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Friday, October 30, 2020

Saranatha Perumal Temple, Thirucherai – Worship Practices & Festivals

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.