365bet娱乐

[Full title: Influence of legends on the customs and traditions of Sucindram temple (2) Ardhayamapuja of Indra]

This is a custom prevalent in Sucindram temple. This shows the strong influence of the legends of Indra in the daily worship of Sucindrum temple. According to Sucindrasthalamahatmya (ch. 15. verse: 15) Indra performs Ardhyamapuja (midnight) every day. After his redemption from the sin of seducing Ahalya, Indra expressed his desire to reside Sucindram for ever. But lord Siva allowed him to return to Heaven; adding however, that he may come for worship at Sucindram every night. The popular belief is that Indra performs the Ardhayama puja on the shrine of Stanumalayala ; 166

and, the priest should see any sign of that, so the alternation of the priests is instituted. Coupled with this practice is the strict instruction that the officiating priests, should under no circumstance, revel any strange feature observed in the sanctum sanctorum. Ardhayama puja is practiced in so many Siva temple of east cost. There is a particular ceremony namely, Tirunanjam is performed related the same. It is the abhisekha of the image with fresh water bought from the river or well and it takes place just prior to the early morning puja. The puranic idea underlying Tirunanjanom is that, every night, after the Ardhayama puja and before Lord Siva enters his sleeping apartment, Gangadevi descends from the crown of his head and becomes mixed with the other tirthas of the Earth. Early morning it is for restoring Gangadevi backs to her seat on the Jatamakuta of Siva that the ceremony of fetching water from the adjoining river and well and anoincing the lord with it is believed to be conducted. In Sucindram, the Tirumanjanous is performed after the noon puja, probably because the Ardhayampuja is believed to be conducted by Indra and not by the temple priest. The legend about Indra performing Ardhayamapuja on Sucindrum temple took shape only after 14 th century A.D. An inscription of the Pandya king of 1351 A.D. registers a royal gift of land for conducting the mid-night puja. If the tradition of Indra performing the Ardhayama puja were current at that time the inscription was engraved, most certainly, such an endowment would not have been made. So the belief of Indra th performing Ardhayamapuja is established only after 14" century A.D. 167