Amritaghateswarar Abirami Temple, Thirukkadaiyur – Worship
& Festivals
Worship
is offered six times a day at this temple. Almost every day at the temple
begins with one celebration or other, as hundreds of pilgrims throng the temple
to celebrate their sixtieth or eightieth birthdays. Based on the legend of
Markandeya, it is believed that worshipping at this temple will give longevity
to couples who have reached age sixty or eighty-one. A service called
Sashtiaptha Poorthy (Tamil: "completion of sixty years") is celebrated
in honor of a husband's sixtieth birthday and Sadhabishegam (Sanskrit:
"Eighty-One") is celebrated in honor of his eighty-first birthday.
The
annual Brahmotsavam is celebrated in the month of Chithirai
(April–May) here. The Shankha-Abhisheka, a festival of the Divine Mother celebrated
in the month of Karthikai (November–December), is also of great importance
here. Other festivals celebrated at this temple in honor of the Divine Mother
include Navarathri and Aadi Pooram, a festival celebrating the
day that Abhirami attained her menarche.
18 day
Yama Samharam in Chithirai month – April-May beginning on the Magam Star day
with Lord’s procession each day, Kalasamhara Murthy darshan on the 6th day;
Karthikai Monday abishek with 1008 conches; Purattasi Navarathri in
September-October; one day Margazhi Vishi Padam festival in December-January;
Aadi Pooram in July-August; Aipasi Skanda Sasti in October-November; Maha
Shivrathri in February-March and Panguni Uthiram in March-April are the
festivals celebrated in the temple.
The
temple follows a devotional practice of Andhadhi Parayanam and worshipping the
Moon on the New Moon day of Thai month – January-February. Devotee crowd in the
temple will be huge on Pradosha days. Other general festivals as Deepavali,
Pongal, Tamil and English New Year days are also observed in the temple with
special abisheks and pujas.
