Kumbabishekam performed

Thousands of devotees thronged Sri Swaminatha Swamy Temple at Swamimalai and Sri Ramaswamy Temple and Sri Gowthameswarar Temple in Kumbakonam when they were consecrated on Wednesday.

Reckoned among the six ‘padai veedus’ of Lord Muruga, the Swamimalai shrine underwent renovation at a cost of Rs. 2 crore. Mahakumbabishekam was performed to the temple and towers amidst chanting of Vedic hymns and associated rituals. There were some tense moments among sections of donors, priests and public regarding allocation of space to catch a glimpse of the rituals atop the shrine. Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments officials were hardpressed to meet the demand for entry pass from all quarters and ended up antagonising every conceivable section of visitors. Police played their perfect foil in messing up things at the shrine to deny thousands of pilgrims a peaceful darshan.

HR and CE Commissioner M. Veerashanmugha Moni, who was witness to the happenings on at Swamimalai shrine took stock of the situation later and directed officials to undertake a coordinated endeavour to avoid unhappy situations to the extent possible. Ensuring a peaceful darshan to devotees was our priority, he said.

However, the mahasamprokshanam of the Sri Ramaswamy Temple here was a smooth affair with thousands of devotees thronging the shrine in a more regulated manner even as priests poured sanctified water on the kalasams atop the temple towers. Renovation was carried out at a cost of Rs. 1 crore in the temple.

Along with the main shrine, the Rajagopuram, the Kattai Gopuram, Ramar Vimanam and the South Vimanam were consecrated by Bhattacharyas amidst chanting of hymns and Divya Prabhandam verses.

Devotees gathered in strength to witness the mahakumbabishekam of the Sri Gowthameswarar Temple at the southwestern corner of the Mahamaham tank in the middle of the town. Yagasala poojas were conducted over the past three days as part of the rituals.

The mahakumbabishekam of the Sri Agneeswarar Temple at Thirukollikkadu in Tiruvarur district was also performed on Wednesday after the temple was renovated with public and governmental contribution. The temple has gained fame for the Pongu Saneeswarar shrine that too underwent renovation and was consecrated along with other shrines in the temple. HR and CE officials and police had made elaborate arrangements to regulate the crowds that thronged the temple since early in the morning.