The performance of Araiyar Sevai requires immense concentration and inner control, perfect co-ordination of feeling music and bodily movement is required and a total switching off of the rational mind to allow the creative mood to come into effect. the Araiyar tradition prescribes fasting for a day and evacuation of the bowels with castor oil before a scheduled temple performance. The performer must observe a vow of silence and contemplate on the devotion of Lakshmana who would carry out Rama's command in spirit and of Bharatha who would carry out Rama's command in letter, to be true to the letter and spirit of the Alwar;s works. There is no room for personal or capracious interpretation of the Alwar by the performer. He must empty himself and allow the Alwar to occupy his being Aspat of the yoga or total process. The artist must practice cheerfulness of mind through contemplation of Vishnu. Firmness of mind through devotion to his Guru. Alertness of memory through Japa, Tapa, dhyana and Pranayama. contemplation of Hyagriva and disiterestedness in the fruits of his labour through contemplation of Gita Krishna.He must control his diet to maintain lightness of body and freedom from all bodily demands during performance. Actually the physical preperation starts of months in advance. mentally he undergoes a rigorous discipline ( One araiyar from Srivilliputtur who is in the eight decad of his service who started performing when he was 13 is very entusiastic and unwilling to give up performing since 1943 The learning process that spanned 18 long years included singing the paasuram in a special tune with the relevant raga, practising abhinaya and presenting the Vyakyanam every morning at 4 and again in the evening at 9. The entire process involved not just acquiring knowledge of the 4,000 divine songs of the Azhwars but also the monumental task of capturing the meaning of each of these Paasurams and then reaching out the essence of these verses to the audience. The Vyakyanam for the Thiru Pallandu verses alone runs into 70 pages.
Araiyar Srinivasachariyar has fond memories of his Arangetram in 1943 “I really felt honoured to be led by a music band with ‘melam and thaalam’ and the temple elephant with an umbrella over me and a sacred chamaram (to fan me) around the streets of Srivilliputhur and then into the Andal Sannidhi, Vadabadrasayee Sannidhi and the Peri Azhwar Sannidhi. I was presented with the ‘Kreedam, Parivattam and Peetambaram.’ That was a divine moment.”
In the same year, he presented his first ever Araiyar Sevai in front of Tirukurungudi Nambi, his Kula Deivam, performing the abhinaya for Thirumangai Azhwar’s Periya Thirumozhi verse ‘Akkum Puliyum’ and Nammazhwar’s Tiruvoimozhi paasuram ‘Enganeyo’. Since then, for decades, he has been presenting these two verses at the Thirukurungudi Divya Desam on Kaisika Ekadasi.
His selfless service and devotion assume greater significance as many Araiyars even within these three Divya Desams where Araiyar Sevai is being performed have looked for financially ‘greener’ pastures (corporate world). He has had the unique honour of being invited to present Araiyar Sevai in over 30 Divya Desams in the State, including Sarangapani Koil, Nachiyar Koil, Thiruchcherai, Azhagar Koil and Thiru Nagai. He particularly remembers his first such presentation at the Sri Parthasarathy Swami temple in Triplicane, exactly fifty years ago in 1963, in front of a big audience.
Cherishing those special moments, Araiyar Srinivasachariyar says, ‘It was a privilege to travel to these to renowned Divya Desams and present Araiyar Sevai for long hours. Devotees used to gather in thousands and would watch in pin drop silence the presentation that would sometimes go late into the night.”
All through this 70-year service he has been presenting Araiyar Sevai at Srivilliputhur on all festive occasions such as Aadi Pooram, Panguni Uthiram and the 20-day Adhyayana Utsavam.
Through his story telling, Araiyar Srinivasachariyar transports listeners to a different world peopled by gods, goddesses and demons. Andal grows into a beautiful young girl, Lord Vishnu demolishes the evil forces - Kamsa and Hiranya - Lord Naryana retrieves the nectar and hands it back to the Devas and Lord Rama’s triumphs over Ravana as he sings the verses of Azhwars with appropriate abhinaya.
In the Himalayas
The most memorable experience of his life was his trip in 1978 to the Himalayas, where he presented Araiyar Sevai in front of Lord Badri Narayanan at the Badrinath Divya Desam. His eyes light up as he recounts that trip. “I was sitting outside my house in Srivilliputhur when an astrologer passed that way. I told him I wanted to go North. He suggested that I leave for my trip that same day. I left immediately for Madras and from there I went to Hyderabad and met Sriman Narayana Jeer. From Secunderabad, I went to Badrinath and stayed in the Himalayas for nine days.”
Tears well in his eyes as he continues: “It was God’s grace that I was able to present Araiyar Sevai at 3. 30 a.m. in front of the Lord. Almost everyone was shivering as it was extremely cold. But I was out there presenting Araiyar Sevai. My entire thought centred on Badri Narayana Perumal and I was oblivious of the temperature that must have been several degrees below zero.” Moved by his dedication, Sriman Narayana Jeer honoured him with the title ‘Bhagavad Vishaya Vidwan’.
His two other favourite presentations which he savours are Thirumangai Azhwar’s ‘Thooviriya Malar Uzhakki’ Periya Thirumozhi verse praising the Lord of Thiruvali Divya Desam presented in Deva Mukhari Ragam and the Thiru Nedunthaandagam verses – both during the Pagal Pathu Utsavam in Margazhi.
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