Innambur Ezhuthari Nathar Temple Festivals
Located in the village of Innambur in Tamil Nadu, Ezhuthari Nathar Temple is uniquely revered for its association with education and the power of the written word. The presiding deity, Lord Shiva as “Ezhuthari Nathar,” is said to have miraculously set right the ruined account books of his devotee–an accountant—hence earning the title “Ezhuthari” (he who writes or sets in order). Over the course of the Tamil calendar year, five major festivals mark the temple’s ritual life:
1. Navratri in Purattasi (mid‑September to mid‑October)
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Duration & Rituals: Ten days of special pujas, Vedic homams, and daily abhishekam of the Shiva Linga with milk, honey, and sandal paste. On the ninth day (Mahanavami), families bring their children’s schoolbooks and tools of learning for Saraswati Pooja. On Vijayadashami (10th day), the priest performs Vidyarambham, guiding toddlers to write their first letters in rice or on palm leaf.
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Symbolism & Benefits:
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Victory of Knowledge: The nine nights commemorate the triumph of wisdom over ignorance.
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Speech & Learning: Devotees—especially children or adults with speech impediments (such as stammering)—are believed to receive divine grace for clearer speech and better concentration.
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Academic Success: Parents seeking admission for their wards or aiming for breakthroughs in exams invoke Ezhuthari Nathar’s blessings during Navratri.
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Unique Practice: A special “account book” (Grantha Pothi) is consecrated and kept in the sanctum, symbolizing the orderliness of mind and scholarship.
2. Chithirai Kodabishekam (mid‑April to mid‑May)
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Event: Marks the annual “re‑consecration” (Kumbabishekam) of the temple’s main sanctum.
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Rituals:
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Abhishekam: The Linga is bathed with sacred waters from nine rivers.
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Homa: Fire offerings seeking divine purification of devotees’ thoughts.
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Alankaram: The deity is adorned with fresh flowers and new vestments.
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Significance: Aligns cosmic energies after the Tamil New Year, ensuring the temple’s spiritual efficacy for the coming year.
3. Aipasi Annabishekam (mid‑October to mid‑November)
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Ritual: The Shiva Linga is enveloped in cooked rice (Anna), a symbol of abundance and sustenance.
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Offerings & Seva:
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Anna Prasadam: The rice used in abhishekam is later distributed to all present, underscoring community welfare.
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Annadana: Devotees also donate rice and grains to the temple, which are routed to local schools and orphanages.
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Symbolism: Represents the Lord as the nurturer of life and the provider of both spiritual and material nourishment.
4. Margazhi Tiruvādhirai (mid‑December to mid‑January)
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Occasion: Celebrates Lord Shiva’s cosmic dance as Nataraja on the star Tiruvādhirai.
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Rituals:
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Deepa Nazhi: Lamps are lit in the hallways and around the sanctum, symbolizing light dispelling darkness.
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Ananda Tandava Alankaram: The Linga is decorated with dancing-figure motifs, and classical dance performances are held in the temple courtyard.
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Spiritual Essence: Highlights the rhythm and order of the universe, reflecting back on Ezhuthari Nathar’s role in restoring cosmic “accounts.”
5. Maha Shivratri (March)
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Night Vigil: Devotees keep awake all night, chanting Shiva Sahasranamam and offering bel leaves, water, and bael fruit to the Linga at each Abhishekam.
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Fasting & Meditation: Many observe a strict fast, meditating on the Lord’s form as the cosmic teacher.
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Outcome: Believed to confer mental clarity, self‑discipline, and the destruction of inner darkness.
Additional Insights & Lesser‑Known Facts
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Sthala Purāna: Local lore relates that a 12th‑century accountant, having lost vital ledger entries in a flood, prayed here and found his books miraculously restored overnight.
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Mantra for Speech: Devotees recite the mantra “Om Ezhuthari Nathaya Namah” 108 times during Navratri to alleviate speech blocks.
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Book‑Binding Seva: Artisans are invited to bind new notebooks and palm‑leaf bundles on Vijayadashami, which devotees then take home as “Shastra Prasadam.”
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Community Impact: The temple runs a “Learn‑to‑Write” camp each Purattasi for underprivileged children, offering free tuition and school supplies.
By participating in these festivals—particularly Navratri—devotees not only invoke divine aid for their academic and communicative aspirations but also reconnect with the deeper symbolism of order, learning, and the cosmic balance that Ezhuthari Nathar embodies.