Jamam at 8:00 p.m. Each ritual comprises four steps: abhisheka (sacred bath), alangaram (decoration), naivethanam (food offering) and deepa aradanai (waving of lamps) for both Sivayoginathar and Soundaranayagi. The worship is held amidst music with nagaswaram (pipe instrument) and tavil (percussion instrument), religious instructions in the Vedas (sacred texts) read by priests and prostration by worshipers in front of the temple mast. There are weekly rituals like (Monday) and (Friday), fortnightly rituals like pradosham and monthly festivals like amavasai (new moon day), kiruthigai, pournami (full moon day) and sathurthi. Brahmotsavam during the Tamil month of (September – October), Thiruvadhirai during the month of (December – January) and Annabhishekam during the Tamil month of are the major festivals celebrated in the temple. The Aipassi Brahmotsavam festival is the major festival in the temple when there is Panchamurthi procession. The Chittirai festival is celebrated for three days when Sunlight falls directly on the presiding deity. Palace Devasthanam Thanjavur Palace Devasthanam comprises 88 temples, of which this temple is the one. They are maintained and administered by the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department of the Government of Tamil Nadu. References External links Padal Petra Stalam Shiva temples in Thanjavur district