Sri Ellaiamman Puja. We’ve been waiting for this puja, as we’ve been hearing of it ever since the first visit to Ellaiamman–that time when we went in search of one temple, and were led from there, to Mutthumariamman, Kamakshi amman, Ezhai Mariamman and to the big Sivan and Perumal temples in town, all of which are connected to and by Ellaiamman, who was the ellai or border deity for this town. Her temple is marked on early maps–or a “Pagoda” is marked in an area which cannot but reference this shrine.
But the place and presence of this temple in the “network” that is Pondicherry’s ritual life has diminished, and the long Thiruppani or the delayed kumbhabhishekam is not helpful in that–it’s a risky time because such hard-won positions can diminish in prominence or be lost altogether. The Patrikai says 430, but puja doesn’t start till nearly 630 when it’s already getting dark. A man who we will befriend at the Sivan Koyil comes here, and tells us that this puja continues because the family who supported it have bequeathed a property (Rainbow Nagar 3rd cross) or bequeathed the rental income from that property to the temple for this purpose. The elderly lady whose home it was would come herself, but now she is gone and only the money comes. At least that, so the tradition continues. The Perumal Koyil has a similar relationship with Ellaiamman, but they give the money and leave the puja as such (prasadam is delivered to them).
The temple is dark by the time the puja starts. It’s the wooden Balalaya Chithiram image that is propitiated, along with Her bedecked utsavar form. Gurumama comes, along with Ayyappan Swami. Sathis Gurukkal of Ellaiamman is there, the Maniyakkarar and the Vedapuriswara and Perumal Koyils’ EO. All things considered, it’s a simple puja. No Abhishekam as there’s simply no facility for it. Ayyappan swami holds up the screen when it needs to be held up. Deeparadhanai, prasadam viniyogam. Done.
But the large significance of the ordinary in this case is hard to pin down with a single ritual or a few words.