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Wednesday, October 19, 2016

Kodi Kuzhagar Temple, Kodiakkarai – Worship Practices & Festivals

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.