagam flowers.
