‘Pattabhishekam' for Goddess Meenakshi performed
Hundreds of devotees on Tuesday witnessed the 'Pattabhishekam' or coronation ceremony of Goddess Meenakshi performed at the Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple in Madurai on the eighth day of the annual Chithirai festival.
The ceremony marks the transfer of power to rule Madurai from Lord Sundareswarar to Goddess Meenakshi. Her rule will last from the Tamil month of Chithirai to Avani.
The ceremony began with customary rituals, followed by 'abhishekam' and 'deeparadhana' to the diamond-studded 'Rayar' crown. The chairperson of the Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple Board of Trustees Rukmini Palanivel Rajan received the 'parivattam' from the temple Bhattars. The respect was originally accorded to King Thirumalai Nayak.
After receiving the golden sceptre from the temple priest, she took it around the 'praharam' of the Swami Sannithi and then placed it next to Goddess Meenakshi. It is believed that the crown that adorned the Goddess was donated by Appaji Rayar, a Minister in the court of King Krishnadevaraya, and passed on to the presiding deity of the temple during King Thirumalai Nayak rule.
The deities mounted on a silver palanquin were taken out on a procession. Devotees gathered in large numbers to catch a glimpse of the deities.
Minister for Information Technology and Digital Services Palanivel Thiaga Rajan, Collector M.S. Sangeetha, Mayor Indrani Ponvasanth and Corporation Commissioner Chitra Vijayan, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department officials and others were present at the event.
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