Friday, February 3, 2017

Vedarajan Temple, Thirunagari – Religious Practises & Festivals

Vedarajan Temple, Thirunagari – Religious Practises & Festivals
The temple follows the traditions of the Thenkalai sect of Vaishnavite tradition and follows Vaikasana Aagama. The temple is open from 7:30 -11:30 am and between 4-9:30 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 Aravanai Pooja at 8:00 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 Thirumangai Azhwar is taken to the Thirumanimadam from Thirunagari. The major event of the festival is Garudasevai in which the festival images of the 11 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) 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. The verses dedicated to each of the eleven temples are chanted in the respective shrines. This is one of the most important festivals in the region attended by thousands of pilgrims.
The other festivals celebrated in the temple are the ten-day Vaikasi Swathi festival, Thai 12 Garuda Sevai, Pavitrotsavam during Aani (June - July), 10 days of Brahmotsavam in Panguni and Panguni Uthiram during Panguni (March - April). Every year, in the month of Panguni (March 15 to April 15 normally), in the night of the star Uthiram, the waylaying (Vedupariutsavam) by the Azhwar and the Thirumandira Upadesam by the Lord are enacted in a grand festive manner.