Adi Jagannatha Perumal Temple, Thirupullani – Festivals,
Religious Practices & Significance
The
temple priests perform the pooja (rituals) during festivals and on a daily basis.
Like other Vishnu temples of Tamil Nadu, the priests belong to the Vaishnavaite 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 10:00 p.m.
Each
ritual has three steps: Alangaram (decoration), neivethanam (food
offering) and deepa aradanai (waving of lamps) for both Adi
Jagannatha and Padmasini. 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.
Festivals
Brahmotsavam & Rama Navami:
The two
major festivals celebrated in the temple are the Panguni Brahmotsavam for Adi
Jagannathar and Rama Navami Utsavam during the Tamil
month of Chittirai.
In these festivals Lord Jagannatha and Lord Rama appear on Garuda Vahanam.
Jagannatha on the Panguni Uthiram day and Rama on the Chitra Pournami Day come
out in procession.
Darbhai Ashtami:
The
eighth day of the waxing moon in Purattasi/Badra (September - October) is
observed as Darbhai Ashtami and is an annual festival in this shrine.
Other Festivals:
Other
festivals associated with Lord Vishnu like Janmashtami (birth of Krishna),
Vaikunta Ekadasi (December – January), Pongal (January 14th, 15th), Deepavali
(October – November) and weekends attract huge crowds to the temple.