Thiruvellakkulam (Annan Perumal Temple), Thirunangur –
Worship Practices & Festivals
The
temple is open from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. The temple priests
perform the pooja (rituals) during festivals and on a daily basis.
As at other Vishnu temples of Tamilnadu, the priests belong to the Vaishnavaite community, a
Brahmin sub-caste. The temple rituals are performed four times a
day: Ushathkalam at 8 a.m., Kalasanthi at
10:00 a.m., Sayarakshai at 5:00 p.m. and Ardha
Jamam at 7:00 p.m. Each ritual has three steps: Alangaram (decoration), neivethanam (food
offering) and deepa aradanai (waving of lamps) for both Srinivasaperumal
and his consort Alarmelmangai.
During
the worship, 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. During the new moon day of the Tamil month Thai,
the festival
deity of Thirumangai
Azhwar is brought to the temple from Thiruvali-Thirunagari. The Thirumangai Azhwar Mangalasasana Utsavam is
celebrated in the Tamil month of Thai (January–February).
The
highlight of the festival is Garudasevai, an event in which the festival
images of the eleven Thirunangur Tirupathis are brought on mount designed like Garuda, called Garuda Vahana, to Thirunangur. The festive image of Thirumangai
Azhwar is also brought on a Hamsa Vahanam (palanquin) and
his paasurams (verses) dedicated to each of these eleven temples are
recited during the occasion. The festival images of Thirumangai Alvar and his
consort Kumudhavalli Naachiyar are taken in a palanquin to each of the eleven
temples.
The
verses dedicated to each of the eleven temples are chanted in the respective
shrines. This is one of the most important festivals in the region which draws
thousands of visitors. Kaisika Ekadesi/Dwadasi Avathara Utsavam and annual Brahmotsavam
is celebrated in the Tamil month of Purattaasi are the other festivals
celebrated in this temple with much fanfare.