Ulagalantha Perumal Temple,
Kanchipuram – Worship Practices & Festivals
Worship
Practices:
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, one of Brahmin
sub-caste. The temple rituals are performed six times a
day: Ushathkalam at 7.00 a.m., Kalasanthi at 8:00 a.m.,
Uchikalam at 12:00 p.m., Sayarakshai at 6:00 p.m.,
Irandam Kalam at 7:00 p.m. and Ardha Jamam at 10:00 p.m.
Each ritual has three
steps: Alangaram (decoration), neivethanam (food offering)
and deepa aradanai (waving of lamps) for both Ulagalantha Perumal and
Amuthavalli. During the last step of worship, Nadaswaram (pipe instrument)
& 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.
Festivals:
There are weekly, monthly and fortnightly rituals
performed in the
temple. There are two major festivals celebrated in the
temple – Brahmotsavam during the Tamil
month of Thai (January - February) and Vamana Jayanthi during
the Tamil month of Avani (August - September)
on Sravanam star. Vaikunda Ekadasi is grandly celebrated in the
temple in Tamil Margazhi covering December-January. Onam Festival. Navaratri,
Karthigai, Panguni Utsavam are the other festivals celebrated with much
fanfare.
