Karaikkal Ammaiyar Thirukalyanam.. The wedding ceremony of Paramathattar and Karaikal Ammaiyar was celebrated with great pomp and show at Karaikal. A large number of people participated in the Thirukalyana Utsavam held at Karaikal Ammaiyar Manimandapam.
Karaikkal Ammaiyar is one of the 63 Nayanmars. She was born in the 4th century and rendered great service to Tamil and Saivism. She wrote 11 songs in Thiruvalangadu Muriyathipathigal, 20 songs in Thiruvirattai Manimalai and 101 songs of Arputha Thiruvanthathi are all important songs in Tamil literature. Karaikal Ammaiyar Temple in Karaikal celebrates the Thirukalyanam festival which began on June 19, 2021, evening with the procession of Paramathatta Chettiar in the groom’s attire (Mappilla invocation) from the riverside Siddhivinayaka temple. This morning Ammaiyar Thirukalyana Utsavam was held at Ammaiyar Manimandapam. Earlier, Punithavathi Ammaiyar came to the banks of the tank. When Paramathatta Chettiar arrived at the Kalyana Mandapam on his horse vehicle, the wedding ceremonies began.
Sivacharyas performed special pujas for Tirumangalyam. Subsequently, the Sivachariyars showed the Tirumangalyam to the devotees and performed the wedding of Ammaiyar and Paramathattar in the presence of the devotees at 11 a.m. This, was followed by Maha Deeparadhana and 16 types of Sodasa Upacharas were performed. Oonjal utsavam was held.
Those unmarried men/women who witness the wedding of Ammaiyar, would soon get married. A large number of devotees had darshan of the wedding as it is considered to increase the unity of the couple. Devotees, were given betel leaf bags containing mango and other items as prasad.
On this night, Pichandavar Vellai Chatri procession and Punithavathiar and Paramathatta Chettiar take procession in the pearl canopy. June 21, from 3 am to 6 am Maha Abhishekam Deeparadhana were performed to Pichandavar and Panchamurthis and Paramathattar came to Kasukadai Mandapam at 6.45 am. The most important event of the festival is the procession of Pichandavar Veediyula, where devotees shower mangoes and worship the Lord, which starts at 9.00 a.m. and ends in the evening. At 6.00 p.m., Ammaiyar met and offer amudhu with mango at the Ammaiyar temple. On June 22 at 5.00 a.m. the ceremony of granting darshan to the Lord was held. A large number of people witnessed the union of Karaikkal Ammaiyar with the Lord in the form of Jyoti.
“OM SRI KARAIKAL AMMAIYE POTRI”
COMPILED BY
R. HARISHANKAR