Chennai: Religious fervour marked the conduct of the Maha Kumbhabhishekam of the over 300-year-old Sri Kapaleeswarar temple, Mylapore, in the city on Sunday. A sea of humanity congregated around the temple after a gap of 12 years to witness the largest ever such event held.
The Sivanadiyars with matted hair chanted Thiruvasagam — a volume of Tamil hymns on Lord Siva composed by saint-poet Manikkavasagar — even as priests performed the consecration between 8.30 and 9.50 am during the Rishaba lagnam.
It was witnessed by several thousands of devotees who started gathering much ahead of auspicious time for the Kumbhabhishekam. The temple’s hereditary priests Kapali and Venkatasubramanian performed the Kumbhabhishekam commencing from the 120-foot high temple Rajagopuram and followed by abhishekams for 14 other vimanams.
The temple priests sprinkled the holy water from atop the temple towers on the devotees using jet pipes. People also crowded the North Mada street to occupy vantage positions and obtain a good view of the Rajagopuram. To ensure trouble-free and easy darshan for the devotees, the temple management made elaborate arrangements and police took up positions at temple gates and other places to regulate the crowd. Police were seen constantly reminding the devotees to be alert and take care of their personal belongings and jewellery.
The public were permitted to enter the temple from the east gopuram side and temple gates via Ponnambalam Vadiyar street. Those carrying passes alone were allowed to enter the temple premises where homams were held since 5 am. Various troupes of artistes filled the air with their resonating drumbeats, bugles and conches, lending an audible charm to the consecration. The renovation of the Sri Kapaleeswarar Karpagambal temple, which commenced in September last year, was completed recently.
