Devotee seeks diretion not to open temple at midnight on new y

: A devotee of Tiruchendur Subramania Swamy temple has filed a petition seeking a direction from Madras High court bench to the authorities not to open the temple at midnight during New Year for worship and poojas.
Petitioner R Sundaravel said the Arulmigu Subramania Swamy temple, situated in the shores of Bay of Bengal in Tiruchendur, is considered one of six adobes of Lord Muruga.
He submitted there were certain rules to perform poojas in the temple as laid by Agamas. At Subramania Swamy temple, the pooja is performed as per the 'Kumara Thanthira Murai' and it is one of the worshiping methods as per the Uba Agamas.

Further as per the 'Kumara Thanthira Murai' pooja can be performed 90 minutes before sun rise. The sanctum sanctorum door open ceremony should be performed 30 to 60 minutes before performing the pooja, he said.
Every day from 5.10 AM to 9 pm 14 poojas are performed to Lord Subramaniyar, strictly as per procedures laid down by the Thanthira Murai (a way of performing Poojas in Tiruchendur temple).
The petitioner also submitted that festivals and rituals like Vaikasi Visagam, Avani Festival, Kandha Sasti Kavasam and Masi festival in the Tiruchendur Subramania Swamy temple were celebrated in accordance with the movements of planets.

This being the case, the Joint Commissioner/Executive Officer of the temple was taking efforts in disregard to the Agama procedures, to perform pooja at 12 AM on January 2014 by opening the sanctum sanctorum of the temple, he said.

The petitioner contended that as per Hindu custom and usage, English New Year is not celebrated.Poojas could not be performed as per strict Agamas 90 minutes before the sunrise.
Performing poojas on the eve of New Year was against the Agamas and would hurt belief and sentiments of worshipers and the devotees.It will set a bad precedent, he contended.
He said there was no response from temple officials to his repsentation to stop the New Year midnight pooja.

Justices P N Prakash and R Mahadevan Posted the case for hearing the case to Jan 2.