Panchavarnaswamy Temple, Woraiyur – Worship Practices
& Festivals
The
temple priests perform the puja (rituals) during festivals and on a daily basis.
Like other Shiva temples of Tamil Nadu, the priests belong to the Shaiva community, a Brahmin sub-caste. The temple rituals
are performed six times a day; Ushathkalam at 5:30 a.m., Kalasanthi at
8:00 a.m., Uchikalam at 10:00 a.m., Sayarakshai at 5:00 p.m.,
Irandamkalam at 7:00 p.m. and Ardha Jamam at 8:00 p.m. Each ritual
comprises four steps: Abishekam (sacred bath), Alankaram (decoration), neivethanam (food
offering) and Deepa aradanai (waving of lamps) for both
Panchavarnaswamy and Amman.
The
worship is held amidst music with nagaswaram (pipe instrument) and tavil (percussion instrument), religious instructions in
the Vedas (sacred texts) read by priests and prostration by
worshippers in front of the temple mast. Four worship services are offered each
day. There are weekly rituals like Somavaram (Monday) and Sukravaram (Friday),
fortnightly rituals like Pradosham and monthly festivals like Ammavasai (new
moon day), Kiruthigai, Pournami (full moon day) and Sathurthi.
Chitra
Poornima in April-May, Vaikasi Brahmmotsavam in May-June, Aani Tirumanjanam in
June-July, Aadi Poornima in July-August (it is on this day Lord showed five
colours to Udanga Rishi), Aavani Moola in August-September, Navarathri in
September-October, Aipasi Poornima Annabishekam in October-November, Margazhi
Tiruvadhirai in December-January, Thai Poosam in January-February, Mahasivarathri
in February-March and Panguni Uthiram in March-April are the festivals
celebrated in the temple.
