On November 20, 2013; Vijaya Varusha Karthigai Mrugaseersham, the historic Murajapam festival commenced at the Sri Ananthapadmanabha Swamy temple, Thiruvanathapuram. As part of the festival, a floating vigraham of the presiding deity is installed in the Padmatheertham pond of the temple precincts. This vigraham will be illuminated in the evening. Observed once in six years, Murajapam or chanting of the holy Vedas for 56 days that begins today, will conclude with the Lakshadeepam festival on January 14, 2014, by lighting over one lakh lamps. On that day, the Temple thantri Nadumballi Tharananalloor Namboodiri will lead the rituals under the supervision of Azhvancherry Krishnan Thambrakkal, Thirunavaya Vadhyan and Thrissur Vadhyan. The ritual will be attended by 196 priests who will chant Vedas, Vishnu Sahasranama and sooktas. The timing of the ritualistic chanting is from 6.30 am to 8.30 am. The Sahasranama chanting, in which devotees can also participate, will be held from 4.30 pm to 6.30 pm. Seevelis (ritualistic procession carrying archa vigraham) will be held on November 27, December 5, 13, 29, 2013 January 6 and 14 in 2014. Astikas may make it convenient to attend the utsavam this utsavam this year and seek the blessings of Sri Ananthapadmanabhar.
For the recently concluded Vettai Utsavam coverage, please visit Thiruvananthapuram Sri Padmanabhaswamy Temple Vettai Utsavam
For detailed sthala puranam of the temple, please visit Sthalapuranam – Anantha Padmanabhaswamy temple – Kerala Divya Desam Series
The following are some of the photographs taken during the lighting of the Laksha Deepam and the related utsavam in the previous years…
Photo Courtesy: Sri Deepu Mukund, Sri VS Sankar
