KAARADAYAAN NONBU- THE FESTIVAL TO STRENGTHEN MARRIED LIFE
It is very interesting to see women purchasing colorful flowers, mango leaves, banana stems, rice, jaggery and other things for the important festival at the month of mid March in South India. This is the sacred ‘’KAAR ADAYAN NONBU’’. The festival which has been named with a delicious south Indian dish.
KAAL ANAI ADAYAN – The root name of the festival is kaalanai adayan, meaning ‘’ a person who never reach the foot of death’’.
Legend: The great princess Savithri got married to Sathyavan. He was a great Wiseman. They lived a very perfect married life as per directed by Sanadhana dharma of India. But he has been cursed in the previous birth that he will die soon. But they lived a very fearless life just by surrendering to God.
Days passed away. It was a dawn, Lord Yama alas Kaalan came to take Sathyavan’s life. He too did not scare and surrendered to him and accepted the reality of life. But Savithri just performed special poojas and surrendered to Mother Goddess and seeked her abode to save her husband.
Goddess also blessed her the real knowledge of questioning and started conversing with Yama and she has started questioning him and all those were about the philosophy of married life and how to take that into spirituality. In one context she requests him to bless her father- in- law with vision and power. Next she asks for many children and he too blesses her and left with Sathiyavan’s spirit. But she became very aware and asks him ‘’how I can have many children when you take away my husband?’’
This makes Yama to think a lot and also made him to bless her with her husband.
So finally the awareness of the wife saved the husband and family life. We can also interpret that the death of the husband is the unhealthiness of the couple’s relation which breaks the married live through divorse. It is the role of every woman to strengthen the relation with the husband just by shedding the self ego and with the true love she can save her family life. Savithry request the death to give back her husband to give birth to children. Let the women and men of present world realize the essence of having good children and think about any unhealthy situation in life which makes them to break soon by which their children will be the real victims.
How to do the rituals?
1. Husband and wife can fast from previous day night or on the festival day till they finish the rituals.
2. Clean the home and decorate the home with traditional things.
3. The ritual altar can be lighted with 5 wicks lamp.
4. Place the metal pot with full of rice or water and close with mango leaves and coconut. Any fruit can be the lid in place of the coconut. This is called ‘’KALASAM’’.
5. Prepare the sacred cotton treads smeared with turmeric paste and tie few flowers to it and put them over the kalasam.
6. Consider the kalasam as Goddess Kamakshi Devi. [Presiding Goddess of Kanchipuram city in South India. She is the incarnation of mother Goddess who is believed to be the Goddess of happy family life.]
7. Chant Lalitha sahasranamam to Goddess and also perform archana [offering flowers for each name]. Rice mixed with turmeric powder can be used in place of flowers.
8. Finally try to read the story of Savithry. Better think and meditate about your married life and try to forget each other’s mistakes and accept as you are. This is the self evaluation.
9. Offer the sacred food to Goddess and light camphor and pray for healthy family life and world peace. Let the husband tie the sacred thread in the right hand wrist of his wife and feed poor people.
Importance of the festival:
Kamakshi married Shiva and he said that she has to perform 36 types of service to man kind from the family life. She too accepted. Try to plan and do at least one such good service to any one according to your time, finance and family setup.
Accepting each other is the point of surrendering to Supreme spirit and starting the journey towards the spirituality.
Main naivedhyam:
Adai. This is the very special sacred dish offered to the Goddess on this day. It is believed that Savithry prepared this dish in the forest and offered to Kamakshi to attain wisdom.
1. Sweet adai: This denotes the happiness of family life.
a. Half kilogram rice.
b. Any cereal 100 grams.
c. Half kilogram of jaggery.
d. Coconut scrapings one cup.
e. Cardamoms.
Preparation: Soak the rice, dry it and powder it. Roast the rice powder to reddish color. Roast the cereals also. Boil the rice and cereals add coconut scrapings.
Purify the jaggery and add to the boiled rice and stir the mixture. The dough will be well cooked and remove from the flame. Now take a hand full of dough and make into small cakes on banana leaf and steam cook it.
2. Salt adai: This is the symbol of bitterness situations of family life.
Prepare the rice dough as said for sweet adai. Best time to celebrate – afternoon 12 to 1 P.M.
a.
b. Ginger, green chillies, cereals 100 grams, mustard seeds, coconut scarpings 1 cup, Ulundhu dhal, salt.
Preparation:
Just follow all the process with the rice dough as said in previous preparation. Fry all the other ingredients and add to the cooked dough and mix properly and make as cakes and steam cook it.
Festival falls on 14.3.09.
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
The earliest festival on the Earth-PONGAL
The ancient most festival-PONGAL
The harvest festival Pongal was celebrated when the early man started cultivating the crops. Pongal is the other form of many other similar harvest festivals of this Earth. There is no particular myth behind this great festival. But very ancient Tamil literatures have mentioned the festival as ‘’THAI PULUKU’’.
Thai is the Tamil month from which the sun changes its direction of journey. It is the day we cook the fresh rice with ghee, jaggery and moor dhal. The vast white washing process in the homes includes the thoranam decoration with the erection of fresh sugarcanes, tender coconuts, paaku and flowers.
It is the evening time in Coimbatore side to see people tie the clusters of neem leaves, drumstick flowers with aavaram flowers to denote sun’s change in path. In Madurai side people just put neem braches upon the roof.
The entire house will be cleansed with cow dung and broad kolams will be drawn by house women to welcome the month of prosperity. We have waited for our aunts and mother to finish the kolams so that we can color them.
BOHI GAVE UP TO KRISHNA
The last day of the previous Tamil month Margali will be the day to invite all new itmes into the life especially new thinking which must be healthy. This day is called as ‘’BOHI’’. This means Lord Indra who was the most superior God in India before Ramayana and Mahabaratha. He holds the Vajra- thunder bolt and governs the raining monsoon clouds. So ancient people have respected him with this day and they believed that he will visit their homes in evenings to taste the delicious ‘’sundals’’.
GOVARDHANA GIRI DHAARI
But the role of very egoistic Indra in raining for 7 days and nights has made him to loose his rank among the Indian heroes. SreeKrishna lifted the Govardhan Mountain and rescued his people and asked them to commit this day to celebrate him but no more Indra. The legend from Bahavatham says that Indra who is the symbolic form of our senses will be neglected if we are very luxurious without any responsibility. Over coming of senses with healthy enjoyment is the meaning behind the Bahavatham legend.
Tamils celebrate the harvest as Pongal. Where as Telugu people observe the day as MAKARASHANKARANTHY and Gurathys as kite festival. Any how harvest is the main motive to enjoy this festival.
Tamil Nadu and Pongal:
The first day of the Thai month is celebrated as the POO PONGAL. POO means flower and it denotes the blossoming of the new wealthy month with rich agricultural harvest in all homes in olden days as in our nation 95 percent of us were from agricultural backup.
By dawn the women and men arrange the local stove with bricks or granites and arrange several new earthen pots decorated with drawings and tied with turmeric plants and flowers. Then girls will pour the water and add cow’s milk to it and light the fire and wait till the water with milk gets boiled. The water with milk bubbles and over flows as ‘’pongal’’ and then they add new rice with moor dhal and jaggery. When it gets cooked we add cow’s ghee with roasted resins and nuts and offer to sun the primordial source of light energy.
Linking the cosmos:
This festival links the 5 natural elements. The pot represents the Earth. The water which cooks denotes the water source. The fire is already there. The air is blown to ignite the fire and the space is worshipped along with the sun. The vegetables each from one variety of plant body will be placed on plates for the rituals. The sun will be prayed for the support and feast will be offered to who ever come to the house still today.
I can still feel how many banana leaves we have cut when we were small to feed all our guests and helpers such as washermen, toilet cleaners, scavengers, vegetable sellers, flower sellers. There is a reason behind all the traditional festival of this nation.
The day just passes with meeting friends and greeting one another.
THE SECOND DAY:
This is the very special day we all look for when we were children. Yes the bulls, cows and other cattle will be washed well in rivers and pools. We have watched and praised the braveness of the people who have sharpened the horns of bulls and painted with colors and decorated with varieties of brass bells. But till now I have no guts to touch any animal. But I have enjoyed the festival. People cook new pongal and mix with bananas and sugarcanes and offer to all cattle. We also perform the rituals to cows.
The bells, ribbons and painted horns are still in my mind. The cattle will be taken for procession in the evening.
THE ANCIENT BRAVEST GAME:
‘’JALLIKATTU’’ or bull taming is one of the ancient most game in our nation. In olden days men were married after taming bulls. This is to see the physical fitness. Even there are many old enough people in Madurai villages who got married through this game.
LEGEND FROM BAHAVATHAM:
SREEMATH BAHAVATHAM says that Krishna tamed 7 wild bulls to marry Sree Radha. So the village called ALLANGANALLOOR near Madurai celebrates the best Jallikattu every year with more than 50000 audiences from all over the globe.
THE THIRD DAY:
This is the day which makes me to praise our tradition which gave enough space for girls and women in our society in olden days. This day is specially called as ‘’KAANUM PONGAL’’ or KANNI PONGAL. The day is meant especially for women and girls to share love and friendship out of their homes in beach, river banks, parks and gardens. It was not very safe for them in olden days to move out because of theft and wars. So the society has planned this day for their entertainment. I can remember that I have cried when all my cousin sisters alone were allowed inside the local park in Coimbatore on this day and I started disliking this day of Pongal. Now I understood the need for the day.
Chilapathykaaram is the ancient most Tamil literature which narrates the life of Kannagi. The literature says that in Chola empire people have celebrated this Pongal as ‘’INDRA VIZHA’’ for 27 days. People have offered rice cakes cooked with sugarcane juice and thuvar dhal to Indra’s elephant to bring monsoon clouds.
FOURTH DAY: This day is dedicated to THIRUVALLUVAR who composed Thirukural. Many debates, discourses, recitation competitions will happen on this day to respect and follow Thirukural.
In our Sendurai Montessori HOC we have seeded new plants for Pongal. Children visited the near by homes to see the animal behavior of bulls and cows. They were given the lessons of animals and their role in man’s life. The Govardhan drama was acted by our adults and even many of our children have participated in the drams. They have realized the needs of man.
HOW TO COOK PONGAL?
There are 2 types of Pongal.
1. Charkarai [sweet] pongal: 1 cup of raw rice with .75 cup of moor dhal has to be soaked for half an hour. Then add water in the vessel and allow boiling. Then add milk to it. Then add the rice and dhal and allow to get cook. Add fresh cleaned jaggery with ghee and roasted resins and nuts.
Madurai people eat the pongal with banana and sugar. Some also add coconut.
2. Ven pongal:
1 cup of raw rice with half cup of moor dhal has to be cooked along with fried green chilies, curry leaves, lot of pepper, ginger, asafetida, jeeragam and nuts. It must be over cooked and added with ghee. Eat with coconut chutney and vada.
Let us enjoy the Pongal along with prayers for good support from the nature for our farmers who are going to be richest people soon. Think why?
Thank you!
The harvest festival Pongal was celebrated when the early man started cultivating the crops. Pongal is the other form of many other similar harvest festivals of this Earth. There is no particular myth behind this great festival. But very ancient Tamil literatures have mentioned the festival as ‘’THAI PULUKU’’.
Thai is the Tamil month from which the sun changes its direction of journey. It is the day we cook the fresh rice with ghee, jaggery and moor dhal. The vast white washing process in the homes includes the thoranam decoration with the erection of fresh sugarcanes, tender coconuts, paaku and flowers.
It is the evening time in Coimbatore side to see people tie the clusters of neem leaves, drumstick flowers with aavaram flowers to denote sun’s change in path. In Madurai side people just put neem braches upon the roof.
The entire house will be cleansed with cow dung and broad kolams will be drawn by house women to welcome the month of prosperity. We have waited for our aunts and mother to finish the kolams so that we can color them.
BOHI GAVE UP TO KRISHNA
The last day of the previous Tamil month Margali will be the day to invite all new itmes into the life especially new thinking which must be healthy. This day is called as ‘’BOHI’’. This means Lord Indra who was the most superior God in India before Ramayana and Mahabaratha. He holds the Vajra- thunder bolt and governs the raining monsoon clouds. So ancient people have respected him with this day and they believed that he will visit their homes in evenings to taste the delicious ‘’sundals’’.
GOVARDHANA GIRI DHAARI
But the role of very egoistic Indra in raining for 7 days and nights has made him to loose his rank among the Indian heroes. SreeKrishna lifted the Govardhan Mountain and rescued his people and asked them to commit this day to celebrate him but no more Indra. The legend from Bahavatham says that Indra who is the symbolic form of our senses will be neglected if we are very luxurious without any responsibility. Over coming of senses with healthy enjoyment is the meaning behind the Bahavatham legend.
Tamils celebrate the harvest as Pongal. Where as Telugu people observe the day as MAKARASHANKARANTHY and Gurathys as kite festival. Any how harvest is the main motive to enjoy this festival.
Tamil Nadu and Pongal:
The first day of the Thai month is celebrated as the POO PONGAL. POO means flower and it denotes the blossoming of the new wealthy month with rich agricultural harvest in all homes in olden days as in our nation 95 percent of us were from agricultural backup.
By dawn the women and men arrange the local stove with bricks or granites and arrange several new earthen pots decorated with drawings and tied with turmeric plants and flowers. Then girls will pour the water and add cow’s milk to it and light the fire and wait till the water with milk gets boiled. The water with milk bubbles and over flows as ‘’pongal’’ and then they add new rice with moor dhal and jaggery. When it gets cooked we add cow’s ghee with roasted resins and nuts and offer to sun the primordial source of light energy.
Linking the cosmos:
This festival links the 5 natural elements. The pot represents the Earth. The water which cooks denotes the water source. The fire is already there. The air is blown to ignite the fire and the space is worshipped along with the sun. The vegetables each from one variety of plant body will be placed on plates for the rituals. The sun will be prayed for the support and feast will be offered to who ever come to the house still today.
I can still feel how many banana leaves we have cut when we were small to feed all our guests and helpers such as washermen, toilet cleaners, scavengers, vegetable sellers, flower sellers. There is a reason behind all the traditional festival of this nation.
The day just passes with meeting friends and greeting one another.
THE SECOND DAY:
This is the very special day we all look for when we were children. Yes the bulls, cows and other cattle will be washed well in rivers and pools. We have watched and praised the braveness of the people who have sharpened the horns of bulls and painted with colors and decorated with varieties of brass bells. But till now I have no guts to touch any animal. But I have enjoyed the festival. People cook new pongal and mix with bananas and sugarcanes and offer to all cattle. We also perform the rituals to cows.
The bells, ribbons and painted horns are still in my mind. The cattle will be taken for procession in the evening.
THE ANCIENT BRAVEST GAME:
‘’JALLIKATTU’’ or bull taming is one of the ancient most game in our nation. In olden days men were married after taming bulls. This is to see the physical fitness. Even there are many old enough people in Madurai villages who got married through this game.
LEGEND FROM BAHAVATHAM:
SREEMATH BAHAVATHAM says that Krishna tamed 7 wild bulls to marry Sree Radha. So the village called ALLANGANALLOOR near Madurai celebrates the best Jallikattu every year with more than 50000 audiences from all over the globe.
THE THIRD DAY:
This is the day which makes me to praise our tradition which gave enough space for girls and women in our society in olden days. This day is specially called as ‘’KAANUM PONGAL’’ or KANNI PONGAL. The day is meant especially for women and girls to share love and friendship out of their homes in beach, river banks, parks and gardens. It was not very safe for them in olden days to move out because of theft and wars. So the society has planned this day for their entertainment. I can remember that I have cried when all my cousin sisters alone were allowed inside the local park in Coimbatore on this day and I started disliking this day of Pongal. Now I understood the need for the day.
Chilapathykaaram is the ancient most Tamil literature which narrates the life of Kannagi. The literature says that in Chola empire people have celebrated this Pongal as ‘’INDRA VIZHA’’ for 27 days. People have offered rice cakes cooked with sugarcane juice and thuvar dhal to Indra’s elephant to bring monsoon clouds.
FOURTH DAY: This day is dedicated to THIRUVALLUVAR who composed Thirukural. Many debates, discourses, recitation competitions will happen on this day to respect and follow Thirukural.
In our Sendurai Montessori HOC we have seeded new plants for Pongal. Children visited the near by homes to see the animal behavior of bulls and cows. They were given the lessons of animals and their role in man’s life. The Govardhan drama was acted by our adults and even many of our children have participated in the drams. They have realized the needs of man.
HOW TO COOK PONGAL?
There are 2 types of Pongal.
1. Charkarai [sweet] pongal: 1 cup of raw rice with .75 cup of moor dhal has to be soaked for half an hour. Then add water in the vessel and allow boiling. Then add milk to it. Then add the rice and dhal and allow to get cook. Add fresh cleaned jaggery with ghee and roasted resins and nuts.
Madurai people eat the pongal with banana and sugar. Some also add coconut.
2. Ven pongal:
1 cup of raw rice with half cup of moor dhal has to be cooked along with fried green chilies, curry leaves, lot of pepper, ginger, asafetida, jeeragam and nuts. It must be over cooked and added with ghee. Eat with coconut chutney and vada.
Let us enjoy the Pongal along with prayers for good support from the nature for our farmers who are going to be richest people soon. Think why?
Thank you!
Sunday, January 4, 2009
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.
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.
Sunday, December 7, 2008
Thirukaarthigai Festival- Lamp festival of SouthIndia
Thamil Changam
Home
Articles in English
Articles in Thamil
Indian Heritage
Sakthi Thamil Changam - English articles Articles in English
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!
.
Home
Articles in English
Articles in Thamil
Indian Heritage
Sakthi Thamil Changam - English articles Articles in English
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!
.
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Lord Murugan in ancient Tamil Nadu13-Paripaadal
Thamil Changam
Home
Articles in English
Articles in Thamil
Indian Heritage
Sakthi Thamil Changam - English articles Articles in English
THE GREATNESS OF ANCIENT TAMIL LITERATURE- 13
PARIPAADAL -5 , MURUGAN
This song was composed by Nal Achudhanaar who was also a great musician who has set tune for this poem.
He is praising Murugan as follows,
The evening scenes in Thiruparangkundram: People lighted many lamps and sacrifice fire was worshipped by the priests. Some of the devotees played various musical instruments.
Some brought sandal paste, garlands, cock flags and cloths to Murugan.
Few offered peacocks, long spears and brass bells at the foot of kadhamba tree near the hillock. Few have installed long metal spears before Murugan and praised his deeds.
Do we want to visit heaven after seeing these devotional scenes?
* Musicians played Veena - a plucking instrument and many bees started singing along with that.
* Few played melodious flutes and for which many dragon flies sang and flew every where.
* Few men banged the drums . The noise of the cascade could not be heard when the drums were banged.
* Many young women sang and danced. There were many creepers with colorful flowers waving in the breeze.
* Peacocks were also dancing along with people at the slopes of the hillock.
* All these scenes were like the educated people gathered for a conference.
* The broad way between Thiruparangkundram and Madurai city became so crowded and got mashed with the flowers and garlands.
* Murugan is always residing in this hillock and accepting the various rituals performed by various devotees all over the Earth.
* The sacrificial fire smokes touched the haven and the angels were happy to smell that.
* The smokes from the temple some times shades the sun also.
* People also took holy dip in the temple tanks and spring.
* The cascade from the hillock irrigates the near by farms. The gems fell from ornaments will get studded in those farms and shines colorfully.
* Always people enjoyed feasts, festivals and gatherings in Madurai and Thiruparangkundram and also in the banks of Vaigai. This say that the country was peaceful without wars.
Poet's prayer:
Muruga! please bless me and my family with long span of life without and disease and hurdles. You have killed the demons by mounting on the elephant and now you are appearing on bluish peacock and holding the cock flag! We are at the foot hill of Thiruparangkundram singing your deeds! Please bless us!
Thankyou!
Home Disclaimer Contact us
2007-Sakthi Foundation Inc. .mailto:gethealed@sakthifoundation.org
Home
Articles in English
Articles in Thamil
Indian Heritage
Sakthi Thamil Changam - English articles Articles in English
THE GREATNESS OF ANCIENT TAMIL LITERATURE- 13
PARIPAADAL -5 , MURUGAN
This song was composed by Nal Achudhanaar who was also a great musician who has set tune for this poem.
He is praising Murugan as follows,
The evening scenes in Thiruparangkundram: People lighted many lamps and sacrifice fire was worshipped by the priests. Some of the devotees played various musical instruments.
Some brought sandal paste, garlands, cock flags and cloths to Murugan.
Few offered peacocks, long spears and brass bells at the foot of kadhamba tree near the hillock. Few have installed long metal spears before Murugan and praised his deeds.
Do we want to visit heaven after seeing these devotional scenes?
* Musicians played Veena - a plucking instrument and many bees started singing along with that.
* Few played melodious flutes and for which many dragon flies sang and flew every where.
* Few men banged the drums . The noise of the cascade could not be heard when the drums were banged.
* Many young women sang and danced. There were many creepers with colorful flowers waving in the breeze.
* Peacocks were also dancing along with people at the slopes of the hillock.
* All these scenes were like the educated people gathered for a conference.
* The broad way between Thiruparangkundram and Madurai city became so crowded and got mashed with the flowers and garlands.
* Murugan is always residing in this hillock and accepting the various rituals performed by various devotees all over the Earth.
* The sacrificial fire smokes touched the haven and the angels were happy to smell that.
* The smokes from the temple some times shades the sun also.
* People also took holy dip in the temple tanks and spring.
* The cascade from the hillock irrigates the near by farms. The gems fell from ornaments will get studded in those farms and shines colorfully.
* Always people enjoyed feasts, festivals and gatherings in Madurai and Thiruparangkundram and also in the banks of Vaigai. This say that the country was peaceful without wars.
Poet's prayer:
Muruga! please bless me and my family with long span of life without and disease and hurdles. You have killed the demons by mounting on the elephant and now you are appearing on bluish peacock and holding the cock flag! We are at the foot hill of Thiruparangkundram singing your deeds! Please bless us!
Thankyou!
Home Disclaimer Contact us
2007-Sakthi Foundation Inc. .mailto:gethealed@sakthifoundation.org
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Madurai Chithirai Festival-5
Thamil Changam
Home
Articles in English
Articles in Thamil
MADURAI CHITIRAI FESTIVAL -5
KAL ALAGAR VAIGAI AATRIL,KAALAI VAIKKUM NALLA NAALIL........
Madurai never sleeps on ordinary days. Throught night people all over the nation reach and stay and pass across the city. Madurai is the gateway for the entire southern part of Tamilnadu and Kerala states.
It is called as ''thoongaa nagaram''...the sleepless city. At midnight 1 a.m one can taste hot Idlies, chatny or any non veg items all around the city. The central market and bazars are crowded with merchants.
There is no need to say about Chitirai festival especially the night before Chitirai poornima day. News papers and radio talks and forecast about the various events, venues and exact time when Alagar comes down to Vaigai river bank to start the climax of Chitirai festival. No space--no sleep--no sadness.
Let us see what happens inside Prasana Venketasa Perumal temple.
Alagar will be given a warm welcome by Vemketasa perumal. Alagar will take his dinner with him. Then he rest behind a large screen. He is taken out from the palanquin and placed on a golden altar for a long sacred bath. Milk, ghee, tender coconut, oil, curd, sandal paste, turmeric water, essence water, honey, herbal water will be poured on him.
Special water tanks are brought from Alagar malai. The water to bath Him is always from a special spring called Nuupura ganga.It is located at the top of Alagar malai. If we pour any other water, the idol will turn black.
Then Alagar takes a long rest. Near to dawn, the poojari get into trans and opens a big wooden box.
BOX FULL OF FORTUNES:
The wooden box has various colour clothes. The poojari in trans choose a cloth. The colour of the cloth depicts the fortune of the year. Then that cloth will be offered to Alagar.The idol is decorated with that cloth.
Now the temple announces the mass about the colour of the cloth. Then the entire state gets announced with the colour through the media.
green--fertile
blue-good monsoon
red-natural disasters
yellow-normal life
Now it is the time for Alagar to start his divine, long, enjoyable journey into Madurai. Again the devotees shout, screem and dance. The crowd plays varieties of instruments. All over the city ''GOVINDHA '' nama overflows with devotion.
There comes out Kal Alagar...........
He is seated on a big golden horse. Two legs are resting on the shoe rest. He holds a long spear in his right hand. His left hand holds the horse rope. The large diamond crown adorns his head. The shoulders are adorned with SreeAandaal's garlands.
*Aandaal---see Thirupaavai articles.
SreeAandaal from Sreevilliputhur[72 k.m south to Madurai] sends her garland for Alagar. Alagar waits for her garland and when it reaches the temple ,it is offered to Alagar.
The garland symbolize the jeevathman. Aandaal has surrendered her soul to him.
Now Alagar is slowly reaching the Vaigai river bank through the main road of Goripalayam area. There is no place even to stand.
Alagar enters into the crowd and moves towards Vaigai river. The river is dry in summer. But sometimes it is supplied with artificial water flow in a small area. Often Vaigai dam supplies water for this festival. But the water level is very very low. The river is flooded not with water, but with people.
When Aalagar enters into Vaigai, people scream with ''Govindha'' namam and the procession begins. Alagar will be received by Vijayaragava perumal and SreeKoodal Alagar .Slowly poojas will be done to all the three Gods. Tamilnadu state government offers special mantakapadi and poojas to Alagar.
Slowly Alagar moves into the city along the left bank of Vaigai . Many residential areas, colonies, slums invite him and enjoys the festival. He is the only God who visits all the sluggish slums and poor people.
By mid noon he reaches Ramarayar mantabham for lunch and short rest. There happens the most famous ''Theerth vaari''.1000s of devotees pump the sacred water on him and do this ritual. It will be like the summer showers.
Then Alagar proceeds to many areas. The local news papers, tv and radio often announces his journey map and timings .In all venues people wait to receive him. The festival continues till midnight by which he reaches Vandiyuur Mariamman temple. [Alagar's sister is Parvathydevi. She is called as Yogamaya in Krishnaavatharam and in this yugam she is named as Maari amman]
There he gets down from the horse and take sacred bath and completely gets smeared with sandal paste. It is very very rare to see him in this darshan, so lakhs of Madurai people gather and see him all over the night.
Next day night he shows all his 10 avatharams from 6 p.m till dawn and then proceeds to a village called Thaenoor on Garuda mount. He completes his task of visiting Madurai. There in Vaigai river he blesses a sage called Sudhapas.
Sudhapas story:
Sudhapas was a great saint meditating in the pond near Alagar malai inside the water .Durvasa mahamuni came to see him and he did not realise that. So Durvasa got angry and cursed him to become a frog., who lives without knowing the outer world. Then he said that Alagar will relive him from the curse in Vaigai river. So Sudhapas came to Thaenoor and started his penance. Alagar also accepted his bakthy and came to that place and blessed him.
So Alagar on Garuda will be taken to the river and a clay model of a frog will be placed befor Alagar. Then poojas will be done and Alagar starts back his long journey.
There is also a legend that he is visiting Madurai to see his sister Meenakshi's wedding. But on the way he was got hold by his devotees and missed the wedding.
Alagar 's Madurai visit is one of the world's greatest festival which binds many minds and teach us many spiritual lessons.
Lets us enjoy at least once. The festival usually falls on May month. All Tamil calendars will show us the date and events.
Let us visit Madurai this year and enjoy the Chitirai festival.
thanking you!!!
Home
Articles in English
Articles in Thamil
MADURAI CHITIRAI FESTIVAL -5
KAL ALAGAR VAIGAI AATRIL,KAALAI VAIKKUM NALLA NAALIL........
Madurai never sleeps on ordinary days. Throught night people all over the nation reach and stay and pass across the city. Madurai is the gateway for the entire southern part of Tamilnadu and Kerala states.
It is called as ''thoongaa nagaram''...the sleepless city. At midnight 1 a.m one can taste hot Idlies, chatny or any non veg items all around the city. The central market and bazars are crowded with merchants.
There is no need to say about Chitirai festival especially the night before Chitirai poornima day. News papers and radio talks and forecast about the various events, venues and exact time when Alagar comes down to Vaigai river bank to start the climax of Chitirai festival. No space--no sleep--no sadness.
Let us see what happens inside Prasana Venketasa Perumal temple.
Alagar will be given a warm welcome by Vemketasa perumal. Alagar will take his dinner with him. Then he rest behind a large screen. He is taken out from the palanquin and placed on a golden altar for a long sacred bath. Milk, ghee, tender coconut, oil, curd, sandal paste, turmeric water, essence water, honey, herbal water will be poured on him.
Special water tanks are brought from Alagar malai. The water to bath Him is always from a special spring called Nuupura ganga.It is located at the top of Alagar malai. If we pour any other water, the idol will turn black.
Then Alagar takes a long rest. Near to dawn, the poojari get into trans and opens a big wooden box.
BOX FULL OF FORTUNES:
The wooden box has various colour clothes. The poojari in trans choose a cloth. The colour of the cloth depicts the fortune of the year. Then that cloth will be offered to Alagar.The idol is decorated with that cloth.
Now the temple announces the mass about the colour of the cloth. Then the entire state gets announced with the colour through the media.
green--fertile
blue-good monsoon
red-natural disasters
yellow-normal life
Now it is the time for Alagar to start his divine, long, enjoyable journey into Madurai. Again the devotees shout, screem and dance. The crowd plays varieties of instruments. All over the city ''GOVINDHA '' nama overflows with devotion.
There comes out Kal Alagar...........
He is seated on a big golden horse. Two legs are resting on the shoe rest. He holds a long spear in his right hand. His left hand holds the horse rope. The large diamond crown adorns his head. The shoulders are adorned with SreeAandaal's garlands.
*Aandaal---see Thirupaavai articles.
SreeAandaal from Sreevilliputhur[72 k.m south to Madurai] sends her garland for Alagar. Alagar waits for her garland and when it reaches the temple ,it is offered to Alagar.
The garland symbolize the jeevathman. Aandaal has surrendered her soul to him.
Now Alagar is slowly reaching the Vaigai river bank through the main road of Goripalayam area. There is no place even to stand.
Alagar enters into the crowd and moves towards Vaigai river. The river is dry in summer. But sometimes it is supplied with artificial water flow in a small area. Often Vaigai dam supplies water for this festival. But the water level is very very low. The river is flooded not with water, but with people.
When Aalagar enters into Vaigai, people scream with ''Govindha'' namam and the procession begins. Alagar will be received by Vijayaragava perumal and SreeKoodal Alagar .Slowly poojas will be done to all the three Gods. Tamilnadu state government offers special mantakapadi and poojas to Alagar.
Slowly Alagar moves into the city along the left bank of Vaigai . Many residential areas, colonies, slums invite him and enjoys the festival. He is the only God who visits all the sluggish slums and poor people.
By mid noon he reaches Ramarayar mantabham for lunch and short rest. There happens the most famous ''Theerth vaari''.1000s of devotees pump the sacred water on him and do this ritual. It will be like the summer showers.
Then Alagar proceeds to many areas. The local news papers, tv and radio often announces his journey map and timings .In all venues people wait to receive him. The festival continues till midnight by which he reaches Vandiyuur Mariamman temple. [Alagar's sister is Parvathydevi. She is called as Yogamaya in Krishnaavatharam and in this yugam she is named as Maari amman]
There he gets down from the horse and take sacred bath and completely gets smeared with sandal paste. It is very very rare to see him in this darshan, so lakhs of Madurai people gather and see him all over the night.
Next day night he shows all his 10 avatharams from 6 p.m till dawn and then proceeds to a village called Thaenoor on Garuda mount. He completes his task of visiting Madurai. There in Vaigai river he blesses a sage called Sudhapas.
Sudhapas story:
Sudhapas was a great saint meditating in the pond near Alagar malai inside the water .Durvasa mahamuni came to see him and he did not realise that. So Durvasa got angry and cursed him to become a frog., who lives without knowing the outer world. Then he said that Alagar will relive him from the curse in Vaigai river. So Sudhapas came to Thaenoor and started his penance. Alagar also accepted his bakthy and came to that place and blessed him.
So Alagar on Garuda will be taken to the river and a clay model of a frog will be placed befor Alagar. Then poojas will be done and Alagar starts back his long journey.
There is also a legend that he is visiting Madurai to see his sister Meenakshi's wedding. But on the way he was got hold by his devotees and missed the wedding.
Alagar 's Madurai visit is one of the world's greatest festival which binds many minds and teach us many spiritual lessons.
Lets us enjoy at least once. The festival usually falls on May month. All Tamil calendars will show us the date and events.
Let us visit Madurai this year and enjoy the Chitirai festival.
thanking you!!!
Monday, October 27, 2008
SKANDHA SASTI FESTIVAL
SKANDHA SASTI FESTIVAL
Tamil Nadu and Kerala states celebrate 6 days festival at the month of October-November for Lord Skandha. He is also known as Murugan and Subhramanya.
WHO IS SKANDHA?
He is the son of Shiva-Parvathy. He is the symbol of the Shivasakthy bhava. Skandha is considered to be the holistic bliss of Shivasakthy.
Saint Vyasa has celebrated the deeds of Skandha in his Skandha puranam.
WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THE WORD SKANDHA?
The word Skandha means ‘’one who is the abode of kindness and beauty’’.
LEGEND OF SKANDHA: The 3 great demons SOORA PADUMA- GAJAMUHA SOORA AND SINGA MUGA SOORA got many boons from Bharama and started ruling the entire universe.
They misused the powers and freedom which they possessed. They have also imprisoned Indra and his people from heaven. Indra’s wife Indrani meditated upon Shiva and Shiva promised to save all the angels from the demons.
The demons were blessed with a boon that only a son born from a man should kill them. So Shiva opened his third eye and produced a flame of energy.
This flame was carried by the god of wind ‘’vaayu’’ and god of fire ‘’Agni’’ to river Ganga.
Goddess Ganga received the flame and incubated in 6 lotus flowers. The flame was transferred into 6 embryos and nourished inside the flowers. So Skandha is also known as ‘’KAANGAY YA’’. 6 maidens known as ‘’Kaarthigai strees’’ were appointed by Shiva to care the embryos. So he is also name as ‘’KAARTHIGAYYA’’.
On Vaikaasi vishaka day the embryos were developed into 6 babies. They were brought up by the 6 maidens and finally Parvathy Devi hugged them and made as one child. Shiva named him as ‘’Skandha’’.
Skandha enjoyed his childhood in Kailash and when the time came to kill the demons, Parvathy gave him her sakthy as the ‘’sacred spear’’. This is the symbol of ‘’ pure wisdom’’.
THE SIX DAYS WAR:
Skandha went to Veera Mahendrapuri which was the capital city of the demons. For 6 days from the new moon day he mediated upon Shivasakthy and fought with the 3 demons.
On the 6th day [ sasti – 6th day after ammavyasa] by dusk he killed the elephant headed demon Gajamuha soora.
The second brother Simhamuha soora took the form of a hill in the midst of the oceans. It was also known as ‘’Krownja giri’’. He has swallowed all the angels.
Skandha threw his spear and made the hill as pieces. Finally he faced the Padma soora who can take any form as he like.
THE CLIMAX SCEEN IN THE MIDST OF THE SEAS:
The war went on for many hours and finally the demon took the form of a mango tree in the midst of the oceans. Skandha broke the mango tree and made the demon to surrender to his feet and made him to shed his ‘’self ego’’.
Then Skandha transferred the demon as a beautiful peacock and his brother as a cock. The peacock became his mount and the cock accepted to be his flag.
This is the legend behind Skandha sasti. Skandha married Indra’s daughter Devasena or Devayaani after the war. Later he too married other girl Valli.
SIX GREAT ABODES OF SKANDHA: There are six sacred most shrines for Skandha in Tamil Nadu. They are known as ‘’AARU PADAI VEEDU’’. These places are considered to be the 6 forts for Skandha where he fought with the demons.
There are several 1000s of shrines for Skandha where the festival will be observed with divinity and fun.In each shrine the festival will be observed with unique beauty and spiritual meaning.
The most interesting scene can be seen in SIKKAL near Nagapattinam in TamilNadu. Here the Lord’s face will be spilling the sweating when he receives the sacred spear from his mother.
SPECIALITY BEHIND SKANDHA’S WAR:
Skandha has shown that our self ego cannot be removed completely, but it can be transformed as creative and positive energy with which we can serve this world. So the demons were totally transformed as beautiful peacock and cock. Peacock is the most celebrated bird in TamilNadu as the mount of Skandha.
SOORASAMHARAM:
On new moon day in all temples the sacred flag will be hoisted to open the festival with staunch fasting. People who observe the fasting wait for the flag hoisting ceremony and they take bath and tie the sacred thread on the right wrist.
Thiruchendoor near Thirunelveli is the place which is considered to be the battle field where Skandha killed the demons. So this shrine celebrates the festival with the maximum spirit.
People who live far away from the shrine wait for the call and news for the time to open the fasting.
On the sixth day dusk, Skandha performs rituals to his brother Ganesha, uncle Vishnu and parents. Then he receives the sacred spear from his mother Parvathy and leads to the sea shore where the war will be dramatized and viewed by lakhs of devotees.
The war is known as ‘’SOORA SAMHARAM’’. Immediately after the festival, people take bath in the sea and finish the fasting.
HOW TO UNDERGO SKANDHA SASTI FASTING?
On ammavyasa day take bath and offer poojas to Lord Ganesha. Then begin the fasting from next day. Fasting can be done based on your health and work.
Types of Sasti fasting:
1. People drink only one tumbler of milk a day.
2. People drink a cup of milk with fruits.
3. People take food once a day.
4. People avoid food at night.
5. People take wheat food at night.
6. People do not eat anything for 6 days.
7. People eat cooked rice with coconut paste without salt once in a day.
THE MOST IMPORTANT FASTING: It is the process of cleansing the body and mind after Deepawali feasts. But apart from all these it is the process of cleaning the mind and realizing the ‘’self’’.
Then every day take bath twice and chant the sacred most scripture called ‘’SKANDHA SASTI KAVASAM’’. It is available in all forms.
The main name of Skandha has to be chanted 108 times every day. It is ‘’OM SARVANA BHAAVAYA NAMAHA’’. This is called as ‘’sataakshara mantra’’.
Perform any type of rituals to Skandha and also sing and praise of Lord. You can visit any Skandha shrine also for rituals.
Every day try to observe your mind. Try to remove at least one unwanted thought from your mind and try to feel the ‘’self’’ within you.
On sasti day observe silence as possible as you can and try to visit any near by shrine for SOORASAMHARAM event. You can also watch to the TV for the direct telecast.
Observing the self within us is the main event. After the SOORASAMHARAM, take bath and offer poojas to Skandha and eat fruits only.
Next day cook fresh vegetarian food and offer to Skandha and feed few poor people and complete your fasting.
*This fasting is mostly observed for child birth and diseases.
Let us observe the Skandha sasti and attain all boons we wish from Muruga.
Thankyou!
Tamil Nadu and Kerala states celebrate 6 days festival at the month of October-November for Lord Skandha. He is also known as Murugan and Subhramanya.
WHO IS SKANDHA?
He is the son of Shiva-Parvathy. He is the symbol of the Shivasakthy bhava. Skandha is considered to be the holistic bliss of Shivasakthy.
Saint Vyasa has celebrated the deeds of Skandha in his Skandha puranam.
WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THE WORD SKANDHA?
The word Skandha means ‘’one who is the abode of kindness and beauty’’.
LEGEND OF SKANDHA: The 3 great demons SOORA PADUMA- GAJAMUHA SOORA AND SINGA MUGA SOORA got many boons from Bharama and started ruling the entire universe.
They misused the powers and freedom which they possessed. They have also imprisoned Indra and his people from heaven. Indra’s wife Indrani meditated upon Shiva and Shiva promised to save all the angels from the demons.
The demons were blessed with a boon that only a son born from a man should kill them. So Shiva opened his third eye and produced a flame of energy.
This flame was carried by the god of wind ‘’vaayu’’ and god of fire ‘’Agni’’ to river Ganga.
Goddess Ganga received the flame and incubated in 6 lotus flowers. The flame was transferred into 6 embryos and nourished inside the flowers. So Skandha is also known as ‘’KAANGAY YA’’. 6 maidens known as ‘’Kaarthigai strees’’ were appointed by Shiva to care the embryos. So he is also name as ‘’KAARTHIGAYYA’’.
On Vaikaasi vishaka day the embryos were developed into 6 babies. They were brought up by the 6 maidens and finally Parvathy Devi hugged them and made as one child. Shiva named him as ‘’Skandha’’.
Skandha enjoyed his childhood in Kailash and when the time came to kill the demons, Parvathy gave him her sakthy as the ‘’sacred spear’’. This is the symbol of ‘’ pure wisdom’’.
THE SIX DAYS WAR:
Skandha went to Veera Mahendrapuri which was the capital city of the demons. For 6 days from the new moon day he mediated upon Shivasakthy and fought with the 3 demons.
On the 6th day [ sasti – 6th day after ammavyasa] by dusk he killed the elephant headed demon Gajamuha soora.
The second brother Simhamuha soora took the form of a hill in the midst of the oceans. It was also known as ‘’Krownja giri’’. He has swallowed all the angels.
Skandha threw his spear and made the hill as pieces. Finally he faced the Padma soora who can take any form as he like.
THE CLIMAX SCEEN IN THE MIDST OF THE SEAS:
The war went on for many hours and finally the demon took the form of a mango tree in the midst of the oceans. Skandha broke the mango tree and made the demon to surrender to his feet and made him to shed his ‘’self ego’’.
Then Skandha transferred the demon as a beautiful peacock and his brother as a cock. The peacock became his mount and the cock accepted to be his flag.
This is the legend behind Skandha sasti. Skandha married Indra’s daughter Devasena or Devayaani after the war. Later he too married other girl Valli.
SIX GREAT ABODES OF SKANDHA: There are six sacred most shrines for Skandha in Tamil Nadu. They are known as ‘’AARU PADAI VEEDU’’. These places are considered to be the 6 forts for Skandha where he fought with the demons.
There are several 1000s of shrines for Skandha where the festival will be observed with divinity and fun.In each shrine the festival will be observed with unique beauty and spiritual meaning.
The most interesting scene can be seen in SIKKAL near Nagapattinam in TamilNadu. Here the Lord’s face will be spilling the sweating when he receives the sacred spear from his mother.
SPECIALITY BEHIND SKANDHA’S WAR:
Skandha has shown that our self ego cannot be removed completely, but it can be transformed as creative and positive energy with which we can serve this world. So the demons were totally transformed as beautiful peacock and cock. Peacock is the most celebrated bird in TamilNadu as the mount of Skandha.
SOORASAMHARAM:
On new moon day in all temples the sacred flag will be hoisted to open the festival with staunch fasting. People who observe the fasting wait for the flag hoisting ceremony and they take bath and tie the sacred thread on the right wrist.
Thiruchendoor near Thirunelveli is the place which is considered to be the battle field where Skandha killed the demons. So this shrine celebrates the festival with the maximum spirit.
People who live far away from the shrine wait for the call and news for the time to open the fasting.
On the sixth day dusk, Skandha performs rituals to his brother Ganesha, uncle Vishnu and parents. Then he receives the sacred spear from his mother Parvathy and leads to the sea shore where the war will be dramatized and viewed by lakhs of devotees.
The war is known as ‘’SOORA SAMHARAM’’. Immediately after the festival, people take bath in the sea and finish the fasting.
HOW TO UNDERGO SKANDHA SASTI FASTING?
On ammavyasa day take bath and offer poojas to Lord Ganesha. Then begin the fasting from next day. Fasting can be done based on your health and work.
Types of Sasti fasting:
1. People drink only one tumbler of milk a day.
2. People drink a cup of milk with fruits.
3. People take food once a day.
4. People avoid food at night.
5. People take wheat food at night.
6. People do not eat anything for 6 days.
7. People eat cooked rice with coconut paste without salt once in a day.
THE MOST IMPORTANT FASTING: It is the process of cleansing the body and mind after Deepawali feasts. But apart from all these it is the process of cleaning the mind and realizing the ‘’self’’.
Then every day take bath twice and chant the sacred most scripture called ‘’SKANDHA SASTI KAVASAM’’. It is available in all forms.
The main name of Skandha has to be chanted 108 times every day. It is ‘’OM SARVANA BHAAVAYA NAMAHA’’. This is called as ‘’sataakshara mantra’’.
Perform any type of rituals to Skandha and also sing and praise of Lord. You can visit any Skandha shrine also for rituals.
Every day try to observe your mind. Try to remove at least one unwanted thought from your mind and try to feel the ‘’self’’ within you.
On sasti day observe silence as possible as you can and try to visit any near by shrine for SOORASAMHARAM event. You can also watch to the TV for the direct telecast.
Observing the self within us is the main event. After the SOORASAMHARAM, take bath and offer poojas to Skandha and eat fruits only.
Next day cook fresh vegetarian food and offer to Skandha and feed few poor people and complete your fasting.
*This fasting is mostly observed for child birth and diseases.
Let us observe the Skandha sasti and attain all boons we wish from Muruga.
Thankyou!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)