Lord Athivaradar now in standing posture

The idol of Lord Athivaradar, in a reclining posture since July 1, is on a standing pose from Thursday, as devotees continued to throng the ancient temple here to offer worship.

The queue of devotees stretched over four km as they gathered for darshan of the deity in the new pose.

The idol was decorated with colourful garlands and a gliterring crown and it will be in the same pose till the end of the festival on August 17, according to Sri Devarajaswamy temple officials.

Several devotees alleged that online ticket booking facility (https://tnhrce.gov.in) for darshan did not function since this morning.

Hindu Religions and Charitable Endowments Department officials were not available for comment.

The deity, made of fig wood many centuries ago, is housed in the Vasantha Mandapam of the Devarajaswamy temple and the presiding deity in the sanctum sanctorum is Sri Varadaraja Perumal, which is a replica of Athivaradar.

The Athivaradar idol is taken out from under the water in the temple tank once in 40 years.