Tamil Nadu : ‘Vaikasi Visagam’ celebrated in Murugan Temples
On Monday thousands of piligrims in Tamil Nadu thronged the Murugan Temples on the occasion of Vaikasi Visagam festival. Vaikasi Visagam is celebrated in all the abodes of Lord Muruga and as Thiruparankundram temple is the first among the six abodes of the deity, the festival is celebrated in a grand manner here.
This year, the festival began on May 19 with the flag hoisting and on the concluding day people took out processions carrying pots of milk on their heads. Devotees were also seen carrying kavadis to redeem their vows. The temple doors opened at 4.30 am on Monday and special pooja was performed. Deities Shanmuga and his consort Valli and Deivanai were brought to the Mandhi Mandapam at around 6.30 am and the milk brought by the devotees in the procession was used to perform abhishekams.
As the weather was hot, water tankers were used to spray water on the walking pilgrims, as all of them were barefoot. The devotees appreciated the move. In the Alagarkoil Palamudhi Solai temple too, there were large crowds and special rituals were performed throughout the day. The festival began at the Palani Periyanayagi Amman temple with the flag hoisting on May 22. The car festival of the temple where the deities Muthukumarasamy, Valli and Deivanai were taken around the streets of the temple was held on Monday. At the Tiruchendur Subramaniaswamy temple, thousands of devotees redeemed their vows by carrying kavadis, pulling small temple cars and milk pots and other offerings.
Tamil Nadu – Security beefed up at Srirangam Ranganatha Swamy Temple
After the recent fiasco in the sanctum sanctorium involving a devotee, Srirangam Ranganathaswamy temple authorities have stepped up screening to ensure that devotees do not carry big-size personal belongings inside the shrine.
Last Thursday’s a man said to be mentally unstable dropped a bag containing dirty clothes, a small scissor and a penknife at the sanctum sanctorum in the temple causing anxious moments to devotees and temple staff.
Temple authorities said as a sequel to the incident a couple of temple staff have been posted at the ‘Aryapadaal’ entrance to ensure that devotees do not carry big-size bags or other belongings. Devotees found carrying such belongings would be advised to deposit it outside. The small size handbags would be checked by the temple staff at the ‘Aryapadaal’ entrance.
The authorities said temple and private security staff have been posted at all the gopurams to advise devotees to desist from carrying big-size bags inside the temple. Cell phones would also be prohibited in due course, the authorities added. The temple authorities have requested the city police to step up security at the entrances in the wake of the Thursday’s incident, reported The Hindu.
Kerala : Vishnu Temple Sets an Example of Communal Harmony, Serves Iftar
Setting up a worthy example for communal harmony, a Vishnu temple in Malappuram district of Kerala is planning to host an Iftar party inside the temple for the Muslims during the holy month of Ramadan.
The Lakshmi Narasimha Moorthy Vishnu temple at Punnathala has decided to organise this event as a part of the move to strengthen the bond between the two communities. From working for equal voting rights and employment opportunities for the transgender community to promoting communal harmony, the past few years have witnessed heartwarming stories from across Kerala.
Since non-vegetarian food isn’t allowed inside the temple, the temple is going to serve vegetable biriyani, snacks, fruits, juices and special Ramzan drinks to around 700 people observing fast.
This also incidentally falls on the same day as the Prathishta Dinam (Consecration Day), the second day of the temple festival. The Iftar dinner is one of the major events of the second day of temple festival organized every year.
Mohanan Nair, the Secretary of the Temple Management Committee, said, “The event is being organised with the support of all the local residents in the Muslim-majority village, irrespective of their caste, religion or politics, said speaking to the Times of India.
The purpose of this beautiful Iftar dinner is to disseminate the message of peace and harmony among the younger generation. The dinner party will have important personalities from the Panchayat in attendance too, Mohanan said.
Kerala: Government to renovate the ancient Mangala Devi temple
The ancient Mangala Devi temple situated about 1,300 metres above sea level in Periyar wildlife sanctuary in Idukki district will be renovated by the Kerala government. A decision in this regard was taken at a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan today and attended by officials of Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB), Forest, Archaeology and Revenue departments, a release said here.
Though the temple is situated near Theni district in Tamil Nadu, it is in Kerala, the release added. The decision to renovate the temple was as per a High Court order in 2016.
The TDB, which administers temples including the famous Lord Ayyappa temple in Sabarimala, has been entrusted with the responsibility of installing the damaged idol, the Press release said. Lakhs of devotees from Theni and Idukki visit the temple every year on Chithra Pournami day in April-May, the release said.
The ancient temple of Mangala Devi is located in the dense woods at the top of a peak (1,337 m above sea level). The temple is built in the traditional Kerala style of architecture. The peak allows a panoramic view of the eastern slopes of the ghats and some hill villages of Tamil Nadu.
Karnataka: A Ban on woman at Brahmagiri?
According to the latest news it is believed that the Kodagu district administration has decided to Ban woman from climing the Brahmagiri Hill in Talacauvery.
It is being said that an astrologer Narayana Puduval,had recommended that women be banned from climbing the hill as they were affecting the sanctity of the pilgrimage center, which face a strong opposition from the Kodava communit and the Talacauvery temple committee to clarify that the decision was yet to be finalized. He said that only men, girls below 10, and women above 50 years will be allowed to climb Brahmagiri Hills between Tula Sankramana day and Vrushabha Sankramana day.
Uniting against the stand of the astrologer, ‘Kodava Freethinkers…’, a closed group on Facebook, strongly voiced their opposition and took the issue up with the Kodagu Deputy Commissioner, who clarified, “The temple cannot take unilateral decisions outside the purview of its prescribed duties.”
The Talacauvery temple committee, President BS Thammaiah said, “We have heard the various suggestions predicted by the astrologer. However, the last decision is pending and the committee has not come to any conclusions. The astrologer has suggested various principles to be followed while climbing the Bramhagiri Hills, which is a sacrosanct place of Seer Agasthya. The astrologer has suggested righteous methods to be followed while taking a dip at Talacauvery. The Ashtamangala Prashne ritual (octagonal questioning ritual) will continue in June and the final decision will be taken in the presence of temple Tantri, the committee and other officials”, reported The New Indian Express.
While the temple might have clarified that the decision is still pending, the Kodava community is far from satisfied. Kusum Nehru Mallangada, founder of Komfort Foundation and Nelakki Bolcha said that they will do a statewide agitation and submit a memorandum to the Government and also bring it up in the legislative Assembly.
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