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Monday, March 23, 2020

Thiru Nandipura Vinnagaram Temple, Nathan Kovil – Poojas & Festivals

Thiru Nandipura Vinnagaram Temple, Nathan Kovil – Poojas & Festivals
Poojas:
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 follows the Thenkalai sampradaya and agamas of South Indian Vaishnavism. 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), naivethanam (food offering) and deepa aradanai (waving of lamps) for both Srinivasan and Shenbagavalli. During the last step of worship, Nadaswaram (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.
Festivals:
There are weekly, monthly and fortnightly rituals performed in the temple. Two festivals are celebrated every year in the temple. Pavitrotsavam is a festival organised in the temple by Karimaran Kalai Kappagam of Triplicane, Chennai, every July. The festive images of the deity are taken out in procession and special poojas are performed during the occasion. The Fridays during the Tamil month of Aipasi are believed to be auspicious to worship Shenbagavalli. Vaikuntha Ekadasi is devotionally celebrated in the temple in December-January.