Shankhabhishekam from 9 to noon. Very very beautiful the abhishekam of all the utsava murtis. Completion concludes the Brahmotsavam. Got to sit and have a small chat with Venkatesa Gurukkal, while the abhishekam was still being prepared. The Shankhabhishekam done on the main inner lingam was such a strong experience. Induced a very intimate self-giving.
Here is the rough schedule:
919am, Chanting at yagasala, while Shankhas are made ready inside.
Preparations on vandi, all utsava murtis loaded and taken to mandapa area. Arranged on elevated benches. Order (left to right):
Ganesha, Murugan + consorts, Somaskanda (with Parvati and baby Skanda), the Astramurti, Chandrasekara with Gauri, Gnanambigai + Chandikeswara
935am, Deeparadhanai at Karpaka Vinayaka shrine at back, to start things off
940am, Nadaswaram team playing, seemingly by themselves.
945am, With venkatesa Gurukkal, chatting about how the Shankhabhishekam marks the end of Brahmotsavam and how shankhas bring punyam.
1000am, Moolamurti and Gnanambigai Abhishekam
1024am, Utsava murti abhishekam
1051am, Rosewater waiting in kalasa. All paused. Maybe waiting for shankhas?
Plenty of smoke coming from yagasala
1112am, Yagasala gathering, chanting, music. Deeparadhanai – preparations for the Kalasa purappadu. Pori poured into a flat basket, held by thalaivar. Pori handed out to devotees.
1120am, Kalasa purappadu. 2 Kalasas from yagasala loaded onto two priests heads. Pori throwing on them before dhvajastambha. Walking around pradakshina. Music is fabulous. High tempo as pradakshina completes.
1130am, Shankhas brought. Shankhas water filled. Two large shankhas. Rest small.
Meanwhile priests with kalasa go into garbhagriha. For kalasabhishekam.
Now shankhas also taken into garbhagriha. Shankhabhishekam follows. Shankha water being poured on Linga one by one.
Looked like there were two rounds. First 108 shankha water was poured. Next the 108 shankhas were emptied of their flowers and leaves put within.
1147am, Over. Deeparadhanai. Flames brought out. Whole troop moves to gnanambigai shrine. Kalasa water poured. Big shankha water poured. Deeparadhanai.
Kalasa brought out with aradhanai flame. Everybody moving out to utsava murtis.
Kalasas both brought to utsava murti.
Rudraksha maala on kalatisvara, ornaments on others for swarnabhishekam. Kalasa water abhishekam on all. Deeparadhanai.
1154am, Abhishekam ornaments taken off of utsava murtis and returned to those who offered them. Kalasa water sprinkled on devotees. Then the Utsava murtis taken for alankaram behind screen.
1200 noon. I think I'm done. It'll take another hour for alankaram. The waiting! Then a final puja and prasadam will be served.