Adikesava Perumal Temple, Sriperumpudur – Worship Practices
& Festivals
The
temple is open from 6:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. to
8:30 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)
& deepa aradanai (waving of lamps) for both adi kesavan and his
consort yathirajavalli. There are weekly, monthly and fortnightly rituals
performed in the temple.
Various
festivals are celebrated in the temple, with the Chittirai Brahmotsavam, Masi
Pooram festival during February - March and Panguni Uthiram festival during
March - April being the most prominent. During Chittirai Brahmotsavam, the
temple car housing the festival deities of Adikesava and Yathirajavalli is
drawn around the streets of Sriperumpudur. The festival car was not operational
for the 25 years preceding 2003 and was resumed from 2003. The festival is
followed by Thiruavadara Utsavam of Ramanuja, the birthday festival of the
saint. On the last Friday of Panguni (March-April) or on the last Friday of
Chithirai, Thirumanjanam is simultaneously performed for Lord Adikesava
Perumal, Mother Yathiraja Valli, Sri Andal and Acharya Sri Ramanuja.
In
Vaikasi (May-June), the Adhi Kesava Perumal Vasantha Uthsavam is popular. On
festival days, the Utsava Murthy (processional image) is decorated with jewels,
dressed in glittering robes and Ramanuja carries a sword symbolic of his status
as the king of saints. The image is brought to the garden after a ride in the
temple car in the morning. Before the Thirumanjanam (ablution), the jewels and
robes are removed and the icon can be seen in all its original glory with the
back of the head shaped like a hooded serpent, reminding viewers that he was
the incarnation of Adisesha, Vishnu’s iconic serpent. Devotees eagerly wait to
see the Thirumanjanam and the Pushpa Pallakku (flower decorated palanquin) that
follows. The temple is maintained and administered by the Hindu Religious and
Endowment Board of the Government of Tamilnadu.
Major
Festivals are listed below;
Tamil Month
|
Name of Uthsavam
|
Chitrai ( April-May)
|
Bashyakara Avathara Uthsavam for - 10 days
|
Chitrai ( April-May)
|
Adhi Kesava Perumal's Uthsavam for 10 days
|
Vaikasi ( May - June)
|
Adhi Kesava Perumal's Vasantha Uthsavam
|
Aani ( June - July )
|
Jestabishekam
|
Aadi July - August)
|
Andal Uthsavam
|
Avani ( August - September)
|
Perumal's Pavithra Uthsavam)
|
Navarathri Uthsavam
|
|
Aipasi
|
Manavala Mamunigal - 10 days Uthsavam
|
Dhannur
|
Dhannur Masa Usthavam
|
Thai
|
Koorath Alwar Usthavam
|
Panguni
|
Rama Navami
|