Temples In India-1.pdf - Vivekananda Kendra Prakashan

VIVEKANANDA KENDRA PATRIKAMuruga, it is considered equally importantto Siva and Vishnu as well, in several places.In the shrine of Thirumazhapadi inTiruchirapalli district, Siva is said to haveperformed His dance with a battle-axe inHis hand on this auspicious day. LordVaradaraja Perumal of Kancheepuram givesdarshan to his devotees, on his favouritevehicle Garuda, on the third day of thisVaikasi-Visakam festival, which is annuallycelebrated for more than ten days.Visakam is the birth-day of Nammazhvar.Hence, this festival is celebrated inVaishnavite temples also. This is animportant festival in Simhachala, sacredto the Narasimha Avatar of Mahavishnu.The deity here is always kept plastered insandal-paste so that His ferociousness onthe killing of Hiranya may be cooled down.On this particular Visakam day, this pasteis removed and the pilgrims can have adarshan of Lord Narasimhamurthi, withoutthe sandal covering.Ani (June-July)Ani-Uttiram is an important sacred day, inthe month of Ani. This occurs on the daywhen the star uttiram is in the ascendant.Thirumanjanam is the sacred ablution orbathing (abhisheka) and on this auspiciousday, Lord Nataraja is given an elaborateceremonial bath.For the Siva Linga in any temple,abishekam is performed several times a dayand on all the days of the year; but onlysix abishekas are done in a year for LordNataraja, at all the temples. Those sixsacred days are as follows:1. Chitrai Thiruvonam2. Ani UttiramTEMPLE INDIA3. Avani Chadurdasi4. Purattasi Chadurdasi5. Margazhi Arudra6. Masi ChadurdasiThese six days symbolise, the six periodsof a day, in the following manner:1. Marghazi Thiruvadhirai-the dawn hour2. Masi Chadurdasi-Ushat Kalam, Morning3. Chitrai Thiruvonam-Noon4. Ani Uttiram-Afternoon, Pradoshakalam5. Avani Chadurdasi-Evening6. Purattasi Chadurdasi-MidnightAmong these six abhishekas to Nataraja,the two abhishekas performed in Ani-Uttiram and Marghali Thiruvadhirai, arevery important. Ani Uttira- Thirumanjanamfestival is celebrated for ten days atChidambaram, with a grand Car-festival.Adi-Pooram Festival (July-August)In the month of Adi, the Pooram festival iscelebrated in both the Saiva and Vaishnavatemples.The star Pooram is said to be thenatal star of Ambal or the Goddess Sakthi.Hence, it is celebrated in almost all theSaiva temples. Since Adi-pooram is thebirth-star of Sri Andal also, it is sacred toVaishnavites as well. This festival is veryfamous at Srivilliputtur and is elaboratelycelebrated in honour of Sri Andal, the ladysaintamong the twelve Azhvars, for tendays.Adi- Tapasu Vizha is conducted in the Siva(Sankara-Narayanar) temple atSankarankoil of Tirunelveli district. Ambalor Sakthi is considered to be the sister ofVishnu and the Ambal, here known asGomathi Devi, is said to have desired tohave darshan of both Siva and Vishnu185