Aadhikesava Perumal Temple, Mylapore – Worship
Practices & Festivals
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. The temple rituals are performed four
times a day: Ushathkalam at 8 a.m., Kalasanthi at
10:00 a.m., Sayarakshai at 5:00 p.m. and Ardha
Jamam at 7:00 p.m. Each ritual has three steps: alangaram (decoration), neivedhyam (food
offering) and deepa aradanai (waving of lamps) for both Sri Aadi
Kesava Perumal and his consort Sri Mayuravalli Thayar. During the worship,
religious instructions in the Vedas (sacred text) are recited by priests, and
worshippers prostrate themselves in front of the temple mast. There are weekly, monthly and fortnightly rituals
performed in the temple.
The temple procession takes place during the Ekadasi day, Tiruvonam, Full Moon (Pournami) / New Moon (Ammavasai)
days, when the festival images (Utsavar) of Adi Kesava, Sridevi and Bhudevi are taken in a procession. There are different
processions taken by Mayuravalli Thaayar on Fridays and Uthiram star, Andal on
the Pooram star, Rama on Punarpoosam, and the Azhwars, on their birthdays. The
major festivals celebrated at the Adi Kesava Perumal temple are the
Brahmotsavam, in honour of the presiding deity during Panguni (March-April),
the Navarathri festival in honour of Mayuravalli Thayar (Lakshmi) celebrated
within the precincts of the temple and a 10-day festival for Peyazhwar during
Aippasi masam (October-November). On the third day of Aippasi the three
important Azhwars are worshipped and Kesava Perumal, who adorns the Garuda
Vahanam, is accompanied by the three Azhwars.
The birthday of the Aalvaar is celebrated on the Sadayam
star day of the Aippasi month. On that day, offerings from Parthasarathy
Perumal temple such as garland, Tulsi, Parivattam, sandal and the food offered
to the Lord are brought and offered to Peyalvar. On the third day of the
festival, the Aalvaar goes to his birth-place and enjoys Thirukkovilur
celebration. At Thirukkovilur the Lord makes the Mutalaalvaars –
Poigai, Putam and Peyalvar – meet and himself reveals to them. This
celebration is conducted based on this remarkable episode. During the festival,
the Lord on his Garuda carrier appears before them, as they are placed in close
proximity. On the ninth day, Peyalvar goes in chariot procession.
During the Float festival in the month of Thai, the
spiritual teaching festivity of Thirumalisai Aalvaar receiving lessons from Peyalvar
as Guru, is conducted in a grand manner. In the month of Purattasi, Peyalvar
goes for a day to Tiruvallikeni (Triplicane). The Aalvaar is
welcomed and honoured with the Lord’s ‘cataari’. Then, the Aalvaar
would enter the Lord’s sanctum and perform Mangalasasanam (holy
benediction). Along with Parthasarathy Perumal he goes in procession
and then returns to his sanctum.
On the Ekadasi day, Tiruvonam, Full Moon / New Moon
days, and on the first day of the Tamil months Lord Aadi Kesava with his
spouses, Sridevi and Bhudevi takes procession. A significant feature is
that different processions are taken by Thaayar on Fridays and Uthiram star
day, Andal on the Pooram star, Sri Rama on Punarpoosam and the Aalvaar, on
their star birthdays. The temple is maintained and administered by the
Hindu Religious and Endowment Board of the Government of Tamil Nadu.
