Azhagiya Singa Perumal Temple (Tiruvelukkai),
Kanchipuram – Festivals & Religious Practices
The
temple follows the traditions of the Thenkalai sect of Vaishnavite tradition and follows Vaikhanasa
Aagama. The temple priests perform the pooja (rituals) during festivals and on a daily basis.
As at other Vishnu temples of Tamil Nadu, the priests belong to the Vaishnavaite community, a Brahmin sub-caste. The temple rituals
are performed six times a day: Ushathkalam at 7
a.m., Kalasanthi at 8:00 a.m., Uchikalam at
12:00 p.m., Sayarakshai at 6:00 p.m., Irandamkalam at
7:00 p.m. and Ardha Jamam at 10:00 p.m.
Each
ritual has three steps: Alangaram (decoration), neivethanam (food
offering) and deepa aradanai (waving of lamps) for both Azhagiya
Singar and Amruthavalli. During the last step of worship, nagaswaram (pipe instrument) and tavil (percussion instrument) are played, religious
instructions in the Vedas (sacred text) are recited by priests, and
worshippers prostrate themselves in front of the temple mast. There are weekly, monthly and fortnightly rituals
performed in the temple.
The
annual festival here is celebrated in the tamil month of Margazhi. Vaikunda
Ekadasi is devotionally celebrated in the temple in December-January. Other
important festivals celebrated in this Temple are Aavani Swathi,
Thiruvaadipooram, Sri Rama Navami, Garuda Sevai (May or June) and Hanumatha
Jayanthi (April or May).
