Monday, December 11, 2017

Madhava Perumal Temple, Mylapore – Worship Practices & Festivals

Madhava 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, a Brahmin sub-caste. 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), neivethanam (food offering) & deepa aradanai (waving of lamps) for both Madhava Perumal and his consort Amirthavalli. 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 Theppam or float festival of Madhava Perumal Temple will be held for three days. On the first day, Madhava Perumal and Amirthavalli Thaayar will be taken around the tank. Kothandaramar will be taken around on the second day and Peyalvar on the final day. The sacred tank, also called the Santhana Pushkarini, with an area of 117x100 ft can accommodate only a small float that can carry not more than 10 people. So, only priests were allowed to enter the float. During Maasi Magam, the water from all sacred rivers of India is believed to mingle with the water of the tank of this temple. Taking a dip here on this day is considered holy.
The festival is one of the major festivals of the temple, which was not celebrated for a decade before 2011. It is believed that all the rivers converge in the tank during the auspicious day. The annual festival, Brahmotsavam, of the temple is celebrated during the Tamil month of Chittirai (March - April). In the Tamil calendar month of Aadi, Lord Madhava Perumal is seen in a sleeping posture on the lap of Andal- a special event at this temple.
Special poojas are conducted during all the nine nights of Navarathri in the month of Puratasi (mid-September to mid-October) for Mother. On the tenth day of Navarathri i.e. during Vijayadasami, Lord Perumal is carried in a procession to the main entrance. There after special poojas, the Utsav of firing bow and arrow towards the Vanni tree takes place. The blessed bow and arrow from the hands of Lord Perumal is taken and passed on to a member of the Vedhavyasapaatar Community which in is then passed on to the Locality's Gowder who after all the necessary pooja will start firing the arrow towards the Vanni tree. After all the ceremonies, Lord Perumal is taken in a procession into the temple from where he provides vision to his devotees.
Odd numbered Saturdays of Puratasi brings prosperity. Therefore, special worships are held on all five Saturdays of the month of Puratasi signifying the austerity of the days. If the month has four Saturdays only, the last Saturday of the month of Aavani or the First Saturday of the month of Aippasi is considered as the 5th Saturday. These days brings prosperity and are treated as special occasions for the devotees who undergo a fast.
The month of Margazhi (December - January) sees a flurry of activities dedicated to Lord Perumal. Every morning during all the ten days of the Vaikunda Ekadasi Lord Perumal is taken on a procession around the temple with verses from Alvar recited invoking his blessings. On the 10th day the Lord appears along with Nachiyar in front of the Devotees. On the eve of Vaikunda Ekadasi Lord Perumal raises up to the golden gates of heaven and from there provides a heavenly vision to his devotees.
The Temple Car Festival is celebrated at the beginning of the birth of the star sign of Lord Perumal. The star sign of Perumal of the temple is Aastha. The signs Aastha and Rohini have similar facets. Therefore, at the beginning of the Star Sign Rohini the Car festival is commenced and its ends during the birth of the star sign Aastha. The festival is commenced with hoisting the Holy Flag on the first day followed by the Holy Car processions on subsequent days. Shimmavaganam, Anumandha Vaganam, Karuda Sevai, Thiru Kalyana Pushpa Vimana Utsav are the Holy Cars which are taken in a procession for four subsequent days after the Holy Flag Hoisting.
Tamil New Year, Sri Rama Navami & Sri Ramanuja Jayanthi during Chithirai Month, Nammalvar Thiru Natchatram, Narasimha Jayanthi and Pattar Thiru Natchatram during Vaikasi Month, Chakkarathalwar Thiru Natchatram during Aani Month, Thakshinaayanapunya Kaalam and Andal Thiruvaadipooram during Aadi Month, Senai Mudalvar Thiru Natchatram, Manavaala Mamunigal Thiru Natchatram and Deepavali during Aipasi Month, Thirumangai Alvar Thiru Natchatram and Thiru Karthigai Deepam during Karthigai Month, Pagal Pathu and Ra Pathu during Margazhi Month, Pongal and Kurathaalvar Thiru Natchatram during Thai Month and Ranga Naachiyaar Panguni Uthram in Panguni Month are the other festivals celebrated in this temple with much fanfare. Under the control of the HR and CE Department, it is well maintained. Festivals are held in almost every Tamil month, except Ani and Purattasi.