Sri Vaikuntanathan Perumal Temple (Kallapiran Temple),
Srivaikundam, Thoothukudi – Festivals
The Garuda Sevai utsavam(festival) in the month of Vaikasi (May
– Jun) witnesses 9 Garudasevai, a spectacular event in which festival image idols from
the Nava Tirupathis shrines in the area are brought on Garuda vahana (sacred vehicle).
An idol of Nammalvar is also brought here on a Anna Vahanam (palanquin)
and his paasurams (verses) dedicated to each of these 9 temples are
recited.
The Utsavar
(festival deity) of Nammalvar is taken in a palanquin to each of the 9 temples,
through the paddy fields in the area. The paasurams (poems) dedicated to
each of the nine Divyadesams are chanted in the respective shrines. This is the
most important of the festivals in this area, and it draws thousands of
visitors.
The
temple follows the traditions of the Thenkalai sect of Vaishnavite tradition and
follows Pancharathra Aagama. 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.
The
temple rituals are performed four times a day: Kalasanthi at
8:00 a.m., Uchikalam at 12:00 p.m, Sayarakshai at
6:00 p.m, & Ardha Jamam at 8:00 p.m. Each ritual has three
steps: Alangaram (decoration), neivethanam (food offering)
and deepa aradanai (waving of lamps) for both Vaikuntanathan and Vaikundavalli.
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.
Important
Festivals celebrated in this temple are;
·
Brahmotsavam
– January or February
·
Pavithra
Utsavam – January or February
·
Vaikunda
Ekadasi – January
·
Pongal –
January
·
Garuda
Sevai utsavam festival – May or June
·
Deepavali
– October or November