Thirukkovil Vilakkangal

VALIPADDU MURAI

The religion in which the first and the foremost Lord Shivaperuman is worshiped is known as Saiva Samayam. Those who worship Shivaperuma are called a Saivasamyikal for them, Temple worship is a must and compulsory. The place where Shivaperuman grace his devotees is called Koyil.

A Savaist must daily go to such temple and worship him. Those who cannot go to temple daily must at lease go on Fridays and the days on which we fast.

The following are the proper and holy days for temple worship. They are as follows:

Monday	Karththikai
Tuesday	Sivaraththiri
Friday	Navaraththiri
Pirathosam day	Vinayagar Sathurththi
Full moon day	Kanthasasti
New moon day	Sun eclipse
Thiruvathirai	Moon eclipse
Karththkai	First day of every month

Temple is a place of purity so, those who go there for worship must be pure in body and heart, Impure heart will spoil the purity of the temple atmosphere. One must walk to the temple, reciting Shivahamam within his mind.

Bathing and wearing washed clothes is must for a person who intends visiting a temple.

Once you enter the temple compound the devotee must pray to the high temple tower which is known as Thoolalingham on entering the temple he must first pray to the Kodi Thambam.

Palipeedam and Nanthithevar. Male devotees must follow Addaankavanakkam and female devotees, Panchaanka Namaskkaram. During Addaaka Vanakkam the devotees head two hand, two ears, chin two the must touch the temple floor during this Addaankka Vanakkam eight parts of the devotees will touch the floor, to be in the head must be placed on the floor, the chest must touch the floor the lift hand must be stretched in front and the right hand must be stretched backwards besides both shoulders must touch the floor in turn. In Panchchaanka Namaskkaram the following 5 parts of the body must touch the ground. They are head two hands and two knees apart from there, there is alos another way of praying and this is named as Thiruyaanka Vanakkam.

One must place both is hands on his head and body. This is common to both male and female devotees. The devotee must come round the temple, three or five or seven or nine or twelve times this is a must. He coming round once or twice is wrong.

After praying to the Kodiththampam the devotee can come round thrice up to 21 times reciting the Panchchaachchar Manthiram in a low voice after, the devotee must pray to Thuvarapakkar and then to Nanthithevar. When praying Nanthithevan the devotee must request him to bless him with permission to enter the temple and to cherish his blessings. Then the devotee must go to Lord Shiva’s and Umatheviyar’s Sannithy pray to them and continue praying to Sabapathy NNadarajar. Thadchchanamoorthy, Somakanthar, Chanthirasekarar and Subramaniar. After must pray to the four Samayakkurevar. While praying the devotee must both his hand over his head and recite Thevaram and Thiruvasakam. When praying to Vikneshwarar the devotee must knock and his head thrice and put “Thoppukkaranam” thereby one sits and stands often within a short time. This is good for the body also this term Thoppukkaranam is also termed as Thoppukkandam.

At the end of the prayers it is compulsory to pray to Sandeswarar by clapping the hand thrice asking him to bless him with benefit of Shiva Tharisanam. Finally the devotee must go to the Shiva is Sannithy pray to him and then sit at a place, recite Panchaachchara Manthiram and return home, with the God and God alone.

What we should evade doing at a Temples going to temple without bathing, entering the temple without washing the feet,spitting, passing urine in the temple compound, chewing betal, having meals, sitting on chairs, sleeping, sitting shetching thelegs, ladies without putting their hair up as Kondai, playing games, putting shawls on the head and shoulders going inside the temple wearing slippers touching the idols treading on the shadows of the idols. Idapam Palipeedam etc. Also one should avoid gossiping quarreling, laughing. praying when the Moolasthanam is screened when holy bath to the idols take place, singing song that does not suit the temple atmosphere praying in darkness etc.

THE BENEFITS WE DERIVE FROM TEMPLE WORSHIP

(1) By walking round the temple premises the devotee’s sins will decrease and Lord Shiva’s grace will bless him

(2) Also when one pray touching the ground, his selfishness gets away and God’s union reaches him. This is known as Aththuvithakkalappu.

(3) Walking around the temple premises in the morning time will () devotee healthy discases will not attack him. If a devotee walk around the temple in the noon, all his wishes will be fulfilled. If a devotee walk around the temple in the evening, all his sins will be erased. In case if he do, the some in midnight he will reach divinity.

(4) By Ankappirathadchchanam rolling around the temple premises. It is sauldevotee gets rid of all his sins and attain divinity.

(5) Arrchchanai:

In order to get rid of the three evil passions of the soul Aanavam, Kanmam, Maayai, we place the offers of the feet of God, and by the manthirams , recited by the Gnanachchariar evil passions are erased and God’s grace will enable Sivagnamam on the offers. The camphor light at the Arrachchanai time indicates this. The Nivaethanam is enriched by God’s grace and at the end of the poooja, it is served to the devotees, by wearing and eating the Pirasatham we are enriched by the grace of God himself praying and bowing to Sivachchariaar when he offers holy ash, is equal attaining the blessings of God himself.

THE HOLY DUTIES WHICH ONE OUGHT TO DO AT A TEMPLE

(1) Thiruvalakiduthal

This means cleaning the inner and outer temple.

(2) Thirumelukkiduthal

This means the devotee ought to purify himself from dirts like anger, with philosophical knowledge and using this as cow dung, and mix love as water and clean the mind at which he will feel the presence of Shivalingham in his mind.

(3) Reciting Arudppa

This near reciting or singing holy songs Vaetham says that Sivapruman is Naathavadivinan to prove this only holy songs are sung in his presence from a long time. Those who do this musical service will gain the knowledge of what Gnanam is, and attain divinity.

(4) Thoopam Thaanguthal

This meaning, carrying the holy lamps at temple. The benefit of this is the devotee will get rid of his Aanavamalam.

(5) Thiruvilakkedal

This mean lighting lamp at a temple. The benefit of this is that the devotee will gain a good knowledge of Sivagnanam.

(6) Saamarai Idal

This will destroy the sins and bless him with the wealth of Sivan Arul.

(7) Holding umbrella

This is holding umbrella to his almighty during festival time. This will give valour and Ankgnasakkaram.

(8) Vaahanam Thaankupavar

One who carry the Vahanam on which the idol of God is seated specially during festival time, as the blessing of service, hewill reach Thirukkailayam and enjoy as Kananaathar.

N.B:-

One who visit temple between 12pm and before sun set, he should not he stretch ought not sketch his legs while praying. so he can avoid Addaanka and Panchchanka Namaskaram and follow Thirayaanga Ma,esllaara,, holding his hand at the top of his nead. If sun eclipse or the 1st of a month falls in the evening, temple worship is allowed and proper, in the evening.

Also when coming around the temple premises the devotee. Ought not step on the shadow of the temple tower. If this is impossible, it is allowed for the devotee in a narrow miss. But this is allowed during festival time when the devotee walk in the procession along with idol of God praying, singing Thevaaram Chepam and Pirathadchchanam are not allowed during ought of follow the right side, and can follow both right and left the right side while they must see whether they cover space where the Palipeedam and Idapam are and they mustn’t go across them.

IDOL WORSHIP

Temples are places where God the almighty dwells, in order to bless his devotees. In Saivaism temple worship is an asset to the culture of the Saivaists. The terms “Valipaadu” and Tholuthal have one and the same meaning Valipaduthal means following the way in vision. Following what the temples indicates in vision and is considered to be genuine worship.

Temples which are meant to help the growth of one’s religious knowledge and also in temples, there are ways or means to fulfil the knowledge, desire and action of an individual. The above mentioned three ways are the construction and shape of the temple. Method of Pooja and the way of worship.

Parts of a temple like halls, the idol there and their apartments and all there plays an important part in the shape and form of the temple priest.

The Pooja rites of the priest is called Aarathanai and the way devotees worship is known as Tharisanam.

These three will bless the devotees with Arul Neripporal, Anupapporul will widen the devotee’s wisdom. Arul Nenpprul will improve the devotees. Ichchai desires of low quality. Anuppaorul will bless the devotees with contentment, peace of mind improvement and development of the soul.