Vanakkam.  This 6th issue of “Utsavam” coming in the beginning of this New Year 2005 follows the aftermath of the calamity caused by a singular yet tragic tsunami event. As we continue with our prayers for the consolation of those in suffering, the international efforts taken to bring about the rehabilitation to the affected areas has proudly brought Singapore to call for strategic measures to be put in place to prevent another disaster and be better prepared to meet any challenges from striking again within the region. We shall continue in our efforts to help and assist those lives needing our immediate care and concern.

Our prayers must really be heard by the Divine Force! The Vedanta mantras currently recited in Sanskrit will now be opportune to be also said and heard in Tamil to better comprehend the godly language and strengthen the bonding and divinity with the Almighty. To the requests of devotees, our SVKT priests will now be able to offer the archanai in Tamil recitation while performing the araathi for all the deities at the various sanctums. This change should bring greater fulfillment when one’s prayers are offered in the most practical Vedantic manner for spontaneous realization. May the Divinity flourishes with this- heart to heart communication link at SVKT's sanctums henceforth.

Makara Vilakku Pooja

The grand finale for all the Ayyappan swamimargals was the solemn observation of ‘Makara Vilakku’ which was celebrated from Wednesday, 12 Jan ’05 till Friday, 14 Jan ’05, culminating on the 1st day of Makaram, which coincides with the Tamil month of Thai, the 1st day being celebrated as ‘Thai Ponggal’ Among the highlights staged, with the ‘Panchakaala’ Pooja in the mornings as well as in the evenings, the Singapore Malayalee Hindu Samajam had invited Brahmachari Abhay Chaitanyaji from the Chinmaya Seva Centre on the second day of celebrations to render an inspiring and mentally elevating discourse which was immensely enjoyed by the high turnout of devotees.

We were also graced by the presence of our President, Mr. S. R. Nathan who had joined us for the grand finale that was celebrated on 14 Jan 05 evening. A wide spread of prasadham were then distributed to all devotees to conclude the happy event.

Thai Ponggal Festival

The traditional harvest festival for the Tamils, celebrated always on the 1st day in the month of Thai, was ceremoniously observed with the boiling over of Ponggal on Friday, 14 Jan ’05 morning in the temple’s main sanctum. It had all the trappings of happiness, prosperity and success enthused by those devotees having participated in this special event held in SVKT.

For this occasion, to highlight the significance of the Thai Ponggal Festival, the event was covered for national publicity by Vasantham Central, the Mediacorp’s Tamil television service which aired the ceremony the same evening with the significance of the festival elaborated by our Temple’s Chief Priest.

Kaliamman Moola Mandhira Mala Mandhira Gayathiri Mandhira Mahayagam

For this year, to commemorate the fourth Varushabishegam (anniversary of Mahakumbabishegam or consecration ceremony) the Temple had made arrangements to conduct the auspicious ‘Kaliamman Moola Mandhira Mala Mandhira Gayathiri Mandhira Mahayagam’ ceremony with a series of 8 ceremonial ‘Kalam’ pooja held both in the morning and evening hours from Tuesday, 18 Jan 05 to Saturday, 22 Jan 05. Special abishegam was performed to honour Goddess Sri Vairavimada Kaliamman with the ‘kadam’ procession culminating on the eighth ‘kalam’ poojai conducted on the final day. There was marked increase in the devotees’ participation for the procession of all the deities in the evening besides the high turn-out for all the days’ events and they were all blessed to receive the grace of Ambal.

Special Event Reporting

Raaghu Kaala Pooja (Every Tuesday afternoon)

Goddess Durgadevi, the heavenly Mother, is auspiciously worshipped every Tuesday of the week, at the precise Raagu Kaalam period.  As such all Raagu Kaalam pooja are performed in all the Amman temples every Tuesdays afternoon precisely between 3.00 pm and 4.30 pm.  
Devotees light the wick lamps made out from lime fruits. A lime fruit is cut halved and the juicy strands from the two parts are to be squeezed out into the peedam. Then each half of the lime fruit is inverted out and the recent fruit strands are removed cleanly. About 9 such pots of lime fruit peel are prepared to hold the oil or ghee with a fresh cotton thiri (wick) immersed in each peel and these are lit as lamps.

It is believed that Goddess Durgadevi will redeem her devotees from their karma and from their worldly sufferings, as they appease her with strict observance of the Raaghu Kaalam pooja for 9 consecutive Tuesdays. Goddess Durgadevi as the universal Mother would bestow Her celestial love on all Her children having great devotion while performing this pooja to honour her.

Youngsters performing this pooja will be blessed to excel in their studies while the unmarried observing such pooja will be blessed to find their worthy life partner. Married ladies yearning for a happily married life and the well-being of their families will find their due happiness and prosperity while the childless will seek Her boon to have children and a blessed life.

Raagu Kaalam Durga Pooja is the simplest one to seek a boon from the Heavenly Mother. Of all the days, Tuesday is deemed to be the most auspicious day for seeking Her blessings during the Raaghu Kaalam which sets in at the fixed time of 3.00 pm and 4.30 pm only on each Tuesday.

Essentials and sundries needed for the pooja are – 9 Lime fruits (each lime fruit is cut into a bit more than half and the peel is inverted in), 9 strands of cotton wicks, ample portion of ghee (for the 9 halves) and turmeric rice laid out on a tambalam (plate) to place the lighted lamps and the offering of prasadham consisting of a array of fruits, betel leaves with areca nut (paahkku). A penknife, a small scissor and newspapers would be handy in the preparation too.

At SVKT, the participating devotees also conduct bhajans and chant the name of ‘Durga Maatha’. At the end of the pooja ceremony, one is required to do the “Sangkalpam” followed by Thirisathi Archanai with the kumkumam.

The Temple invites volunteers to extend their services to the Temple. The following are some of the areas in which your assistance is required and will be highly appreciated:

• Information Technology – databases, e-newsletters, websites, etc.

• Mass Communication – publicity & promotion

• Literary Services – editorial, translations, etc.

• Social, Cultural & Educational – religious classes, social events, etc.

• Temple Activities – operations & maintenance works

• Administration – accounts & clerical support

Please email us at  with your particulars and indicate the area of your interest.

UBAYAMS FESTIVALS  AVAILABLE

Ubayams are celebrated by members of the public to conduct special prayers on auspicious days in our temple. These ubayams are available for collective participation either with family members or a group of friends and colleagues. Such ubayams commemorate important religious festival for public participation. Sponsors are privileged to have abishegam performed for principal deities and the procession event of the celebrated deity circumbulating the temple’s courtyard takes place on the same evening. Devotees interested to conduct any of the following available ubayams can contact our Temple’s clerk at tel: 62591672 for more details :

Coming Up Next Month

Thai Amavasai  (Tuesday, 8 Feb ’05)

On this very auspicious day, in the month of Thai, when the new moon begins its next cycle, the occasion also has great significance similar to that of Adi Amavasai, when devotees throng the sanctum of Lord Shiva to offer their ambulation and prayers for the athma santhi of their dear departed loved ones for salvation with the Lord’s grace.

Undoubtedly, Thai Amavasai provides another opportunity for many devotees to observe this sacred act and at SVKT; their prayers can be offered also to Lord Visvanathar, another avatar of Sivalingam. 

Masi Magam (Thursday, 24 Feb ’05)

This annual festival takes place on the full moon day of the Tamil month of Masi, between mid-February and mid-March, and many temples commemorate this day with the thirukalyanam ceremony of Lord Shiva with Goddess Parvathi. Others propitiously conduct kavadi celebrations for Lord Murugan, as in the case of Sanasi Temple in Malacca, which has a silver chariot procession held in His honour the previous night around this old Portuguese settlement. In Tamil Nadu, deities from as many temples in and around Karaikal, in the State of Pondicherry, are brought in ceremonial processions to the seashore for a symbolic immersion ceremony. Thousands of people go to the seashore to have a dip in the sea which is said to wash away one's sins. The most important deity, which takes part in the festival, is Sowriraja Perumal of Thirukannapuram village, The legendary saying goes that Sowriraja Perumal married a fishermen community woman and hence the moment the deity enters Tirumalairayan-pattinam village commune for the festival, the fishermen take charge of the deity and this festival is held with all pomp and glory until it is completed with the holy bath.

At SVKT, an ubayam will be conducted by the temple to celebrate this grand festival, followed by the participation of devotees in the procession of Sri Kaliamman and the distribution of prasadham.

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