Melmaruvathur AdiParasakthi Temple
Navaratri in Melmaruvathur AdiParasakthi Temple… Arulmigu Adhiparasakthi Siddhar Peetam is a Hindu temple in Melmaruvathur, approximately 92 km from Chennai (Formerly known as Madras) in the southern state of Tamil Nadu, India. Tamil Nadu is the place where 21 Siddhars (saints), men as well as women from different religions, had their Jeeva-Samadhis (meaning, the Siddhars left their human forms behind, yet still alive as holy spirits).
The people who serve in the Siddhar Peetam are normally the devotees clad in red dress. They come from outstations, render services and return home. To serve at the sanctum sanctorum, each one of the weekly worshipping centers (mandrams) is allotted a day and informed sufficiently early. Accordingly, all mandrams compete with one another in rendering the best service. Every day Abhishekam at the sanctum sanctorum takes place at 4:00 am. After this, idol of the Mother is decorated followed by aradhana. The Mother’s blessed prasadam (proceeding of the prayer) is then offered to the devotees. Everyday around 11:00 AM free food is distributed to all visiting devotees. Besides, on the new moon and full moon days, Adigalaar is given a special welcome and the free food distribution is done on a large scale.
Navarathri is one of the important festivals of Annai Adhiparasakthi. It is celebrated for nine days. On the first day of Navarathri AMMA lights the lamp called Agandavilakku. Three kinds of oil namely neem oil, coconut oil and gingelly oil are used to light the lamp.
Arul Thiru Adigalar, with wet clothes after His bath, goes around the Siddhar peetam three times and then enters “Putrumandapam” and worships the Goddess. At that moment Annai Adhiparaskthi transcends in HIM. In that very divine state, AMMA enters the sanctum sanctorum and sits there and perform some rituals to Swayambu. Then AMMA lights the wick with HER mouth and with that, lights the Agandam. At that moment AMMA’s face and body almost changes to resemble a dancing cobra.The Agandam continues to burn for all the nine days during which time the devotees bring oil and pour it into this lamp, after which they worship the light.
“OM SRI MARUVUR ARASIYE NAMO NAMAHA”
WRITTEN BY
R. HARISHANKAR