Prananadeswarar Temple,
Tirumangalakudi – Prayers
Goddess Mangalambikai of this
temple is prayed by women for long married life (Dheerka Sumangali
Bagyam). The Thali (Mangal Sutra) thread
tied in the hands of the goddess is offered as prasad to women. The worship
also removes delays in marriage affairs in families. Those who are already
married will be blessed with marital prosperity. Married women replace the new
thread and leave the old one in the goddess’s shrine.
Worship of Mother Mangalambikai
for five consecutive Mondays ensure safety to the Mangal Sutra blessing, relief
from the adverse aspects of the serpent planets Rahu and Ketu and of Sani
Bhagwan. They also follow a commitment of honoring five Sumangalis (married
women) with turmeric, Kumkum, flower, betel nut, a comb, hand mirror, bangles,
Mangal Sutra thread, a blouse bit and money and seek their blessings.
Those visiting Suryanar
Koil for relief from planetary adversities should visit Prana
Nadheswarar temple first and then only proceed for the Navagraha
temple as a rule. It is also said that the Navagrahas offered curd rice
nivedhana without salt on a Vellerukku leaf to Lord. Following this
belief, curd rice nivedhana without salt is offered during the midday puja in
the temple. Also, those failing in the annual ritual for their
forefathers offer this nivedhana to Lord.
There
is a Maragatha (emerald Linga) in Nataraja shrine. Daily midday abishek is offered
to this Linga with milk, rosewater, honey and sandal poured through a
conch-Valampuri Sangu. Consuming this abishek Prasad is believed to be an
effective treatment for diseases. Plantain fruits, betel nut nivedhana is
offered.
Devotees hold curd rice on
Vellerukku leaves between 12-12.30 midday times, offer it as nivedhana to Lord
and take part in the pujas in the prakara continuously for 11 Sundays for
relief from planetary problems and remedy from all diseases.
Abishek to Lord is performed
with cosmetic powders, oil, rice flour, honey, milk, panchamirtham, curd, fruit
juices, green coconut, sandal and sacred ash. Those who can afford, organize
feeding-Annadhanam. Devotees perform pooja to Agasthya Lingam on new moon day
with the hope that they will be relieved from the sins and curses accrued in
their previous birth.