Srirangam.and Uraiyoor Temples

As i sipped the filter coffee counting the number of kalasams on top of the gopuram[13 in number] ,the deathless moving winds carrying its early morning chill stroked me gently reminding me of Tondaradi azhwars description of dawn in Srirangam in the early 9 th centAD.
The swans and picturesque landscape as described no longer exist yet the dawn freshened the jaded night with the same mysterious power of cleansing ,a jealously guarded secret all through the rumbling centuries ,perhaps from the dawn of time itself.

As we neared the raja gopuram for a early morning darshan the sounds of school children in white singing patriotic songs at front of  Ghandhi's bust,whose back was turned to the main entrance and the main sanctum within, caught my attention.
The processional deity popularily known as Nam perumal was being taken in a huge wooden chariot around the temple that was pulled  by all those present  with great vigour ,enthusiasm and bhakthi.A festival that occurs but once a year.

There was a large crowd of people.which is by no means unique since as early as in 8 th centAD Kulasekara aazhwar,Tondaradi podiazhwar  and Periyaaazhwar have referred to the deep devotion of devotees in 8and 9 th cent's itself in their pasurams,with lesser population and fewer and slower means of communication.

What was amusing was that every person chafed at the presence the teeming crowd that stood on their way for a peaceful and quick darshan  forgetting that to others they were very much part of the  crowd contributing to its  swelling and as much an hindrance for a smooth passage to the sanctum!

In the evening after an excellent and peaceful darshan of Sri ranga who has evoked tremendous outpouring of bhakthi by a galaxy of saints and scholars down the ages ,visited the Nachiar koil at nearby 
Uraiyoor.Unlike Srirangam it had very few in attendance and the temple very quiet since its processional deity who is also namperumal was busy at Sriranagam. In here the main deity is Thayar --Lakshmi and  festivals are  chiefly centred around her and at times together only when namperumal visits her premises,which is once in a while.

The hall housing Namaazwar -saint  has paintings of puranic lore adorning the entire walls.Unfortunately every available space within hand reach are liberally scribbled with initials of visitors marking their attendance and with signs of heart and arrows!To think that namaazhwar was a bachelor,spurned publicity and attention and was filled only with love for the divine and for none other,it is truly ironical.