Thousands of devotees witnessed Lord Kallazhagar redeeming Suthapas rishi, also known as Mandooga Maharishi, from his curse at Thenur Mandapam. This symbolic act signified the freeing of two cranes from their fate of being eaten.
On Wednesday, the sixth day of the Kallazhagar Chithirai festival, Lord Kallazhagar entered the Vaigai on Tuesday and reached the Thenur Mandapam on Sesha Vahanam after an overnight stay at the Veeraraghava Perumal Temple in Vandiyur. Legend has it that Suthapas ignored Sage Dhoorvasar’s presence while bathing in Noopura Gangai atop Alagarkoil. An enraged Dhoorvasar cursed him to become a frog, only to be redeemed when Lord Kallazhagar visited the Vaigai.
The redemption took place on the bank of the Vaigai river at Thenur Mandapam. It was followed by Lord Kallazhagar on Garuda Vahanam making his rounds from Vandiyur to Anna Nagar and reaching Ramarayar Mandapam at 10:30 p.m. There, the 10 avatars of Vishnu – Matsya, Koorma, Varaha, Narasimha, Vamana, Parasurama, Rama, Balarama, Krishna, and Kalki were on display. Approximately 1,500 police personnel were deployed for crowd control, and traffic diversions were implemented in parts of Anna Nagar and Panagal Road for a smooth procession.
