Adhyayana Utsavam, also known as Vaikunta Utsava or Prasanna
Utsava or Moksha Utsava, is observed in the famous Tirupati Venkateswara Temple
and Srirangam Ranganatha Swamy Temple. It is the day when Sri Nammalwar merged
with Srihari Vishnu. The Divya Prabhandas are chanted during the period.
It begins on the first day of the waxing phase of moon in
Dhanur Masam and ends on the following Krishna Paksha Dasami – 10th day during
the waning phase of moon. It is chanted for nearly 22 days.
It coincides with the famous Vaikunta Ekadasi festival.
Divya Prabandhas are the recitals composed in Tamil
dedicated to Lord Vishnu. It contains 4000 verses. All the important Vishnu
temples chant the Divya Prabandhas. The place where it is recited is treated as
Divya Desams.
Divya Prabandhas are divided into 4 parts as
- Mudhal Ayiram,
- Periya Thirumozhi,
- Iyarpa
- Thiruvaaymozhi
The first 2000 verses are chanted before Vaikunta Ekadasi
and the next 2000 verses are chanted after the Vaikunta Ekadasi.
The popular belief is that Nammalwar arrives on earth during
the Adhyayana Utsavam. The verses are chanted with his blessings, and he
remains on earth for 22 days, and returns back after the Utsavam.