Kolavilli Ramar Temple,
Tiruvelliyangudi – Festivals & Religious Practises
Worship
Practises:
The
temple practises Vaikasana Agama
and Vadagalai tradition. The temple priests perform
the pooja (rituals) during festivals and on a daily basis. As at other
Vishnu temples of Tamil Nadu, the priests belong to the Vaishnavite community,
a Brahmin sub-caste. The temple rituals are performed four times a
day: Kalasanthi at 8:00 a.m., Uchikalam at 12:00 p.m., Sayarakshai at
5:00 p.m., and Ardha Jamam at 7:30 p.m.
Each ritual has three
steps: alangaram (decoration), neivethanam (food offering)
and deepa aradanai (waving of lamps) for both Kolavilli Ramar and
Maragathavalli Thayar. 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.
Festivals:
Six daily rituals and three yearly festivals are held at
the
temple. Margazhi Thiruvadhirai (Dec – Jan), Masi Chaturdashi (Feb – Mar),
Chithirai Thiruvonam (Apr – May), Aani Thirumanjanam (Jun – Jul), Avani Chaturdashi
(Aug – Sep), Purattasi Chaturdashi (Oct – Nov), Rama Navami in Panguni (Mar – Apr),
Gokulastami in Avani (Aug – Sep), Tirukarthikai (Nov – Dec) and Vaikunda
Ekadasi in Margazhi (Dec – Jan) are the festivals celebrated in the
temple. Vishnupathi Punniya Kalam, an auspicious time during the
first days of Tamil months
of Vaikasi, Avani, Karthigai and Masi is celebrated in the
temple seeking divine auspices from Garuda.