Vanamamalai Perumal Temple, Nanguneri – Festivals &
Religious Practices
The temple priests perform the pooja (rituals) during festivals and on a daily
basis based on Vaikasana Agama. As at other Vishnu temples of Tamil Nadu, the
priests belong to the Vaishnavite 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: Alankaram (decoration), neivethanam (food
offering) and Deepa aradanai (waving of lamps) for both Vanamamalai
Perumal and Thayar.
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. Chithirai Brahmmotsavam in
April-May and the second in Panguni (March-April) are the two festivals of
importance in the temples besides festivals related to Lord Vishnu.
Vishnu is considered as Alankara piriyar (one
who prefers decoration), and Shiva as abisheka
priyar (one who prefers ablution). Vanamamalai temple is one of the few
Vishnu temples where ablution is done for the presiding deity on a daily basis.
At around 7 am every day, ablution is performed on the presiding deity with
milk, curd and other pooja items. The ghee used for ablution is poured in
the oil well in the temple, which is considered sacred. During the
festival occasions, the festival idols are brought to the Vanamamalai Mutt
located outside the premises of the temple. This temple is administered by the
Vanamamalai Jeeyar Mutt.
