Kumbabhishekam on 5th February 2020

The next Kumbhabhishegam of Suraikayur Mahasastha Ayyanar koil will be performed on Wednesday, 5th February 2020.  

Devotees will recall a blog post in March 2019 when it was stated that the event will be sometime in February 2020.  After consultations with scholars, the date for the event has been finalised.

The functions will commence on Monday, 3rd, continuing to Tuesday, 4th and culminating on Wednesday, 5th February 2020.

This advance intimation is given to enable devotees to make their travel plans well in time to assemble in large numbers.

We are hopeful that the devotees of Mahasastha Ayyanar will contribute their financial might.  While many have committed large sums of money, an event of this scale needs substantial resources.  A Kumbhabhishekam, which happens once in 12 years, is an opportunity to participate financially in the upkeep and maintenance of the temple and to seek the blessings of the Lord.  While no contribution can be considered small, given the costs involved and the limited number of devotees attached to the temple, no contribution can be considered big either.  So let us try to contribute generously, since the next opportunity to play our part will come only in 2032 when we shall be 12 years older!

A formal invitation will be circulated once it is drafted and printed.

Annual Abhishekam conducted with usual fervour

The Annual Mahabhishekam of  Sri Pushkalamba Sametha Mahasastha Ayyanar and the parivara devathas was conducted on Sunday, 8th Sept 2019, with usual vigour and routine.  The programme commenced at about 8:30 a.m. and ended by about 1:30 p.m.

Thanks to good rains in the upper catchment areas of river Cauvery, the Goddess which makes the entire Thanjavur delta fertile, green and provider of abundance, was in full flow with release of water from Mettur Dam.  Young locals were happily enjoying the flowing Vettar with gay abandon.  Some of the devotees who arrived by train at Papanasam straight went to the river for a refreshing bath, something city dwellers sadly miss, and thereafter went to the temple to join the proceedings.  A great idea indeed worthy of emulation.  Perhaps the next time, I myself will consider doing the same.

For the last few years it is generally observed that the attendance on this annual day has been reducing despite holding it on a Sunday.  Similarly, devotees of younger age group, the baton holders of the future to carry forward the tradition of a Kuladeivam, is also conspicuously absent.  This is something of serious concern for all devotees and their families.  If the chain of continuous succession through generations is lost, in some ways our connect with our forefathers may too.

It is hoped that the Almighty will show the way forward and ensure better wholehearted participation next year and years to come.

The proceedings concluded with deeparadanai and distribution of prasadam.

Photos take on the occasion are given in the link here: https://photos.app.goo.gl/pu67ZAwkM5hecN76A