Neelamegha Perumal Temple, Thirukannapuram – Festivals
& Religious Practices
The
temple priests perform the pooja (rituals) during festivals and on a daily basis
based on Vaiksana Agama. As at other Vishnu temples of Tamilnadu, the priests
belong to the Vaishnavaite community, a Brahmin sub-caste. The temple rituals
are performed six times a day: Ushathkalam at 7 a.m., Kalasanthi at
8:00 a.m., Uchikalam at 12:00 p.m., Sayarakshai at
6:00 p.m., Irandamkalam at 7:00 p.m. and Ardha
Jamam at 10:00 p.m. Each ritual has three steps: Alangaram (decoration), neivethanam (food
offering) and deepa aradanai (waving of lamps) for both Neelamegha
Perumal and Tirukannapura Nayagi.
During
the last step of worship, nagaswaram (pipe instrument)
and tavil (percussion
instrument) are played, 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. The major festival, the twelve-day Brahmotsavam is
celebrated during the Tamil
month of Vaikasi (April -
May). Masi Mahotsavam is another ten-day festival during the Tamil month of
Masi (February - March).
During
these festivals the legend of marriage of Padmasini with Sowrirarjan is
enacted. During the festival, sacred water used during the ablution of the
festive deities is distributed to devotees. There are religious discourses,
musical performances and floats organized during the festival. The festival
concludes with Theerthavari in Nitya Pushkarini.
10 day,
day festival (Pagal Pathu in Tamil) begins on the second day of Amavasya-new
moon day in Margazhi covering December-January with Lord’s procession. The
night festival in the same month (Rappathu in Tamil) begins with Vaikunda
Ekadasi day. As the temple is praised as Vaikunda on Earth –Bhooloka Vaikundam,
as established in the words of Saint Nammazhwar, there is no special Sorgavasal
as traditionally seen in Perumal Temples.
First
day of all Tamil months; Ekadasi the 11th day of new moon or full moon days;
Chitra Poornima in April-May; Thiruvaadipooram in July-August; Navarathri in
September-October; Tirukarthikai in November-December; Panguni Uthiram in
March-April; Deepavali, Makara Sankaranthi; Tamil and English New Year days are
also observed as festival days in the temple with special pujas to Lord. Once a
year, on the occasion of Maasi Magam, the Lord is taken on a procession to the
sea shore near Karaikal, about 20 kms from here.