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Srimate SrivanSatakopa Sri Vedanta Desika Yatindra Mahadesikaya nama:

 

                                  The Lord Rides a Bird
 

There is an air of eager expectancy among the huge crowd that has assembled. 
From the elderly to the babes in arms, everyone's eyes are fixed on the 
entrance. Unwilling to miss even a second of the scintillating spectacle, none 
takes their eyes off the space between the tall doors that stand wide open. 
There is just standing space for everyone, with people standing shoulder to 
shoulder, occupying all vantage points. The rich and poor jostle together and 
the learned Vidvans rub shoulders with the unlettered, all barriers of social 
and economic origin temporarily banished. All of them tingle with anticipation 
of the unparalleled spectacle that is about to unfold. Though the event occurs 
with predictable regularity, you would think, going by the fervour of the 
assembled sea of humanity, that this would be the last such spectacle for the 
century. 

 

"Will you come to the point?" enquires my daughter with exaggerated politeness. 
However, readers would appreciate that there is nothing like a good build up to 
set the proper tone to the article.

 

If there is one single event that never fails to attract a multitude, a single 
annual occurrence that people eagerly look forward to, one spectacle that never 
fails to enthral and enchant, it must definitely be the Kanchi Garuda Seva. 
Though the annual Brahmotsavam for the Lord lasts ten days, with Emperuman 
ensconced on different carriers or Vaahanams ranging from the solar orb to the 
palanquin, it is definitely the Garuda Seva, which captures everyone's 
imagination and is a terrific crowd-puller. Garudotsavam in general is an 
extremely popular event with all and sundry. Based on scriptural texts, many 
regard witnessing the utsavam as a sure-cure for even long-standing diseases. 
And though the festival is celebrated at all the temples of the Lord, big and 
small, the event at Kanchi has something special about it which can only be 
experienced and not described. 

 

The curtains open pretty early in the morning, at the Vaahana Mandapam inside 
the temple, revealing the breath-taking spectacle of Deva Perumal ensconced on 
His favourite carrier, Garuda. Bedecked in His numerous glittering and glorious 
ornaments from head to foot, with His sacred feet stretched out to rest safely 
in the wide palms of the beautiful bird, Sri Varadan presents a magnificent 
sight to our sore eyes-a sight even the celestials, who keep constant company 
with the Lord, would hate to miss. Clad in all His finery, with a beautiful 
headgear, Sri Tepperumal leans back regally, every bit the Magnificent 
Monarch-Devaadi Rajan. The pockmarks on His divine countenance, signifying His 
origins from the sacrificial fires, add to His boundless beauty. As always, He 
sports the Sudar Azhi and Ven Sankham-the Divine Discus and the Cosmic Conch-- 
which He is loathe to part with even for a second, for fear that it might delay 
a rescue mission for saving a devotee. Huge garlands encircle His tirumeni, 
trying in vain to add to His fragrance.

 

And down below, Garuda presents no less of an enthralling sight. His 
countenance bears a broad and beautiful smile, obviously occasioned by the 
pride and privilege of carrying the Parabrahmam itself on his shoulders. What 
adds to his delight is the honour of bearing both the Lord's feet in his palms. 
If you look close enough, Garuda's clutch of the Lord's tiruvadis is extremely 
gentle, reflecting his fear that these delicate feet might get bruised even 
with tender handling. His long beak curved majestically, Garuda appears ready 
to take off, with one knee bent and poised for flight.

 

  Even in these wee hours, a virtual sea of humanity gathers at the spot, to 
pay obeisance to the stationary Lord. And precisely at 4a.m., a loud cracker 
goes off, signifying the start of the proceedings. Immediately, the Lord 
launches on His sojourn, to the delight of everyone present. After leaving His 
dressing room (the Vaahana Mandapam), the Lord pauses a moment at the lower 
steps, as if to afford all His devotees an opportunity to drink in His 
splendour. Thereafter, there is no stopping Him. Circling the temple corridor, 
Sri Varadaraja presents honours to His devoted servants of yore-Sri Nammazhwar, 
Sri Ramanuja, Swami Desikan and Sri Manavala Mamunigal. In the dimly lit 
Praakaaram of the temple, the Lord presents a tantalising spectacle, half-seen 
and half-unseen. After pausing for the commencement of Aruliccheyal recital, 
Teppurumal arrives finally at the Gopura Vaasal, to the delight of all those 
assembled there. A huge cry of "Varada!" goes up, emanating from thousands of 
lips simultaneously the Lord stands there majestically, with a huge ball of 
camphor lit to display Him in all His magnificence. The huge umbrellas above 
dip just for a moment, hiding His countenance-tradition has it that during that 
second, Sri Varadan travels to Cholasimhapuram, to enable Sri Doddayacharyar to 
have a glimpse of His splendour.

 

Once he leaves the temple entrance, Garuda gathers speed and carries Sri 
Varadaraja with expedition, pausing only at a few places, en route to Gangai 
Kondaan Mandapam in Siva Kanchi. The progress of the Lord along this route is a 
spectacle to be witnessed and is remarkable for its speed, majesty and 
magnificence. The speed makes it look as if the Lord, finding Garuda's pace 
inadequate, spurs him on, literally running Himself-"Taarkshyam aaruhya 
dhaavan".  This is borne out by Sri Nammazhwar's line, "Odum Pul Eri". While it 
may be natural for people to fly on birds, have you ever heard of anyone 
running while riding a bird? This is what Emperuman does, practically running 
while ensconced on Periya Tiruvadi. In His haste to save devotees in distress, 
the Lord finds His carrier's speed inadequate and ends up running. We must 
consider here that the Lord is riding on no ordinary bird, but the swiftest of 
them all. Yet, His hurry makes Him impatient, just as we find the taxi's speed 
inadequate, when we are in a tearing hurry, even though the driver might be 
going at the maximum speed. 

 

If we imagine that only we mortals are assembled in huge numbers at Kanchi to 
witness this magnificent spectacle, we would be sadly mistaken, says Swami 
Desikan. The thirty-three crore and odd Devatas, led by Indra, Agni, Vayu and 
others, line the streets of Kanchi, hoping to sanctify themselves with the dust 
raised by the Lord's majestic progress on Garuda, says the Acharya in the 
following sloka from Hamsa Sandesam-

 

"Taam aaseedan pranama nagareem bhakti namrena moordhnaa

 Jaataam aadou Krita yuga mukhe Dhaatu: icchaa vasena

 Yat veetheenaam Karigiripate: vaaha veha avadhootaan

 Dhanyaan renoom tridasa patayo dhaarayanti uttamaangai:"

 

Thus, exalted Devas stand shoulder to shoulder with us mortals at Kanchi, 
(though invisible) their heads bowed in devotion and poised to receive the 
sacred dust generated from the speedy progress of the Lord on Vainateya. 

 

Any account of the Kanchi Garudotsavam would be incomplete without a mention of 
the Veda Parayana Ghoshti, who follow the Lord wherever He goes, singing His 
praises as recorded by the Veda Purusha. These mahatmas mind neither the hot 
sun blazing above nor the blistering heat of the tarred roads, but continue 
their resonant intonation with all sincerity and devotion, never leaving their 
Lord for a second, till He returns to His abode, safe and sound. It is the Veda 
Ghoshti at Kanchi which springs to our mind, whenever mention is made of ananya 
prayojana kainkarya paras, sincere servants of the Lord who seek or expect 
nothing from Him but the pleasure of constant service to Him and His votaries. 
With the large and distinguished Divya Prabanda Ghoshti ahead of Him and the 
Veda Parayana Ghoshti trailing Him, Varadan's face is wreathed in a beatific 
smile, reflecting His enjoyment of the branches of Shruti, one is Tamizh and 
the other in Sanskrit.

 

The Garuda Vahanam is the most Vaidika vahanam of all. If you think I am 
exaggerating, do listen to the Shruti, which admits that this Divine Bird is 
indeed the embodiment of all Vedas. It is not for nothing that Sri Alavandar 
describes him as "Vedaatma" (the soul of all scripture). Describing the Lord's 
triumphant travel across the skies, the Shruti tells us that the various Vedic 
metres are but parts of Garuthman's magnificent body, constituting a chariot in 
which Emperuman rides majestically-

 

"Tasya Gayatri Jagati cha pakshou abhavataam,

 Ushnik cha Trishtup cha prishtyou, 

Anushtup cha Panktischa dhuryou, 

Brihati eva uktirabhavat, 

sa evam cchando ratham aastthaaya etam adhvaanam anu samacharat".

 

And this is what Sri Varadaraja's progress along the streets Kanchi reminds us 
of. It is as if the Paramapurusha Himself has come down to Kanchi, to let us 
all have a glimpse of how He travels in style.

 

It is perhaps a unique distinction of this Vaahanam that it figures 
specifically in Bhootattaazhwar's tribute, specifically extolling the praises 
of the Lord atop the Great Bird-"Atthi ooraan pullai oorvaan" says Azhwar, who 
too has been apparently impressed beyond measure by the Garuda Sevai. The 
magnificence of this Emperuman has mesmerised not only Sri Vaishnavas of all 
hues and persuasion, but everyone irrespective of caste, creed, religion or 
even race, as would be evident from the composition of the crowd thronging the 
festival. Proof, if such were needed, of this Lord's votaries transcending 
races, is available in the form of the Makara Kandi, a priceless jewel offered 
to Perarulaalan with love and devotion by Robert Clive of the East India 
Company.

 

The weather is oppressive and makes you sweat like a pig; the crowds are huge 
and push and pummel you till you are sore in every limb;

the policemen don't let you stand anywhere in peace, in their anxiety to avoid 
a stampede; and wherever you do stand, a taller person stations himself right 
in your line of vision, with his devotion prompting him to extend his hands 
above his head, thereby further blocking your view. However, all these minor 
inconveniences disappear in a trice, once you have your eyes' fill of Sri 
Varadaraja and His splendour. For that moment, you are unable to think of 
anything but His magnificence, His majesty, His brilliance and His beauty 
beyond compare. Your eyes fill with involuntary tears-"aananda kanneer"-caused 
by the blissful experience. You now realise what made Swami Desikan vow to 
forego even Paradise and opt for a constant sight of Devapperumal in His 
various vaahanams-"Satyam sape Vaarana saila naatha! Vaikunta vaasepi na me 
abhilaasha:"

 

It is no accident that the Lord dresses Himself and gets atop His various 
vaahanams at the Vaahana Mandapam, which is also the sannidhi of Swami Desikan. 
True to his ardent wish that he should constantly enjoy Emperuman's splendour 
in His various carriers, without even a moment's interruption caused by the 
blinking of the eye, ("anudinam animeshai: lochanai: niriviseyam") the Lord 
confers upon the Acharya the rare privilege of enjoying the entire proceedings 
from extremely close quarters.

 

We have heard of people entrusting their souls to the Lord. A special feature 
of this year's Garuda Sevai was that one gentleman had entrusted his yellow 
cloth bag and its contents to Garuda, hanging it from the Divine Bird's 
fingers, apparently to ensure its safekeeping. This has been captured for 
posterity by a candid camera, which has faithfully recorded this "Bhara 
Samarpanam".

 

Srimate Sri LakshmiNrisimha divya paduka sevaka SrivanSatakopa Sri Narayana 
Yatindra Mahadesikaya nama:

dasan, sadagopan



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]






 
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