Devanathaswamy Temple, Thiruvanthipuram – Festivals & Religious Practices

Devanathaswamy Temple, Thiruvanthipuram – Festivals & Religious Practices

The temple priests perform pooja (rituals) as per Vadakalai Sampradayam during festivals and on a daily basis (Vaikhanasa Agama). As at other Vishnu temples of Tamil Nadu, the priests belong to the Vaishnavite community, a Brahmin sub-caste. The temple rituals are performed six times a day: Ushathkalam at 7 a.m., Kalasanthi at 8:00 a.m., Uchikalam at 12:00 p.m., Sayarakshai at 6:00 p.m., Irandamkalam at 7:00 p.m. and Ardha Jamam at 10:00 p.m. Each ritual has three steps: Alankaram (decoration), Neivedhyam (food offering) and Deepa Aradhanai (waving of lamps) for both Devanatha Perumal and Senkamalavalli Thayar.

During the last step of worship, nagaswaram (pipe instrument) and tavil percussion instrument) are played, 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 major festival, the twelve-day Brahmotsavam is celebrated during the Tamil month of Chittirai (April - May). Garuda Seva on the 5th day and Theerthavari & Rathotsavam, the temple car is drawn on the 9th day when devotee crowd will exceed a lakh.

Nammazhwar Sathumurai 10 days and Perumal Vasanth Utsavam 10 days in May-June; Narasimha Jayanthi; Aadi new moon day-Amavasya and Aadi Pooram in July-August; Aavani Pavithra Utsavam in August-September; Sri Krishna Jayanthi; Purattasi Maha Desikan Utsavam in September-October; Deepavali in October-November with festival for the first three Azhwars, Tirukarthikai in November-December; Hanumanth Jayanthi and Vaikunda Ekadasi in December-January, Andal wedding festival; Bogi and Makara Sankranti in January-February and Panguni Sri Rama Navami in March-April are the festivals celebrated in the temple.

Masi Mahotsavam is another ten-day festival during the Tamil month of Masi (February - March). During the festival, the festival image is taken in procession to the seashore in Cuddalore. There are religious discourses, musical performances and floats organized during the festival.  The temple is a renowned pilgrim centre and devotees tonsure their heads during auspicious occasions. Marriages are also performed in the premises. Manavala Mamunigal Utsavam is a festival celebrated by Thenkalai, a sect of Vaishnavites, commemorating the saint Manavala Mamunigal. During the event, the festival image of the saint is taken in procession around the streets of the temple.