Friday, December 30, 2016

Adikesava Perumal Temple, Sriperumpudur – Worship Practices & Festivals

Adikesava Perumal Temple, Sriperumpudur – Worship Practices & Festivals
The temple is open from 6:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. The temple priests perform the pooja (rituals) during festivals and on a daily basis. As at other Vishnu temples of Tamilnadu, the priests belong to the Vaishnavaite community, a Brahmin sub-caste. The temple rituals are performed four times a day: Ushathkalam at 8 a.m., Kalasanthi at 10:00 a.m., Sayarakshai at 5:00 p.m. and Ardha Jamam at 7:00 p.m. Each ritual has three steps: Alangaram (decoration), neivethanam (food offering) & deepa aradanai (waving of lamps) for both adi kesavan and his consort yathirajavalli. There are weekly, monthly and fortnightly rituals performed in the temple.
Various festivals are celebrated in the temple, with the Chittirai Brahmotsavam, Masi Pooram festival during February - March and Panguni Uthiram festival during March - April being the most prominent. During Chittirai Brahmotsavam, the temple car housing the festival deities of Adikesava and Yathirajavalli is drawn around the streets of Sriperumpudur. The festival car was not operational for the 25 years preceding 2003 and was resumed from 2003. The festival is followed by Thiruavadara Utsavam of Ramanuja, the birthday festival of the saint. On the last Friday of Panguni (March-April) or on the last Friday of Chithirai, Thirumanjanam is simultaneously performed for Lord Adikesava Perumal, Mother Yathiraja Valli, Sri Andal and Acharya Sri Ramanuja.
In Vaikasi (May-June), the Adhi Kesava Perumal Vasantha Uthsavam is popular. On festival days, the Utsava Murthy (processional image) is decorated with jewels, dressed in glittering robes and Ramanuja carries a sword symbolic of his status as the king of saints. The image is brought to the garden after a ride in the temple car in the morning. Before the Thirumanjanam (ablution), the jewels and robes are removed and the icon can be seen in all its original glory with the back of the head shaped like a hooded serpent, reminding viewers that he was the incarnation of Adisesha, Vishnu’s iconic serpent. Devotees eagerly wait to see the Thirumanjanam and the Pushpa Pallakku (flower decorated palanquin) that follows. The temple is maintained and administered by the Hindu Religious and Endowment Board of the Government of Tamilnadu.
Major Festivals are listed below;
Tamil Month
Name of Uthsavam
Chitrai ( April-May)
 Bashyakara Avathara  Uthsavam for - 10 days
Chitrai ( April-May)
Adhi Kesava Perumal's Uthsavam for 10 days
Vaikasi ( May - June)
Adhi Kesava Perumal's Vasantha Uthsavam
Aani ( June - July )
Jestabishekam
Aadi July - August)
Andal Uthsavam
Avani ( August - September)
Perumal's Pavithra Uthsavam)

Navarathri Uthsavam
Aipasi
Manavala Mamunigal - 10 days Uthsavam
Dhannur
Dhannur Masa Usthavam
Thai
Koorath Alwar Usthavam
Panguni
Rama Navami