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by Dushiyanthini Kanagasabapathipillai

“Whatever I am offered in devotion with a pure heart-a leaf, a flower, fruit or water- I accept with joy” ~Bhagavath Gita

As the Sun began to spread its rays towards Udappu, people of this small hamlet began to bustle, devotees thronged the temple. The roosters were still crowing while mild breeze blows, trees dance for the mild breeze. It was 4th of August 2009-Tuesday, a day before the fire walking. Certain rituals take place on this day.

A special pooja is performed at the Rukmani Sathyapama Sametha Sri Paarthasaarathy Thiraupathathevi Devasthanam to invoke blessings from the Lord Veerapaththirar to have the fire walking ceremony without any interruptions. The special pooja is called “Veerapaththirara Pooja”, which takes at the crack of dawn, before the Sun rises. At the same time, men begin to make the four guard deities around the fire pit.

Watery sand is used to make the guard deities. The East end is guarded is Lord Veerapaththirar, the West end is guarded by Lord Iyanaar, the North end is guarded by Goddess Kaali, and South end is guarded by Lord Vairavar. Four devoted were selected by a lot to be the guarding deities of the fire pit.

Once the special pooja is over, beautifully decorated Lord Veerapaththirar is taken on a procession y the male devotees and the idol is placed in front of the Kodi Thambam of the temple till the end of the festival. Then the devotees rush an gather at the Sri Maha Muththumaariyamman temple in Aandimunai which is afew kilometers away from Rukmani Sathyapama Sametha Sri Paarthasaarathy Thiraupathathevi Devasthanam to witness another event. The event is named as “Akkini Kunda Kaaval” (guarding the fire pit).

The selected four men are taken on a procession from Rukmani Sathyapama Sametha Sri Paarthasaarathy Thiraupathathevi Devasthanam to Sri Maha Muththumaariyamman temple in Aandimunai. They are given a well water bath, and the water is not supposed to be wiped. These four men get into trance as the first bucket of water is poured on their bodies. The devotees continuously chant the holy words such as “Arohara”, “Amma” “Thaye”, “Govintha” and “Naarayana”.

They are purified with Sandalwood, Holy Ash and Vermilion by the fellow men from the village. Fresh flower garlands decorate their necks, wrists and angles. They are brought to the Sri Maha Muththumaariyamman temple in Aandimunai, where each of them is given with a decorated wooden stick. The wooden sticks are known as “Kambu”. The fellow men encourage these four guarding deities to dance to the tune of the drums.

“Aadu”, “Aadu” – dance, dance the words kept flowing from the fellow men, and the four guarding deities keep dancing along the way from Sri Maha Muththumaariyamman temple in Aandimunai to Rukmani Sathyapama Sametha Sri Paarthasaarathy Thiraupathathevi Devasthanam. They visit the small road side shrines on the way while dancing and bearing the scorching Sun.

Once they reach the compound and take their respective places as their guarding points in front of the Rukmani Sathyapama Sametha Sri Paarthasaarathy Thiraupathathevi Devasthanam, the Chief priest of the Sri Veerapaththirakaali Amman temple Muththiah Paranthaaman whips the four guarding deities, and they faint, and carried by the fellow men to the backyard of the temple.

“I am an ardent devotee of the Goddess. I began to worship her when I was five year old child, and I have surrendered myself to her. She has helped me to overcome many difficulties in my life including a life threatening trouble. I will be humbly serving her for the rest of my life” said Kathirkaama Muthiah Rajendran who got into a full trance.

The four devoted men who depicted as the guarding deities are:

Lord Veerapaththirar- Chandran Ingaramoorthy
Lord Iyanaar-Maariyappa Vishnukumaran
Goddess Kaali-Kathirkaama Muthiah Rajendran
Lord Vairavar- Navaneethamoorthy Muththuvairan

Sunrises in Udappu

Fresh bunch of Banana at the main entrance

An early morning scene in Udappu

A special pooja for is being performed to invoke blessing from Lord Veerapththirar

A dedicated child devotee

Various musical instruments being rendered

Lord Veerapaththirar is kept in from of the sanctum

Lemon rice is being served to devotees

Curd rice is being served to devotees

Lord Veerapaththirar is being taken on a parade

On the way to Udappu

A view of the Peace Kopuram of the Rukmani Sathyapama Sametha Sri Paarthasaarathy Thiraupathathevi Devasthanam

Kids playing around a tree at day break

Making the guard deities in sand is in progress

Lord Veerapaththirar is placed in front of the Kodi Thambam

A kid stops and watches the men making the guard deities in sand

Nallavairan Sellamurugan takes part in the rituals annually

Veerapaththirar Madai

Crows in the vicinity

Iyanaar Madai

Checking on the wellbeing

Kaali Madai

Udappu has produced many craftsmen

Vairavar Madai

An overview of the four guarding deities

The villagers consider that Lord Veerapaththirar is one of the most powerful guarding deities

Four guarding deities take part in pooja

Kids taking their positions

Drummers at the site

Traditional musical instruments are being played during the procession of the deity-Lord Veerapaththirar

The main entrance of Sri Maha Muththumaary Amman temple in Aandimunai

Four guarding deities are being accompanied

Four Kambu are kept in front of Sri Maha Muththumaary Amman temple

Mild breeze in Aandimunai

Kathirkaama Muthiah Rajendran gets into a trance as he enters the temple compound

Cadjan alley in Aandimunai

“Thirisoolam” or Trident in the temple

Well water bath for the four guarding deities

Visitors for the festival

Hinduism is the world’s third largest religion, after Christianity and Islam. It has 900 million followers worldwide. This is 13% of the world’s population

Guarding deities are being decorated

Hindu shrine where prayers are said and offerings are made

Eternal devotion towards the Goddess

It’s believed that Hinduism is the oldest living religion

Getting ready for the rituals

“Kaappu Kattal”- it means tying a holy thread on the wrist of the four male devotees. It is meant to ward off all evil spirits, which symbolises protection.

The four guarding deities are involved in prayers

Most Hindus believe that the spirit or soul, the true “Self” of every person is called Ātman, which is eternal

Hindu scriptures are the most ancient religious texts

Bhakthi or devotion signifies an active involvement by the devotee in divine worship. A male devotee in this spiritual path is called “Bhakthan”, and the female devotee is called “Bhakthai”

Fresh flower anklets for the guarding deities

The four guarding deities begin to dance

The word “Bhakthi” is derived from “Bhaj”, which means “to share”, “to belong to” and “to worship”

They keep on dancing

As the Sun reached the top and the sand became hotter, the deities kept their barefeet straight

Guarding deity Vairavar at Sri Maha Muththumaary Amman temple

Dancing along the way

Another musical instrument used at the temple

Hindu practices generally involve seeking awareness and blessings from God and Goddesses

Colourful carvings at Sri Maha Muththumaary Amman temple

There is nothing superior than worshiping God in pure devotion

More importance is given to the symbols in Hinduism

Many devotees accompanying the guarding deities

Hindus believe the soul moves from one body to another

Hinduism is an ocean of nectar

Deities dance around the fire pit

Deities dance around the fire pit

Hindus believe in birth, death and rebirth

Whip on the wrist

A statue of Bodhiraj is kept on the left hand side of the sanctum of Rukmani Sathyapama Sametha Sri Paarthasaarathy Thiraupathathevi Devasthanam

Deities being carried away from the site

A statue of Prithviraj is kept on the right hand side of the sanctum of Rukmani Sathyapama Sametha Sri Paarthasaarathy Thiraupathathevi Devasthanam

When the soul comes out of the cycle of impurities, the result is eternal bliss

The God is worshiped in multiple perspectives

Whip is worn around he neck of the priest

Divine vehicle of Lord Vinayagar-Mouse is parked in the temple compound

Udukku is being played

Beautiful sculptures have architectural elements and decorative details

Idol worship is a simple way of expressing faith and devotion to God

Sounds of Udappu:

Bell tolls on Aug 4

Drums Aug 4

Udappu priest ~ Aug 4

Udappu Rituals ~ Aug 4

P. Susheela on PA !~ Guruvayoor song ~ Hear the winds at Udappu shore

Bell on Aug 5

Udappu Fire Pit ~ Hear the fire, wind & devotees

Udappu – Thevaram Aug 5

Udappu Thavil ~ Aug 5

Related Pictorials on Udappu:

- “Paandavar Oorvalam”:

The scene of five Paandava Princes and their common wife Thiraupathai going into exile with Vyasa Munivar and an Anuman was depicted in drama form by the people of Udappu on 2nd of August 2009, the 15th day of the “Aadi Vizha Mahotsavam” of Rukmani Sathyapama Sametha Sri Paarthasaarathy Thiraupathathevi Devasthanam.

- behind the scene: Getting ready for the colourful Udappu parade:

It was a Sunny Sunday, August 2nd 2009, in Udappu.

As time ticked on turning into a scroching hot day, performers and the make-up artists began to make their way to Sri Veerapaththirakaali Amman temple, situated right near the ocean.

Eleven Performing artists and four make-up artists gathered under one roof, to get ready for the elegant parade.

- Fire walking Festival:

Rukmani Sathyapama Sametha Sri Paarthasaarathy Thiraupathathevi Devasthanam, Udappu

- Tradition bound Udappu, the charm of a Tamil village

“Udappu” is situated between the Dutch Canal in the East, Indian Ocean in the West, Poonaipitty village in the North and Pinkatti village in the South.
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HumanityAshore.org ~ Email: dushi.pillai@gmail.com