The Madras High Court (Madurai Bench) has refused to pass any interim orders restraining the authorities of the famed Tiruchendur Subramania Swamy temple from conducting midnight puja on New Year eve.
A devotee of the temple R Sundaravel of Thoothukudi had moved the court challenging a plan to conduct the New Year eve puja at the temple. He submitted that the Tiruchendur temple on the shores of Bay of Bengal is considered to be one of the six abodes of Lord Muruga.
The Hindu Agama Shastra mandates that the puja in the temple must be performed as per ‘Kumara Thanthira Murai’. This is a worshipping method under the Uba Agamas. According to him, the puja can be performed only 90 minutes (3.75 Naligai) before sunrise and the sanctum sanctorum can be opened only 30 to 60 minutes prior to the performing of the puja.
Every day, 14 pujas are performed for the presiding deity between 5.10 am and 9 pm. Apart from these traditional festivals and rituals like ‘Vaikasi Visagam’, ‘Avani’, ‘Kandha Sasti Kavasam’ and ‘Masi’ festival were conducted in accordance with planetary movements.
Petitioner said in complete disregard for the Agama Shastra, the temple’s Executive Officer/Joint Commissioner was planning to open the sanctum sanctorum of the temple at 12 am on January 1 to perform puja.