Azhagiyasingar Temple, Thiruvali – Religious Practises
& Festivals
The
temple follows the traditions of the Thenkalai sect and follows Vaikasana Aagama. The temple is
open from 7:30 -11:30 am and between 4-7:30 pm. The temple priests perform
the pooja (rituals) during festivals and on a daily basis.
The temple rituals are performed four times a day: Kalasanthi at
8:00 a.m., Uchikalam at
12:00 p.m., Sayarakshai at 5:00 p.m., and Sayarakshai at
7:30 p.m. There are weekly, monthly and fortnightly rituals performed in
the temple.
The
Thirumangai Azhwar Mangalasasana Utsavam is the most prominent festival of the
temple. During the new moon day of the Tamil month Thai (January -
February), the festival
deity of presiding deity
is taken in a Garuda mount to Thirumanimadam from Thiruvali. The major event of the festival
is Garudasevai 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 brought on a Hamsa Vahanam (palanquin)
from Thirunagari 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 the palanquin
to each of the eleven temples and the verses dedicated to the temples are
chanted in the respective shrines.
The
other festivals celebrated in the temple are the ten-day Vaikasi Swathi
festival, Pavitrotsavam during Aani (June - July), Swathi every month,
and Panguni Uthiram during Panguni (March - April). Every year on the
Tamil Panguni month Uthiram first night, the waylaying by the Azhwar and the Thirumandira
Upadesam by the Lord are enacted in a grand festive manner.