01Sesame and water
Tila is sesame, and tarpana the offering of water with it to the departed. The temple’s katha says Rama and Lakshmana did tila tarpana here for Dasharatha and Jatayu, and the lingas they set up stand in the prakaram with their images. A king named Narjyothi, the temple adds, saw his ancestors appear and take the pinda from his hands. The place is counted with Kashi, Gaya, Prayag, Rameswaram, Srivanchiyam and Tiruvenkadu for ancestral rites, and here one need not wait for amavasya or a set tithi. Outside the gate is Adi Vinayakar with a human face, Naramukha Vinayakar, a form seldom seen. Sambandar’s padigam is in the second Tirumurai.
About 3 km from Poonthottam on the Mayiladuthurai–Tiruvarur road, some 25 km from Mayiladuthurai. Priests at the temple arrange tarpanam.
