Oondreeswarar Temple, Poondi – Religious Importance
& Festivals
Sundarar, an 8th Century Tamil Saivite poet,
venerated Oondreeswarar in ten verses in Thevaram, compiled as the Ninth
Thirumurai. As the temple is revered in Thevaram,
it is classified as Paadal Petra Sthalam, one of the 275 temples that find mention in the Saiva
canon. This is the 17th Devaram Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam in Thondai
Nadu.
The temple priests perform the puja (rituals) during festivals and on a daily basis.
The temple rituals are performed three times a day; Kalasanthi at
8:00 a.m, Uchikalam at 12:00 a.m & Sayarakshai at
6:00 p.m. Each ritual comprises four steps: Abishekam (sacred bath), Alangaram (decoration), neivethanam (food offering)
and Deepa aradanai (waving of lamps) for Oondreeswarar and Minnoli
Ambal.
Unlike other Shiva temples, anointing with oil is not
performed in the temple. 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. Brahmotsavam during the Tamil
month of Vaikasi (May -
June) is the most important festivals of the temple. Masi Mahasivarathri in
February-March, Aipasi Annabishekam in October - November, Tirukarthikai in
November - December are the other major festivals celebrated in this temple.