Gokulashtami in Varagur, Tanjore dist

[S.SIVARAMAN]

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Heard gokulashtami at Varagur, Tanjore dist celebrated in grand manner; I would like to know the history of this celebration and its salient features

 

[Raji Ram]

Please read this link:

Devotion: Varagur - Sthala Puranam

 

[Raji Ram]

Govinda, son of Nilakanta Sastri, born in the year 1675 A.D in a village in Guntur Dist.( Andra Pradesh) was an

expert in music and Bhaagavatam. In due course, he became grihastha and was later initiated into Sanyasa

Ashrama by Sri Sivaramananda Theertha and became Sri Naarayana Theertha. At that time he was suffering from

a severe attack of stomach pain.


When Naarayana Theertha was at the foot of the Tirupati Hills while on pilgrimage, a divine voice directed him to

go to a shrine near Tiruvaiyar. Proceeding as directed, he halted for a night in a Ganesa Temple, at Nadukkaveri,

about 4 miles from Thiruvaiyar. Next morning he again received divine orders to follow two Swetavarahas which he

saw while offering prayers to Ganesa. These varahas (pig) led him upto Bhoopathirajapuram where they entered

the Sanctum Sanctorum of the temple and disappeared. Naarayana Theertha who was cured of his ailment in the

temple stayed there for the rest of his life.


Moved by his grace in curing his chronic ailment., Naarayana Theertha composed the immortal Krishna Leela

Tarangini a Sanskrit dance drams, rich in music and Bhava. The subject matter relates to the Dasamaskanda of

Bhaagavatam, depicting the story from the birth of Lord Krishna of his marriage with Rukmini.

In varahoor he established a Bhajana Sampradaya and his disciples sang his musical play and celebrated

Gokulashtami every year. "Uriyadi" festival is even now celebrated at Varahoor on the ninth day of the eleven-day

Janmashtami festival as Garbhotsava with a special function "Rukmini Kalyanam" on the 10th day and the festival

concludes on the next day with Anjaneya Utsavam. This festival attracts a large concourse of Bhaktas and

Musicians from various parts of the country.


Naarayana Theertha was one of those who popularised the Bhagavata tradition and spread the cult of adoring the

Lord with song and dance. Adherents of Bhajana sampradaya and musicians who render "Tarangams" in music

concerts reverentially refer to him as "Theertha Naarayana Swamigal".


Sri Naarayana Theertha entered Samadhi on the Masi Sukla Ashtami on a Thursday in Kirthika star in the year 1745 A.D.

Source: Sri Narayana Theertha Swamigal

 

[guruvayurappan]

post 3#
dear raji ram !
i am pleased to inform that varagur sri VENKATESWARA PERUMAL is our kuladeivam .very glad to read about varagur in a blog .
kindly go through this official web site About Uriyadi | Varagur.org -
Mr.Bharanidharan of Anantha vikadan wrote about this temple long back .
we the people varagur will offer their first salary to the temple . this temple maintained by private and not comes under HR&CE.
vazhukkumaram yeruthal, uriati,edayar vesham are performed by certain section of brahmin community only.angaprathashnam by devotees is the specialty of this temple. even now gents enter this temple with bare chest .
this year uriyadi falla on 10-08-2012
(on the same day uriyadi is celebrated in mullaigudi also )
guruvayurappan

 

[Iyyarooraan]

In those days say in the 40s it was a small village, but this uriyadi was well-known around the district. There was small open circle of roughly 20ft dia filled with sand. In the middle was an erected teak "kambam" (pillar) with smooth finish of 10 ft height and 12/15" dia. Competent 'edayars' were allowed to perform this act. To climb the post and break the top pot. The entire brahmin community will come with til oil and apply to the post as well as to the climbers. The tamasha will go till late night or early morning next when all the oils would have been dried up on the post, climbers and the homes also would have spent the stock. I do not know whether it is celebrated the same way till today. There had been another story of this villages brahmins' valour in the field (paddy harvesting).