The reason why Hinduism gives importance to temple chariot and its run as part of temple ritual is a fully decorated chariot with a wooden baas is more or less a replica of a temple with its inner sanctuary (sanctum). Incorporated in the chariot are some parts of the temple, the place where the deities are mounted is the sanctum. The gods and sub-gods on the gopuram (towers) and in the shrines are represented by nice carving of them on the wooden base. The presence of various gods and goddesses on the chariot makes it vibrant and add divinity and sanctity to it during the rath yatra. A moving temple implies that the gods' grace is touching upon the devotees of all kinds and stature all along the path.
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| Hindu temple ratha S.India commons.wikimedia.org |
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| freepik.com |
The following are some of the popular temple chariots of Tamil Nadu:
Patteeswara Swamy temple Karamadai, Coimbatore, TN:
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| Patteeswara Swamy temple karamadai en.wikipedia.org |
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| Karamadai temple, Coimbatore, carved wooden base and wheel |
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| Karamadai temple, Coimbatore, facebook.com |
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wooden chariot Patteeswara Swamy temple karamadai Coimbatore, Alamy.com |
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| Perur Patteeswara Swamy temple karamadai Coimbatore alamy.com |
Above image: Karamadai Patteswara swamy Temple, Coimbatore - car/ratha; intricate wooden cavings of gods and goddesses, etc in the Hindu pantheon. Colorful canopy, decorations will be added on the wooden chariot later and the themes vary from temple to temple.........
Also called Karamadai Temple in Karamadai, 23 km from Coimbatore city, here God Vishnu is known as Ranganathaswamy; his consort is Ranganayaki. The early builder of this temple was the Cholas in the 11 CE and later Nayak rulers expanded it. Then Mysore ruler Jayachamarajendra Wadiyar (1940–1950) built a few halls on the temple premises. Following Thenkalai Samprathayam - tradition (Pancharathra aagama), here the yearly festivals are 15-day long Brahmotsavam in the the Tamil month of Maasi (February - March), Vaikunta Ekadasi and Sri Ramanuja Jayanti, the last being the most prominent. This temple with 7-tier Rajagopuram gateway and other shrines are enclosed in a boundary wall mad of granite. Peculiarity of this temple is in the sanctum - garbagriha only the face of the Lord is enshrined on the square seat. As per Hindu legend, the face of Ranganatha was found under an anthill in the land where the Kattariyar tribes were living. Further. utchavamurthi (processional deity) that is supposed to be inside the sanctum is placed outside as the moolavar image is small. During the Brahmotsavam, the decorated temple car is drawn along the streets around temple with the festival idols.
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Parthasarathy Temple, Chennai:
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| Triplicane Chennai Parthasarathy temple. en.wikipedia.org |
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| Parthasarathy temple, Chennai, Ratha.magikindia.com |
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| Chennai Parthasarathi temple car.trekearth.com |
This 6th century Hindu Vaishnavite temple in Triplicane, Chennai, dedicated to Lord Krishna (Parthasarathy) is a popular one in this city and is also one of the 108 divyadesams of Lord Vishnu. The earliest builders were Pallavas, later Cholas and Vijayanagara rulers expanded some parts of the temple. Here, the name 'Parthasarathy' (in Sanskri) means the 'Charioteer of Arjuna' (during the Kurushetra war) and Lord Krishna is worshipped as ''Partha''in this temple. Paiazhwar, Thirumangai Azhwar and Thirumesai Azhwar saints sang in praise of the lord of this temple which adheres to Vaikhanasa agama and follows Thenkalai tradition.
The Brahmotsavam (February-March), one of the most important and auspicious events in all temples, traces its origin to Brahma, the creator God. This year the chariot festival took place in February-March with joy as the devotees missed the great event in the past two years due to covid-19 pandemic.
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Kapaleeshwarar temple, Mylapore, Chennai:
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| shutterstock.com |
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| Kapaleeshwarar temple car festival,Chennai. timesofindia.indiatimes.com |
Above image: Thousands of devotees attend the Kapaleeshwarar temple annual car festival - Panguni Peruvizha at Mylapore in Chennai...........
At the famous Kapaleeswarar Temple in Mylapore, Chennai car festival is part of 10-day long annual festival - Panguni Peruvizha and the therattam takes place all along the four Maada Veethys
(Maada Streets). After temple rituals, the processional idols of Kapaleeshwarar and Karpagambal, beautifully adorned with clothes and jewels are mounted on the decorated chariot (ther) and then taken around the temple. The Arupathimoovar festival-63 Nyayanmars (Tamil Savite saints) is one of the most important processions at the Mylapore Kapaleeswarar Temple and this year the therottam took place with certain restrictions.
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Madurai Meenakshi temple, TN:
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| Madurai Meenakshi Temple Car Festival 2016en.wikipedia.org |
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| Madurai Meenakshi Temple Car Festivaletvbharat.com |
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| Wooden base of Madurai Meenakshi temple, TN.tamil.news18.com |
This year Meenakshi Amman temple Therottam took place in the 3rd week of March after a gap of 2 years and it was part of the famous Chithirai festival. Earlier preparations were underway to get the rathas ready - one for Sundereswarar (Chokkanathar priyavedai ther) and the smaller for goddess Meenakshi parked in the Thermutti (ratha shed) on East Masi street. Both raths are normally protected from dust, etc year round by keeping them in huge and tall sheds covered with glasses. Since the cars were not used for more than two consecutive years, they were cleaned up thoroughly by air-blowing. After that they were given a few coats of varnish before the beginning of decoration that included decorative embroidered patches with colorful motifs
The temple cars presently being used are 400 years old and were made by the ruler of Madurai Nayak king Thirumalai Nayakar.
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Koniamman temple in Coimbatore, TN
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| Konniamman car festival, Coimbatore in.worldorgs.com |
Above image: Koniamman temple in Coimbatore: Several lakh devotees participated in the car festival of Koniamman temple recently......
The annual festival of the famous Koniamman Amman temple which starts in the Tamil month of ‘Maasi’ will culminate with the car festival. The entire city will wear a festive look with active participation of thousands of local devotees and people from adjacent places. The ratha will be taken round the four streets with intermittent stops.
Tradition here has been that devotees offer a large quantity of crystal salt and pepper to the goddess Koniamman to propitiate her andto bless them for the welfare and prosperity of the family. As part of temple ritual protocol, special ‘pujas’ and ‘abishekam’ will be performed to the deity before the start of the car festival. After it the idol will be mounted reverentially on the ratha at an auspicious time. The procession that starts from Raja street will proceed through Oppanakara street, Vysial street, and Karuppanna Gounder street and finally returned to the temple.
