Daily Poojas and Special Rituals & Rules in Travancore Temple

Daily Rituals in a Maha Kshetram

Nada Thurakkal (opening of temple sreekovil)

Palliyunarthal

Nirmalya Darsanam

Vakacharthu, Abhishekam

Malar Nivedyam

Ganapathy Homam

Prasanna Pooja

Usha Pooja

Ethrutha Pooja

Ethrutha Sheeveli

Pantheerady Pooja

Dhara, Navakam, Panchagavyam

Ucha Pooja

Ucha Sheeveli

Nada Adakkal (closing of temple sreekovil)

Nada Thurakkal in the evening

Deeparadhana

Bhagavathy Seva

Athazha Pooja

Athazha Sheeveli

Truppuka

Nada Adakkal

Rituals associated with Utsavam

Shuddhi Kalasam (Bimba Shuddhi, Praasaada Shuddhi)

Ankuraaropanam (Mulayidal)

Kodiyettu, Dikku Kodi

Sreebhoothabali

Utsavabali

Kazcha Sreebali

Pallivetta

Valiya Kanikka

Arattu

Parayeduppu

Kodi Irakkal

Rituals associated with Sahasra Kalasam ( 8 Days)

First day: Aacharyavaranam, Ankuraaropanam (Mulayidal)

  • Second day: Shuddhi – Praasaada Shuddhy, Asthra kalasa pooja, Vasthu homam, Vasthu kalasa pooja, Rakshoghna homam, Vasthu bali, Vasthu kalasa abhishekam.

  • Third day: Bimba shuddhi, Chathushuddhi, Dhara , Panchagavyam – Panchakam kalasa poojas, Mahakumbha kalasam, Mahakumbha kalasaadhivaasam.

  • Fourth day: Mahakumbha kalasa abhishekam, Prayaschitha Homam, Prayaschitha Homa kalasa abhishekam

  • Fifth day: Santhi homam, Adbhutha Santhi homam, Homa kalasa abhishekam.

  • Sixth day: Nayasanthi homam, Chora santhi homam, Homa kalasa abhishekam.

  • Seventh day: Tathva homam, Tathva kalasa pooja, Tathva kalasa abhishekam, Sahasra kalasa pooja, Kalsa pooranam, Kalasaadhivaasam.

  • Eighth day: Sahasra Kalasa abhishekam, Brahma Kalasa abhishekam., Ucha pooja

Rituals associated with Vigraha Prathishta and Puna Prathishta ( 11 Days)

First day: Aacharyavaranam, Ankuraaropanam (Mulayidal), Ganapathy pooja, Praasaada Shuddhy, Rakshaa kalasam, Praasaada pooja, Rakshoghna homam, Vasthu homam, Vasthu kalasa pooja, Rakshoghna homam, Vasthu bali, Vasthu kalasa abhishekam, Vasthu kalasa punyaaham.

  • Second day: Mula pooja, Bimba shuddhi kalasa pooja, Bimba shuddhi kalasa abhishekam, Proktha homam, Naveena prayaschitha homam, Proktha kalasa abhishekam, Naveekarana kalasa abhishekam, Mura japam, ucha pooja, Sthala shuddhi, Mula pooja, Athazha pooja

  • Third day: Mula pooja, Prayaschitha homam, Prayaschitha kalasam, Saamaanya Santhi homam, Adbhutha Santhi homam, Homa kalasa abhishekam, Mura japam, ucha pooja, Sthala shuddhi, Mula pooja, Athazha pooja

  • Fourth day: Mula pooja, Nayasanthi homam, Chora santhi homam, Homa kalasa abhishekam, Mura japam, ucha pooja, Sthala shuddhi, Mula pooja, Athazha pooja

  • Fifth day: Tathva homam, Tathva kalasa pooja, Dravya kalasam, Brahma kalasa pooja of Anunja kalasam, Marappany, Tathva kalasa abhishekam, Ucha pooja , Parikalasa pooja, Mura japam, ucha pooja, Sthala shuddhi, Mula pooja, Adhivaasa homam, Adhivaasa kalasam, Adhivaasa pooja, Athazha pooja

  • Sixth day: Mula pooja, Adhivaasathinkal usha pooja, Marappany, Parikalasa abhishekam, Brahma kalasa abhishekam, Anunjaa praarthana, Mura japam, ucha pooja, Mulayidal for Naalaam kalasam, Sthala shuddhi, Mula pooja, Athazha pooja

  • Seventh day: Mula pooja, Shayyaa pooja, Samhaara thathwa homam, Samhaara thathwa kalasam, Kumbhesa pooja, Karkkari kalasa pooja, Jala droni pooja, Kumbhesa kalasa pooja, Vidwesa kalasa pooja, Mula Shayyaa ezhunnaallathu, Marappany, Thathwa kalasa abhishekam, Dhyaana samkocham, Jeeva kalasa pooja, Jeevodhwaasanam, Jeeva kalasa ezhunnallathu to Shayya, Bimba shuddhy kalasa pooja, Bimba shuddhy kalasa abhishekam, Punyaaha pooja, Upahaara daanam, Bimbam ezhunnallathu to Sreekovil, Peeda prathishta, Peedhaadhivaasam, Napumsaka shilaa sthaapanam, Bimbhaadhivaasam, Nidraa kalasa pooja, Shirasthathwa homam, Mandala pooja, Ashtamangala sthaapanam, Dhyyaanaadhivaasam, Adhivaasa homam, Prathishtaa homam, Nava sakthi homam, Khrudhaadhi paathra sthaapanam, Ashtabandham shayyayil vekkal, Adhivaasa pooja.

  • Eighth day: Mula pooja, Adhivaasathinkal usha pooja, Marappany, Vidwesa kalasa abhishekam, Praasaada shoddhy, Muhoortha praayaschitham, Vigraha Prathishta, Upadeva prathishta, Ashtabandha Sthaapanam, Nivedyam, Kumbhesa kalasam, Nidraa kalasam, Vysya homam, Prathishtaa bali, Prasanna pooja, Prathishtaa Dakshina, Deepa sthaapanam, Nada adakkal, Mula pooja, Nadakkal pooja

  • Ninenth day: Nadakkal pooja, Sthala shuddhi, Mula pooja

  • Tenth day: Mula pooja, Brahma kalasa pooja for naalaam kalasam (217 kalasam), Kumbhesa Karkkari pooja, Tathva homam, Tathva kalasa pooja, Enna kalasam, Mula ezhunnallippu to Kalasam, Parikalasa pooja, Valiya balikkallu adhivaasam, Adhivaasa homam, Adhivaasa pooja, Nadakkal pooja

  • Eleventh day: Nada thurakkal, Enna kalsa abhishekam, Valiya balikkal Sthaapanam, Marappany, Tathva kalasa abhishekam, Parikalasa abhishekam, Brahma kalasa ezhunnallathu, Karkkari-Kumbhesa-Brahma kalasa abhishekam, Avasraava poshanam, Sthoopika kalasam, Kodimara kalasam, Sreebhootha bali, Aachaarya dakshina, Aasu kottal.

Rituals associated with Ashtabanda Kalasam and Naveekarana Kalasam ( 6 Days)

First day: Aacharyavaranam, Ankuraaropanam (Mulayidal), Ganapathy pooja, Praasaada Shuddhy, Rakshaa kalasam, Praasaada pooja, Rakshoghna homam, Vasthu homam, Vasthu kalasa pooja, Rakshoghna homam, Vasthu bali, Vasthu kalasa abhishekam, Vasthu kalasa punyaaham.

  • Second day: Mula pooja, Chathushuddhi, Dhara , Panchagavyam – Panchakam kalasa poojas, Proktha homam, Proktha kalasa abhishekam, Sthala shuddhi, Mula pooja, Athazha pooja

  • Third day: Mula pooja, Prayaschitha homam, Prayaschitha kalasam, ucha pooja, Sthala shuddhi, Mula pooja, Athazha pooja

  • Fourth day: Mula pooja, Nayasanthi homam, Chora santhi homam, Homa kalasa abhishekam, ucha pooja, Sthala shuddhi, Mula pooja, Athazha pooja

  • Fifth day: Tathva homam, Tathva kalasa pooja, Marappany, Tathva kalasa abhishekam, Mandapa samskaram, Ucha pooja , Kumbhesa kalasa pooja, Adhivaasa homam, Brahma kalasa pooja, Parikalasa pooja, Adhivaasa kalasam, Adhivaasa pooja, Athazha pooja

  • Sixth day: Parikalasa abhishekam, Ashtabandha sthapanam, Kumbhesa kalasa abhishekam, Brahma kalasa abhishekam, ucha pooja, Avasrutha poshanam, Sreebhootha bali.

Rituals associated with Dwaja Prathishta

Daru Parigraham

Dwaja Nirmanam

Naveekarana kalasam

Bhootha Samharam

Jaladhivaasam of Vahanam

Vahana Shuddhi

Shayya pooja

Dwaja kalasa pooja

Dhyaanaadhivaasam

Vahana Chaithanya Aavaahanam

Vahana Prathishta

Dwaja Kalasam

Dwaja Pooja

Ashta Dikpaalaka Prathishta

Brahma kalasa abhishekam

Tanthri Dakshina

Rituals associated with construction of a new temple

Bhoomi Pooja

Shadaadhara Prathishta

Vigraha Prathishta

Thazhikakkuda Prathishta

Parivaara Prathishta

Rituals associated with Laksharchana, Kodi Archana and Kalabhabhishekam

Kalasa pooja, Kalabham nirakkal

Recital of Deity's names 100000 or 10000000 times

Kshetra Pradakshinam

Brahma Kalasa abhishekam

Other Special Rituals

Dravya Kalasam

Ashta Mangalya Deva Prasnam

Niraputhari

Udayasthamana Pooja

Ganapathy Homam

Bhagavathy Seva

Mruthyunjaya Homam

Punyaham

Sukrutha Homam

Sudarsana Homam

Guruthy

Aayilyam Pooja, Noorum Palum

Kumbhakudam

Thookkam

Padayani

Pana

Vela

Pallippana

Thira

There are five classes of temples 

  1. A village temple (“Graama Kshethram”) in every village;

  2. A “Desa Kshethram” in every “Desam”, within a village;

  3. Private family temples, where their “Paradevatha” (family deity) is worshipped. (Not every family has one.);

  4. Sacred groves (“Kaavu”); and

  5. Transplanted deity temples (“Kutiyiruthukal”).

The supreme authority for all religious matters (i.e., “Vaidika-Thaanthrika Chatangukal”) in each temple is vested with its designated “Thanthri”.There are minor variations in the ceremonial aspects of worship among the three main schools of thought (“Paksham”), though their fundamental concepts are identical. A spiritual relationship (“Aatma Bandham”), akin to that of a father and son, is presumed to exist between the manifest energy or aura (“Chaithanyam”) of the main and other lesser deities in a temple and the person (and his heirs) who was instrumental in their glorification through his daily ritualistic worship. There are also some families to whom these qualities and authority were transferred for reasons such as the family becoming extinct with no male lineage.

There are many temples where the “Sraadhham” (annual rituals related to death) of such original Thanthris are performed by the god’s representatives. Thaanthric procedures differ slightly among the followers of “Eesaana Gurudeva Padhhathi” (scheme), “Prapanchasaaram”, “Thanthra Samuchayam”, the “Anushthhaana Padhhathi” of the Tharananalloors and the “Kriyaa Padhhathi” of southern Kerala.

Important temples (“Mahaa Kshethrangal”) will have the “Panchaprasaadams” and “Panchaprakaarams”.
 

(A) Panchaprasaadams 

1. Sree Kovil
2. Namaskaara Mandapam
3. Thitappalli
4. Balikkalpura (Naalambalam) 
5. Koothambalam (Naatasaala)

 (B) Panchaprakaarams

1. Garbhagriham
2. Itanaazhi
3. Inner Balivattam
4. Vilakkumaadam 
5. Outer Balivattam

Also there will be the “Upagrihams” such as the boundary walls, “Gopurams’, “Oottupura” (dining hall), “Pathaayappura” (store house), and “Bhajanappura” (prayer hall).

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