Maha Kumbhabhishekam tomorrow: Kapali chants reverberate in Mylapore

Chennai: The spiritual hub of Chennai — Mylapore — will wake up to an auspicious event on Sunday morning when Vedic scholars perform the Maha Kumbhabhishekam of the renowned Sri Kapaleeswarar temple amidst the chant of Sanskrit mantras.

The consecration - Jeernodharana Ashtabandana Swarnanandana Maha Kumbhabhishekam -  will be performed on the Tamil month of Panguni 21 (April 3) between 8.30 and 9.50 am during the Rishaba lagnam for all the Vimanams, Rajagopuram, and Sannadhis of Sri  Narathana Vinayagar, Sri Kapaleeswarar, Sri Karpagambal, Sri Singaravelar, and other deities. The Thirukalyanam (celestial wedding)  of Lord Kapaleeswar with Goddess Karpagambal which will be performed in the evening at  4.15  will be much awaited ceremony in this residential town for which the temple lends the name.

In view of the Kumbhabhishekam, the temple authorities have erected a huge structure close to the eastern entrance  – the golden yagasalai. It has been  constructed just for the kumbabhishekam and the structure is said to be one of the biggest ever built for such a ceremony.

Over two dozen homa kundams have been constructed – one for each deity and beside each homa kundam, a small picture describes which deity it is meant  for.  The renovation work, taken up at a cost of Rs 6.53 crore commenced in mid-2015, was completed recently. Much of the renovation could not be carried out owing to the northeast monsoon and December deluge. As per the government order, the temple administration ensured no chemical was used during renovation.

The structures were given a fresh coat of panchavarnam – natural herbal colouring, to ensure the ancient temple got back its original ambience. In addition the 14 vimanas were renovated and painted. According to sources, the deity of Lord Kapaleeswarar would get a gold nagabharanam and a swarnabhandanam while Goddess Karpagambalwill get a golden paavadai and a swarnabhandanam — a golden sheet to cover the pedestal below the feet of the deities. Efforts were also made to repair the temple car and 45 wooden vahanams (mounts used during the processions of deities) have been restored at a cost of Rs 40 lakh.