Lakhs of devotees throng 'Brahadeeswarar temple' to witness Consecration ceremony

Tens of thousands of devotees from across the country thronged the World-renowned "Brahadeeswarar Temple" also popularly called as Big Temple on Wednesday to witness the "Kudamuzhakku" ceremony (consecration) performed after a gap of 23 years.

The holy water, brought from the "yaga sala" was poured on the gold-plated kalasam atop the 216-feet high "raja gopuram" (main temple tower) above the sanctum sanctorum of Sri Brahadeeswarar and other temple towers inside the temple complex amidst chanting of Vedic hymns by Sivacharyas (priests belonging to Saivite sect) at the auspicious 0920 hours, after the "Maha Poornahuthi" and Maha Deeparana rituals.

Soon after the consecration ceremony, the huge granite idol (Lingam) of Lord Peruvudaiyar (Brahadeeswarar) and goddess Periyanayaki (Brahannayaki) and other deities were sanctified with the holy water.

The yagasala poojas (homam ceremony) for the temple consecration began on Saturday evening. The temple rituals were carried out both in Tamil and Sanskrit languages.

As many as 60 "Odhuvars" recited "Thevaram" (Saivite devotional poetry) and "Thirumurai" (a twelve volume compendium of hymns in praise of Lord Shiva in Tamil) and other hymns during the consecration ceremony.

Around five lakh devotees converged in Thanjavur to witness the consecration event.

Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation plied about 250 special buses from various destinations to Thanjavur, while the Southern Railway had operated special trains from Tiruchirapalli, Tiruvarur, Mayiladuthurai and Kaarikkal for the devotees.

Over 5,500 police personnel heaed by the Inspector General of Police (Central Zone) A.Amalraj were posted in Thanjavur for bandobust duty.

It was the sixth grand consecration performed in the temple built by the great Chola emperor Raja Raja Cholan in the 25th year of his rein between 1003 and 1010 A.D.

According to the temple inscriptions, the first consecration of the temple was held in 1010 CE by Raja Raja Cholan himself. Later, the consecration was performed to the temple during the Maratta period by King Serfoji in 1729 A.D and then by his great grandson Sivajindra Chatrapathi in 1843 A.D.  Then after 177 years, consecration was done between 1980 and 1997.