The mini pilgrimage in March 2010 – Day 1 Part 1

contd. from previous post

We reached our Hotel - Hotel Dayalan - by 5:10 AM by walking from the bus stop. After we checked in, all 3 of us caught up with some pending sleep till about 6 AM. Afterwards, we started getting ready to visit the main temple on the agenda - Thirumananchery.

With the help of the Hotel guys, we hired a taxi and set out by 9ish AM. The main thing to note is that, for the first time in my life, on a day other than Aavani Avittam, I ventured out in public in a vaeshti. I had planned this even while packing my stuff for the trip.

We reached the temple by 9:40 or so. I may have mentioned this earlier, but doesnt hurt to repeat it. The temple at Tirumananchery is reknowned for having special powers that cater to the needs of the people who are having trouble getting married. Like me! And the popularity of this temple has apparently increased manifold in the last 50-60 years only.

The rituals to be followed in the temple are quite simple actually. You just need to buy a flower garland and get an archanai performed to the uthsava moorthies of the deities Sundareshwarar and Kokilambaall. During the course of this archanai, the priests first place the aforementioend garland near the deity and then they give it to you for wearing for a short while before the ritual comes to an end.

Once the prayers are all done, the head priest gave directions on what needed to be done with the prasadams. The prasadams are essentially a garland (referenced recently), viboothi, kungumam, manjal and a lemon. The viboothi and kungumam have to applied daily. The lemon is supposed to be extracted into a concentrate and that has to be consumed first thing in the morning of the day we return home. The manjal is to be used by women. And the garland has to be kept at home and the belief is that by the time it decomposes, a wedding would be fixed. And after the wedding is done, the couple is expected to visit the temple and then throw off the garland (or whatever is left of it) into a pond adjoining the temple.

Anyways, after completing the prayers, lighting of lamps at a couple of places and taking few mandatory pictures, we were out of the temple. Our next stop was Vaitheeshwaran Kovil. There was no big agenda at the temple and so it was a very business-like visit there. Once we were done with the prayers at the sannidhis of Vaitheeshwaran and Thaiyalnaayagi, we headed out for a much needed lunch.

Lunch was at a place called Hotel Sadabhishekam and we had a pretty good meal. We resumed our trip back to the Hotel and just as we left the Hotel, the driver said he was going to fill up fuel at the station next door. He asked us for 50% of the agreed amount and during the process of handing over the cash to him, my mother found out that she was missing a "loaded" purse that she had brought along from Chennai.

To be continued....

Road Trip to Vaitheeswaran Kovil - Part 9 ::: Finally, Vaitheeswaran Kovil

On Sunday morning, we set out to V.Kovil. Unfortunately, due to the fantastic parking arrangements at Hotel Sampoorna, I had to wake up 3 other people, since their cars were blocking my path out of the Hotel. Of course, the ugly deed of actually waking them up was left to the Hotel authorities.

The kovil was barely 10 minutes from the Hotel and I reached there in that same amount of time! The main road first passes by the eastern entrance and once I reached there, I parked my car at the designated spot.

In fact, there was a guy who even guided as even as we were thinking of using the eastern entrance or go to the western entrance from where we usually go to the temple. But for reasons of implementing a change in custom, the eastern entrance got the votes.

The guy who "helped" me park the car, then started pitching in for archanai thattus and the likes. Our first (and probably the only one) mistake was informing him about the need for some 8-9 archanais or so, for my family and friends. Without entering into any monetary negotiations, we simply accepted to get his goods. The smart guy also didn't bring up the financial aspect.

He gave us the required materials - there is a package deal where you get the special set for each sannidhi laid out in a single tray. He also pointed us out to an iyer who was doing the rounds there, to help us with the archanai.

We went through the motions doing archanais at each sannidhi. Since we had run short of the specific combo at the sannidhi for Sevvaai, we managed to get the partner of the agent who first approached us to get the balance ones.

Anyways, the darshan went fine. Our prayers were said. Dakshinais were given. Hundial donations made. And my mother's favorite ritual of getting the elephant to bless you was also carried out!

We then said our goodbyes to the deities and left the temple. When we came out, the agents who got us the archanai thattu came out of their road-side shops. My parents were trying to give alms to some of the needy folk and I headed towards my car. One of the agents came near me and wanted to find out who would be doing the settling of the dues.

Since I was stripped of cash at the Pondy petrol bunk itself, I pointed him to my parents. He then asked if I was interested in seeing the olai chuvadi for naadi josiyam. I obviously replied in the negative.

By then, my parents also came near the car. The agents gave her the bill and the fun started!