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THIRUKAARTHIGAI FESTIVAL- FESTIVAL OF LAMPS IN SOUTH INDIA
As we know that most of our Indian festivals are always based on great spiritual legends from Indian mythologies, they are well planned and organized by our ancestors based on climates, weather, harvest, economy and geography of the locality.
There are number of such very old festivals still being observed in our nation with the same trend and pattern. One such festival id ''THIRUKAARTHIGAI '' Deepa thiruvizha.
Uniqueness of the South India:
When Northern states enjoy the various festivals, people of Soth also appreciates and joins with them. But there are few festivals in Southern States [ Kerala and Tamil Nadu ] which are very unique. Thirukaarthigai lamp festival is one such grand festival which is being celebrated in these two southern most states of India.
This festival lies at the Kaarthigai Tamil month. It will usually in the midst of November and beginning of December. This year it is celebrated on December 11th- Thursday.
Legends behind the festival:
The legends quote one incident from Shiva Puranam. This is the story in which Bhrama and Vishnu tried their best to see the head and sacred feet of Lord Shiva. But they were in vain. Vishnu was able to see the feet and head of Shiva through staunch surrender and devotion. Mean while Bharama lied that he has seen Shiva's head and he lost his position in the worshipping cult in India like other 2 Gods.
The legend says that Shiva appeared as the great universal energy in the form of Light. So people worship the light as Shiva on this day by lighting clay lamps in their homes. The great universal energy can be realized within us by true surrender and devotion. The tiny flame on the clay lamp represents this spiritual message. This legend from the myth is being observed in the sacred place called THIRUVANNAAMALAI in Tamil Nadu.
Mythology also says that Parvathy Devi meditated towards Shiva and attained half of his body and appeared as ''ARDHA NAAREESHWARAR'' on this day.
Thirukaarthigai in Murugan shrines:
Other legend is taken from Skandha Purana. Lord Murugan requested Shiva and Parvathy to bless the 6 divine maidens called ''KAARTHIGAI PENGAL''. They were asked by Shiva to nourish and care Murugan in Saravana poigai [ pond with naanal grass near Ganga]. So Shiva has blessed them to shine as ever shining Kaarthigai stars. He said that people will respect and worship all these maidens at the month of Kaarthigai by lighting lamps. This festival teaches us to respect the motherly hood.
Thirukaarthigai in Vishnu temples:
Thirukaarthigai is also being observed in all Vishnu temples. In Tamil Nadu on this day Lord Vishnu will be decorated and taken out for procession around the temple. Then by evening 6 P.M, the ritual of burning a coconut tree trunk covered with dry palm leaves will be performed. This is called as ''SOKKA PAANAI''. Thirumangai aalwar [ the saint singer lived in 9th century A.D] will be celebrated for his birth star on this day and he will request Lord Vishnu to accept the winter season Vedic celebrations called ''THIRUVAAIMOLI'' festival. Lord will also write the permission letter on a palm leaf and ask this saint to commence the Vedic festifal. So the divine flame on this day represents the true wisdom.
Thirukaarthigai lamp festival is one of the ancient most Indian festival. Vedas, mythologies and many literatures have mentioned about various Kaarthigai occassions.
1. Thiruvannamalai is very famous for its 10 days Kaarthigai festival. On the Bharani star day huge broad lamp will be lighted on the mountain which can be viewed from few kilometers away. Immediately all the people will light lamps and decorate their homes. Direct television telecasts are available.
2. All Murugan temples have celebrated this before 2000 years.
3. Sambandhar [ Shavite saint singer of 7th century A.D] have mentioned about this festival in Thirumailai[ Mylapore in Madras city].
4. Sangam literature says that women drew floral drawings and decorated with rice powder and flowers and lighted clay and iron lamps.
5. In coastal colonies women used fish and pig fat oil to light the lamps.
6. Rich families used golden lamps and lighted with cow ghee.
Specialty in Coimbatore region of Tamil Nadu:
Coimbatore zone covers Erode, Salem, Thirupur, Pollachi areas in the Western part of Tamil Nadu. The culture of this zone differs from rest of the state. Here every temple has a small or tall granite pillar carved with idols. It will be placed in front of the main entrance. At the top we can see a large iron holder to hold the ''THIRUKAARTHIGAI CHATTI''. This is the clay lamp which can hold 1 liter of oil. On Thirukaarthigai day this lamp will be lighted and people offer poojas to this pillar. In olden days every day night they must have been lighted to show the ways for the night travelers.
Today how to celebrate this festival?
This is the month by which the North East monsoon in Tamil Nadu and Kerala tops and slight showers will be expected. Then comes the cold charming divine winter to do bajans and other rituals. So every day from Kaarthigai first day we need to put a pair of clay lamps at the entrance of our home. This was to help the travelers who travels at night time in olden days.
We can also increase the number of lamps in odd numbers.
Then on Kaarthigai full moon day, observe fasting in morning and chant Shiva namams and all chants upon Murugan or Vishnu. Clean the home and draw floral designs with rice powder mixed with water and decorate with color powders or flowers.
Wait for the dusk. Prepare all the lamps in your house. They must be well cleaned and decorated with saffron and turmeric paste. Big lamps can be decorated with flowers also. Then use pur cow ghee or gingly oil or castor oil or mixing of neem- castor- gingly- elupay and ghee. Mixed oils are available at shops.
Places to place the lamps:
Use cotton wick. Light the lamps after performing rituals to Lord Ganesha. Then put a clay lamp before him in prayer room. Then place a lamp in your kitchen, bed room, bath room, back entrance and middle of the drawing hall. Then arrange all other lamps according to your taste and imagination out side of the main gate. Let the lamps be in odd numbers. While placing the lamps chant your favorite God's names and ask for blessings.
How to light the lamp?
This is for the big or small brass or silver lamps with 5 faces. The lamp is the symbol of the universe. The base represents Bhrama and Saraswathy. Them main stem which uplifts the main lamp is the symbol of intelligence which makes us to uplift our self into spiritual light. This is Vishnu and Mahalaxmi. Then the top portion with 5 faces depicts Shiva's 5 faces. It is the representation of 5 natural elements and primordial energy Parasakthy also.
Let the wicks face in the following order in the morning time and during main rituals:
1. South East
2.South West
3.West
4. North West.
5. North East.
These directions are the directions of main natural forces which governs the globe and we are lighting to respect and tame them to bless us with good rain, sun shine and other natural wealth.
In evening on normal days let us use only 2 wicks facing mere East and West.
Lighting ceremony:
Use another small wick or light and start lighting the wick from anti clock wise starting from South East and complete it with East. While lighting chant AAdhiShankara's Kanaka Dhara sthotram on Mahalaxmi to bless us with the real spiritual wealth which will bring other materialistic wealth.
Then chant all other sacred chants and sing in praise of Gods.
Burn crackers out side of your entrance.
How to put off the lamps?
Lamps should not dry without oil or ghee. So after all rituals see the time and you can extend the time by pouring more oil or just take a flower and chant '' OM SHANTHY'' for 3 times and put off the lights. Discard the wicks and if oil is still can be used save it and clean the lamp with water daily before use. Lamp is the symbol of mother Goddess who needs to be cared every day. This is the real Vedic style of lamping taught by the great astrologer and aacharya Poojyasree Sree Jayachandraji in Kottyam - Chenganaseri.
Food offering on Kaarthigai deepam:
1. Coconuts with bananas.
2. Beetle leaves.
3. Pori urundai. Puffed rice mixed with jaggery paste and groundnuts makes the main prasadham for this occasion.
4. You can offer nay other vegetarian dishes to lamps and do the poojas.
5. Kaarthigai appam:
Rice flour or wheat has be mixed with jaggery and banana and blend it. Then heat the oil and pour one serving spoon of this dough and cook it. This is Kaarthigai appam. In Kerala special appam vessels are available. We can also use Paniyaara kal for cooking appam.
The festival extends for 3 days. Many people extend the keeping of 2 lamps till Pongal festival also.
Let us celebrate this very ancient festival of lights and attain spiritual bliss.
Thank you!
.
Sunday, December 7, 2008
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