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After the conclusion of Suprabhatam kainkaryaparas disperse and return to their duties. They will reassemble at the time of Mangala harati a few minutes later. In the meantime, the gathered bhatas sing devotional songs.
The Kainkaryaparas are classified into several "departments". These are, Aradhaka, Sannidhi paricharakam, Ashramam, Alangaram, Thirumadappalli, Ugranam, Maniyam, Ashramam, Mrith, Office, Agent, drivers, vAdyam, etc.
Aradhakas perform Ijjai and part of Panaka Aradhanam. They also assist Srimad Azhagiya Singar during abhigamanam. Further, they are responsible for performing Thirumanjanams on Swati days, and on days when devotees sponsor Thirumanjanam for perumal. Aradhakas also perform the aradhanai during Dolais. There are about three to four Aradhakas including the Sri Karyam. The Aradhakas are the senior most among the Kainkaryaparars and therefore highly respected. They maintain an extremely high level of "Acharam" and "Madi".
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Aradhaka Sri Vaduvoor Nrisimhachariyar Swami (right) |
ThaLigai for Srimad Azhagiya Singar is called "Alankaram". There are normally one or two kainkaryaparars taking care of this duty in turns. They prepare prasadam for Srimad Azhagiya Singar. Anyone interested can sponsor one day's Alangaram by paying a prescribed amount. Then you will receive Srimad Azhagiya Singar prasadam.
Sri Sannithi Paricharakas help Srimad Azhagiya Singar and Aradhakas during Aradhanai. They keep all the "upacharams" for Perumal ready and hand them over to Srimad Azhagiya Singar or the Aradhaka at the appropriate time. They collect the fruits and flowers brought in by the devotees and get them ready for offering to Sri Malolan. They also get the Sri Padha Theertham ready. (More about Sri Padha Theertham later.) They distribute Perumal milk after Visvaroopam, Theertham at the conclusion Abhigamanam and Ijjai, and panakam and Perumal Theertam at the end of Panaka Aradhanai in the evening. There are four Sannidi Paricharakas. They, like others, take their duties in turns called "muRai". A "muRai" starts at the conclusion of Aghigamanm on a given day and ends at the conclusion of Aghigamanam the next day. Even though the "muRai" system is followed those who are not on duty also pitch in and help out depending upon need.
ThirumadappaLLi is where Thaligai is prepared for Sri Malolan and all the Perumual dwelling in the Silver Mandapam. There are about 5 or 6 people in ThirumadappaLLi. They work all 7 days, i.e. they are always on duty, no "muRai". On special occasions when large crowds are expected temporary help is hired.
Ugranam is responsible for handling groceries. They measure and handover the items as and when required by ThirumadappaLLi. There are two people in Ugranam. In addition, there are two old women who help with cutting vegetables.
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Ashrama kainkarayam involves assisting Srimad Azhagiya Singar with all of Simad Azhagiya Singar's daily needs. These range from such things as preparing water for nIrAttal, washing kAshayam, and preparing kashayam, to setting up phone instruments for tele-upanyasam, etc. There are three Ashrama Paricharakas taking turns, "muRai". These kainkaryaparars have the closest contact with Srimad Azhagiya Singar day-in and day-out. Srimad Azhagiya Singar relies upon them for everything.
Mrith kainkaryam is also in the Ashramam. There are two of them. They perform chores like sweeping the floor, carrying akshadai tray, ornamental umbrella, etc.
There are three Office assistants. They maintain all the records such as bank records, address lists of sishyas, paNdithAs, etc. They go to the bank to deposit/withdraw funds. They go to the post-office to mail stuff. They send out all communications such as invitations, srimukhams, and manthrakshadais. They take attendance during ubhaya vedanta parayanam and make sure sambhavanai is given to the participants according to the level of participation. They assist Srimad Azhagiya Singar with preparing Sri Mukhams. Of all the kainkaryaparars, these are the people who are busy all the time. It is unbelievable the amount of mail they get, and they respond to each and every mail they receive. Some are easy, just send a packet of Mathradkashadai. Some are more elaborate, like, marriage, upanayanam, or seemandham, perumal garland may have to be sent; if someone is sick special mantharadkshadai from Srimad Azhagiya Singar may have to be sent. All in all the office assistants are always busy.
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There is one All-India Agent. Once the "sancaram" schedule is finalized, it is this agent who travels to the towns and villages in the sacnharam schedule and makes all the necessary arrangements. There are many arrangements to be made. He makes sure the place of stay is adequate in terms of well water, room for Thaligai, room for Perumal Mandapam, free space for kainkaryaparars, suitable room for Srimad Azhagiya Singar and so on. Also, the people who request Srimad Azhagiya Singar to visit are often times not familiar with the protocol of receiving Simad Azhagiya Singar. The agent helps them get organized. In fact at this very moment, with more than two weeks remaining till the end of Chaturmasya Sankalpam, the agent is already in Gwalior. Srimad Azhagiya Singar will be traveling via Gwalior on September 30th, enroute to New Delhi and then on to Hrishikesh and Badri.
Further, the Agent acts on behalf of Srimad Azhagiya Singar in all legal matters, as a sort of power-of- attorney.
As everyone knows, the entire Sri Matam travels by busses five of them, and one jeep. There are 6 or 7 drivers. Besides these there is always one police escort vehicle traveling with Srimad Azhagiya Singar.
Besides the above, there are about 5 or 6 people for Vadyam. Some of the Vadyam players double for providing kshavaram service.
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Bhashyam (Ashramam) Desikan (Ashramam) |
Back to the conclusion of Suprabhatam....,
At the conclusion of the recitation of Suprbhatam, most of the Kainkaryaparas disperse to resume their duties. Some are more busy than others. For example, the drivers are typically free at this time. Since Srimad Azhagiya Singar is in Aradhanai, Mrith and Asharam kainkaryaparars are also usually free at this time.
Devotees trickle in and wait for the curtain to open for Visvaroopam. Some sing small verses appropriate for waking up the Lord from yoga nidra. Fresh milk is brought to the Lord. The cow and calf are brought in and made to stand with their backside turned towards Sri Sannidhi. At about 7:15 a.m. the curtain is removed to the sound of auspicious vadyam with Srimad Azhagiya Singar offering Mangala harathi. All the kainkaryaparars now return to the Sannidhi. At the conclusion of the mangala harathi the Aradhakar in duty ("muRai") reads the panjangam details for that day and the next day.
At the end of this, Visvaroopa milk is distributed by one of the Sannidi paricharaka. At this time the recitation of "nithya anusandhaanam" commences with the cue from Srimad Azhagiya Singar, "yo nithyam acchudapadaambuja yugmarugma ..."