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.