4th day Sesha Vahanam
Lord Hayagreevar is always pleased to travel on his favourite vahana – sesha. Mahavishnu is reclined on the serpent bed in his abode Vaikuntam and thus Hayagreevar, an incarnation of Mahavishnu, desires to travel on the Sesha Vahanam. The five-headed snake with protruding tongues, seemed happy carrying the Lord. We have seen god reclining on the serpent bed, but, on this day, he poses seated on a cushion sandwiched between the hood and the stomach.
The Sun and Moon are believed to be the eyes of the lord. Chandra prabhai (moon) at night comforted the eyes. The white rays of the Moon were like a silver cascade shining effulgently. God was beaming from ear to ear enjoying the cool Moon rays.
The multi-coloured garlands which were slung around the lord’s neck matched brilliantly with the white backdrop.
5th day Yali Vahanam
 The goddess also feels like blessing her devotees who are unable to come to the temple and so she sat coyly in a palanquin, called pallakku, and sets out on the streets of Nanganallur. It is called Nachiyar Thirukolam - the goddess is called Nachiyar - and many devotees swarmed the area to seek her blessings. She visited many homes and stayed there for a while.
The god went out on Yali Vahanam. Yali is called vyalam or sarabham in Sanskrit and is a mythical creature with a lion’s head. Its open mouth and fierce face looks frightening but with the lord on its back, the Yali looks obedient. The lord wants every creature to worship him, thus he chooses every creature as his vahanam during the festival.
(To be contd)
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