Bhu Varaha Swamy Temple, Srimushnam – Festivals &
Religious Practices
Religious
Practices:
The temple follows the traditions of the Thenkalai sect of Vaishnavite tradition and follows Vaikanasa
Aagama. The temple priests perform the pooja (rituals) during festivals and on a daily basis.
As at other Vishnu temples of Tamil Nadu, the priests belong to the Vaishnavite community, a Brahmin sub-caste. The temple rituals
are performed six times a day: Ushathkalam at 7
a.m., Kalasanthi at 8:00 a.m., Uchikalam at
12:00 p.m., Sayarakshai at 6:00 p.m., Irandamkalam at
7:00 p.m. and Ardha Jamam at 8:30 p.m.
Each ritual has three steps: Alangaram (decoration), neivethanam (food
offering) and Deepa aradanai (waving of lamps) for both Sri BhuVaraha Swamy Perumal and Sri Ambujavalli Thayar. During the last step of
worship, nagaswaram (pipe
instrument) and tavil (percussion instrument) are played, religious
instructions in the Vedas (sacred text) are recited by priests, and
worshippers prostrate themselves in front of the temple mast. There are weekly, monthly and fortnightly rituals
performed in the temple.
Festivals:
Some of the festivals of the temple has been practiced
during the Nayak times as indicated by the inscriptions on the walls of the
first precinct. The inscriptions indicate patronage for the festivals to be
conducted during the presence of Sun in 12 zodiac signs during various months
of the year. The usage of processional vehicles during this occasion is also
prescribed. The temple follows Pancharatra mode of worship. There are two
Brahmotsavams celebrated in the temple, one each during the Tamil
month of Masi and other
during the month of Chittirai (April -May).
Masi Brahmotsavam:
10 day Masi Magam (February-March) Brahmmotsavam is
celebrated in a grand manner beginning on the Bharani star day when the Lord
visits the sea. Before his arrival at the sea side Perumal travels through a
mosque in Thaikal village where a Nawab was placed in rest. The Lord
acknowledges the pooja offered at the Mosque area and visits the palace of the
Nawab. This is a very strange and secular tradition followed in the festival.
This festival is a symbol of Hindu - Muslim unity in the
region, with the flag of the temple chariot offered by the local Muslims. They
also accept the offerings from the festival deity and present it to Allah in the mosques. The Muslim devotees thank Allah to
have brought Bhu Varaha Swamy to their place. The temple is one of the few
temples where Muslims are allowed to worship till the Ardha Mandapam.
Chithirai Brahmotsavam:
The Tamil New Year heralds the next Brahmotsavam in the
Srimushnam temple. During the month of April–May, 10 days Chitrai
Utsavam is celebrated. Varaha, avatar of Vishu, along with his consorts Sreedevi
and Bhudevi, go around the four mada streets around the
temple. This culminates in the celebration of the "float festival"
- Theppotsavam - in the 'Nithya Pushkarini'. The Lord and his two
consorts, accompanied by their retinue, then go for a boat ride in the
illuminated temple cistern. During the Brahmotsavam, the vehicle festival attracts people from all around the
neighbourhood.
Navarathri:
The Navarathri festival involves the goddess Ambujavalli
being decorated with silk sarees and flower garlands. She is carried in a
palanquin festooned with fragrant flowers on the last Friday of the Tamil
months of Aadi and Thai.
Other Festivals:
Each month on the two Ekadasi days, new moon, full moon
days and the first day of the Tamil months, Lord Sri Yoga Narasimha is taken on
procession in the prakaras – corridors- of the temple. Lord Shri Bhu Varaha
graces on Revathi star day in the Chithirai month, the day of his incarnation
as Sri Narasimha. Vaikasi Visakam in May-June with procession deity on Garuda,
Aadi Pooram in July-August for Sri Andal, 10 day Sri Jayanthi, Navarathri in
Purattasi-September-October, Deepavali in October-November, Karthikai
Chokkapanai in November-December, 10 nights and 10 days - Rapathu-Pagal Pathu in
Margazhi-November-December, Andal festival, Vaikunda Ekadasi in
December-January, Garuda Sevai, Makara Sankranti and Mattupongal in January
with Sri Yagna Varaha and Andal wedding festival, Thaipoosam in
January-February with Parivettai, Theertha Utsav and Panguni Uthiram
(March-April) wedding festival for Perumal and Mother are the festival
celebrated in the temple.