The Hindu Hundreds attend Mandalapuja at Ayyappa temple The auspicious Mandalapuja, marking the culmination of the 41-day Mandalam pilgrimage season at the Lord Ayyappa Temple, was performed on Saturday. The entire atmosphere in the sacred grove of Lord Ayyappa was charged with devotion with the chanting of ‘Ayyappa Saranam’ mantra by the large number of devotees camping at the holy hillock to witness the Mandalapuja. The trekking path as well as the Lower Tirumuttom and the surrounding areas bore a clean and serene look from Friday morning thanks to the systematic cleaning work carried out by the Sabarimala Sanitation Society workers from Tamil Nadu over the past 40 days. The Neyyabhishekom offering to the deity was stopped by 11 am. The Fire and Rescue Force and Devaswom guards thoroughly washed the temple premises in the forenoon. Kalabhapuja The Tantri (chief priest), Kandararu Rajeevararu, assisted by Melsanthi (head priest), E.N. Krishandas Namboodiri, performed the Kalabhapuja at the Namaskara Mandapam. The golden urn carrying the Brahmakalasom was taken out in a customary procession to the sanctum sanctorum. The Tantri, assisted by the Melsanthi, performed the Kalabhabhishekom to the presiding deity prior to the Utchapuja by 12.45 p.m. The presiding deity was adorned with the Thanka Anki, golden attire weighing 420 sovereigns offered by the late Chithira Tirunal of the erstwhile Travancore royal dynasty, prior to the Mandalapuja. The Mandalapuja was performed to the deity after the Nivedyom offering at 12.55 p.m.
Posted on: Sun, 28 Dec 2014 01:54:26 +0000
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