Jambukeswarar Temple, Thiruvanaikaval - Festivals
Annual
festivals here include the Panguni Brahmotsavam, Vasanta Utsavam, Karthigai
Deepam, Margazhi Thiruvathirai Utsavam, the float festival in Thai (Capricorn),
Aadi Pooram (Cancer) and the Pancha Prakara festival.
Pancha Praharam (Brahmotsavam):
A number
of festivals take place in this temple throughout the year The Mandala 'Brahmotsavam',
celebrated in the Tamil months of Panguni and Chithirai (March-
April), lasts for 40 days and attracts thousands of devotees from surrounding
places.
The myth
behind this is, once Lord Brahma (the Creator) became very proud on himself as
a creator and he fell in love with one of the beautiful girl he has created and
because of this he began to lose his powers and people created by him turned
vicious and died an early age. Then Brahma realizing his mistake prayed to
Shiva to wash out his sin. He came to this “Jambu Vanam” and started to do
penance on Lord Siva. He created a “Theertham” (Spring) and took a
dip every day before pooja. His Shiva pooja lasted for One “Mandalam” (40
days). The Theertham created by him is called “Brahma Theertham” (which you can
see at the 4th Praharam South Car Street).
Shiva
wanted to test him whether he could be distracted again from his duty as a
creator. Siva and Parvathi exchanged their dresses and appeared before Brahma.
Brahma recognized Siva and prayed to him to forgive his sins and so did Shiva.
That Brahmotsavam is
still celebrated in the month of 'Panguni'. On the 37th day of the
Brahmotsavam the Pancha-Prakara (5 Praharams) festival is conducted. In this
festival Shiva is dressed like a Parvathi and Parvathi as Shiva were taken out
in procession in all the five Praharams (enclosures) of the temple. This
procession lasts for one night and one day. This is the only day Lord Shiva and
Devi Parvathi were taken in procession on the 5th praharam.
Aadi Pooram:
“Aadi
Pooram” is another sacred festival in this temple. It’s a ten days festival.
The tenth day will fall on the star “Pooram” which is the star of Annai
“Akilandeswari”. On all these ten days Akilandeswari will be taken out as
procession in the 4th praharam. Each day Akilandeswari will come in
different “Vahanams” (like Rishabha, Pushpa Pallakku, Annapakshi, etc.). Aadi Pooram
is celebrated for 12 days.
Aadi Velli:
Tamil
month “Aadi” is an auspicious and only in this month you will come
across five Fridays. All these Fridays are very auspicious for Annai
Akilandeswari. Hundreds of thousands of devotees will visit and pray to
Akilandeswari on those Fridays. You can see non-stop crowd from the dawn to the
dusk in the temple.
Aadi Theppam:
Theppam
festival (Float Festival will be celebrated in this temple. Theppotsavam in
Thai and Aadi – Only temple to have two Theppam Festival – as this is a Neer
Sthalam.
Thai Poosam:
Like “Pancha
Praharam” another important festival is “Thai Poosam”. On the day when the star
is “Poosam” in the Tamil month of “Thai” (January – February); The Lord and
Devi are taken as a procession to the “Poosa Mandapam” on banks of river “Coleroon”
for “Theerthavari” (Coleroon is a river branched from river Cauvery at Mukkombu
just few kilometers West of Srirangam -Thiruvanaikoil island and again merges
and splits at “Grand Anaicut” (Kallanai)). Thai Poosam is the only day when the
Lord and Devi leave away from 5th Praharam.
Vasantha Urchavam:
Vasantha
Urchavam (Autumn festival) is celebrated for 10 Days in the month of 'Vaikasi' (May
- June).
Navarathri:
Navarathri
is celebrated for 10 days in the month 'Purattasi'.
Thai Theppam:
Theppa
Urchavam (Float Festival) is celebrated for 12 days in the month of 'Thai' (January-February).
Theppotsavam in Thai and Aadi – Only temple to have two Theppam Festival – as
this is a Neer Sthalam.
Panguni Ther (Car Festival):
Ther
Thiruvizha (Car Festival) will be celebrated in this temple in the month of
Panguni.
Pidari Amman Festival:
'Pidari'
Amman Thiruvizha is celebrated for 7 days in the month of 'Maasi' (February-March).
