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The Sithi Vinayakar temple inside, looking towards the main shrine of Vinayakar. The hall is decorated with garlands and lanterns. People fill the hall and temple yard, they meet relatives and friends and receive the blessings of the gods on this auspicious day (01.08.2004) |
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The third temple in Hamm is the 2001 inaugurated Sri Arumuka Velalakan temple, the house to the left. This Murugan temple is just five minutesą walk away from the Sithi Vinayakar temple. Processions of each temple go by the other temple, but do not surmount hidden rivalry based on prestige and caste. The image shows the return of Murugan, placed in the nicely built procession cart, from the ride around the temple. (28.07.2002) |
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The inner arrangement of the Sri Arumuka Velalakan temple. The middle shrine is dedicated to Murugan, to his right Vinayakar and to his left (right side of the image) a goddess (Tamil amman). (28.07.2002) |
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The temple's rear with dome-shaped roofs towering above the shrines of the ritually installed deities. (27.07.2004) |
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Finally, coming back to the Sri Kamadchi Ampal temple and impressions of its religious life. Every Friday evening a procession with an illuminated cart takes place within the temple, circumambulating the shrine of Sri Kamadchi Ampal. The procession is led by Sri Arumugan Paskarakurukkal, founder, main priest, and manager of the temple. (11.06.2004) |
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Sri Paskarakurukkal performs the puja to honour Kamadchi Ampal. The colossal, five-foot tall statue was made in South India, shipped to Germany and religiously installed with the prescribed rituals in July 2002. (09.10.2004) |
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Worshippers press in front of Kamadchi's shrine to watch the puja and to receive darshan, the goddess' sight and blessings. Women stand on left side, men on the other. (09.10.2004) |
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Outside the temple, near the north eastern corner the shrine for the powerful planet god Sani (Saturn) was built. Tamil Hindus venerated Sani with the lighting of oil lamps on four Saturdays in autumn. Worshippers bring the offering trays to be blessed by Sani and to be taken home for the family shrine. (09.10.2004) |
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Humbly paying homage to Sani with the offering of light in front of his shrine. (09.10.2004) |
