Nainativu Nagapooshani Amman
Temple – Worship Practices & Festivals
Worship Practices:
There are close to 15 priests in
the temple who perform the pooja (rituals)
during festivals and on a daily basis. Like all other Shiva temples of Tamilakam,
the priests belong to the Shaivite Adishaivas, a Brahmin
sub-caste. The priests live in a closed area North-East of the temple.
The temple has a six-time pooja schedule every day, each comprising
four rituals namely abhisheka (sacred
bath), alangaram (decoration), Naivedyam
(food offering) and deepa aradanai (waving of lamps) for both
Sri Nagapooshani (Bhuvaneswari) Amman and Sri Nayinar Swami.
The pooja(worship)
ceremonies are held amidst music with Nadaswaram (pipe instrument)
and tavil (percussion
instrument), religious instructions in the Vedas by
priests and prostration by worshippers in front of the temple mast. The temple
street plans form a giant mandala (holy circle pattern) whose sacred
properties are believed to be activated during the mass clockwise circumambulations of
the central temple.
Festivals:
The most important festival
associated with the temple is the 16 days long Mahotsavam (Thiruvizha)
that is celebrated in annually in the Tamil month
of Aani (June/July). During this period, there are a number of events
including the Swarna Radhotsavam (Manja Thiruvizha - golden chariot
festival), Radhotsavam (Ther Thiruvizha - chariot festival) and Poongavanam (Theppa
Thiruvizha - float festival). Major Hindu festivals like Navratri and Shivrathri attract
thousands of devotees. Like most Shakti temples in Tamilakam, the Fridays
during the Tamil months of Aadi (July–August)
and Thai (January - February) are given special importance at this temple. Aadi
Pooram, the day Parvati is said to have attained puberty
and become a mother to all her devotees is marked in grand manner at this
temple.
No comments:
Post a Comment