Udhvaganathar Temple, Thirumanancheri – Prayers
This
Temple is considered as a Parihara Sthalam for doshas
related to marriage. Devotees mainly pray here for marriage boon and for
removing obstacles in marriage alliances. Those seeking child boon bathe in the
Saptha Sagaram sacred spring and offer milk pudding nivedhana to Rahu planet.
They also light oil or ghee lamps in Sani Bhagwan shrine. Those afflicted with
adverse aspects of serpent planets Rahu and Ketu pray here for relief. Devotees
pray for reunion of couples & warring brothers, job opportunities,
promotions in jobs, progress in trade, mental peace and freedom from various
miseries in life. It is believed that if a person was bitten of by snakes,
drinking water 3 times from the Temple tank will get cured.
Marriage Parihara
Procedure:
The
temple is famously known for the wedding prayers. Kalyana
archana is very famous in this
temple which the devotee performs both before and after marriage
offering two coconuts, two garlands, turmeric, kumkum, camphor, betel nuts,
lime fruit, sugar and sugar candy an important item in in marriage functions. After
worshipping at the shrines of all deities, devotees sit in two rows in the hall
before Lord Kalayana Sundareswarar Shrine, one seeking wedding boon, the other
blessed with the boon.
The priest collects the puja materials from the devotees
& performs the archanas. He gives back garlands to the devotees. Couples
exchange it between themselves and to those awaiting marriage, the priest
himself places it on the devotee. The priest will then give instructions
to the devotees as to what should they do next. It is said that the lime
fruit offered to the devotee ensures health to the devotee, the garland the happiness,
Vibhuti to bless his/her wish, kumkum the blessing of Mahalakshmi and the
turmeric all auspiciousness.
Devotees keep the garland in their houses with
reverence. They make juice of the lime and consume it the next day before
food. After the marriage takes place, the devotee should bring back the
old garland and return it to Lord Kalyana Sundareswarar and thus complete the
course of worship.
Step – 1: Go into the temple; you will see Selva Ganapathy
on the left; pray him first.
Step – 2: Then pray Lord Shiva (Udhvaganathar Swami) and go
to (Parvathi) Amman shrine on the right. Meenakshi Amman here appears as a
13-year old Kokilambal, head slanted to her right, with three bends
(naanikkoni). This posture is before her marriage.
Step – 3: On the left side of this huge Main mandapam is the
most important Kalyana Sundareswarar shrine and Mandapam. Enter the mandapam
and turn left; light the ghee Deepams here, right opposite to the Kalyana
Sundareswarar shrine (but do not light Raghu Doshams Deepams here; Mangala Raahu
has a separate place for ghee Deepam); Kalyana Sundareswarar deities are in
marriage Kolam; Meenakshi is on his right looking at the floor in Kalyana
Kolam; hence married girls should always stand on the right hand side of the
groom during all auspicious functions; the priests perform the rituals here to
remove our marriage obstacles. Details are given below.
Step – 4: As soon as you light the Deepams, wait for the
next batch; only girls and boys concerned are seated inside the enclosure and
those accompanying should sit around this enclosure; couples who come after
marriage to complete the rituals (and the parents of boys/girls who are unable
to come in person also can sit inside the enclosure; if you are parent(s)
inform the priest as soon as you enter the enclosure).
The priests brief you first regarding the Do’s and
Don’ts; then collect all the garlands and the archana tickets first; they keep
all garlands at the feet of the god, return one garland each to the spouse to
be worn; parents must keep it in their hands; Sankalpam is done and the thattu
is taken away; (parents should tell the boy/girl’s Gothram/name/star and not
theirs); archana follows, coconuts are broken, thattus are returned after
aarthi as usual; drop Rs.10 or Rs.20 in the plate (thattu) for the priests.
Dos and Don’ts as informed by priests here:
Vibuthi, kumkum (plus manjal for girls) are to be used,
after prayers, for one Mandalam (45 days or till they last) by the boys/girls
only and not by others in the family. Lemon should be drunk, without adding
salt or sugar, by the boys/girls only and not by others; the next morning after
bathing the boy/girl should pray wearing this garland and then drink the lemon
juice with a little water. Then retain the garland in a cloth bag (manjal pai),
not in plastic bag, till marriage is over and come again with spouse; the same
garland is finally put in the temple tank here. Coconuts can be used by the
entire family for cooking.
Step – 5: After these rituals at the Kalyana Sundareswarar shrine,
go and pray Shiva again. Normally no separate archana is done here.
Step – 6: Pray Raahu. Mangala Raahu here in the north of
inner praharam is special for Puthira dosha nivarthi; normal ghee Deepam
available near Raahu, should be lit only by the boy or the girl or one of the
parents if the boy/girl has not come.
Marriage archanas are performed only from 8.00 am – 1.00
pm and from 3.30 pm to 8.30 pm on normal days and from 7.00 am to 9.00 pm
without a break on Saturdays/Sundays; Fri / Sat / Sun / Govt. holidays / Muhurtam
days are very crowded (500-1500 spouses per day; 100 - 120 per batch; one batch
takes about an hour); other days: 100-200 spouses per day; one batch has 10 - 20
spouses; takes 30 mts per batch; batch starts every 30 - 40 mts and so need not
hurry; Parents can partake on behalf of their children if the boy / girl is
unable to visit in person. All times are considered auspicious since Lord Shiva
and Parvathy are in bliss here always. The
Temple observes no Raahu kalam, Ema Kandam, Kuligai kalam, Ashtami,
Navami etc.
Puthira Dosha Parihara
Procedure:
Take bath in the Thirukulam nearby on Amavasai day and
take Paal Payasam for Puthira Bagyam; childless couple should offer ghee which
is returned as Prasadam which is to be taken at night for 48 days by the
couple.
