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Sunday, June 14, 2020

Adi Kumbeswarar Temple, Kumbakonam – Worship Practices

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.