In the month of Adi, communal pujas such as the Kuthuvilakku Puja are performed on Tuesdays and Fridays at various Shakti Temples throughout the State. The pujas are performed for the well being of home and family or sometimes for the fulfilment of individual desires, such as a young girl wanting a husband or desiring children in a marriage.
The most common among all lamps is the Kuthuvilakku. The name is derived from the fact that these lamps were originally spiked into the ground. They are now stand-alone pieces with ornate decorations, but the name has remained through the ages. The lamp has five bowls on the top and there is a trim pedestal fixed firmly on a heavy circular base.
These lamps are used in common households and are also used on ceremonial platforms. The Kuthuvilakku is usually decorated on the top with structures of the `hamsa` (mythical swan) or with other religious symbols.
The photographs in this posting, are of the Kuthuvilakku Puja performed yesterday (Friday, 2nd July 2013) in the Mandapam at Arunachaleswarar Temple. To find out more about the different types of lamps used in Tamil Nadu homes and Temples, go to this previous link here.
3 comments:
Thank you, beautiful pics. Reminds me of the days I did pujas with the Kuthuvilakku lamps. They are to be found in the majority of homes all around India!
Yes, I bet the photo brought back memories for you. Also I seem to recall there used to be yearly communal pujas in the Poornachandra Hall at Prashanti Nilayam.
One of the more interesting aspects of this posting, is that the photographs are of ladies of all ages.
I seem to remember most of the Poornachandra pujas being for special groups, so we didn't get a chance. However, once I participated in a group puja in the Kulwant Hall. Mainly I was remembering my time in Shanti Ashram, such as the elaborate rainy season pujas headed by a Ramunaja Swami who lived in the ashram at that time. I wrote about my first pujas here: http://www.wattpad.com/4348227-letters-from-shanti-ashram-india-2-pujas-%26-daily#.Uf6GH6wUy9Y
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