Aani Thirumanjanam

Aani Thirumanjanam is a ritual performed in all Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu temples , it is the Maha Abhishegam (holy bath) given to the idols and decorated with clothes and ornaments (alangaram) followed by Deeparathanai (waving of ghee diyas to the lord’s).

Natarajar , (Sanskrit: “Lord of the Dance”) is Lord Shiva in his form as the cosmic dancer, represented in metal or stone in many Shaivite temples, particularly in South India .

The consort of Lord Natarajar is Goddess Sivagami .

According to Bharathanatya , the masculine form of dance Tandava, performed by Lord Shiva, is a combination of difficult poses and Angaharas, while Lasya anga is the feminine form. Performed by Goddess Parvati, Lasya is the dance that denotes happiness, grace and beauty.

Lord Natarajar symbolizes “the connection between religion and the arts”, and it represents Shiva as the Lord of dance, encompassing all “creation, destruction and all things in between”.

‘Thirumanjanam’ means holy bath . On ‘Aani Thirumanjanam day’ – when Uthram Nakshatra falls in Tamil month of ‘Aani’ – an Abhishekam is performed in Nataraja temples.

The Abhishekam of the idol performed during the evening of Uthiram Nakshatra that comes in Aani maasam ( june – july ) this day is considered highly auspicious . (Aani Uthiram – 28 June 2020) .

The annual ‘Aani Thirumanjanam’ car festival at Sri Natarajar temple in Chidambaram (Tamilnadu) scheduled on June 27 has been cancelled this year owing to COVID-19 outbreak.

Here the photos I have shared is Aani thirumanjanam of Boologanathar temple in Nellikuppam near Cuddalore, Tamilnadu .