Thiruvaadhirai- The Festival Of Cosmic Dance

The months of December and January are considered to be very sacred in Tamil Nadu. These months covers the sacred Tamil month Maargali. This month is considered for mear worship, rituals and early morning bajans across the streets. SreeKrishna says, '' I am the premordial source who is getting respected by devotees in the month of Margali''.
The oldest cult:
The 2 great scriptures Thirupaavai and Thiruvembaavai in praise of Mahavishnu and Shiva respectively will be recited and sang during every dawn. Great aacharyas also deliver the discourses for these scriptures. This tradition is beeing followed for the past 1500 years.

In this month, Tamil Nadu temples observe the 2 important days. All Vishnu shrines celebrate ''Vaikunda yekadesi'' day. Whereas all the Shiva temples celebrates ''Thiruvaadhirai'' day.

The article is describing the sacred Thiruvaadhirai festival and its importance.
This is one of the very important and ancient most festival for Shiva. Many stone inscripitions and literatures have recorded the festival and its importance.

Legend behind the day:
Thiruvaadhirai is one among the 27 starts in Indian astronomy. This star is dedicated to Shiva. It is beleived that Shiva married Parvathy in Kailasha and showed his cosmic dance of creation- protection and blessing to all creatures in presence of 2 great saints Vyakpaadhar and Pathanjali who wrote the yogasastra and Dance sastra.
The various forms of Shiva's cosmic dance got recorded and described by various scriptures. So this happened on Thiruvaadhirai day.
Chidhambaram's day :
The temple town Chidhambaram is dedicated to Lord Shiva. Shivites consider this place as the heart of the Earth where Lord is dancing. Chidambaram is also the place where God is meditated as the space . Space is the ultimate end of our life and Shivites respects Chidambaram as their place for salvation. Shiva is in the form of ''NATARAJA''. This is the cosmic dance posture of Shiva. This temple town observe this day as the most sacred and important festival day in every year. So various rituals will be performed to Nataraja and Paarvathy on this day's dawn and 1000s of devotees gather to see the sacred dance procession of Nataraja and Parvathy.
In all Shiva shrines across the state this festival is getting observed. This day is also honoring the great saint singer SreeMaanikavaasakar who recited the famous Thiruvembhavai in praise of Shiva which describes the journey of the soul towards the Source in romantic drama style.
Importance of the day:
Married women observe fasting on this day for the well fare of their husband as Parvathy Devi observed fastings to attain Shiva. So the day is totally dedicated for couple for more love and understanding. The festival teach them the meaning behind the wedding, the couple's cooperation in making the family life as spiritual journey and the essence of service and joy.
How it is celebrated in Tamil Nadu?
Women and men observe fasting based on their health. This festival is the very imporatant family gathering in the state. So the friens and relatives join together and celebrate the day. The vast cooking makes us to enjoy the day and gives the team spirit, cooperation and undersatnding. The fasting will be the day before Nataraja's darshan. By evening we need to prepare the following food items.
Sacred food for the divine couple:
1. Cooked rice.
2. Tuvar dhal with ghee.
3.Papads.
4.Pickle.
5. Salad with vegetables.
6. Curd.
7. tamarind kulumbhu.
8. Any cooked cereals and grams.
9. Rasam.
10. One vegetable from tree, plant, underground root, climber and greens.
The most important prasadham:
This is called ''Thiruvaadhirai kale''. Nataraja and Parvathy have tasted this kale from a very poor devotee called ''SAYNDHANAR'' 's house.
How to make the kale?
1. raw rice- 1 cup.
2. Yelow moong dhal- half cup.
3. Jaggery cleaned - 1.5 cup.[ powder the jaggery and boil it along with 1 tumbler of water and all the durts will settle down in the vessle and then filter in a clean cloth]
4. All dry nuts and resins.
Method of preparation:
Break the rice to rava size and just roast them in a pan with a spoon of ghee. Then start cooking the dhaal water[ 1.5 tumbler of water]. When the dhaal got cooked put the rice and add 2 tumblers of water and cook well till the rice comes to a smashy paste. Then add the jaggery and mix well and add the fried nuts and resins and finally add cow's ghee to it . It is our chioce to add cocount scrapings.
Offer this sacred kale in a special banan leaf and offer all other dishes in other leaf and do the Shiva pooja. Lalith sahasranama has to be chanted. Any scriptures in praise of Shiva and Parvathy can be recited.
Interesting drawings for the poojas:
Involve children in this activity.
Draw the following pictures which represents the various items given as gift by Parvathy's father in her wedding time. They also denotes the presence of Goddess Mahalaxmi. Draw these pictures with rice powder mixed with water.
1. Grinding stone.
2. Comb.
3. Moon.
4. Sun.
5. Star.
6. Lotus.
7. 2 sacred feet.
8. Tulsi plant.
9. trident.
10. Place a bowl full of paddy or rice and stamp the long needle and imagine that Parvathy Devi meditating upon this needle to attain Shiva. The needle shows the focus mind of our aim.
11. Smear white cotton threads with turmeric paste and after the pooja ask the husband to tie on the neck and men can tie on the wrist.
**** Husband must spoon feed the kale to his wife and bless her with flowers and saffron. Then all can join and enjoy the feast. It is must to invite atleast one poor woman for the pooja.
Then we can sleep and go to the local Shiva temple by dawn to see the sacred abishekam to Nataraja and Parvathy.
Thiruvaadhirai in Kerala:
In Kerala, this festival is celebrated in all Shiva temples with very special poojas. Scared big brss lamps will be lighted by evening and women gather and perform the '' KAIKOTTI KALE'' dance which is very special for this day. Keralites have their own melodious Malayalam songs for this day. Thiruvaadhirai kale dish will be cooked and offered in all homes for Shiva. The dance form is very gracefull and it makes to feel peace and happy. The songs were set in special tunes which awakes our divine feelings.
Let us observe Thiruvaadhirai and make our family life meaningfull. Let all couples live as Shivasakthy and enjoy the love and serve with real peace and divinity on this Earth.
Thank you!
Thiruvaadhirai day: 10.1.2009-Dawn Nataraja Darshan.