Kallazhagar Temple, Alagarkoil, Madurai - Religious Practises & Festivals
The
temple follows the traditions of the Thenkalai sect of Vaishnavite tradition and follows Vaikhanasa
Aagama. In modern times, the temple priests perform the pooja (rituals) during festivals and on a daily basis.
As at other Vishnu temples of Tamil Nadu, the priests belong to the Vaishnavaite community, a Brahmin sub-caste. Six daily rituals
are held at various times of the day and many yearly festivals are held at the
temple, of which the float festival during the Tamil month of Masi (February – March), Navarathri during September–October and Vaikunta
Ekadasi during Margazhi (December–January)
being the most prominent. There are weekly, monthly and fortnightly rituals
performed in the temple.
Every
year during the Tamil
month of Chithirai, Chithirai Thiruvizha is celebrated. Chithirai Thiruvizha is about
Meenakshi's (Azhakar's Sister) Marriage and Azhakar itself. First 15 days is
about Meenakshi and her marriage and next 15 days is about Azhakar. The main
event is Kallazhagar Crossing the Vaigai River. Millions of people gather in Vaigai
River to see this event. While Kallazhagar enters the river he comes to know
that his sister marriage has been ended already, he returns to Karupparayar
Mandapam and then he takes ten Avatharam then returns to Azhakar Kovil. This
temple got a new Car, after
300 years, built with a team of 15 artisans using Vengai tree wood for the
structure and Burma teakwood for sculptures. The trial run was held on 6 July
2015.
Chithirai Festival:
It is
said that a Vaishnava Nayak King Thirumalai Naayakkar, a great devotee of
Goddess Meenakshi, had a wish to affiliate the Brahmotsavam
Celebrations of Meenakshi Amman temple and Sri
Kallazhagar Perumal Temple. And with this fusion, he
aimed to develop communal geniality between the two different tradition
peoples Saivites (Who worship Lord Shiva as the Supreme Being) and Vaishnavites (Who
worship Lord Vishnu as the Supreme Being).
This
affiliation was happily accepted by both the sects and regarding this,
the king Thirumalai Nayakkar built a Ship shaped Mandapam (hall) on
the Vaigai River, located at the place Vandiyur, named as Thenur Mandapam where
the Mandooga Rishi celebration takes place even today. The famous ‘Madurai Chithirai Thiruvizha‘(Madurai Chithirai Festival) celebrated with a great
grand manner once in a year during the Tamil month of ‘Chithirai’ (April – May)
in the ancient city Madurai, also named as ‘Temple City’ of Tamilnadu.
Chithirai
festival of this temple celebrated for ten days is one of the declared
festivals of Tamilnadu Government. This festival day is declared as Local
Holiday. During the Chithirai Festival celebration, when the celestial
wedding ceremony of Goddess Meenakshi to Lord Sundareswarar is celebrated
in the Madurai City, Lord Kallazhagar travels to Madurai. A gold processional
idol of Lord Kallazhagar is carried by devotees in procession from
Azhagar Kovil to Madurai for wedding ritual.
This
Chithirai Festival is celebrated with two separate events. First event is
for Goddess Meenakshi (Goddess Shakthi) and the continuous event is for Lord Kallazhagar
(Lord Vishnu). These events are called by ‘Meenakshi Sundareswarar
Thirukkalyanam’ (Celestial Wedding Ceremony of Goddess Meenakshi) and
‘Kallazhagar Vaigai Aatril Ezhuntharulal’ (Lord Kallazhagar enters into the
River Vaigai).
In
Chithirai, Lord Kallalagar starts from Alagar Kovil in the form of Kallar and
reaches Madurai on Pournami (Full Moon day). Here he steps into river Vaigai in
his horse Vaganam. Lakhs of devotees flock to river Vaigai to see this event.
“Ethir Sevai” festival is celebrated on the day before Alagar steps into river
Vaigai. It is a tradition for the people of Madurai to welcome Alagar. A legend
is that ‘Lord Kallazhagar’ (Lord Vishnu) came ride on a golden horse to Madurai
from Azhagar Kovil to participate in the Celestial Wedding Ceremony
of His Sister ‘Goddess Meenakshi’ (Goddess Shakthi) and ‘Lord Sundareswarar’ (Lord Shiva).
Kallazhagar
arrives to Madurai late and while gets into the river ‘Vaigai’, He was
instructed about the wedding ceremony that has been ended. He gets angry and
decides to proceed back to home. As Alagar returns from Vandiyur, Dhasavatharam
festival is celebrated throughout the night at Ramarayar Mandapam in the
Northern part of river Vaigai. Before He starts for the Utsavam, a garland of
Tulsi from Srivilliputtur Sri Andal is weared to him. This is done every year
showing and expressing the love of Sri Andal towards Kallazhagar. After this
event Alagar is taken to Mysore Veera Mandapam on decorated Anantharayar
Palanquin. The next morning Alagar in the form of Kallar returns to Alagar
Kovil in ‘Poo Pallakku'(Palanquin decorated with flowers).
However,
He gives the Gifts to the representatives of Goddess Meenakshi and Lord
Sundareswarar that has been already brought from Azhagar Kovil by
him. While Lord Kallazhagar returning back to Azhagar Kovil, He was pleased by
the prayers of ‘Mandooka Rishi’. So he went to Vandiyur Thenur
Mandapam (A Hall with Pillars) to cure the curse of Mandooka Rishi. As per
Mandooka Rishi’s wish Lord Kallazhagar showed him the ‘Dasavatharam’ (All the
ten avatars of Lord Vishnu) postures in Ramarayar Mandapam (A Hall with
Pillars) and blessed him.
‘Lord
Kallazhagar Event’ is an important part of ‘Madurai Chithirai Festival’
celebrated by his devotees in a great grand manner in a time span of four
days in the Madurai City. In the month of April and May, each year the
great Chitra festival is celebrated on Pournami (full moon day). The Festival
dramatically reenacts the visitation of Lord Kallalagar to Madurai from
Alagarkoil. Lakhs of devotees flock to river Vaigai to personally witness the
event of lord Alagar stepping down into the river and to get his blessings.
During
the months of July and August the festival of Aadi Brahmorchavam is being
celebrated for 10 days. This festival occurs within the precincts of the
shrine. Devotees from different parts of Tamilnadu throng to participate in
this festival. The temple car ‘Amaiththa Narayanan’ is taken in procession
during Pournami (Full-Moon day) of Aadi (Brahmorchavam).
Unique Pilgrim Center:
The
Azhvaars have sung in praise of the stories of Lord Vishnu who gives ‘Darshan’
in 108 temples. Divya Prabandham’. Though there are more than 108 temples, only
those temple which have been glorified in the songs of Azhvaars are referred to
as Divya Desams’. Moolavar of this temple is seen carrying five different weapons.
Among them chakra is in launched position.
Other Festivals:
|
S.No
|
Month
|
Festivals
|
|
1
|
Chithirai
|
Chithirai grand festival
|
|
2
|
Vaikasi
|
Vasantha festival
|
|
3
|
Aani
|
Muppala festival
|
|
4
|
Aadi
|
Aadi grand festival
|
|
5
|
Aavani
|
Thiru Pouthira festival
|
|
6
|
Purattasi
|
Navarathri festival
|
|
7
|
Iyppasi
|
Thailakappu (Sri Perumal
visiting Noopura Gangai)
|
|
8
|
Karthigai
|
Karthigai Deepa festival
|
|
9
|
Margazhi
|
Thiruvadhyayana festival
(Pagal Pathu Rappathu festival)
|
|
10
|
Thai
|
Kanu festival
|
|
11
|
Masi
|
Gajendra Motcham
festival, Float festival
|
|
12
|
Panguni
|
Thirukalyana Festival
|