Sankara Narayanan Temple, Sankarankovil – Festivals
Following
are the major festivals celebrated in this temple;
·
Chithirai Brahmotsavam (10
days) (April)
·
Adi Thapasu festival (12
days) (August)
·
Aippasi Thirukalyanam
festival (10 days) (October)
·
Theppam floating festival
- Thai last Friday (February)
·
September/October
Navarathri Festival 10 Days
·
October Kanthasasthi
Festival 7 Days
·
December/January
Thiruvempavai Festival 11 Days
·
February Theppam Floating
Festival (Thai Last Friday)
Festival of Lord Shiva granting darshan to Nayanmars:
The
festival of Lord Shiva seated on his bull vehicle Nandhi granting Darshan to 63
Nayanmars takes place during Chithirai (April-May) and Margazhi
(December-January) months.
Annabishekam:
While
Annabishekam is performed in Shiva temples in
Aipasi-October-November, this takes place here on the first day of Aipasi
and also in Chithirai-April-May with a prayer that the year should begin
without shortage of food grains in the beginning of the year (Chithirai is the
first month of Tamil year) and Aipasi happens to be the beginning of auspicious
days.
Aadi Thapasu Festival:
Thapasu
means penance. Mother Parvathi took to penance to have the darshan of Lord
Shiva and Lord Vishnu combined as Sankara Narayana. This is the festival
called Aadi Thapasu running for 12 days. As this is a festival exclusively for
Ambica, She alone comes in the car procession. On the last day, Ambica
goes to the Thapasu Mandapa with a bag of sacred ashes – Vibhuti. Lord
Sankaranarayana grants darshan to Ambica in the evening and enters the temple
on the elephant vaahana together.
Vaikunda Ekadesi:
It is
also noteworthy that Vaikunda Ekadasi in December-January is celebrated with
equal festivity as in Vishnu temples for which a Sorga Vasal is constructed in
the temple. Lord Vishnu grants darshan in a palanquin in reclining
form.
Skanda Sashti:
As a
custom, on the Skanda Sashti festival of destroying demon Soorapadman, Lord
Muruga appears with a single face only in the Subramanya form. He graces
with six faces that day in this temple. The wedding festival of Deivanai
is celebrated the next day.