Latest news with #Pattabhishekam
The Hindu
07-05-2025
- General
- The Hindu
Digvijayam held at Meenakshi temple
The Digvijayam procession was taken out on the ninth day of the annual Chithirai festival on Wednesday. Goddess Meenakshi's battles in eight directions were enacted by children. The procession takes place after Pattabhishekam or coronation of Goddess Meenakshi and before Thirukalyanam or the celestial wedding of the Goddess with Lord Sundareswarar. Goddess Meenakshi, mounted on the 'Indira vimana,' was taken out on a procession. Lord Sundareswarar, along with Goddess Piriyavidai, was also taken out on a procession. Hundreds of devotees witnessed the procession. According to the legend, Goddess Meenakshi, incarnated as Thadathagai Pirattiyar with three bosoms, is born to King Malayadwaja Pandya and Queen Kanchanamala Devi as an answer for their prayers for a child. The third bosom disappears once She meets Her beloved. After Goddess Meenakshi is crowned as the queen, She wages war in all eight directions with an aim to expand Her kingdom. She charges towards Mount Kailash in the Himalayas, the abode of Lord Shiva. On seeing Lord Shiva, She is enchanted by Him. They decide to get married and return to Madurai. The Thirukalyanam is the highlight of the Chithirai festival. Every year, during the Digvijayam ritual, only boys aged below nine are allowed to enact the roles of the deities. They are the sons of the priests at Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple.
The Hindu
06-05-2025
- General
- The Hindu
‘Pattabhishekam' for Goddess Meenakshi performed
Hundreds of devotees on Tuesday witnessed the 'Pattabhishekam' or coronation ceremony of Goddess Meenakshi performed at the Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple in Madurai on the eighth day of the annual Chithirai festival. The ceremony marks the transfer of power to rule Madurai from Lord Sundareswarar to Goddess Meenakshi. Her rule will last from the Tamil month of Chithirai to Avani. The ceremony began with customary rituals, followed by 'abhishekam' and 'deeparadhana' to the diamond-studded 'Rayar' crown. The chairperson of the Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple Board of Trustees Rukmini Palanivel Rajan received the 'parivattam' from the temple Bhattars. The respect was originally accorded to King Thirumalai Nayak. After receiving the golden sceptre from the temple priest, she took it around the 'praharam' of the Swami Sannithi and then placed it next to Goddess Meenakshi. It is believed that the crown that adorned the Goddess was donated by Appaji Rayar, a Minister in the court of King Krishnadevaraya, and passed on to the presiding deity of the temple during King Thirumalai Nayak rule. The deities mounted on a silver palanquin were taken out on a procession. Devotees gathered in large numbers to catch a glimpse of the deities. Minister for Information Technology and Digital Services Palanivel Thiaga Rajan, Collector M.S. Sangeetha, Mayor Indrani Ponvasanth and Corporation Commissioner Chitra Vijayan, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department officials and others were present at the event.
The Hindu
05-05-2025
- General
- The Hindu
When boys don the role of deities
One of the key elements of the annual Chithirai festival in Madurai is the 'Digvijayam' event. The procession is taken out on the ninth day of the event. The Digvijayam procession takes place after the Pattabhishekam or Coronation and before the Thirukalyanam or Celestial Wedding, when Goddess Meenakshi's battles across eight directions are enacted. Goddess Meenakshi, mounted on 'Indira vimana' is taken out on a procession on the four Masi streets. Lord Sundareswarar along with Goddess Piriyavidai are also taken out on a procession. Thousands of devotees witness Goddess Meenakshi's battles across eight directions. It is enacted by children who are dressed up in traditional costumes. The role of the deities are played by boys who dress up as Goddess Meenakshi and Lord Sundareswarar for the annual event. The children can be seen sitting close to the deity on the temple car during the procession. C. Ashok Bhattar, a priest at Meenakshi Sundareswarar temple, said that each year children are chosen for these roles and as per the selection process, only boys below nine years are allowed to enact the Digvijayam ritual. These boys are the sons of the priests of the Meenakshi Sundareswarar temple.
