Bhaktajaneswarar Temple, Thirunavalur – Religious
Importance & Festivals
Sundarar, an 8th-century Tamil Saivite poet,
venerated Bhaktajaneswarar 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 276 temples that find mention in the Saiva
canon. During three days of March, the Sun rays fall directly on the image in
the sanctum. 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. and Sayarakshai at
6:00 p.m. Each ritual comprises four steps: abhisheka (sacred
bath), alangaram (decoration), naivethanam (food offering) and deepa
aradanai (waving of lamps) for Bhaktajaneswarar & Gnanambigai.
Temple Pujas are followed in accordance with the Kamika
Agamam. 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. Sundarar Janana
festival during the Tamil
month of Aavani (August -
September) and Sundarar Guru Poojai on Swathi Star day during the month of Aadi
are the most important festivals of the temple. Chithirai Car Festival
(April–May) 15 days. Chitra new Year day is very grandly celebrated. Pujas are
performed to Panchamurthis and Sundarar.
Thirunavalur-Pooram Star day in Adi month (July–August)
is the festival for Goddess Manonmani. Special pujas are performed to Goddess
Manonmani and Durga on Tuesdays, Fridays. Rahu kala puja is observed on
Tuesdays for Goddess Durga between 3.00 p.m. to 4.30 p.m. Women gather in large
numbers for this Rahu kala Puja. Special Puja is performed on Fridays for the
Linga installed by Shukra with butter, white ghee, beans, white silk. Thursday
Puja is performed to Lord Dakshinamurthy with yellow clothing, yellow flowers,
yellow pulse. Every religious day will be a festival in Thirunavalur temple and
on Pradosha days drawing huge crowd of devotees.