Friday, June 23, 2017

Azhagiya Manavala Perumal Temple, Woraiyur – Religious Practices

Azhagiya Manavala Perumal Temple, Woraiyur – Religious Practices
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 Vaishnavite community, a Brahmin sub - caste. The temple rituals are performed six times a day: Ushathkalam at 7 a.m., Kalasanthi at 8:00 a.m., Uchikalam at 12:00 p.m., Sayarakshai at 6:00 p.m., Irandamkalam at 7:00 p.m. and Ardha Jamam at 8:00 p.m. Each ritual has three steps: Alankaram (decoration), neivethanam (food offering) and Deepa aradanai (waving of lamps) for both Azhagiya Manavalan and Kamalavalli.
During the last step of worship, nagaswaram (pipe instrument) and tavil (percussion instrument) are played, religious instructions in the Vedas (sacred text) are recited by priests, and worshippers prostrate themselves in front of the temple mast. There are weekly, monthly and fortnightly rituals performed in the temple. Instead of Kumkum Prasad usually offered in Vishnu temples, sandal is offered in this temple. In the nivedhanas, pepper only is used and not chillies.