Friday, September 15, 2017

Devi Kanyakumari Temple (Bhagavathy Amman Temple), Kanyakumari – Poojas & Worship Practices

Devi Kanyakumari Temple (Bhagavathy Amman Temple), Kanyakumari – Poojas & Worship Practices
For thousands of years, this southern-most tip of the sub-continent has been one of India's main pilgrimage sites, as bathing in Kanya Kumari's waters is said to absolve one of all sins. The tradition here is to take a holy dip at the bathing Ghat at the confluence of the three seas. There are about 25 Theerthams on the shores. The puja’s in this Kumari Amman Temple are carried out according to the Tanthrasamuchayam like the temples in Kerala. Even though the temple is situated in Tamilnadu, the Kanyakumari Kumari Amman Temple is considered as a Kerala temple since it was once part of the erstwhile Travancore kingdom.
Like most of the Bhagavathy temples in Kerala the shine is opened in the Western door. The eastern door in opened only in certain days of a year on the new moon days in the months of Thai, Aadi (Karkidaka) July, during Navaratri and in the month of Karthikai. The priests are still chosen from Kerala Brahmin families and they still adhere to the Kerala type of five pujas per day. For the purpose of rites and rituals in the temple the Bhagavathy is imagined as (Sankalpam) as Balambikai, the kid goddess. The goddess is considered as Devi Katyayani, one of the Nava Durga here. She is also considered as Bhadrakali Bhagavathy by devotees while worshipping her.
New Red Sarees, and Ghee wick lamps are offered to the goddess by devotees. Reciting Lalita Sahasranama while approaching & circumambulating the temple is considered auspicious. The location Kanyakumari, i.e. southern tip of India has been held sacred by Hindus' as it is the confluence of three seas. Pitru Tarpan and taking bath in the sea is done in the Kanyakumari beach as it the convergence of many important theertha. There are a total of 11 Theerthams associated with the temple in the ocean surrounding Kanyakumari.