An annual spectacle at the Thyagarajaswamy Temple in Tiruvottiyur

A different ritual: At the Thyagarajaswamy Temple at Tiruvottiyur, the Pournami closer to the Maha Deepam is special. On three days, the gold kavacham of the swayambu idol of Aadhipureeswarar is removed and special abhishekam is performed with sambrani thailam.
| Photo Credit: B. JOTHI RAMALINGAM

As the northeast monsoon progresses and clouds form a canopy during the Tamil month of Karthikai, people across Tamil Nadu await the Maha Deepam atop the Arunachala Hill in Tiruvannamalai. Homes and temples light lamps preparatory to the grand celebrations.

“Laksha deepams are lit at many Shiva temples. Hundreds of devotees come together to light one lakh lamps all over the temple premises. This is done on the Mondays of Karthikai. At the Ekambaranathar Temple in Kancheepuram, devotees lit lamps on colourful kolam drawn in the prakaram. Flowers were used in the Rangoli drawn in the shape of Shiva Lingam, peacocks, birds, and flowers. Lamps were lit in front of the shrines,” says Raghunathan, an expert in temple rituals. Lamps were lit around the tall gopuram of the Othandeeswarar temple at Thirumazhisai.

At the Thyagarajaswamy Temple at Tiruvottiyur in Chennai, the Pournami (full moon day) closer to the Maha Deepam in the month of Karthikai is special. On three days, the gold kavacham of the swayambu idol of Aadhipureeswarar is removed and special abhishekam is performed with sambrani thailam. It is estimated that this year, eight lakh devotees took part at the abhishekam and worshipped the idol without the kavacham.

According to Tamil scholar and religious exponent Ma.Ki. Ramanan, the idol is swayambu. It is an ant hill made of sand, soil, and mud. “The Lord decided to appear here in this form. This is the best form of the seven types of Shiva Lingam. There are temples like Rameswaram where Sri Rama has made a Shiva Lingam from the sand and Thiruchendur where Lord Muruga has worshipped five Shiva Lingams before the war. In Thiruvasagam, there is a verse, Thaane Vandhu Thalai alithu aatkondu arulum. It means the Lord came on His own, placed His foot on the head of Manickavasagar, and blessed him,” he says.

The deity, who is also called Aadhipureeswarar, is said to have been here since time immemorial. The shape of the idol is like that of a snake with its hood up. Hence, the name, Padampakkanathar.

Arulnandhi Sivan, a priest at the Sri Vadivudaiamman sametha Thyagarajaswamy Temple, says that during these three days, abhishekam is performed with pacha karpooram, kumkumapoo, sambrani thailam, and punugu. “We cannot use curds, water, or panchamritham that are used in the abhishekam done to granite idols. Over the years, the idol has become tight with the use of the thailam. Every year, at least 100 litres of thailam is used.”

Explaining why the kavacham is removed during Karthikai, he says that according to legend, Lord Vishnu, Lord Brahma, and Sri Aadhiseshan prayed to Lord Shiva for permission to touch the idol of Lord Shiva and the god gave His permission during this time. Devotees collect the thailam after the abhishekam and adorn their foreheads with it in the belief that it has medicinal properties. While the 10 kaala pujas are done over the three days, the idols of Lord Thyagarajaswamy and Vadivudaiamman are brought out in procession around the prakaram of the huge temple.