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| Lord Tanikesan with divine consorts Valli and Teyvanai Amman. See full size image. |
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| Annually on the night of Dec 31 to January 1, thousands of Murugan devotees gather at Tiruttani to offer Tiruppukazh to Lord Tanikkai. |
Tiruttani Tiruppugazh Tiruvizhaa
Tiruttani Tiruppugazh Tiruvizha (New Year Step Festival) will
be celebrated on 31st December, 2000 and 1st January, 2001
at Śrī Subramanya Swami Kovil, Tiruttani.
In the 19th Century, Tamil people developed a custom of
calling on dignitaries and foreign bureaucrats under British Raj
on New Year's Day, January 1st every year, offering fruits and garlands,
to get or continue to get pecuniary benefits from them. Swami Satchidananda
of Valli Malai, a born patriot and devout personality, found no
reason for such a custom. On the other hand he wanted and fervently
desired that this way of submission if moved Godward, will enable
everyone to get the merciful Blessings of the Lord.
With
this aim in mind, Swami Satchidananda started the Tiruttani
Tiruppugazh Tiruvizha in the year 1917 with just a few
disciples. The festivity was so planned as to obtain His mercy in
the year's end, 3lst December, against our misdeeds committed throughout
the year, in order to crave His indulgence and to invoke His blessings
for a progressive New Year. This invocation has to be made by prayers
singing Tiruppugazh on the Lord.
Over
six hundred years ago, Saint Arunagirinathar tasted the sweetness
and bitterness of mundane life alike and turned out to be a gifted
poet chanting Tiruppugazh and attained salvation as a parrot (sukha).
For the jeevatmas suffering from the pains of Maya, Swami
Satchidananda felt the only way out is to go to Tiruttani singing
the Tiruppugazh of Lord Subrahmanya, at each of the 365 steps invoking
His mercy at year's end and further blessings in the New Year. This
prayer is customarily followed by a mass feeding (annadanam)
at Tiruttani for His devotees.
The
entire process has by now gained momentum and spread its roots through
many associations and bhajan troupes. This shows that a noble endeavour
well started by a saintly person like Swami Satchidananda never
fails but only grows by strides, proving the words of Arunagirinathar's
Tiruppugazh in the following couplet.
Tiruppukazh
ottum karuttinar ceyrum
Tiruttani meyvum Perumaanee
Śrī Valli Malai Swami Satchidananda Tiruppugazh Sabha
has been carrying on this mission annually since 1917 as ordained
by Swami Satchidananda. In 2000 we are to the 83rd year of uninterrupted
devotional service. We request fellow devotees to join us in our
prayers at Anna Madam (Nagarathar Choultry) Tiruttani and strengthen our hands to conduct this celebration in a grand
manner and receive the blessings of Lord Muruga and Swami Satchidananda.
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