Karthigai Deepam is a special day at the Tiruvotriyur Temple, near Chennai.

The main deity (moolavar), the Siva Lingam, is in the form of an anthill (putru). So, daily abhishekams are not part of the rituals.

It is only on the Full Moon day in the month of Kathirgai (Thirukkarthigai) that the covering (kavacham) is removed and the deity given an anointment of punugu, javvadhu and sambranithailam

The four-foot-tall Linga, on a stone peetam, can be worshipped in its original form only on that day.

The family of T P Ramaswami, who did a lot of charities in Madras (as it was known during his lifetime) but all in the name of Tiruvitroyuran Adimai (The Slave of the Lord of Tiruvotriyur), has the honour of 'sponsoring' the sambranithaila kappu every year.

The son of this noble soul, T R Kannan, says his family continues the tradition of the once-a-year kappu festival. They procure the ingredients from the town area of Chennai.

(Ramaswami established a temple within the Tiruvotriyur premises, which is maintained by his family now.)

The kavacham, made of brass and now gold-plated, will be removed this year after the evening pooja on November 19 and the thailam applied.

The gleaming kavacham will be put back on the Suyambulingam only on the night of November 21.

The deity is variously worshipped as Putridankondar, Adi Pureeswarar (as it is believed that it was this land in Tiruvotriyur that was retrieved from the sea when the earth was created by the Lord), and Padam Pakka Nathar as He is in the company of the snake, Vasuki.

The lives of several saints revolved around the Tiruvotriyur Temple. It was here that Saivite saint Sundarar married Sangili Nachiyar and Kaliya Nayanar spent a lifetime tending to the lamps. Another saint, Pattinathar, entered samadhi here. Saint Ramalinga Vallalar used to visit the deity daily and has sung the beautiful 'Vadivudai Manikka Malai' on the consort of Lord.

Saints Appar, Sundarar, Sambandar, Arunagirinathan and Kambar and Kalamega Pulavar have sung in praise of the Lord.

RELATED LINKS:

http://travel.indiamart.com/tamil-nadu/temples/lord
-shiva-temple-tiruvottiyur.html

http://www.hindubooks.org/temples/tamilnadu/tiruvottiyur
/index.htm

 http://www.a2zmylai.com/saint/skn.html

 http://www.sangeetham.com/kritis/AdipurIshvaram.htm

http://www.vallalar.org/onlineres/english/thulasiram
/nuclear/html/vallalar's%20vision%20%20Appendix%20files
.html

S. Chitra