‘Annabishekam’ performed at Shiva temples

Annabishekam — anointment of the Shivalingam with cooked rice — was performed at the sanctum sanctorum of Shiva temples, including Sri Brihadeeswarar Temple, popularly known as Big Temple, in Thanjavur district on the full moon day of Tamil month Aippasi, with religious fervour and gaiety on Saturday.

The anointment of Shivalingams is usually performed during the sunset but this year it was performed in the afternoon on Saturday in view of the lunar eclipse.

At the Big Temple, around 1,000 kg of cooked rice and 900 kg of fruits and vegetables were used to cover the 13-foot-tall Peruvudaiyar and a Maha Arathi was performed. Later at night, the cooked rice and fruits and vegetables used in the anointment was distributed to devotees as prasadam after the theerthavari ceremony performed by the temple priests, sources said.