Friday, October 7, 2016

Amritaghateswarar Abirami Temple, Thirukkadaiyur – Worship & Festivals

Amritaghateswarar Abirami Temple, Thirukkadaiyur – Worship & Festivals
Worship is offered six times a day at this temple. Almost every day at the temple begins with one celebration or other, as hundreds of pilgrims throng the temple to celebrate their sixtieth or eightieth birthdays. Based on the legend of Markandeya, it is believed that worshipping at this temple will give longevity to couples who have reached age sixty or eighty-one. A service called Sashtiaptha Poorthy (Tamil: "completion of sixty years") is celebrated in honor of a husband's sixtieth birthday and Sadhabishegam (Sanskrit: "Eighty-One") is celebrated in honor of his eighty-first birthday.
The annual Brahmotsavam is celebrated in the month of Chithirai (April–May) here. The Shankha-Abhisheka, a festival of the Divine Mother celebrated in the month of Karthikai (November–December), is also of great importance here. Other festivals celebrated at this temple in honor of the Divine Mother include Navarathri and Aadi Pooram, a festival celebrating the day that Abhirami attained her menarche.
18 day Yama Samharam in Chithirai month – April-May beginning on the Magam Star day with Lord’s procession each day, Kalasamhara Murthy darshan on the 6th day; Karthikai Monday abishek with 1008 conches; Purattasi Navarathri in September-October; one day Margazhi Vishi Padam festival in December-January; Aadi Pooram in July-August; Aipasi Skanda Sasti in October-November; Maha Shivrathri in February-March and Panguni Uthiram in March-April are the festivals celebrated in the temple.
The temple follows a devotional practice of Andhadhi Parayanam and worshipping the Moon on the New Moon day of Thai month – January-February. Devotee crowd in the temple will be huge on Pradosha days. Other general festivals as Deepavali, Pongal, Tamil and English New Year days are also observed in the temple with special abisheks and pujas.