Kolanjiappar Temple, Manavalanallur – Prayers
Submission
of prayer to Lord Kolanjiappar:
People worried due to things lost in theft, non-return
of money lent, cheating, suffering from serious diseases, facing problems in
families, delay of marriage of son or daughter, unemployment, poverty in family
etc. use to submit their grievances in writing. The submission is called as Piradhu
Kattudhal in Tamil. It is addressed to Manavalanallur
Kolanjiappar.
It should also contain details of the devotees name and
place and purpose of the prayer. The prayer should be clear. This should be delivered
to the priest for placing at the feet of the Lord. He will perform archana, put
Vibhuti (sacred ash) and return as Prasad packet. The devotee should tie it
with a thread on the Vel in the Muniappa shrine and leave the place.
It is believed that the devotee will realize the wish
within 90 days. The devotee should pay a fee calculated at 10 paisa per kilometer
covering the distance between his place and the
temple. After realizing the wish, the devotee can withdraw his/her
petition (Rajinama) paying a fee. People pray here in huge numbers seeking
solutions for problems they face.
Neem
Oil:
Devotees take Neem Oil to the priest, who in turn place
it at the feet of Lord and return it to the devotee mixed with sacred ash. This
he does in an orthodox manner. The devotee has to use it after a bath wearing
washed clothes and without being in sad conditions caused by some incidents
called Theettu in Tamil. The application of this oil on wounds, boils etc. cure
the diseases. This is used on cattle too to heal any wound on them. Many are
experiencing the healing effects of this oil. It is noteworthy that this oil is
taken by many for their people in foreign countries.
Unique
practice of not dressing the Child:
People of this
place do not dress the new born children with shirts etc. for 90
days. They do not put even tilak. After 90 days they bring the children, place
them at the feet of Lord, then dress them and put ornaments and tilak.
Lord
Muruga as Judge:
This is a very unique
temple where Lord Muruga serves as a judge. Devotees from all over
the world come to this temple and offer their prayers for a fair judgement or
justice done to them. If they feel that in a legal process, they have been
denied justice. In the temple office they pay a small sum and get a sheet of
paper. They enter all their problems and submit it at the feet of the deity.
Later the priest ties the paper to a tree in front of
the Muneeswaran who is the guardian deity of Lord Murugan. This Muneeswaran
takes the role of a lawyer to fight the devotee case in the court of God. This
entire puja is done in full faith and in the belief that the Lord is the
supreme judge and dispenser of justice.
Offerings:
Devotees offer their commitments by donating cattle,
cocks and hens, money equal to their weight, tonsuring, carrying milk pots etc.
These are the main commitments. Milk Kavadis are offered especially for Panguni
Uthiram. They also punch their bodies (Alagu Kuthal) in Tamil. They also offer
articles as Mangal sutras (Pottu Thali in Tamil) and human organs as eye, hand,
leg etc. and child images made of silver in the hundi. They also pray to the
Neem and Bodhi trees behind the sanctum sanctorum with child dolls in cradles
seeking child boon. They donate bells, pulses, cereals as paddy, maize etc. The
affluent do mass feeding.