Lord Kallazhagar getting into the Vaigai on the full moon day in Chithirai is a well-known event. However, as per the Vaishnavite legend, the purpose of the trip to Madurai, from his abode in Thiru Maliruncholai hills on the outskirts of the city, is to liberate Manduka maharishi from his curse. This historical episode was re-enacted on a Tuesday, the day following Azhagar’s entry into the Vaigai. It was a day when Lord Kallazhagar provided darshan at three different venues around Madurai.
After his entry into the Vaigai on the Golden horse, Kallazhagar made a day-long trip along the river banks to reach Veera Raghava Perumal temple in Vandiyur, where He provided Vaira Mudi seva the next morning. For the next two hours, Sundara Narayana Bhattar and Sundararaja Bhattar of Azhagar Koil decked up the Lord in a beautiful blue and green dhoti.
The Lord was ready for his procession: Kallazhagar mounted Sesha vahanam at 9.30 a.m. and for the next 2 1/2 hours He made His way through the streets of Vandiyur, providing darshan to devotees, to reach Thenoor mandapam by noon. At the Thenoor mandapam, Rangarajan, the hereditary descendent of the Andal Thozhappa service recited the legend relating to Azhagar’s Chithirai trip to Madurai from Thiru Maliruncholai. The story goes that Subadavasu rishi, who was performing penance at the Nupur Ganga in Thiru Maliruncholai hills, was cursed to become a frog by sage Durvasa, for having ignored his presence there. Regaining his composure, Durvasa directed the rishi to invoke the blessings of Lord Kallazhagar of Thiru Maliruncholai.
Answering his prayers, Kallazhagar, on Garuda vahanam, came to Vegavathi (Vaigai) and liberated ‘Manduka maharishi’ (the rishi who had turned into a frog) from his curse.
This historical episode was enacted at the Thenoor mandapam in the Vaigai River. Belief is that those who visit the Chithirai festival and worship Azhagar will gain confidence to succeed in life. For the next 7 1/2 hours, Kallazhagar was taken through the streets of Madurai on Garuda vahanam and his next destination was the Ramaraya mandapam, at 10 p.m.
After his redemption, Manduka maharishi wished to witness Lord Kallazhagar in all his 10 avatarams. Acceding to his request, Kallazhagar provides a once-in-a-year darshan of his Dasavataram, through the night at the Ramaraya mandapam every Chithirai, as part of the Azhagar Festival.
The priests took care to adorn the deity with the right attire for each of His avatarams. With the sprightly green dhoti the Lord, who appeared in Vamana avataram, (2.45 a.m.) provided darshan to the devotees.
Around 4 a.m. Suprabatham was played when Kallazhagar displayed the Rama avataram. Following this was the Krishna avataram.
On Wednesday morning, Kallazhagar provided darshan to the devotees in the Mohini tirukolam before making his way back to Thiru Maliruncholai, thus bringing to an end another year of the Chithirai festival.
Seeking the hand of Lord Kallazhagar of Thiru Maliruncholai, Andal in her Nachiyar Thirumozhi describes the beauty of the place where He resides. She refers to the tall and fragrant groves where elephants played all the time. She calls out to the peacocks that are seen flocking to seek their help in attaining the Lord. She tells them that as the Lord had taken away everything she had, she is now left with nothing to gift them for their artistic performance at Thiru Maliruncholai.
Andal is excited to listen to the early morning songs of koels and makes an alluring promise to them. She says that if the Lord of Thiru Maliruncholai accepts her love, both of them will come every morning and listen to the sweet songs of the birds.
Andal also describes the beautiful flowers that filled the region around Thiru Maliruncholai. The place she says is full of Kavuvilai, Pata and Kaya flowers and Mullai creeper that filled her heart with instant love for the Lord. She says that this place was also home to Kala fruit. This was also the place of the Kongu trees. Andal also refers to the big lake around Thiru Maliruncholai that was full of red lotuses.
In another verse, Andal lures the Lord with a gift of 100 pots of his favourite butter and another 100 pots of sweet morsel if he accepted her love. Suddenly as she is singing praise of the Lord, her love for him grows manifold and she ups the offering saying if he accepts her love for him instantly, she was ready to increase the offering 100 thousand times more and promises to serve it to him herself.
Thiru Mangai Azhwar on Thiru Maliruncholai Hills
Like Andal, Thiru Mangai Azhwar too refers to peacocks flocking in groups and dancing making a pleasing sight for everyone at the temple. Repeatedly he makes a mention of the honey-dripping flower groves in the hills of Thiru Maliruncholai. He says with numerous varieties of flowers, the bees would become busy collecting honey from them. The tall groves of the Vengai trees, as described by him, give us an indication of the seasons of the year.
In his verses of praise in the Periya Thirumozhi, Thiru Mangai Azhwar also makes a mention of Nupura Ganga (the place where Durvasa cursed Subadavasthu rishi) that flows through Thiru Maliruncholai hills.
Business angle
Historically, the Meenakshi festival including the famous chariot festival in Madurai was held in Maasi which was then followed by the Azhagar Festival in Chithirai. Wanting to make this the single biggest festival of Madurai and to indirectly contribute for a surge in the Madurai economy, Thirumalai Nayak brought the Saivite festival alongside the Chithirai Azhagar (Vaishnavite) festival. He was instrumental in bringing Kallazhagar to Madurai (from Thenoor). The Saivite festival was moved to Chithirai during his period. Several centuries later, the vision of Thirumalai Nayak has definitely come true. Every year during this period, the city sees brisk activity with shops and stalls making their best business of the year. Exhibitions and fairs also mark the Chithirai Thiruvizha.
Andal's description
Seeking the hand of Lord Kallazhagar of Thiru Maliruncholai, Andal in her Nachiyar Thirumozhi describes the beauty of the place where He resides. She refers to the tall and fragrant groves where elephants played all the time. She calls out to the peacocks that are seen flocking to seek their help in attaining the Lord. She tells them that as the Lord had taken away everything she had, she is now left with nothing to gift them for their artistic performance at Thiru Maliruncholai.
Andal is excited to listen to the early morning songs of koels and makes an alluring promise to them. She says that if the Lord of Thiru Maliruncholai accepts her love, both of them will come every morning and listen to the sweet songs of the birds. Andal also describes the beautiful flowers that filled the region around Thiru Maliruncholai. The place she says is full of Kavuvilai, Pata and Kaya flowers and Mullai creeper that filled her heart with instant love for the Lord. She says that this place was also home to Kala fruit. This was also the place of the Kongu trees. Andal also refers to the big lake around Thiru Maliruncholai that was full of red lotuses. In another verse, Andal lures the Lord with a gift of 100 pots of his favourite butter and another 100 pots of sweet morsel if he accepted her love. Suddenly as she is singing praise of the Lord, her love for him grows manifold and she ups the offering saying if he accepts her love for him instantly, she was ready to increase the offering 100 thousand times more and promises to serve it to him herself.
