Today(Sunday 28 Dec 2008) is start of the pagal pathu utsavam.In a few hours from now we will have the Pachai Parathal Vaibhavam followed by Thiruppalandu Thodakkam.Here is a brief account about the Vaibhavam
The Thiruppallandu Thodakkam heralding the start of the Pagal pathu-Irapathu
Utsavams is a unique feature at Srivilliputtur with the celebration
of the Thiruppalandu Vaibhavam.
The Thiruppalandu thodakkam usually starts
around 5-6 pm on the first day of the Pagal
pathu Utsavam at the Gopala Vilasam in front of
the Periaperumal sannidhi.The Scene when Periyazhwar rode the Elephant and sang Pallandu
for Perumal is enacted here.Periyazhwar mounts
the Vellai Yanai Vahanam and Emperuman is on the Garuda Vahanam..Cymbals(mani)
are brought to the Bhattar who in front of Periyazhwar.The Bhattar
takes the Cymbals and and keeps the Cymbals momentarily on Periyazhwar's
hand and then strikes the two metallic ends twice and returns them
back.The Arayar comes forward and then sings the first two Pasurams
of Thiruppalandu with the thalam.
After this there is Veedhi Purappadu when Perumal and Azhwar go through the mada veedhis.
Back at the Pagal Pathu mandapam(Gopala Vilasam) ,the Bhattar
asks if all the Azhwar's have come.He calls out
the names of all the Azhwar's one by one and the
Azhwar's are offered Maryadai correspondingly.
Then the ARAYAR gives VYAKYANAM for the first
TWO pasurams of Thiruppalandu.This Vyakyanam
is for about an hour or more.Then he continues
with the other Pasurams of thiruppallandu and
the members of the Ghosti join the Arayer.
Continuing with Vanna Madangal Soozh...,the
pasurams of Periyazhwar Thirumozhi are recited
upto Senniyongu.(Senniyongu is started on the
next day).The days proceedings usually stretch upto 2-3 am.