Thousands witness consecration of Sri Kasi Viswanathar Temple

Kumbabhishekam being performed at Kasi Viswanathar Temple in Tenkasi on Monday.
| Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

Thousands of devotees from southern districts witnessed the consecration of Sri Kasi Viswanathar – Ulagamman Temple, which was performed in Tenkasi on Monday after a gap of 19 years.

Following appeal from the devotees, the renovation of the temple began last year and the special ‘puja’ and ‘yagna’ ahead of the ‘kumbabhishekam’ began on April 3 after the work was completed. After offering special prayers for Parakkirama Pandian, who is believed to have built the shrine in the 13^th century, other rituals were conducted. After the end of the rituals, consecration of the temple was conducted between 9 a.m. and 10 a.m. on Monday by priests led by Selvam Pattar of Thoothukudi.

The devotees were served food in the common feast organised near the temple tank after the ‘kumbabhishekam.’

Following ‘maha abhishekam’ and ‘deeparadhana’ in the evening, the celestial wedding of Swami with Ambal was conducted at 7 p.m.

The district administration had declared local holiday to enable the devotees to witness the ‘kumbabhishekam’ and special buses were operated to Tenkasi from various places in Tirunelveli and Virudhunagar districts.

Collector A.K. Kamal Kishore, MP Rani Srikumar, MLAs S. Palani Nadar and E. Raja and the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment Department officials participated in the consecration ceremony.

Led by Superintendent of Police S. Aravind, over 1,000 police personnel have been deployed in and around Tenkasi. Traffic diversions have been made via Courtallam, Old Courtallam and Mathalamparai and Ilaththur, Aayikudi and Surandai to avert congestion within Tenkasi town.