It was on Aani Barani in 1851 that Appar Swamy, a Siddha who lived in the 19th century in Mylapore attained mukthi. His disciple Chidambaram Swamy built the Appar Swamy Temple dedicating it to his guru.
For the second year in succession, this annual utsavam was celebrated almost unnoticed inside the temple. Even though some of the lockdown restrictions relating to temples were lifted last week, the Appar Swamy Temple has chosen to play it safe.
The 170th edition of the festival took place on Monday evening within the temple complex starting with an abhisekam for Appar Swamy.
S Kannan Shivachariarar, the chief priest here said that every year on this day, Appar Swamy goes out on a long procession around the Veera Perumal Street and the Appar Swamy Street “Even though processions are now allowed inside the temple, we are taking precautions in the interest of the devotees and trying to avoid large gatherings inside the temple.”
Only the regular visitors knew the conduct of the utsavam inside the temple and were present. Following the abhisekam, the event of Appar Swamy merging with the lord and attaining mukthi was enacted. There was no procession of Appar Swamy even within the temple complex
The temple has not yet decided as to when to commence the processions inside the temple complex.
- Report, photo by S. Prabhu
