In maarghazhi month, a grand clebration will be conducted for Lord Vishnu all over Tamil Nadu. I just want to share my thoughts about the experience i had while i gone to see the parama patha vaasal(the gate that will be open only for 10 days in a year). Many people used to come to Sri Ranganathar temple(Srirangam, Trichy, Tamil Nadu) especially during vaigunda festival to cross this gate.
Before going to any temple, if we gather some details regarding the pooja and other rituals schedule atleast from the people who already gone, it will be definitely useful. I asked the required details and i get myslef ready for that. As per the plan, if i go before 10 AM, then its best for me to see the God. That is what suggested by my colleague. So, i went to temple around 8.30 AM itself. There was a large queue in front of the temple and the door was closed. I enquired the people in the queue about when the door is to opened and everyone is saying different timing. I got one thing that if we ask information in the crowd, then we cant get the exact answer. Some says 9, some says 10, some says 12 and so on. By hearing this, many people left the queue. I put everything in the God's hand and start waiting in the queue.
Normally if we go outside like temple and other places, atleast we see any of our friends or relatives. I too saw one of my friend and i talked with him.He too left the queue saying that he will come after sometime. The reason is the length of the queue. Many people start having breakfast with their family in the queue itself. some even start sleeping. By seeing this i thought, that people are making themselves adapt to this type of situation. Their only aim is, at any cost they need to worship the God. That is what their faith is.
Finally at 10 30 AM, the gate opened and the people started running like anything across the door. Again there is a second barrier. But now it got splitted in to two. One is free dharshan and another one is paid. So, if we have money, we can see the God early. If we don't have, then we need to wait for some more time. But we need to cross the obstacles in order to worship God. It seems to me that, if we want to achieve something, we need to cross many obstacles. Thats what i understood.
In the third stage, still we need to wait until the time has come. At 11 AM, the God will come for procession. I just sit in front of the corridor and watched the talking of each people. Many shared their experiences. Some said about the next plan and some said about the past experiences in the temple. In the meantime, many people start sitting in front of the corridor near to inner door of God. I heard that those people are either close to priest or they are donors to temple. I learnt that everywhere people are trying to use their influence. This is how the world is getting changed.
The priests open the door exactly at 11.oo AM and they bring the Lord Renganathar(Urchavar - roaming God) in the pallaku(Chariot). All the people start praying like that their long lasting wait has been fullfilled. Once the chariot start rounding the temple, i worshipped inner Lord Vishnu Statue(Moolavar -static statue inside the inner place of temple). Once i worshipped, i joined alonng with chariot to round the temple. The Urchavar crossing the parama padha vasal is the main function over there. As soon as few people entered the outer wing of temple along with the chariot, they closed the gate. If i just missed a second, then i will not be one among the people along with the chariot. I got fullfilment but when i think about others who are not able to join the procession, i just think that this is what God's wish.
The lord moved step by step and finally crossed the gate around 12.00 PM. The main theme behind this ritual is as follows.God decided to show to the people that one day the soul will leave from us after death like this. He himself acts an example and hence this ritual is happening every year for 10 days. All the people follow him and cross the gate thinking of one day everyone will move like this. Within this given period of time all should be good to others and do something that gives meaning to the life. That is what i learnt from this vaigunda festival. Also, if the people know clear about the schedule and little bit luck, they can worship the God with fullest satisfaction.
