Chennai: After initial apprehensions on whether or not the event will be held meeting the expectations of devotees, especially after the ‘insufficient’ arrangements made during the Cauvery Maha Pushkaram, efforts are now on for conducting the Thamirabarani Maha Pushkaram, Tirunelveli, in a grand manner. Guru Bhagwan (Jupiter) transits from Thula to Vrichika Rasi (Libra to Scorpio) and Thamirabarani is the holy river that corresponds to this Rasi.
In the series of such sacred events being held across India, the Thamirabarani Maha Pushkaram is the last to be held in the country and the next event will be held at Sindhu river (Indus river) when Guru enters the Dhanu (Sagittarius) rasi.
“This time we are unlikely to face the problems arising due to insufficient water, as the Thamirabarani river is perennial. So, people can come and have bath from October 11 to 23,” says Thiruvenkadu Swamy Ganapati Gajananda Saraswati. The core organising committee has invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Governor Banwarilal Purohit and a host of dignitaries to attend the inaugural at Papanasam where also a conclave of 3,000 sadhus is also planned.
“After the flag hoisting followed by the offering of Dhoopa, Deepa and Naivedyam, in the evening, the All India Sanyasis Sangam (Akhil Bharateeya Sanyaasees Sangam) has planned a conference in which the sadhus, saints, yogis and Aghoris and prominent VIPs would participate,” he said. The Sringeri mutt has been taking keen interest in ensuring the event’s success. Besides the mathathipathis of Sringeri mutt, Sankaracharya of Kanchi mutt Vijayendra Saraswati would also grace the occasion and bless the devotees.
Ahead of the Pushkaram, the Sringeri mutt had taken out the Utsava murthis and also Agasthiyar idol in a procession to about 600 temples where special pujas were held. They hope to cover over 1,000 temples before the commencement of the Pushkaram. AISS secretaries Swamy Ramanand Maharaj and Kumar alias Muthiah are also involved in organising the event.
The dates for the Pushkaram, according to sources, was finalised at a meeting held at the Sri Matam in the presence of Vijayendra Saraswati Swamy, Darmapuram Adeenam Elaya Sannidanam, Thirupanandal Adeena Elaya Sannidanam, Thiruvaduthurai Adeena Kattalai Thambiran and Kamakshi Pura Adeenam Kovai. They had all decided to celebrate the Pushkaram function at Kurukuthurai, Tirunelveli, from October 11 to 23.
