Thousands of devotees witness ‘Garuda Sevai’

They witnessed the grand spectacle of the famed 11 Garuda Sevai at Thirunangoor near Sirkali in Nagapattinam district..

Devotess witnessing Garuda Sevai at Thirunangoor near Sirkali in Nagapattinam district on Sunday night.

Thousands of devotees, braving a chilly weather, witnessed the grand spectacle of the famed 11 Garuda Sevai at Thirunangoor near Sirkali in Nagapattinam district on Sunday night.

Processional deities of Sri Sempon Arangar Perumal, Sri Narayana Perumal, Sri Annan Perumal, Sri Parthasarathy Perumal, Sri Purushottama Perumal, Sri Kudamaadukoothar Perumal, Sri Pallikonda Perumal, Sri Vaikuntanatha Perumal, Sri Madhava Perumal, Sri Gopala Perumal and Sri Varadaraja Perumal went in a procession mounted on their respective golden Garuda Vahanams around the main streets of Thirunaangoor as the spirit of bhakti lighted up the dark night in the village set amid lush green fields.

All the 11 deities from temples in and around Thirunaangoor village have been adored by the Thirumangai Alwar, who had sung about their glories and attributes in his verses that form part of the Naalayira Divya Prabhandam, assembled at the special mandapam at the Sri Narayana Perumal Temple by Sunday evening.

The Mangalasasanam through priests from those temples bestowed temple honours on the Alwar icon after which the Thirumangai Alwar blessed the statue of the great Vaishnavite saint Manavala Mamunigal, who originally envisioned the great idea of witnessing a processional gathering of 11 Garuda Sevas at Thirunaangoor.

At the appointed hour, accompanied by thousands of devotees, Manavala Mamunigal icon first left the mandapam followed by Thirumangai Alwar with his consort Kumudhavalli Nachiyar on the Hamsa Vahanam. The devotees carried the Manavala Mamunigal icon always facing the trailing Alwar and deities that followed him. The procession came to an end early in the morning.