March 21 , 2005 is an EkAdasi day , when the devout fast allday . It is also a day of feasting for the eyes of almost two laksof devotees of Seluva Naarayana , the presiding deity of the ancienttemple at the sleepy town of Melkote . These devotees assemble atMelkote known also as Thirunarayana Puram on this dayfor having the darsan of their Lord adorning the legendarydiamond-studded crown , the Vaira Mudi . Seluva Narayana adornsthis ancient crown presented by Lord Krishna Himself on this nightand is taken in procession around the main streets around the templeuntil the wee hours of the morning . People position themselvesat every vantage point to have the sacred darsan of the Lordadorning the Vaira Mudi , while seated on a golden Garudanwith His divine consorts . Tradition has it that anyone , who hasthe good fortune of worshipping the Lord in person on this occasionwill be freed from all their sins and will recieve the special blessings ofSeluva Narayanan.The legend also has it that the Vaira Mudi was the crown worn bySriman Narayana at His abode at the Milky ocean ; it was stolen byVirochana , the son of Bhaktha Prahlada , when the Lord wassleeping . Virochana ran away to the nether world with the stolencrown of the Lord and hid there . Garuda was requested later bythe devotees of the Lord to go after Virochana and recoverthe Vaira Mudi . Garuda descended to the nether world , foughtwith Virochana , defeated him , recovered his Lord's crownand was flying back to his Lord's abode , when he saw child Krishnaplaying in the mid day heat with His friends at Brindhavan . Garudaspread his wings over his Master , the young Krishna to provide shadeand then placed the Vaira Mudi on the head of Lord Krishna .Local legend states that Lord Krishna came later to ThirunarayanaPuram from Dwaraka and presented the Vaira Mudi to Seluva Narayanan.Based on the temple traditions , Vaira Mudi is not to be seen in day light .Hence , it is brought to Thirunarayana Puram from Mandya District treasuryon the day of the festival in a special casket shielded from the Sun's rays .There is special police protection for this casket during its journeyfrom Mandya treasury to the temple at Melkote and back on this day .When the casket containing Vaira Mudi arrives at the boundaries of the town ,it is recieved with temple honors and brought to the temple on a specialpalanquin . The sacred crown arrives at the temple around 5.30 PM .It rests in front of Acharya Ramanuja's sanctum for another four hours.Here , the Lord Seluva Narayanan is fitted with the Vaira Mudi bythe temple priest before the adoring eyes of Acharya Ramanuja .No one can see the Vaira Mudi until the Lord adorns it . Hence ,the officiatingpriest covers his eyes with a silk garment , lifts the Vaira Mudi fromthe casket and places it on the Lord's head as a part of the coronationceremony . Now the procession starts and lasts until the early hours ofthe morning of the next day .The majesty of this festival is matchless .The quiet town of Melkote comes to life during this special festival.Lord Seluva Narayanan is the darling child or Sella Pillai of AchAryaRamanuja , who arrived at Melkote , when he was 82 years youngand stayed for 12 long years at Melkote worshipping the Lord .Seluva Narayanan is also known as Rama Priyan since He wasworshipped by Lord Ramachandra during His incarnation asthe son of King Dasaratha .Thirunarayana Puram (Melkote) has a sacred temple on the hillfor Lord Narasimha consecrated by Prahlada . Many VaishnaviteAcharyas like Nanjeeyar and the first Jeeyar of Ahobila Mutt were bornhere . A famous Sanskrit Acdaemy is located at Melkote and hasits research center in sylvan settings not too far from the temple .Melkote is also famous for a local sweet preparation namedMelkote Manoharam , the sacred white clay used by Vaishnavason their foreheads , Ulundurai , a variation on the traditionalPongal using black gram and special handloom clothings .Many Hoysala Temples are within driving distance of Melkoteand have enduring links to the times , when Acharya Ramanujastayed in Karnataka desam .
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