Wednesday, July 27, 2016

Ulagalantha Perumal Temple, Kanchipuram – Worship Practices & Festivals

Ulagalantha Perumal Temple, Kanchipuram – Worship Practices & Festivals

Worship Practices:

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 Vaishnavite community, one of Brahmin sub-caste. The temple rituals are performed six times a day: Ushathkalam at 7.00 a.m., Kalasanthi at 8:00 a.m., Uchikalam at 12:00 p.m., Sayarakshai at 6:00 p.m., Irandam Kalam 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 Ulagalantha Perumal and Amuthavalli. During the last step of worship, Nadaswaram (pipe instrument) & 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.

Festivals:

There are weekly, monthly and fortnightly rituals performed in the temple. There are two major festivals celebrated in the temple – Brahmotsavam during the Tamil month of Thai (January - February) and Vamana Jayanthi during the Tamil month of Avani (August - September) on Sravanam star. Vaikunda Ekadasi is grandly celebrated in the temple in Tamil Margazhi covering December-January. Onam Festival. Navaratri, Karthigai, Panguni Utsavam are the other festivals celebrated with much fanfare.