Mahalingeswarar Temple,
Thiruvidaimarudur – Worship & Festivals
Worship & Rituals:
The temple priests perform
the pooja (rituals) during festivals and on a daily basis. Like other
Shiva temples of Tamil Nadu, the priests belong to the Saivite community,
a Brahmin sub-caste. The temple rituals are performed six times a day;
Ushathkalam at 6:00 a.m., Kalasanthi at 8:00 a.m., Uchikalam at
10:00 a.m., Sayarakshai at 6:00 p.m., Irandamkalam at 8:00 p.m.
and Ardha Jamam at 9:00 p.m.
Each ritual comprises four
steps: Abhisheka (sacred bath), Alangaram (decoration), naivethanam (food
offering) and deepa aradanai (waving of lamps) for both
Mahalingeswarar and Pirguchuntaragujambigai. The worship is held amidst music
with Nadaswaram (pipe instrument) and tavil (percussion
instrument), religious instructions in the Vedas read by priests and
prostration by worshippers in front of the temple mast.
Festivals:
There are weekly rituals
like Somavaram and Sukravaram, fortnightly rituals
like Pradosham and monthly festivals like Amavasai (new
moon day), Kiruthigai, Pournami (full moon day) and sathurthi.
The most prominent festival of the temple, Thaipoosam, is celebrated for ten
days during the Tamil month of Thai. The festival deity of
Mahalingeswarar and his consorts circumambulate the temple and the
streets in the village in different vehicles. The festival ends
with Theerthavari on the last day. During the Tamil month
of Vaikasi, Thirukalyanam (sacred marriage), Ambal Tapasu (penance of
Ambal), Ambal Thannai Thaane festivals are celebrated.
Thiruvadhirai, Aadippooram and
Karthigai are celebrated in a significant manner. Skanda Sashti, Vasantha
Utsavam, 1,008 Sanghu abishekam (during Karthigai Somavaram) and Shivarathri are
the other festivals celebrated here. During Skanda Sashti, unlike in other
temples, here Lord Muruga receives the `vel' (lance) from Siva. On the
important festivity days like Deepavali, Pongal, Tamil / English New Year Days,
special poojas and Abhishekam are performed.
