‘Paramapada Vasal’ opened at Kallazhagar Temple on Vaikunta Ekadasi

Hundreds of devotees witness grand procession of Lord Sundararaja Perumal at Kallazhagar Temple, Madurai on Vaikunta Ekadasi.

On the occasion of Vaikunta Ekadasi, hundreds of devotees descended on Kallazhagar Temple at Alagarkoil near Madurai on Saturday (December 23, 2023) to witness the grand procession of Lord Sundararaja Perumal on a palanquin through the ‘Paramapada Vasal’.

Amidst chants of ‘Govinda,’ ‘Govinda,’ the well-adorned presiding deity was brought out of the ‘Moolasthanam’ at about 4:30 a.m.. The deity was carried near the Paramapada Vasal to give darshan to Nammalvar. At 5:05 a.m. the deity, facing ‘Nammalvar,’ passed through the Paramapada Vasal.

The ritual is a part of the 21-day festival being celebrated in the Tamil month of ‘Margazhi.’ The opening of the Paramapada Vasal marks the end of ‘Pagal Pathu,’ and the beginning of ‘Ra Pathu.’

Starting from Sunday, the deity would be carried through the Paramapada Vasal and placed outside from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m..

Nammalvar, one of the 12 Alvars, is believed to have served Lord Sundararaja Perumal at the temple. Due to this long tradition,Nammalvarholds a special place in the temple in all its processions.

Similarly, a large number of devotees stood in long lines near Sri Prasanna Venkatachalapathy Temple at Tallakulam in Madurai to get a glimpse of the presiding deity being carried out after the Paramapada Vasal was opened.

Likewise, the presiding deity of Koodal Alagar Temple in city also entered the Paramapada Vasal early in the morning.