The idols of Azhwars ready for consecration
FOR THE first time in North America, idols of the twelve Azhwars and Acharya Sri Ramanuja were consecrated to the accompaniment of Vedic chants and the Azhwars' Tamil devotional hymns, and installed near the sanctum of Lord Venkatesa Perumal in the Richmond Hill Hindu Temple in Toronto, Canada. The twelve Azhwars were a distinctive group of Tamizh Vaishnava saints who showed intense devotion or Bhakti towards the Divine. Of the twelve, the first three — Poigai Azhwar, Bhoodhatazhwar and Pey Azhwar were believed to be of mystic birth dating back to the Dwaapara Era. The fourth, Thirumazhisai Azhwar was said to have been born of a sage. Kulashekara Azhwar was a Chera king. Periazhwar, Thondaradippodi and Madhurakavi were born into Brahmin families. Nammazhwar was born in a farmer's home and Thiruppannazhwar belonged to the Pana community.
The only female among them, Godha (Andal) is well known for her "Thiruppaavai" and is considered an incarnation of Mother Earth (Bhoodevi). Thirumangai Azhwar, the youngest of the Azhwars was a chieftain of a Chola king. Despite the differences in their origins, they were similar in terms of their divine experiences and philosophical outpourings.
The installation event, held over three days in April, observed the traditional Danyadivasam (immersion in grains) on the first day, Jalaadivasam and Thirumanjanam (holy bath) on the second day and Pratishtai (installation and consecration) on the final day followed by Sri Andal Thirukkalyanam, held in a grand manner.
The installation ceremonies were conducted by Balaji Bhattar from the Boston Mahalakshmi Temple, Saranathan from Pittsburg and Gopala Bhattar from Toronto. Pointing out that the Azhwars are not present together even in Tirumala-Tirupati, Sri Balaji Bhattar quipped, ``Perhaps the Lord's wish — to be seen with the Azhwars — has been fulfilled here in Toronto. Something He does not have in Tirumala." It is noteworthy that in this sannidhi, Thirumangai Azhwar is seen with his consort, Kumudavalli Naachiyaar. And the priest had a beautiful story to narrate.
Kumudavalli, an enchanting and divine woman, had laid down two conditions for marrying her: one, to embrace Vaishnavism by taking proper instruction from an acharya, and two, to serve 1,008 devotees with a grand meal every day for a year. It was while trying to fulfil these conditions and win her over that the Chola chieftain became Thirumangai Azhwar being drawn by the loving Lord.
Among the Azhwars' literary and spiritual contributions are devotional Tamil poems — paasurams or verses sung in praise of Sriman Narayana.
No story of the Azhwars is complete without mention of the "Naalaayira Divya Prabandham" (4,000 verses) that Sri Ramanuja (1017-1137 A.D.) popularised and made part of the Vaishnava religious practice.
According to one of the active temple devotees, N. Ranganathan, an interesting feature of the idols consecrated were made as replicas of those present in the shrines at their birth places of the Azhwars.
RAJ S. RANGARAJAN
(The writer works out of New York city)
