Practice

Sadagopam (Śrī Śaṭhakopam)

சடகோபம் / சடாரி

Also known as: sadagopam (śrī śaṭhakopam), sadagopam, சடாரி, சடகோபம், shatakopam, satakopam, srishtakopam, lotus feet crown, Sataari, Śrī Sadagopam, ஸ்ரீ சடகோபம், ānandaalvaan, அநந்தாழ்வான், சடாரி (ஸ்ரீ சடகோபம்), Sataari (Sri Sadagopam), Satari, Sri Satakopam

Meaning

The Śaṭhāri crown — the lotus-feet ornament of Nammāzhvār placed on devotees' heads as the supreme blessing at the conclusion of temple worship.

Detailed Explanation

The Crown of Feet

Śrī Śaṭhakopam (commonly Sadagopam, a respectful variant of Nammāzhvār's name Śaṭhakōpa) refers to the crown-like ornament shaped as the lotus feet of Nammāzhvār, placed on the heads of devotees at temples as the final and supreme blessing (prasāda). Receiving the sadagopam on one's head is the culminating act of temple worship — the devotee becomes the bearer of the Āzhvār's feet.

Why Nammāzhvār's Feet?

In the tradition, Nammāzhvār is the Āzhvār's Āzhvār — the supreme among the twelve. His Tiruvāymozhi is considered the Tamil Veda, and his experience of Bhagavān the fullest among all Āzhvārs. The placement of his feet-crown on the devotee's head transmits his grace directly — a physical enactment of āzhvār abhimānam.

At Āzhvārtirunagari

The original Śrī Śaṭhakopa Sadagopam is preserved at Āzhvārtirunagari (Nammāzhvār's birthplace). The Śrī Rāmānujam at Āzhvārtirunagari and the Ānanda-āzhvān at Tirupati also refer to Nammāzhvār's sacred feet as they are manifested at those specific temples.

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