Friday, February 3, 2017

Thirumanancheri Udhvaganathar Temple – Marriage Delay Procedure

Thirumanancheri Udhvaganathar Temple – Marriage Delay Procedure
The temple is known over the world for wedding prayers. Any obstacle in the way disappears, it is believed. Kalyana archana is very famous in this temple which the devotee performs both before and after marriage offering two coconuts, two garlands, turmeric, kumkum, camphor, betel nuts, lime fruit, sugar and sugar candy an important item in in marriage functions. After worshipping at the shrines of all deities, devotees sit in two rows in the hall before Lord Kalayana Sundarar shrine, one seeking wedding boon, the other blessed with the boon. 
The priest collects the puja materials from the devotees & performs the archanas. He gives back garlands to the devotees. Couples exchange it between themselves and to those awaiting marriage, the priest himself places it on the devotee. The priest will then give instructions to the devotees as to what should they do next. It is said that the lime fruit offered to the devotee ensures health to the devotee, the garland the happiness, vibhuti to bless his/her wish, kumkum the blessing of Mahalakshmi and the turmeric all auspiciousness. 
Devotees keep the garland in their houses with reverence. They make juice of the lime and consume it the next day before food. After the marriage takes place, the devotee should bring back the old garland and return it to Lord Kalyanasundarar and thus complete the course of worship. 
Step – 1: Go into the temple; you will see Selva Ganapathy on the left; pray him first.
Step – 2: Then pray Lord Shiva (Sri Udhvaganathar Swami) and go to (Parvathi) Amman Sannithi on the right. Meenakshi Amman here appears as a 13-year old Kokilambal, head slanted to her right, with three bends (“naanikkoni’). This posture is before her marriage.
Step – 3: On the left side of this huge Main mandapam is the most important Kalyana Sundareswarar Sannithi and Mandapam. Enter the mandapam and turn left; light the ghee Deepams here, right opposite to the Kalyana Sundareswarar Sannithi (but do not light Raghu doshams Deepams here; Mangala Raagu has a separate place for ghee Dheepam); Kalyana Sundareswarar deities are in marriage kolam; Meenakshi is on his right looking at the floor in kalyana kolam; hence married girls should always stand on the right hand side of the groom during all auspicious functions; the priests perform the rituals here to remove our marriage obstacles. Details are given below.
Step – 4: As soon as you light the Deepams, wait for the next batch; only girls and boys concerned are seated inside the enclosure and those accompanying should sit around this enclosure; couples who come after marriage to complete the rituals (and the parents of boys/girls who are unable to come in person also can sit inside the enclosure; if you are parent(s) inform the priest as soon as you enter the enclosure).
The priests brief you first regarding the Do’s and Don’ts; then collect all the garlands and the archana tickets first; they keep all garlands at the feet of the god, return one garland each to the spouse to be worn; parents must keep it in their hands; Sankalpam is done and the thattu is taken away; (parents should tell the boy/girl’s Gothram/name/star and not theirs); archana follows, coconuts are broken, thattus are returned after aarthi as usual; drop Rs.10 or Rs.20 in the plate (thattu) for the priests.
Dos and Don’ts as informed by priests here:
Vibuthi, kumkum (plus manjal for girls) are to be used, after prayers, for one Mandalam (45 days or till they last) by the boys/girls only and not by others in the family. Lemon should be drunk, without adding salt or sugar, by the boys/girls only and not by others; the next morning after bathing the boy/girl should pray wearing this garland and then drink the lemon juice with a little water. Then retain the garland in a cloth bag (manjal pai), not in plastic bag, till marriage is over and come again with spouse; the same garland is finally put in the temple tank here. Coconuts can be used by the entire family for cooking.
Step – 5: After these rituals at the Kalyana Sundareswarar Sannithi, go and pray Shiva again. Normally no separate archana is done here.
Step – 6: Pray Raagu. Mangala Raagu here in the north of inner praharam is special for Puthira dosha nivarthi; normal ghee Dheepam available near Raagu, should be lit only by the boy or the girl or one of the parents if the boy/girl has not come.
Full procedure for Puthira dosha Pariharam:
Take bath in the thirukulam nearby on Amavasai day and take Paal Payasam for Puthira Bagyam; childless couple should offer ghee which is returned as Prasadam which is to be taken at night for 48 days by the couple.