Thirunelli Temple, dedicated to Bhagwan Vishnu, in Wayanad in Kerala is famous for Bali Tharpanam (Shradham and Pinda Dhanam). Bali Tharpanam is performed every day at Thirunelli Temple. Thirunelli temple bali timings is previous day evening of the ritual and from 6:00 AM to 11:00 AM on the day of the ritual.
The fee is to be paid in the name of the performer and not in the name of the deceased.
- People wishing to perform the evening ritual which is part of Bali Tharpanam should reach the temple by previous day evening before deeparadhana pooja.
- Nowadays people can reach the temple before 11:00 AM and perform the ritual if they do not wish to do the evening ritual.
- The person wishing to perform the Bali Tharpanam along with evening ritual should reach the temple on the previous day itself. This is to conveniently pay the fee at the Temple devaswom counter and get the receipt and also perform the evening rituals.
- Those performing only the main day ritual can do it from 6:00 AM to 11:00 AM after paying the fee in the temple office counter.
Thirunelli Temple Bali Tharpanam Evening Ritual
After getting the receipt, the devotee or devotees performing the ritual have to stand at the temple step after taking bath. Immediately after deeparadhana pooja in the Thirunelli temple, the Vaadhyaar (the poojari or temple priest) will dictate the prayer for all those who have assembled on the step. The performers have to recite this prayer.
After the prayer, the devotees have to do danda namaskaram (to prostrate by lying down at full length on the ground) before Thirunelli Mahavishnu and pay the kanikka (a token amount as offering). The rituals on the previous day evening come to a close with this
Bali Tharpanam At Thirunelli Temple - 6:00 AM to 11:00 AM
The main and important Bali Tharpanam is performed daily from 6:00 AM to 11:00 aM
On the Tharpanam day without taking bath, between 6 am and
11 am, the devotees have to reach the temple and collect the bali materials and
darbha grass from the special counter arranged on the northern side of the
temple, showing the receipt.
After this, they head to the pond, in the Papanasini River, located about half
a kilometer away, in the forest.
There, the devotees performing the ritual stand in waist
deep water. The devotees take the first dip in the water, before the actual
ritual starts.
The temple pujari stands on the bank of the pond and conducts the ritual. Pilgrims stand in flowing water to perform the ritual.
The ritual material collected from the temple is placed on the boulder in
front, and the priest directs and administers the rituals in sequence.
Then they have to return to Thirunelli temple after praying to Shiva in the Gunnika Temple. The rituals come to a close with pradakshina around the Sreekovil of Thirunelli Temple and worship of Vishnu in the sanctum sanctorum. The devotees receive thrimadhuram naivedyam, theertham and prasadam.
Thirunelli Temple Bali Fees
When one person alone is performing the rites, it is called “oraalpindam”. But one who has remitted the fee for “oral pindam” can do the obsequies for all the dead ancestors of the ‘tharavad’ whom he knows and not knows.
There is facility for the related family members also to sit together and do the rites along with the main performer. This is called “koottu pindam”.
A portion of the fee of Bali Tharpanam goes to Thrissilery Temple which is also associated with the Tarpanam ritual.