Vaikunta Ekadasi, one of the most significant annual festivals for Vaishnavites, is celebrated with countless rituals, grandeur and spiritual fervor at many important Vishu temple of Tamil Nadu and more so at Azhwar Thirunagari, the birthplace of Nammazhwar, one of 12 Vaishnava saints. Located in Tamil Nadu's Tirunelveli district, this Divyadesam shrine is dedicated to Lord Adinathar (Vishnu) and attracts thousands of devotees during this auspicious occasion.
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| Azhwar Thiurnagari, Adhinatha PerumalWikimapia |
The celebration begins in the early hours with the Suprabhatham (ritual awakening) of the deity, followed by a sacred abhishekam (ritual bath) using holy water, milk, sandalwood, and other auspicious items. The deity is then adorned with exquisite silk garments and jewelry, while the temple is decorated with vibrant flowers, kolams (rangoli), and traditional lamps.at this temple Vishnu's consort is Lakshmi as Athinathanayagi. It is one of the Navagraha temples in Vaishnavism, associated with Jupiter - Guru.
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| Azhwar Thirunagari temple, TN en.wikipedia.com |
A key highlight of Vaikunta Ekadasi is the ceremonial opening of the Paramapada Vasal (the gateway to heaven), symbolizing the path to salvation. Devotees believe that walking through this sacred gateway absolves them of sins and brings spiritual liberation. Nammazhwar, revered as the “saint of divine experiences,” is honored with special rituals, including the chanting of his Tiruvaimozhi, a collection of hymns that glorify Lord Vishnu.
The temple witnesses a grand procession of the deities, where Lord Adinathar and Nammazhwar are carried on ornately designed vahanas (palanquins). This procession is accompanied by traditional music, chanting of Vishnu’s names, and the enthusiastic participation of devotees who continuously chant Govinda! Govinda!.
Fasting is an integral part of the festival, with devotees abstaining from food and dedicating the day to prayer, bhajans, and listening to spiritual discourses. The festival concludes with the distribution of prasadam, including sacred food prepared in the temple kitchen (madapalli). Saint Nammazhwar, who is closely associated with this temple has composed more than thousand devotional hymns or verses out of the four thousand in Nalayira Divya Prabhandam an important canon in chaste Tamil. Saint Nammazhwar who, as a kid, had spent about 16 long years on the temple premises.
The celebration of Vaikunta Ekadasi at Azhwar Thirunagari not only honors Nammazhwar's legacy but also offers a spiritually uplifting experience, embodying devotion, unity, and the cultural richness of Tamil Nadu.
https://www.navrangindia.in/2020/01/adinatha-swamy-temple-azhwar-thrunagari.html
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