Agastheeshwarar Temple, Ambasamudram – Festivals
Panguni
Brahmmotsavam in March - April, Aani annual abishek in June - July, Navarathri
in September - October, Tirukarthikai in November - December, Margazhi
Thiruvadirai in December - January and Shivaratri in February -March are the
festivals celebrated in the temple. Navarathri festival is dedicated to her as
to Ambica with special Alankaras. During Navarathri festival, Chokkapanai is
burnt in the presence of the sage couple.
Agasthya-Lopamudra
wedding festival is celebrated in the month of Thai (January-February) on
Hastha star day. In the morning Lopamudra leaves the temple in procession
for penance. Sage Agasthya meets her in the evening granting his darshan
and both return together when the wedding festival is celebrated at
night. This wedding festival is conducted as followed in Shiva temples. It
is believed that worshipping Agasthya-Lopamudra in wedding form would bless
those waiting for their wedding.
During
the Brahmmotsavam, on the 8th day, a festival of feeding Agasthya
takes place with Lord Shiva granting darshan to the stage. A banquet is
organized for Agasthya with all the traditional and famous dishes of Tamilnadu
as Nivedhana. Sage Agasthya and Lopamudra draped in green vastras go
together to Ammayappar temple, where Lord Nataraja grants darshan to the
couple. Then they return to the temple and accept the feast in the Anna
Mandapam. Devotees carry milk pots and offer full body
circumambulation-angapradakshina.
