Saranatha Perumal
Temple, Thirucherai – Worship Practices & Festivals
Worship
Practices:
The
temple priests perform the pooja (rituals)
during festivals and on a daily basis based on Vaikasana Agama. As at other
Vishnu temples of Tamil Nadu, the priests belong to the Vaishnavite community,
a Brahmin sub-caste. 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), neivethanam (food offering)
and deepa aradanai (waving of lamps) for both Saranatha Perumal and Sara Nayagi.
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:
The major festival, the twelve days Brahmotsavam is
celebrated during the Tamil month of Thai (January -
February). Radhotsavam, the temple car is drawn during the ninth day of the
festival. Lord Saranatha Perumal is taken in procession in a chariot with Sridevi,
Bhudevi, Neela Devi, Mahalakshmi and Sara Nayaki. He blesses us as a child in his
mother Cauvery’s hand in a beautifully decorated chariot. It is believed that
the legend occurred when the planet Jupiter was positioned in the Pushya
asterism.
Once, in 12 years when Jupiter transits through the
zodiac sign of cancer in the Pushya asterism, the chariot festival on
Thaipoosam is considered to be of great significance and is said to be on par
with the Mahamagam festival in Kumbakonam.
Krishna Janmashtami, Karthigai, Tamil New
Year, 10 days Margazhi festival, Sankranti, Panguni Uthiram, Vasantha Utsavam, Jyeshta
Abhishekam, Navaratri, Manavala Mamunigal Utsavam, Pavithra Utsavam, Ramanuja
Festival and Rohini Utsavam are the other festivals celebrated here.
