On account of Covid-19 pandemic and new virus Omicron threats, many temple across Tamil Nadu and elsewhere temple festivities are limited as they attract huge gathering of people. At Srirangam Ranaganathar temple, this year also the Vaikunta ekadasi festivities have limited audience. The TN govt. has introduced restrictions on temple festivities with good intention as the consequence of another bout of COVID -19 or some other threat is unthinkable. What has saddened me is this year, the Ariyar sevai during Paga pathu had very much limited audience. Under normal circumstances, lots of devotees would attend the pagal and ra pathu events. This year it is not so because the threat from the pandemic is not yet over. Though devotion is very there among the devotees, they miss the joy of prayer and bakhti. Presented below is a brief account of Ariyar Seva, that is an integral part of Vaikunta ekadasi.
| Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.  |
| Ariyar Sevai, arayasamajam.blogspot.com |
Srirangam Ranganathar temple is closely connected with the Ariyar Sevai during the Vaikunta ekadasi festivities that last for 21 days - divided into Pagal pathu (10 days) and Rapathu (10 nights). During Pagal and Ra pathu, Ariyar sevai to the main deity is a great event and this tradition has been around here for centuries. The great Vaishnavite Savant Nadhamuni, (9th-10th Century A.D) was instrumental in introducing the Araiyar sevai at the Divayadesam shrines with a view to preserving the divine hymns of Naalayira Divya Prabandham and the bhakti tradition of singing and gestures and dancing, etc, His idea was to instill devotion to Perumal among the devotees.
This tradition of Ariyar sevai is being followed by a few temples in Tamil Nadu and in Karnataka. Presently, apart from Sri Ranganathat temple, Srirangam, Azhagiya Manavala Perumal Temple, Azhvar Tirunagari and the Andal Temple at Srivilliputhur in Tamil Nadu and at the Melkote temple (Thiru Narayanapuram, Mandya dist., of Karnataka) Araiyar sevai is conducted with religious fervor. In the latter Sri Ramanujar did lots of Kainkarya during his long sojourn at Melkote .
Ariyar swvai, a Vaishnava annual worship protocol, is a tradition-bound performing art form staged by trained Araiyars who hail from hereditary families. Truly, a distinctive devotional service, it a right blend of music, dance, bhavam and dedication. There are families attached to the temples where Ariyar sevai is part of the temple worship and the family members dedicate their lives to the service of the lord ''Emperuman''.
During the Pagalpathu and Rapathu events, the place is charged with bakthi, and the ritual of singing and dancing with bhava by a group of Araiyars makes the audience spell-binding. Conducted in ''Tamil'' invoking devotion and soul-stirring hymns of Naalaiyara Divya Prabandham composed by Azhwar saints (5th century to 10th century CE, this seva promotes devotion and dedication to God.
This unique sevai is normally performed only on the temple premises right before the utchava murthy (the temple's processional deity). The performers recite devotional hymns from verses of Divya Prabangam with certain gestures (abhinaya) and commentaries. The most important criteria for Ariyars are commitments to their service to god, besides through understanding and meaning of Divya Prabamdham and pasurams, ability to sing and bring out right laya and bhava . This sevai is called Adhyayanotsavam during the Vaikunda Ekadasi festivities at Srirangam Ranganathar temple It takes several years for a devotee to get trained in Ariyar seva.
Hailing from Si Vaishnava Brahmin families (both Vadakalai and Thenkalai) the performers and their families who belong to a hereditary institution retain their rights to perform on the temple premises. The hereditary performers, who follow different professions like engineering, civil service or teaching, etc., for livelihood claim their lineage from the first exponent of Sri Vaishnavism. They get a chance to bring out their talents and training during the Tamil month of Margazhi (Dec. 15th – Jan. 15th) when Vaikunta ekadasi festival is held.
ttps://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/dance-of-devotion/article5003192.ece
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Araiyar_Sevai
https://navrangindia.blogspot.com/2018/12/some-interesting-facts-on-vaikunta.html