Mangalanathaswamy Temple, Uthirakosamangai – Worship
& Festivals
The
temple priests perform the puja (rituals) during festivals and on a daily basis.
Like other Shiva temples of Tamil Nadu, the priests belong to the Shaiva community, a Brahmin sub-caste.
The
temple rituals are performed six times a day; Ushathkalam at 5:30 a.m.,
Kalasanthi at 8:00 a.m., Uchikalam at 10:00 a.m., Sayarakshai at
5:00 p.m., Irandamkalam at 7:00 p.m. and Ardha Jamam at
8:00 p.m.
Each
ritual comprises four steps: Abhisheka (sacred bath), Alangaram (decoration), neivethanam (food
offering) & Deeparadhana (waving of lamps) for all the deities in the
temple.
The
worship is held amidst music with nagaswaram (pipe instrument), religious instructions in
the Vedas
(sacred texts) read by priests and prostration by
worshippers in front of the temple mast.
There
are weekly rituals like Somavaram (Monday)
and sukravaram (Friday), fortnightly rituals like Pradosham and
monthly festivals like Amavasai (new moon day), Kiruthigai, Pournami (full
moon day) and sathurthi.
The
major festival of the temple are Tirukalyana Vaibhavam (sacred marriage) during
the Tamil month of Chittirai(April–May), Vasanthorsavam during Vaigasi (May–June),
Pathunal Siva Uthsavam during Aaani (July–August), Annabishekam during Aipasi
(October–November), Tiruvathidirai during Margazhi (December–January) and Sivarathri during Masi (February–March). The Tiruvathidirai
festival in December attracts a large number of tourists.
Arudhra Festival:
The annual Arudra festival of Lord Shiva that occurs in Margazhi (December – January) attracts a large number of devotees. Only on this day, the sandalwood paste is removed and all the abhishekams (ablutions) and poojas are performed to the original emerald icon. When milk is poured over the Maragatham linga, it glitters like a green diamond. On all other days the abhishekams and poojas are performed to the 6” Urchavar lingam (processional icon) made of spatikam (crystal).
The annual Arudra festival of Lord Shiva that occurs in Margazhi (December – January) attracts a large number of devotees. Only on this day, the sandalwood paste is removed and all the abhishekams (ablutions) and poojas are performed to the original emerald icon. When milk is poured over the Maragatham linga, it glitters like a green diamond. On all other days the abhishekams and poojas are performed to the 6” Urchavar lingam (processional icon) made of spatikam (crystal).