MADURAI, INDIA, April 29, 2014 (The Hindu): Invoking the God of rains, a special puja (Varuna Jeba Yagam) was performed at the Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple in the early hours of Monday. A special abishekam was performed on the Nandi statue at the Veeravasantharayar Mandapam. Verses were recited from the Thirumurai of Sundaramoorthy Nayanar by the temple priests and a nagaswaram troupe performed music in Amrithavarshini, Meghavarshini, Anandha Bhairavi and Roopa Kalyani ragams which are believed to bring rain. Devotees and visitors at the temple also took part in the proceedings.
Speaking about the Yagam, P. Jayaraman, Executive Officer of the temple and Joint Commissioner of Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR and CE) department said owing to drought-like situation across Tamil Nadu, special pujas were being performed at all temples under the HR and CE control in the State.
Tirunelveli district is witnessing a monsoon failure for the fifth successive year. Poor storage level in dams has forced officials to release a meagre quantity of water from reservoirs to meet drinking water purposes. Subsequently, the small quantity of water being pumped from the infiltration wells is being distributed to residents on turn basis. The problems of cattle is even worse as there is virtually no grass in the district. In the Varuna Jabam (prayers for abundant rains) offered at Sri Nellaiyappar Gandhimathi Ambal Temple here, the pradhosha (parade Deity) Nandi (Siva’s vahana or mount) was kept in neck-deep water to appease rain gods and a special abhishekam was performed with water drawn from the Tamiraparani.