The annual Pavithrothsavam at Malaiyur Sri Kothanda Ramaswamy is scheduled to take place from August 10th to 12th this year (2013). All Rama Bakthas may make it convenient to participate in this Mahothsavam and get the blessings of Malaiyur Sri Kothanda Ramaswamy.
The following is the detailed utsava pathrigai…
Significance of Pavithrotsavam:
Pavithrotsavam is an annual ritual at all Vishnu Temples. Pavithrotsava is derived from the combination of two words Pavithra (holy) and utsava (festival). This utsava is penitential as well as propitiatory and its main objective is to get rid of the evil that might have been caused due to omissions and commissions in the performance of various rituals throughout the year. That is why this utsava is referred to severally as “Dosha Nivaarana,” “Sarva Yajna Phalapradha”.
This is one of the important festivals with a hoary antiquity, agamic sanction, puranic reference and high religious significance. Basically during this utsava, the presiding deity and the other deities in the temple are adorned with pavithras (sanctified garlands of thread). Homa is performed, vedic mantras are chanted, puranas are read.
Pavithrotsava ,as the very word indicates, is derived from the combination of two words “pavithra and utsava.” Pavithra is a means towards purification. That is why a darba grass worn in a loose knot round the finger usually heralds the performance of any religious rite. The Jayakhya Samhita explains that pavithra protects one from evil. The puranas also prescribe “Pavithra Aaropana,” i.e., adorning the deity with pavithra, as an integral part of the rituals during the worship of Lord Vishnu. `Ankurarpanam’ or the sowing of nine type of holy seeds in earthern containers is undertaken on the day preceding the festival. This ritual signifies the beginning of festival in the temple. This is followed by recital of vedas in a ritual called Mritsangrahana. The Ankurarpana and Mritsangrahana rituals are identical to those performed during Brahmotsava. Veda recitation is started after the Mritsangrahana ritual and this recitation of the Vedas concludes on the third day. Through the chanting of the vedas, Aavahana(Invoking) is done for Lord Vishnu in the Pradana Kumbha (first of the holy container).
Aavahana is done in the Pradana Kumbha for Lord Vishnu and His Consort. There will be 16 other Kumbhas surrounding this Pradana Kumbha. The various mantras which are recited are believed to infuse voice vibrations which have great religious and spiritual force. It is this Kumbha which is taken to the Moolasthana on the concluding day of the Pavitrotsava and from that Kumbha the augmented spiritual power is believed to be transmitted to the Moola Vigraha (Kumbha Aavaahanam). The sanctified pavithras are offered to the various deities on the morning of the second day of the utsava.
About the temple:
Malaiayur Sri Kothanda Ramaswamy Temple is situated in Ramachandrapuram, Malaiyur, Karambakudi Taluk, Puddukkottai District. It is the abode of Lord Sri Kothanda Ramaswamy incarnating in the roop of a Bala Ramar. Seetha Lakshmnana Hanumath Samedha Sri Kothanda Ramaswamy and Veera Aanjaneya Swamy deities are more than a Century old.
The descendants of Malaiyur Veeravalli Parampara housed Sri Kothanda Ramaswamy in a small hut for many decades and performed Nithya Aradhana and offered naivedyam from their houses. Due to financial constraints as well as several other hindrances, they were unable to construct a temple for Malaiyur Sri Kothanda Ramaswamy.
Finally, with the blessings of the Lord Sriman Naryanan and Acharyan Srimath Azhagiyasingar, temple was constructed for Malaiyur Sri Kothanda Ramaswamy after decades of struggle. The Maha Samprokshanam was performed on 14 th July 2008. The temple is the gift of the Almighty to the people of Malaiyur whose contribution for this cause Is significant and needs a mention here.
The Temple is presently administered through a Trust named Malaiyur Sri Kothanda Ramaswamy Baktha Jana Sabha Trust started by the descendants of Veeravalli Parampara with the wholehearted support of the people of Malaiyur as well as all Rama Bakthas.
The following is the address of the Trust and contact numbers. Rama Bakthas may contact the Trust for further details.
Malaiyur Sri Kothanda Ramaswamy Baktha Jana Sabha Trust, Plot No. 52, Door No. 1, Thiruvallur Street, Nilamangai Nagar Nilamangai Nagar, Adambakkam – Chennai – 600 088 Tamil Nadu India
Email ID: Malaiyurramar@gmail.com Mobile Nos: 9445261919 and 9381079937
Courtesy: Sri R. Sridharan
