Ani Thirumanjanam ( Tamil month spanning June-July) is a special day ( Uthiram Nakshtram) when an Abhishekam is performed for Lord Nadaraja. After this, the days get shorter and the nights get longer.
It is believed that Lord Nadaraja gives darshan to his devotees in the months Ani and Margazhi. It was on Ani Uthiram, under a kurundai tree, that the Lord offered upadesam to Sage Manikkavachakar the writer of the famous Thiruvachakam. Legends have it that during the abhishekam to the Lord, as everyone watched, the sage merged in the Lord as a brilliant flame. At Chidambaram the event began with the Nadaraja Vigraham being brought out from the sanctum sanctorum in a Chariot and taken in a procession around the temple.The word "Thiru manjanam" means Holy bath. Performing these Abishegam will help you to remove the bad effects of karma in life and to receive the blessings for life.
It is believed that Lord Nadaraja gives darshan to his devotees in the months Ani and Margazhi. It was on Ani Uthiram, under a kurundai tree, that the Lord offered upadesam to Sage Manikkavachakar the writer of the famous Thiruvachakam. Legends have it that during the abhishekam to the Lord, as everyone watched, the sage merged in the Lord as a brilliant flame. At Chidambaram the event began with the Nadaraja Vigraham being brought out from the sanctum sanctorum in a Chariot and taken in a procession around the temple.The word "Thiru manjanam" means Holy bath. Performing these Abishegam will help you to remove the bad effects of karma in life and to receive the blessings for life.
Lord Nadaraja - Divine Cosmic Dancer
Lord Shiva is the source of all movement within the cosmos, who is represented by the arch of flames. The Lord Nadaraja's form demonstrates his five-fold functions: creation, preservation, destruction, concealment and salvation. The rattle (udukkai) in his right hand represents creation; his raised right arm with the open palm (abhaya hastam) protection; his left hand holding fire destruction; his firmly placed foot concealment; and his other, slightly lifted, leg salvation.
Abishekams for Nadaraja
On the auspicious days of Nadaraja Abishekam, one can access the higher level vibrations of Lord Shiva’s consciousness. Lord Nadaraja is given six abhishekams in a year. Earth takes 365 days to complete one full circle around the sun. That duration is divided into six seasons - Marghazhi-Thai: early winter; Maasi-Panguni: late winter; Chittirai-Vaikasi: early summer; Ani-Aadi: high summer; Avani-Purattasi: autumn; Aippasi-Karthikai: rainy season.This six-season year of humans is said to be one day for the immortals. A day has six periods: dawn, morning, noon, afternoon, evening, and night. These are when the six daily poojas ( Kaala Pooja) in temples are performed. During each of these six parts, an Abhishekam has been ordained for Lord Nadaraja. One of these is Ani Thirumanjanam, the pradosha abhishekam on the evening of the day of Uthiram Nakshatram in the Tamil month of Aani (June-July). This is an occasion to minimize all the bad effects of your karma by impressing the divine Cosmic Dancer.