Pujas, Abhishekas and Processions

The protocol for daily worship here is known Kumara Tantram. Eight times a day, poojas are done to Lord Subramanyar. On Vishakam nakshatiram day as well as during Chittirai Vishu and Aippasi Vishu, special pujas are done to the Lord.
Every day, processions are carried out in the inner sanctum and on the last Friday of every month, the uthsava murti is taken on a procession in the outer prakaram, along with his consorts. Special processions are conducted on days like Karttikai, Vishakam asterisms and Sashti.
Pujas are conducted daily to the deities. The timings in the table at right have been attested by the Sthaladhâr Sabhâ and are current as of Kanda Sashti 2001. The major daily pujas are:
Suprabhâtam
Viswarûpam
Udayamartandam
Mudal-kâlasandhi, Ciru-Kâlasandhi and Periya-kâlasandhi
Utchikâlam
Sayaratchai
Ardha-jaman or Rakkalam
Ekândam
Palli-arai Dîpârâdhanai or the Lord's rest
Worshippers receive here the Lord's prasâdam of sacred ashes put into pannîr leaves known as ilai vipûti. The significance of the peculiar custom followed in almost all the Saivite temples in the district has to be connected perhaps to the introduction of Potris as the archakas of this foremost temple, and who thus perpetuated their aloofness without a physical contact with the worshippers. And it may even be the pannîr leaves have a peculiar sanctity and the retention of the magnetic effects of the prasadam.
Abishekas are conducted to the principal deity, Subrahmanyam, thrice during the day and to Shanmukha on every Visâka Nakshatra in the month and on the first of Chittirai and Aippasi months.
On the last Friday of each Tamil month, Senthil Nâyakar with His consorts are taken round the outer giri-prakâra of the temple in procession on mayil vâkanam as an ubaya kattalai by the Nadar community, out of an endowment trust fund from Nagercoil. Processions within the inner prakaras are conducted on every monthly Tiru-Kârttikai, Visâkam, Sashti and on the first of every Chittirai and Aippasi months.

Time Temple Function
5:00 am Temple opens
5:10 am Suprabhâtam
5:35 am Viswarûpam
6:15 am Udayamartandam Abhishekam
7 am Udayamarithanelam Dîpârâdhanai
7:30 to 8:30 am Kâla Sandhi Pûja
10:30 am Vehi Kâla Abhishekam
12:00 Utchikâlam Dîpârâdhanai
5 to 5:30 pm Sayaratchai Dîpârâdhanai
7:15 pm Ardha-jaman or Rakkâlam Abhishekam
7:45 pm Rakkâlam Dîpârâdhanai
8:00 pm Ekântam Potri Archanai
8:30 pm Ekântam Dîpârâdhanai
8:45 pm Ragacêyam
8:45 to 9:00 pm Palli Arai Dîpârâdhanai
9:01 pm Temple closes