Adi Kumbeswarar Temple,
Kumbakonam – Worship Practices
The
temple priests perform the puja (rituals)
during festivals and on a daily basis. Like other Shiva temples of Tamil Nadu,
the priests belong to the Shaiva community, a Brahmin sub-caste. The
temple rituals are performed six times a day; Ushathkalam at 5:30 a.m.,
Kalasanthi at 8:00 a.m., Uchikalam at 10:00 a.m., Sayarakshai at
5:00 p.m., Irandamkalam at 7:00 p.m. and Ardha Jamam at
8:00 p.m.
Each ritual comprises four
steps: abhisheka
(sacred bath), alangaram (decoration), naivethanam (food
offering) and deepa aradanai (waving of lamps) for both Kumbeswarar and
Mangalambikai. The worship is held amidst music with Nadaswaram (pipe
instrument) and tavil (percussion
instrument), religious instructions in the Vedas (sacred
texts) read by priests and prostration by worshippers in front of the temple
mast.
Devotees enter the
temple through the Rajagopuram, pass the long Mandapam, Bali
Peedam and the Kodi Maram (flag post), seek the blessings of Nandi and worship
Lord Kumbeswarar. Then, they go through the prakara worshipping the
63 Nayanmars, Saptha Mathas, Kamadhenu, Bhava Linga, Mahalinga, Lord
Dakshinamurthy and Lord Valanchuzhi Vinayaka.
Then, they have to proceed to
Mother’s shrine through the shrines for Lords Bikshadana, Muruga, Akshaya Linga,
Sahasra Linga, Mothers Annapoorani, Gajalakshmi, Mahalakshmi, Saraswathi and
Lord Brahma. There is a glass room where Lord is in a reclining
posture.
Then are the shrines of Mother Ashtabuja
Durga, Navaneetha Vinayaka, Kirathamurthy, Bhairava, Kala Bhairava,
Jurakeswarar, Sastha, Govinda Dikshithar, Nagambal. After
worshipping Mother Mangalambikai, devotees leave the
temple after worshipping at the Navagraha (nine
planets). It is believed that following this worship procedure would
bring all the boons wished by the devotees.
