TIRUPPAVADA SEVA & POOLANGI SEVA (ON THURSDAYS)


TIRUPPAVADA SEVA & POOLANGI SEVA (ON THURSDAYS)(05:00 AM)
(COST RS 850/- PER PERSON, PRASADAM : 1 BIG LADDU, 1 VADA, 1
JILEBI, 1 TENTOLA, PULIHORA AND 1 UTTARIYAM OR 1 BLOUSE
PIECE)
Every Thursday, after the morning pooja, the Mula Virat is divested of all
ornaments, flowers etc. The deity will be draped only in Dhoti and Uttareeyam.
The Thirunamam Kaappu and Kasturi on the forehead of the main deity are also
reduced in size. This results in the unique posture of Lord where one can witness
the peculiar Netra Darshan (where the divine eyes of the Lord can be seen) of the
main deity.
During other days the wide Namam with which the Lord's forehead is adorned,
covers almost half of his eyes. But on Thursday morning we can have the full view
of the benign eyes of the main deity. On Thursdays Thiruppavada Seva is
performed as arjitha Seva in the Mantapam in front of the Bangaru Vakili and
Annakutotsavam (where heaps of tamarind rice is poured) is performed.
A large rectangular tub - like golden vessel is placed in the Mantapam and a huge
quantity of “Pulihora”-tamarind rice, along with other sweet preparations such as
payasam, laddu, jilebi, thenthola, appam etc and other delicacies are deposited
thereon with coconuts, flowers, sandal paste, kumkum, deepam and is placed in
that trapezoid receptacle to be offered as naivedya to the Lord.
Amidst chanting of Mantras, the previous wide Naamam is peeled off and a thin
Naamam is adorned on the forehead of Mula Virat just to cover the space between
His eyebrows. When this happens, it is believed that the Lord's first gaze after
"opening" His Eyes (because they were covered by the Naamam earlier) should not
fall on mortals, because it has huge power that could not be withstand by humans.
Instead, it is made to fall on the mound of "Pulihora" directly in front of Him,
thereby sanctifying it and reducing the intensity of His Gaze. The "Pulihora"
therefore acts like a Veil ("Paavada" in Telugu/Tamil) protecting devotees from
His Powerful Gaze.
POOLANGI SEVA: After the Tiruppavadai Seva, the temple observes some rituals
like suddhi (cleaning of the temple) etc., and the Moola Virat is adorned with
Velvet Gown from Crown to the Feet and then the main deity is decorated with
flower garlands. This service of the main deity being adorned exclusively with
garlands is known as Poolangi Seva.
The Poolangi Seva is mentioned in the Silappadikaram, the early Tamil Classic in
756 A.D.

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