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Alagramam Jain Temple is a
The annual fair (or Brahmotsavam) has been conducted in the temple since 1894 to honor Parshvanatha. The fair has day and night rituals for ten days. It is conducted during the Ashtaniyama Period, starting from ''Saptami Tithi'' and ending in ''Prathama Tithi''. This is around June or July in the western calendar.
The 1st day is marked by a Flag Hoisting Ceremony. In the morning, the Darbar flag is hoisted, and at night the main flag, Tvajarohanam, with an image of Sarvana Yaksha inscribed on it, is hoisted.
On the 2nd day, Surya (Sun) Vahanam Utsav is performed in the morning, and at night, Chandira (Moon) Vahanam Utsav is performed.
On the 3rd day, in the morning and at night, Devendhiran Vahanam (Head of all Navagrahas) Utsav is performed.
On the 4th day, in the morning and at night, a Nine-Headed Naga (Snake) Vahanam Utsav is performed.
On the 5th day, Hamsa (Swan) Vahanam Utsav is performed in the morning and at night.
On the 6th day, Yaanai (White Elephant) Vahanam Utsav is performed in the morning and at night.
On the 7th day, Vimanam Vahanam (God's Flight) Utsav is also performed in the morning and at night.
On the 8th day, Pallakku Utsav is performed in the morning and at night, Gudirai (Horse) Vahanam Utsav is performed.
On the 9th day, both during the morning and at night, Simmha (Lion) Vahanam Utsav is performed.
On the 10th day, in the morning, Mahabhishekam Utsav is held and at night, Dhvaja Avarohanam (Flag Unhoisting) is performed.
File:Alagramam4.jpg, Naggha Vahanam
File:Alagramam8.jpg, Pallakku
File:Alagramam21.jpg, Lion Vahanam in Night
File:Alagramam5.jpg, Abhishek
File:Alagramam3.jpg, Lord Adhinath In Maha Abhisheagam
Jain
Jainism ( ), also known as Jain Dharma, is an Indian religion. Jainism traces its spiritual ideas and history through the succession of twenty-four tirthankaras (supreme preachers of ''Dharma''), with the first in the current time cycle being ...
temple
A temple (from the Latin ) is a building reserved for spiritual rituals and activities such as prayer and sacrifice. Religions which erect temples include Christianity (whose temples are typically called churches), Hinduism (whose temples ...
located in Alagramam, in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu (; , TN) is a state in southern India. It is the tenth largest Indian state by area and the sixth largest by population. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu is the home of the Tamil people, whose Tamil language ...
. The first Tirthankara
In Jainism, a ''Tirthankara'' (Sanskrit: '; English: literally a ' ford-maker') is a saviour and spiritual teacher of the '' dharma'' (righteous path). The word ''tirthankara'' signifies the founder of a '' tirtha'', which is a fordable pass ...
of Jainism
Jainism ( ), also known as Jain Dharma, is an Indian religion. Jainism traces its spiritual ideas and history through the succession of twenty-four tirthankaras (supreme preachers of ''Dharma''), with the first in the current time cycle bein ...
, Rishabhanatha, is the ''Moolavar
''Mulavar'' () or ''Mula-murti'' is a Sanskrit-Tamil term referring to the main deity, or a murti (cult image) in a Hindu temple.
Location
The central deity, ''mulavar'', is located near the centre of temples, than the images that surround them, ...
'' (temple deity) who is worshipped there. '' Srivari Brahmotsavam'' ceremonial feast is conducted every year.
History
The Alagramam Jain Temple was built in the 17th century. Before its construction, villagers had to travel to Keezh Idayalam Jain Temple or Avani Avittam Jain Temple for ritual wearing of the ''Poonool'' (also known as ''upanayana
''Upanayana'' ( sa, उपनयनम्, lit=initiation, translit=Upanāyanam) is a Hindu educational sacrament, one of the traditional saṃskāras or rites of passage that marked the acceptance of a student by a preceptor, such as a ''guru'' ...
''). During the 19th century, on the auspicious day of '' Avani Avittam'', the local Jain community relocated a small Parshvanatha idol from the ''Keezh Idayalam'' Temple to Alagramam and built a temple dedicated to its worship.
A separate temple was built for Sri Dharma Devi Amman ( Kushmandi), and for Sri Brahma Devar'','' a separate ''Panduga Silai Mandabam'' was constructed. The Temple was built in phases.
Functions
Mahotsavam (Brahmotsavam) from 1894
The annual fair (or Brahmotsavam) has been conducted in the temple since 1894 to honor Parshvanatha. The fair has day and night rituals for ten days. It is conducted during the Ashtaniyama Period, starting from ''Saptami Tithi'' and ending in ''Prathama Tithi''. This is around June or July in the western calendar.
The 1st day is marked by a Flag Hoisting Ceremony. In the morning, the Darbar flag is hoisted, and at night the main flag, Tvajarohanam, with an image of Sarvana Yaksha inscribed on it, is hoisted.
On the 2nd day, Surya (Sun) Vahanam Utsav is performed in the morning, and at night, Chandira (Moon) Vahanam Utsav is performed.
On the 3rd day, in the morning and at night, Devendhiran Vahanam (Head of all Navagrahas) Utsav is performed.
On the 4th day, in the morning and at night, a Nine-Headed Naga (Snake) Vahanam Utsav is performed.
On the 5th day, Hamsa (Swan) Vahanam Utsav is performed in the morning and at night.
On the 6th day, Yaanai (White Elephant) Vahanam Utsav is performed in the morning and at night.
On the 7th day, Vimanam Vahanam (God's Flight) Utsav is also performed in the morning and at night.
On the 8th day, Pallakku Utsav is performed in the morning and at night, Gudirai (Horse) Vahanam Utsav is performed.
On the 9th day, both during the morning and at night, Simmha (Lion) Vahanam Utsav is performed.
On the 10th day, in the morning, Mahabhishekam Utsav is held and at night, Dhvaja Avarohanam (Flag Unhoisting) is performed.
Pancha Kalyana Mahotsavam
The Pancha Kalyana Mahotsavam was conducted once every 12 years in the Alagramam Jain Temple. It was conducted in 1972, 1994, and 2007.
Other
Morning worshippers perform Abhishekam daily and conduct Ashtamanagala pujas every night. Special pujas and Vithanam also take place several times throughout the year.Gallery
See also
*Tirthankara
In Jainism, a ''Tirthankara'' (Sanskrit: '; English: literally a ' ford-maker') is a saviour and spiritual teacher of the '' dharma'' (righteous path). The word ''tirthankara'' signifies the founder of a '' tirtha'', which is a fordable pass ...
* Jainism
Jainism ( ), also known as Jain Dharma, is an Indian religion. Jainism traces its spiritual ideas and history through the succession of twenty-four tirthankaras (supreme preachers of ''Dharma''), with the first in the current time cycle bein ...
* Digambara
''Digambara'' (; "sky-clad") is one of the two major schools of Jainism, the other being '' Śvētāmbara'' (white-clad). The Sanskrit word ''Digambara'' means "sky-clad", referring to their traditional monastic practice of neither possessing ...
* Tamil Jain
Tamil Jains (Tamil Samaṇar, from Prakrit '' samaṇa'' "wandering renunciate") are Tamils from Tamil Nadu, India, who practice Jainism (Tamil ). The Tamil Jain is a microcommunity of around 85,000 (around 0.13% of the population of Tamil Nad ...
* Jainism in India
Jainism is India's sixth-largest religion and is practiced throughout India.
Per the 2011 census, there are 4,451,753 Jains in the 1.35 billion population of India, the majority living in Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh, Ka ...
* List of Jain temples
Jain temples and '' tirtha'' (pilgrimage sites) are present throughout the Indian subcontinent, many of which were built several hundred years ago. Many of these temples are classified according to Jain sects. Idols of ...
External links
* *References
{{Reflist Jainism in India