‘More
things are wrought by prayer than are dreamt of in our philosophy’,
said Shakespeare. To enable the devotees to pray to and
before the Lord, there are six pujas or services every day.
At 5 a.m. the Lord gives the Visvaroopa darshan. The first
puja is Vizhapuja or day’s festival at 7.15 followed
by Kalasandhi (8 a.m.), Sirukala Sandhi (9 am.), Uchikkalam
(or mid-day service), Sayaraksha (evening service) and Rakkalam.
Each
service consists of (a) abhishekam (b) offering of food
and (c) alankaram. In the Temple of the Emerald Buddha in
Bangkok (Thailand), the Buddha’s robes are changed
thrice a year, in keeping with the hot, cold and wet seasons.
Here at Palani, Lord Dandayudhapani’s robes are changed
several times a day and it is difficult to keep a count.
The deity is decorated and dressed as Prince, hunter, lad
and ascetic.
At the request of devotees these alankarams are also done
during specified intervals on payment of prescribed charges.
After the Raja Alankaram at the evening service at 5.40
pm, no abishekams are allowed. The artistry with which the
gurukkals do the alankarams and the swiftness with which
they present the deity in one alankaram after another deserve
praise.
The
pilgrim is advised to visit the hill temple for Visvarupa
Darshan and for three important services at 12 noon, 5.40
p.m. and 8. p.m. At the Uchikkalam, the rituals are elaborate
and the deity is dressed in a conservative and orthodox
way.
1.
Vizhapuja Pooja............06:45 am
2.
Kalasandhi Pooja......... 08:00 am
3.
Sirukala Sandhi Pooja..09:00 am
4.
Uchikkalam Pooja........12:00 Mid-day
5.
Sayaraksha Pooja.........05:30 pm
6.
Rakkalam. Pooja..........08:00 pm
