Key words : "Shasti poorthi / Shasti purthi / Shasti poorthy"
We had been to Thirukadaiyur to celebrate "Shasti poorthi" for my parents on 15.09.2011.
Shastipoorthi can be performed on completion 59 years or on the 60th birthday or on 61st birthday according to the Indian panchanga calendar and by seeing the birth star date (different from English calendar dates). If this performed on 59th birthday then it has to be performed once again on 61st birthday also. If this is performed on the birthstar date then it is considered to be auspicious.
We booked tickets 2 months before the date as it was difficult to get tickets in the last moment and also to avoid confusion of booking tickets. We took a direct train from Bangalore to Mayiladuthurai and reached at around 7.00 am. We had booked a mini van through a person by name Mr. Senthil and would also recommend the same person, he is very prompt at his service and charges moderately. His personal contact no. is 09443850597 but when he is in office he uses different no. 08940844600. He Charged Rs.800/- for the van that can easily accommodate 15 people. It's about 45 minute journey from Mayiladuthurai to Thirukadaiyur roughly about 20 - 25 kms.
We took 2 nos of 25 ltr water cans from Bangalore thinking that we might get 1 ltr or 2 ltr water bottles in Thirukadaiyur as it is a small place. But this was not needed as one can easily afford get the same 25 ltr water can in Thirukadaiyur also.
There are many hotels to stay in Thirukadaiyur, again the rooms had to be booked in advance. We booked the rooms 20 days before in a hotel by name "Manivizhaa", and the contact person is Mr. Shivshankar / Mr. Shankar, very near to temple, the rooms are quite cheap and best. Rest rooms are clean and well maintained. The charge for a/c room is around Rs.715/- and for non a/c Rs. 375/-. Phone booking facility is there in this hotel 04364 287840 / 41 / 42. There are other hotels like Hotel Guru 04364 287340 / 42, Hotel Sadhabishegam 04364 279223 / 24
We had tiffin, lunch and dinner in Hotel Krishna a decent hotel the timings for tiffin is 6 am - 10 am lunch starts at 12 noon - 4 pm to have a good and hot tiffin it is advisable to go between 7 am - 8 am. The hotel is very near to temple.
For the pooja arrangements we spoke to Muthu Gurukkal - 9443406651. Office no : 04364 287724 - Mahesh (Gurukkal's attendee) 984248723 - Balaji (Muthu Gurukkal's brother) There are various packages for performing the function one can choose the package that suits their budget. We went for a Rs.10000/- package. The package amount starts from Rs. 5000/-. The pooja was to be performed in two modes 1. oru kala poojai 2. erandu kala poojai as told by Gurukkal. A place is provided for individual group and the pooja will be performed in the allocated place. We asked for the pooja items list from the Gurukkal over phone and had procured all of them from bangalore. One can also procure the pooja items at Thriukadayur also as per one's own convenience. Orukala poojai was performed on 14.09.11 evening between 4.45 pm to 7.30 pm and erandu kala poojai was performed on 15.09.11 between 9.30 am to 12.30 pm as per the birth star dates.
The function was over by afternoon 2 pm and we got a taxi through Senthil and came to Mayiladuthurai railway station. The charges were Rs. 500/-. We reached Bangalore next day by Mysore Express at 6.00 am.
for any queries mail : karthee16@gmail.com
