Adhirangam Ranganatha Swamy Temple, Adhi Thiruvarangam
– Religious Practices & Festivals
Religious Practices:
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 Vaishnavaite 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
10:00 p.m. Each ritual has three steps: alangaram (decoration), neivethanam (food
offering) and deepa aradanai (waving of lamps) for both Ranganatha
Perumal and Ranganayaki.
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. The image of the presiding deity is made of stucco and hence
sacred ablutions are not performed for it. The temple follows Vaikasana Agama.
Festivals:
Daily 6 times poojas are conducted. Vaikunta
Ekadashi, Krishna Janmashtami, Ramanavami, Adi Pooram, Pournami,
Purattasi Saturday and Karthikai Deepam are celebrated in this temple with much
fanfare. The prime temple festival, the Brahmotsavam, has been suspended for
many years on account of poor patronage. The 10 days Chariot procession
festival will be conducted during Chitra month.