Thiruchendur Kandha Sashti Festival Begins Tomorrow with Yagasala Pooja

The Kandha Sashti festival at the Thiruchendur Subramaniya Swamy Temple, the second of Lord Murugan`s six abodes, begins tomorrow (Tuesday) with Yagasala Pooja.

Kandha Sashti Festival

On the first day, Vishwaroopa Deeparadhanai will be performed at 1:30 am, followed by Udaya Marthanda Abhishekam at 2 am. At 5 am, Lord Jayanthinathar will arrive at the Yagasala. The Kandha Sashti festival will begin with Yagasala Pooja at 7 am. At 9 am, Uchikala Abhishekam and Deeparadhanai will be performed for the presiding deity. Deeparadhanai will take place at the Yagasala at 12 noon.

Later, Lord Jayanthinathar, along with Goddess Valli and Goddess Deivanai, will arrive at the Shanmuga Vilasa Mandapam on a golden palanquin. Maha Deeparadhanai will be performed for the deity there. At 3 pm, Sayaraksha Deeparadhanai will be performed for the presiding deity.

Sayaraksha Deeparadhanai

Following the Sayaraksha Deeparadhanai, Lord Jayanthinathar, along with Goddess Valli and Goddess Deivanai, will proceed to the Thiruvaduthurai Adheenam Sashti Mandapam. Abhishekam will be performed using various sacred materials, followed by decoration and Deeparadhanai. Subsequently, the deity will take a procession along the Giriveethi with the goddesses on a golden chariot.

Various poojas and Abhishekams will be performed from the second to the fifth day of the festival. Sayaraksha Deeparadhanai will be held for the presiding deity at 3:30 pm. Later, Lord Jayanthinathar, along with Goddess Valli and Goddess Deivanai, will arrive at the Thiruvaduthurai Adheenam Sashti Mandapam. From there, the deities will proceed on a golden chariot along the Giriveethi and return to the temple.

Soorasamharam

On the sixth day of the festival, November 15, Deeparadhanai will be performed at the Yagasala in the morning. Following this, Lord Jayanthinathar, along with Goddess Valli and Goddess Deivanai, will arrive at the Shanmuga Vilasa Mandapam and then proceed to the Thiruvaduthurai Adheenam Sashti Mandapam.

At 4 pm, Lord Jayanthinathar will depart for the Soorasamharam ceremony. The Soorasamharam, in which Lord Jayanthinathar slays Soorapadman, will take place at the seashore. After the event, Maha Deeparadhanai will be performed for the deity and the goddess at the Santhosha Mandapam. Later, they will return to the temple through the Giriprakaram.

Thirukalyanam Ceremony

On the seventh day, November 16, Goddess Deivanai will depart from her temple at 5 am for the Thapas darshan. In the evening, Lord Kumaravidanga Peruman will depart for the Maalai Maatru ceremony. At around 6 pm, the Lord will appear before the goddess, and the exchange of garlands will take place.

The traditional Thirukalyanam ceremony of Lord Kumaravidanga Peruman and Goddess Deivanai will be performed at night according to Vedic rituals.

On November 17, Lord Kumaravidanga Peruman will appear on a golden peacock vahana, while Goddess Deivanai will be carried on a flower-decorated palanquin during the street procession.

On November 18, 19 and 20, the daily evening Oonjal Seva will take place at the Thirukalyana Mandapam, with Lord Kumaravidanga Peruman and Goddess Deivanai.

On November 21, after the Manjal Neerattu ceremony, the Lord and the goddess will take a street procession and return to t the temple.

During the festival days, devotional music programmes and spiritual discourses will be organised at the temple premises and its auditorium.