Lawspet Murugan Koyil puja begins with Vinayaka (pattern: Venkatesan gurukkal chants, then 2 others sing thiruppugazh in Tamil, there is a small aradhanai – this is repeated grandly in the main sannadhi, where there’s the full deeparadhanai, then the priest goes around all the other shrines while people follow, ending up at the utsavar where the full puja happens again including all lamps. Nadaswaram and Thavil throughout. Then someone brings the thanga ther, the utsavar is brought on and 3 of the ubhayakaras are turbaned [with the silk parivattam] [Shesha-vastra honour (Parivattam, பரிவட்டம்)] and they pull it once in the prakaram. Followed by another puja and the utsavars are returned to starting position (but still in the ther) while all the ubhayakaras present are given madaryada. The ther itself is a bit too gold and lit up but this feels right for this community’s expression of its aspirations and aesthetic sense. The point is more that this is done to their taste and according to their means, it’s neither too grand nor unnoticeable. And no compromise on the pujas, which are well done and feel complete. There’s a crowd but a quiet one, not unbearable, pushing etc.
[*the parivattam is connected with the head being prepared to receive something belonging to the Lord. The person receiving the honour is being marked as one occupying a position of reverence before the Lord.]
Murugan utsavar has a very simple alankaram. Satrified with gold, and one white malli garland. The upachara rite is done very beautifully – the vilakkus are clean, are organised neatly on a specific stand before and after their use, and they are presented to Murugan in a fairly well-choreographed manner. It is simple, but done with deliberation and presence of mind, and that gives it its beauty.
Not sure how to compare this to Vedapuriswara or Nandhikeswara. Each of the three temples are as though in leagues of their own.