So much going on here!
Abhishekam and alankaram in the main sannadhis. Lots of crowd there. Saw a woman in full black burkha today, face flap open, she had probably come with friends. I caught her eye and smiled. She reciprocated. Wonder what her impression of the temple was.
Durga puja and parayanam by a group of women. There are a few groups, clearly. This is one. They also do the parayanam in the main mandapam at times. Another goes over to the Kashi Viswanathar sannadhi – that’s a separate group, I think associated with the Siruthonda Sabhai (who also do Nayanmar related pujas every Sunday). Today’s alankaram had her in green. While the group chanted, the priest threw flowers… Lalitamma came and pulled me down to sit. It was so sweet. Then she told me I could learn music and sing, too, it’s never too late. I was laughing. Indeed. And then we chanted the Mahishasura mardhini stotram together. Delightful. She’s such a small-figured lovely person with an incredible voice.
Mahalakshmi sannadhi: a small group, and the Goddess bedecked.
Not much more than an aradhanai for Murugan today, it being sashti! The sannadhi was even locked.
Kashi Viswanatha and Visalakshi, today dressed as Mahalakshmi: another group getting ready to do parayanam, and the Goddess all dressed up in … kaasu, money. It was strangely attractive, and certainly creative. The source of riches, after all. But a little literal? Mutthumariamman also had a bowl with cash flowing out in a maala form, which felt a little too literal. Some men were stringing crisp new Rs 10 notes in a long maala they were going to hang from that sannadhi’s vimanam to where, I’m not sure. We left before we could find out.
Of course the Homam going on in the yagasala, with Arasoo mama at the helm and the ubhayakara the lady who does the Trishati archana daily, plus the Navaratri Gopuja. She’s doing her bit to carry the temple, it appears!
From the whiteboard:
- Indru maalai 4.30 manikku mel Swami Ambal sirappu abhishekam nadaiperum, athanai thodarnthu sirappu deeparadhanai nadaiperum. Ubayathaarar: Aasiriyar podhu
- Indru kaalai 9.30 manikku Durgai-kku sirappu abhishekam matrum deeparadhanai nadaiperum. Ubayathaarar: P.G.R. Vasavi Jewellery Mart kudumbasthinar.