Hinduism

Annual festival of Vallipura Alvar Vishnu Temple

Chelvatamby Maniccavasagar

The annual festival of Point Pedro Vallipura Alvar Maha Vishnu Temple commenced last Friday with the flag hoisting ceremony and will conclude with Chariot festival and water cutting ceremony in the sea (Bay of Bengal) and also in the Kerni water tank at the proximity of the temple.

Mr. Annalingam who is the Chief Trustee of this ancient and historical temple has made elaborate arrangements for the success of this festival.

Besides, thousands of devotees from all parts of Sri Lanka will participate to receive the Divine blessings of Lord Vishnu.

Origins

This ancient temple dates as far back that it is hard to come to a definite conclusion as to the exact point of time of its origin.

However, ancient history points to the fact that following the era of Naga Kings Uggira Simhan extended his authority over Jaffna in the 8th century A.D. and shifted the capital of his kingdom from Kantherodai to Singa Nagar which remained capital till 1450 A.D. and thus Vallipuram was the capital city of Singanagar has been accepted by historians.

The origin of this temple is legendary as is the case with most of the ancient Hindu Temples.

In fact, God Vishnu appeared in the dream of an elderly pious woman by the name Vallinachan. In response to the Divine call, the excited woman as his first duty in the morning, betook herself to the site. On the very first sight of the child, she was overwhelmed with joy, her ecstasy knew no bounds. A wave of heavenly feeling ran through her veins. She avowed that all the miraculous happenings there were the manifestations of God Vishnu at His will.

Advancing towards the child and pausing for a while, she bowed low in reverence, muttered some vedic hymns and stretched the first end of his apparel into the air.

To the utter astonishment of the spectators the child spontaneously flung into the air and rested right into her fold. Seized with motherly affection, the exhilarated woman hugged and fondled the child with all reverence.

Amidst sigh of relief from the spectators, the turbulent scene came to a happy end.

As the next step, the jubilant woman volunteered to take the child home along with her. As a mark of honour, it was decided to carry it to this destination in their shoulders. Accordingly, a palanquin was arranged for the purpose.

When they tried to lift the palanquin from the ground, in order to resume the journey, they could not do so, as it firmly got stuck to the ground.

To their astonishment, the child had mysteriously vanished and in his place stood a “Chakra”, the sacred Insignia of God Vishnu.

Holy place

The location where the Palanquin was lowered to the ground was considered a holy spot and a miniature temple, in the mediaeval art, with mud walls and cadjan roof was erected and the “Chakra” as the emblem of God Vishnu was installed in the “Moolasthanam” and consecrated with the traditional Hindu Vedic rites and worshipped by the people.

This was the humble beginning of the Vallipura Alvar Maha Vishnu Alvar Temple with its potential popularity and fame.

In the course of time, modern improvements were effected and the temple in its original form got gradually transformed into a full fledged one as envisaged in the Vedic scripts. Regular daily poojas, in the traditional way were performed.

Among the annual festivals, the “Sapparam” has been in the forefront, noted for the role it plays in the field of pompous, lavish, splendour and brilliant display. The Chariot festival introduced for the first time in 1952.

The Chariot is drawn round the temple by the Vadam (Large Ropes) amidst chorus of “Govinda” from the animated devotees.

Of the other annual festivals, the water-cutting ceremony in the Bay of Bengal (Kadal Thirtham) is very enjoyable and popular. In fact, it is recorded that Mahatma Gandhi had gone on pilgrimage to and worshipped at the shrine in 1924. Swamy Advaidanandha a religious dignitary and disciple or Swamy Sivananda Saraswathy of Rishikes had been at the Shrine in the year 1935.

Further, according to the history 3000 years ago before Christ, Sri Krishna took a Divine Birth in the Indian city of Madurai. The scriptures call him “Purna Avatara”, that is the full manifestation of God Krishna.

God Krishna was a teacher and lover of mankind. He was most accessible to the pure hearted who have cultivated true love for him. Further, he was the greatest Karma Yogi of all times.

He was the friend of the poor whom he protected from the oppressions.

He was the embodiment of humility. In the Mahabharatha battle he was a Charioteer to Arjuna and taught him the immortal teaching of Bhagavad Geetha and enlightened him.

Preserver of the universe

Lord Krishna was considered to be the preserver of the universe. He descended to earth to save mankind and to establish Dharma. For this purpose he took ten Avataras (incarnations). His first incarnation was in the form of Gold Fish.

The second was as a Tortoise. Third as a Wild Boar, fourth in the form of a human body and Lion's head (Narasimha), fifth incarnation as “Vamana”, sixth incarnation as Parasuram, seventh incarnation was as “Rama” and eighth as Lord Vishnu.

Symbolism

Indeed, the Chariot symbolises human body and the statue of Lord Vishnu is the soul. In front of the Chariot are two wooden horses depicted as galloping and the reins attached to their mouths are held in the hands of the image of Lord Vishnu.

These horses represent human passions and the reins symbolic the necessity of guiding these passions. The journey of the Chariot through the streets symbolises the progress of life. This shows that throughout his life a man must control himself and guide his passions.

These passions are the motive powers, the driving fora of life, but unguided will wreck a man's life. This is the symbolic meaning of the Chariot Festival.