It was more than a mere ritual for the 200-odd devotees from different communities who gathered at the Sokkampudur cemetery to perform Mayana Pooja on the night of Mahasivarathri. For them, it was a night of devotion that would usher in prosperity not only for their families but for the entire community and the region.
The Mayana Pooja is performed at every Angalamman Temple across the State on Mahasivarathri. The event is observed to remember the Brahmahatty state of Lord Shiva after he was cursed by Lord Brahma.
Balraj, the dharmakartha of Sokkakudumpam, which had been observing the ritual for the past 120 years, said that according to legend, “Lord Shiva cuts the head of Lord Brahma for which he was cursed with ‘Agorapasi’ (unending appetite). In order to feed him, Devi went to the village and collected food for him. Lord Shiva is relieved of the curse only after the head of Brahma falls out of his hand”.
Gowri, a member of Sokkakudumpam, said, “Devotees will serve broad beans and sweet potato to the Lord. Once the poojas are over, Devi will be taken in a procession to the nearby Angalamman Temple for poojas.” The ritual is not confined to the Sokka clan, which had more than 300 families. In the same cemetery, devotees from other clans too performed the pooja to please the goddess.
“At the temple, a poomethikkal (fire walking ritual) will be held following which devotees will fetch water from the Noyyal River in the kumbham. The pooja ends with a deeparadhana once the kumbham reaches the temple,” explained Dinesh.
The entire ritual was a spectacle by itself as the head priest would break the idol made of clay as he was believed to be possessed by the God. He would hold a bone in his mouth and carry two skulls in his hand. The well decorated idol of Mahaniamman, an avatar of Devi, added the splash of colour to the event.
Similar rituals were believed to be performed at Sundakkamuthur, Thadak- am Road, Sulur and Melmalayanur.
Meanwhile, a similar ritual, Mayana Kollai, was observed in Dharmapuri in which thousands of devotees participated. Murugan, who had come to attend the ritual, said, “The Mayana Kollai is an important festival for Angala Parameshwari Amman, observed a day after Mahasivarathri. It is an important event for Kolayar 24 Manai Telugu Chettiar community.” Some devotees, to fulfil their vow to the God, would pierce a spear through their tongues and cheeks. During the last leg of the ritual, devotees go on a procession to the graveyard, cook food there, offer it to the deities and collect ashes from the cremation ground, which they would smear on themselves. They would also carry a huge idol of Goddess Kali in a procession inside the cremation ground.
“The ritual is observed to ward off evil spirits,” said Mathamaiyan, a resident of Ilayaikiyampatti village in Dharmapuri.