Kodi Kuzhagar Temple, Kodiakkarai – Worship Practices
& Festivals
Worship Practices:
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 Shaivite 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: Abhishekam (sacred
bath), Alangaram (decoration), neivethanam (food offering)
and deepa aradanai (waving of lamps) for both Kuzhagar and Thadangani
Amman. The worship is held amidst music with Nadaswaram (pipe instrument)
and tavil (percussion instrument), religious instructions in the Vedas (sacred
texts) read by priests and prostration by worshippers in front of the temple
mast.
Festivals:
Ten days Vaikasi Visakam festival (May-Jun) and Six days
Aippasi Skanda Sashti festival (Oct–Nov) are the most famous festivals
celebrated in this
temple. Aani Thirumanjanam (Jun-Jul), Avani Vinayagar Chathurthi (Aug-Sep),
Thai Poosam (Jan-Feb) and Masi Maha Shivaratri (Feb-Mar) are the other
festivals celebrated here. Somavaram (Mondays), Sukravaram (Fridays), Amavasai
(new moon day), Pournami (full moon day)
and Kiruthigai are considered special here. Monthly pradoshams are also
observed here.