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On a glittering vahanam
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The Garuda Vahanam will be taken out in procession today, the third day of the 10-day Brahmotsavam, which is on at the Srinivasa Perumal Temple, Mylapore.
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THE GARUDA Vahanam will be taken out in procession today, the third day of the Brahmotsavam, which is on at the more than 300-year-old Srinivasa Perumal Temple in Mylapore, originally known as the Vedantha Desikar Devasthanam. The festival is being celebrated with the same vigour and sanctity for the past many decades.
The 10-day Brahmotsavam was initially held for Desikar, a Vishishtadvaita Acharya, and later for Srinivasa Perumal, after the idols of the Lord and Thayar were installed in 1924. Separate sannidhis for Sudarshana, Lakshmi-Narasimhar, Ramanujar and Rama came up in 1975, when the first Mahasamprokshanam was held.
The Garuda Vahanam was carved out of wood in 1928. This celestial vehicle plays a significant role during Brahmotsavam, says N.R.Srinivasachariar, seniormost archakar.
"We have provided a copper cover for the wooden base and layered it with 24-carat gold foil weighing 3 kg. The vadagalai thiruman on the glittering foil is studded with zircon and red stones," informs A.R. Sesha Madhavan, proprietor of Sri Abirami Jewellery. "We have aasaris specialising in such work in our shop," he adds.
The neat gold coat, showing off the intricate carvings and designs, sparkled in the afternoon sun as the Garuda Vahanam stood majestically outside Sri Abirami Jewellery this past week, ready to be transported to the temple premises.
Curious onlookers gathered to have a closer look, while some even entered the shop to express their appreciation of the workmanship.
Sesha Madhavan has been in the jewellery business for more than three decades. Along with his elder brother, he set up shop in 1967 — Bhuvaneswari Jewellery in Mylapore. In 1981, he opened Sri Abirami Jewellery on Prakasam Road in T. Nagar.
"My forefathers, based in Kumbakonam, used to appraise jewellery for the Tanjore Kingdom," he says. So, he seems to have inherited the knowhow about traditional designs and temple work.
The Srinivasa Perumal Temple has been holding major religious festivals such as Pavithrotsavam (for more than 95 years), Vasanthotsavam, Dhavanotsavam, Peyazhwar Azhwar Utsavam and Bhashyakara Utsavam for several years, with the support of devotees and generous donations.
An important activity of the temple is the Veda Parayana Sabha, constituted to promote the Vedas and honour vedic scholars. Several revered acharyas and math pontiffs have participated in the chanting, making this ancient temple a religious landmark on the city map.
With the Brahmotsavam in full swing, the popular abode of Perumal wears a festive look with people thronging its precincts, waiting to catch a glimpse of the Lord and His Consort, adorned with precious jewels and colourful flowers, as they set out on various vahanams to bless devotees.
CHITRA SWAMINATHAN
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