Chithirai-Varuda Pirappu (Tamil New Year Day–April-May)

The first day of the Tamil month Chithirai (Varudappirappu), is the New Year day of the Tamil year. Purana tells that Brahma, the creator started his creation only on the first day of Chithirai. The second record^[1] of Sambuvaraya issued in Rajaraja III’s 10^thregnal year (A.D.1227) is found on the eastern wall of the central shrine. The record refers to a gift of two ma of the land by Ammaiyappan Sri Pallavan on Rajanarayana Sambuvarayan, the chieftain. The denoted land was assigned on the eastern side of the village Munnjur called Vizhavur. Besides, the income of the two ma of dry land was used to conduct Thiruvettai the Annual festival in the month of Chitirai.^[2] Moreover the expenses of Thirukappu, Nan and other miscellaneous expenses of this Puja to be meet out by the income from the Thiruvettai lands.

For instance a inscription^[3] of Vijayanagar regent Saluva Narasingaraya Udaiyar issued in the Saka era 1388 (A.D.1466) on the 9^th day of Markazhi month in the Sri Viya year is found on the north side wall of the cella of the Adavalleswarar temple. Further the record registers a gift of land for the celebration of the Annual festivals in the month of Chittirai and Thai Pusam^[4] for the maintenance of flower garden Nandavanam for flower offerings to the Presiding deity. The record also states that the administrative officials viz. Thammarasar, Anmarasar and Aravasaram were existed during the Vijayanagar rule.