Vastu Puja beginning as I come in. Utsava Murtis brought from alankara mandapam to the temporary pavitrotsavam mandapam. In a while we see the priests, including Thirukumaran, making/adding to the colourful Mandalam kept before the Kalasas. Thirukumaran also makes a four-legged Meru-like structure with kusa grass and covers them with flowers. This flowery meru-like koorcham is kept at the centre of the Mandalam, with 4 legs extending to its 4 corners. Effigy burnt in Vastu homam fire and taken round.
Northeast corner has 9 little kalasas.
Northwest corner has 7 little kalasas + 3 more little ones on a stool at a height.
Southeast corner has 6 little kalasas
Southwest corner has 8 little kalasas
New elderly priest gets things going at the main puja. Goes from kalasa to kalasa, sprinkling some water, presumably from the vastu homam, and beautifully tossing flowers as well.
Mandalam and Central Kalasas get chandanam, and mudras for puja. Homam begins around 9pm. Perhaps the most captivating of homams I have watched. Something about the scene and flame within that scene made it very potent.
We leave before its completion.
Published Schedule for the Day:
6:00 PM: Anujgnai, Vigneswara Puja, Vaastu Shanti, Mrtsangrahanam.
7:30 PM: Sthandila Mandaleshwara Pratishtha, Yagasala Puja Commencement.