20ஆம் ஆண்டு ஆடி மாத பிரம்மோற்சவம் for the Manimutthumariamman Koyil near the Kamban Kalairangam. Ramanan Gurukkal had told me the schedule, but I thought it was an 8pm start and was getting ready for a day of writing when he called and asked if I was coming, so I dropped all and went. They were just getting started with the Ganapati homam, so that worked out well. 2 priests from outside plus the Gurukkal, who did the homam. The road was blocked off (with a cord and a small piece of cloth that looked like an Amman dress on either end), a pandal set up, large set up for homam. Actually beautifully done – Ganapati homam, Mahalakshmi homam, Mariamman moola mantra japam, Astra homam (can be a few types, Pashupatastra being done for Siva pujas, in this case Shakti astra homam which brings about samharam of bad/evil “black magic” influences – priest said. The um-phat was emPHATic). Very participatory process, after the basic swaha offerings were made, then the homa plate went around and every one put in the fire a little. The gurukkal’s mudras were a delight to watch; he does have very long and elegant fingers.
The general Amman Koyil setup was interesting to witness. A yellow cord connects the Kalasas with the agni kunda. There are three kalasams, and the central one with the face of the Goddess. Gurukkal goes between the agni kunda and the kalasas, there appear to be rather more mudras repeated than we see at other temple homams. At times, he’s acting in sync with the other priests, offering flowers or using the mudras to “complete” a set of ritual actions. Once the homams are done, Amman abhishekam happens, performed by one of the invited priests. The gathered women meantime prepare the bamboo pole that is the temple’s dhvajastambha by cleaning it, applying turmeric and then putting kunkuma pottus. Gurukkal comes to add mango and neem leaves, jasmine etc. Meantime the invited priest has climbed up to the stucco Parashakti figure, and I think done some clearing and put a new sari on Her. The kalasams are taken by appointed people to the garbhagriha, and used to pour on the amman and her trident. Then the simple yellow flag is brought out and tied to the kodi maram. It’s sprinkled with kalasam water – as am I – then after some mantrams and flowers, it’s raised and fixed in a waiting bag of sand. Everyone there has their hand in it. It’s a nice moment, which the photos capture well, if I do say so m’self. Soaked daanyam or seeds are put into the soil of the bag that now holds the kodi maram.
Prasadam is chakkara pongal and sundal. I’ve no transport, so I walk home. It takes me less time to cross town and get near the ashram than I think.