Tuesday, June 20, 2017

Apatsahayesvarar Temple (Guru Sthalam), Alangudi – Festivals

Apatsahayesvarar Temple (Guru Sthalam), Alangudi – Festivals
The temple priests perform the puja (rituals) during festivals and on a daily basis. The temple rituals are performed six times a day; Kalasanthi at 6:00 a.m., Irandam Kalam at 9:00 a.m., Uchikalam at 12:00 a.m., Sayarakshai at 6:00 p.m, Irandam Kalam at 7:30 p.m., and Arthajamam at 9:00 p.m.. Each ritual comprises four steps: abishekam (sacred bath), Alankaram (decoration), neivethanam (food offering) and Deepa aradanai (waving of lamps) for Apatsahayesvarar and Elavarkuzhali.
There are weekly rituals like Somavaram (Monday) and Sukravaram (Friday), fortnightly rituals like Pradosham, and monthly festivals like Ammavasai (new moon day), kiruthigai, Pournami (full moon day) and Sathurthi. Other festivals include Vinayaka Chaturthi, Aadi Pooram, Navarathri, Aippasi Pournami, Skanda Sashti, Karthikai Deepam, Arudra Dharisanam, Tai Poosam, Maasi Magam, Panguni Uttiram and Vaikasi Visakam. The major festival of the temple is the Brahmotsavam celebrated during the Tamil month of Chittirai (April–June), when special worship practices are followed and the festival image of the deity is taken around the streets of Alangudi.
Special abishek and pujas are conducted in the Abathsahayeswarar temple for Guru Dakshinamurthy of Thursday in the month of Masi –February-March. Married women change their Mangalsutra thread. Women with auspicious Guru-Jupiter aspects are lucky ones with long married life. Masi Thursday is considered very important for Guru Worship. This day has greater significance in Jupiter-Guru related issues than his transit days from one zodiac sign to the next each year. Guru Peyarchi (the planet’s transit from one house to another) occurs every year. This is an important festival and attracts many people who want to get married or arrange suitable alliances for their children. Thursdays are also considered special.