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Home > Temples of Kerala > Anunja AnunjaThe praakaaras and idol are closely inter-linked and they cover concepts of gross and subtle bodies of the deity. As such whenever any renovation (except routine maintenance) of any portion of the sreekovil or other part of praakaara is to be done the permission of the presiding deity has necessarily to be obtained before the commencement of the work. Such items of work, known as thottu-pani, include all items of work which cause dislocation of the daily routine and disturb the physical structure of the praakaaras. The authority to decide the necessity of anujna is the aachaarya or Thanthri. As anujna is a very important ritual it is given only after conducting Anujna-kalasam. At the time of prasanna-pooja after uccha-pooja and kalasaabhishekam permission is given for renovation or repair of the praakaaras. If it is necessary to repair any part of the sreekovil including refixing or changing of deity, dwaja, thazhikakkutam etc. it is absolutely necessary to have anujna-kalasam. The rite is very significant. It is seen in rare cases that before commencement of work at an auspicious time the artisan (carpenter or Silpi or any other worker) is allowed to touch the sreekovil only after conducting a pooja to a cow. The artisan is then given dakshina (customary fee) by the thanthri for executing the work and the former holding the tail of the cow touches the Sreekovil with his kole (measure-rod) in the presence of Ooraalars. This is a solemn ceremony in which the Thanthri, carpenter or Silpi and Ooraalare involved and with great devotion it is done. In case of reconstruction of garbha-grha the idol has to be removed to a purified and newly built temporary structure known as baalaalaya. This shifting can be done only after anujna- kalasa. The anujna (permission) is valid only upto a specified period or to a maximum period of 12 years. In case if it exceeds the specifIed period or 12 years fresh anujna of the deity has to be obtained. It is the bounden duty of the Ooraalars to complete the work within the stipulated period for which anujna is sought for the first time.
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