SREE NARASIMHA - PARTHASARATHY TEMPLE THIRUVANGOOR
Special Days
TEMPLE FESTIVAL
The temple festival starts on the Uthram star of the Malayalam month Makara and ends on the Anizham star with the Aarattu ceremony. The priests, the members of the Andalady tantri family from Pattambi, as per the directions of the Guruvayur Chennas Tantri family, oversee the tantric rituals of the festival. The festival is more ritual-oriented than celebratory. The festival lasts for seven days starting from the very first ritual of Shudhi. The temple deity's vehicle is a palanquin for Lord Narasimha and a chariot for Lord Parthasarathy. The fifth day of the festival, the Ratha Yatra, is very significant. The special offerings during the festival include Appam, Ada, Niramaala, and Neyvilakku. Dravyakalashabhishekam is also performed during the festival for enhancing the spiritual energy of the temple.
SREE NARASIMHA JAYANTHI
Sree Narasimha Jayanthi is celebrated on the Chathurdashi day of the Shukla Paksha in the month of Vaishaka. This holy month commemorates the appearance of Lord Narasimha, the fourth avatar of Lord Vishnu, to vanquish the oppressive asura king Hiranyakashipu and protect his devotee Prahlada. It symbolizes the victory of knowledge over ignorance and the protection given by the Lord to his devotees. Sree Narasimha is believed to have appeared at dusk, so the devotees observe fasting till dusk. The evening puja at temple is considered very auspicious. The special offerings on this day include Narasimha Pooja, Panakam, and Neyvilakku.
SREE KRISHNA JAYANTHI
Sree Krishna Jayanthi, also known as Gokulashtami, Ashtami Rohini, and Janmashtami, is celebrated on the Rohini day of the Krishna Paksha in the Malayalam month of Chingam. This holy day marks the birth of Lord Sree Krishna, revered as the ninth avatar of Sree Maha Vishnu. It is a significant day in the temple. Devotees throng the temple for darshan of Sree Krishna and to witness the procession of little Krishnas and Gopikas. The special offerings on this day include Palpayasam, Venna Nivedyam, Neyvilakku and Niramaala. The incarnation worship is performed at midnight.
GURUVAYUR EKADASHI
Guruvayur Ekadashi falls on the eleventh day of the Malayalam month Vrishchika. It is a day of deep devotion and spiritual introspection and celebrated in the temple with much elegance. The temple also celebrates this day as Gita Jayanti marks the day the Bhagavad Gita emanated from the divine lips of Sree Parthasarathi. The temple authorities also selected this day to award The Panchajanyam Puraskaram, the biggest award given by the temple, to the personalities who uphold temple arts and culture and become a pillar to Sanatan Dharma’s cultural heritage. The day is also celebrated as the THIRUVANGUR SANGITOTSAV (Music Festival) or the EKADASHI SANGEETOTSAV, where music students and teachers perform musical worship in the temple premises from dawn to dusk.
PRATHISHTA DINAM
The annual celebration of the reinstallation of the deity, which was done as part of the temple renovation, is celebrated as Prathishta Dinam in the temple. To increase the temple's spiritual energy and to bring prosperity and wealth to the devotees Kalabhabhishekam and tantric rituals are performed on this day.
KUCHELA DINAM
The first Wednesday of the Malayalam month of Dhanu is celebrated as Kuchela Dinam. It commemorates the day when Lord Krishna lifted Kuchela, a poor Brahmin and his childhood friend, from his miserable conditions. On Kuchela Dinam, children dress up as Lord Krishna and Kuchela take out a procession around the temple. Devotees offer flattened rice to the deity on this day.
VAISAKHA MASAM
This month, in which many incarnations of Lord Mahavishnu appeared, is also known as Madhavamasa. The Jayanti (birthday) of Kurma, Balarama, Brigu Rama, and Sree Narasimha Avatar are celebrated this month. Additionally, this month also marks the birthdays of Sree Shankaracharya, Sree Buddha, and Mata Sita Devi. It is believed that the gods obtained Amrit during the churning of the ocean in this month, The temple celebrates Vishakhamaasa with special Abhishekam, Sahasranama Parayanam, Srimad Bhagavad Gita Parayanam, Purana Parayanam, collective Nama Japam, and Japa Parayana Satsangam. The special Vishakhapooja at the temple is renowned and can be performed on any day during the Vishakha month.
VISHU SANKRAMAM
The first day of the Malayalam month of Medam (14 April) is celebrated as Vishu, the Malayalam New Year. It marks the day when the sun transits from the Meenam rasi (Pisces) to the Medam rasi (Aries). On Vishu, day and night are of equal duration. The temple celebrates Vishu with lighting of lamps. Devotees visit the temple early in the morning to have a glimpse of Lord Krishna and pray for prosperity and good fortune throughout the year.
RAMAYANA MASAM
Ramayanamasam is observed in the Malayalam month of Karkidakam. There is a ritual to read Ramayana on all the days of the month in all Hindu households and temples. The Ramayana month is celebrated in the temple with various programs, including spiritual discourses by sages and scholars, dance performances by the Matrusamithi (temple’s women organization) and various competitions for children based on the Ramayana. The celebration is famous for its spiritual and cultural significance. During the Ramayana month, devotees can perform special Bhagwati puja every day.
NAVARATRI
Navaratri is observed in honour of the goddess Durga, an aspect of Adi Parashakti, the supreme goddess. The temple celebrates Navaratri with elaborate programs. On last three days of Navratri (Durga Ashtami, Mahanavami, Vijayadashami) special pujas are performed in the temple for Mahasaraswati, the goddess of knowledge, wisdom, arts, music and language. During these days temple arrange worship of books and initiate the children into reading and writing called as Vidyarambham.
DEEPAWALI
Deepawali is celebrated in the temple on the Amavasya day of the Malayalam month of Thulam. The message of Deepawali is conveyed through the Vedic verse "Tamasso Ma Jyothirgamaya". Deepavali symbolizes victory of light over darkness, good over evil and knowledge over ignorance. In the temple, Maha Lakshmi, the goddess of prosperity, is worshipped. On this day, the temple premises are illuminated with ghee lamps and thousand and one lamps by the Matrusamithi (temple’s women organization) and devotees.
MANDALAMASAM
Mandalamasam marks the beginning of pilgrimage to the Sabarimala Temple from the first day of the Vrishchikam month and ends on the eleventh day of the Dhanu month. Mandalamasam refers to the 41-day period of austerity observed by devotees of Lord Ayyappa. During this month, Ayyappa Swamis, dressed in black dhoti and wearing the sacred chain, come to the temple to begin their fasting period and to prepare for their pilgrimage to Sabarimala. The temple becomes a transit centre for Ayyappa devotees coming from northern districts of Kerala and other neighbouring states. Temple provides facilities for bathing, cooking, dining and resting at temple premises.