Thirukkadigai, Sholinghur – Prayers
The
belief is that by worshipping this Lord, the problems of mental disability,
witchcraft and incurable diseases get dissolved. For conjugal problems,
sterility and marriage impediments, the devotees offer prayers and are
alleviated from their distresses. People have faith that to offer worship in
this sacred place will relieve them from troubles such as loss in business,
poverty and sorrow of old age. The unshakeable belief of the devotees is, by
piling the stones and building a tower around the hill-path will give them
sanction to buy a new plot or build a new house.
The
traditional faith is that by taking a bath in the Narsimha pond will annihilate
a person’s Brahmahatti sin. To perform charitable acts and distribute alms is
equivalent visiting Gaya. Those who pray for issues, those with mental disorder
and incurable diseases bathe in the pond and worship the Lord of the hill and
Anjaneyar. The important offerings dedicated by the devotees are to offer
rock-candy, jaggery, plantain fruits, give clothes, curd-rice, and conduct
Abhishekam and poojas.
On all
Fridays Abhishekam is performed to both the Lord and his Spouse. The ingredients
used for the abishekam such as milk, curd, honey and sugar are known as
‘Panchamritham’ and are distributed as prasadam (the Lord’ blessings). If
anyone pays the prayer-fees to Thaayar (Goddess), Utsavam is conducted for her.
The devotees serve the Lord in different ways like creating temporary halls
when the Lord goes in procession, building stone-halls and creating endowments.
Devotees
believe that if a person visits the temple and spends 24 minutes on the hill,
he/she will attain Moksham (salvation). The temple also attracts devotees who
are in search of cures for mental disability and chronic diseases. Devotees
perform Girivalam, (circumambulation of the hill) on Pournami days (full moon).
On Sundays in Karthigai (November-December), people worship at this temple
after taking a bath in the temple tank, Chakra Theertham. They lie flat on
every step as they climb, as a penance. Devotees believe that the Lord comes
and fulfils their wishes in their dreams.
