NE NEWS SERVICE
THANJAVUR, FEB 5
The much talked about Kumbabishekam of Sri Brahadeeswarar Temple (11th century Chola edifice Perivudayar temple popularly known as Thanjavur Big temple) was held on Wednesday with religious fervour and gaiety.
Thousands of people thronged from different parts of the state to witness the event at the 1,000-year-old historic temple.
Holy water, brought from the ‘yaga salai’ was poured on the gold-plated ‘kalasam’ atop the 216-feet high ‘vimanam’ over the sanctum sanctorum of Sri Brahadeeswarar, and on the towers over the sanctum sanctorums of Goddess Brahannayaki and other deities at around 9.30 a.m. Later, the granite idols of Peruvudaiyar (Brahadeeswarar), Periyanayaki (Brahannayaki) and other deities were sanctified with the holy water brought from the ‘yaga salai’, at around 9.45 a.m.
The ‘yaga pujas’ at the ‘yaga salai’, which commenced on Saturday evening and were culminated on Wednesday with ‘mahapoornahuthi’ at around 7 a.m. following which the pots containing the holy water were taken in a procession to the respective sanctum sanctorums of the deities.
For the first time in the recent history an Odhuvar who sings Saivite hymns in Tamil also went up to the Kalasam to chant Tamil hymns. At the Big Temple, the ‘Othuvamoorthys’ led the procession from the ‘yaga salai’ to the sanctum sanctorums.
Apart from the Maratha Royal family members, led by the Prince, Babaji Rajah Bhonsle Chattrapathi, who witnessed the consecration from within the temple precincts, thousands of devotees witnessed the kumbhabishegam, held after 23 years, from within the temple complex and from the lawns surrounding the temple.
A large number of people gathered on the rail over-bridge connecting the Big Temple Road and the Medical College Road, the Corporation park, the Giri Road junction, Sevappanaicken Vari Kizhatheru, and Srinivasapuram area to witness the consecration.
Police personnel were posted in good strength to maintain law and order in and around Thanjavur.
