SRI'S NEWSLETTER: 22nd Annual Festival 2015

SRI'S NEWSLETTER: 22nd Annual Festival 2015: Swamyea Saranam………. Dear respected devotees and worshipers, The 22nd Annual festival of Arulmigu Shiva Sangara Jaya Kailasa Muneeswar...

22nd Annual Festival 2015

Swamyea Saranam……….

Dear respected devotees and worshipers,

The 22nd Annual festival of Arulmigu Shiva Sangara Jaya Kailasa Muneeswarar Peedam will be held for Two (2) days starting from 12th December 2015 till 13th December 2015. We are pleased to invite you to participate in the ceremonies and received the blessings of Lord Arulmigu Shiva Sankara Jaya Kailasa Muneeswarar. The Ubayam and poojas will be performed for all devotees throughout this Two (2) days festival and sincerely look forward to your participation in the following 108 Valamburi Sanggu Abishegam and Paal Kudam / Kavadi Procession that will be held on Sunday 13th December 2015 at 8.00am.

Please take this as our personal invitation to you and your family..

What Is Brahma Muhurta?

Swamyea Saranam......

What Is Brahma Muhurta ? Is Getting Up In The Brahma Muhurta As Prescribed By The Sages Beneficial For Students ?

The Brahma Muhurta period occurs 48 minutes (one nadi) before the Sunrise. The grown-ups when demand of their children to wake up in the Brahma Muhurta period to study their lessons, the children scarcely listen.

But, the fact is that, if you get up in the early morning and study your lessons, you will never forget it. All that you study in the early hours remain in your memory. An agency that conducted a study on the learning defects in the children has approved of the practice of studying in the early hours of the day.


Brahma Muhurta starts 48 minutes (one nadi) before the Sunrise. The auspicious time is named after Lord Brahma whose wife Goddess Saraswati, the deity of Learning and Arts, too is believed to start working at this time. Hence this time is called Saraswati Yama as well.
What Is Brahma Muhurta ?

A particular gland on the right side of the head when remains alert, promotes learning capacity in children. If they sit before a lighted oil lamp, for some time to begin the day, it too sharpens their memory owing to the positive energy that the rays of the oil lamps spread all around.

It is for these reasons that the ancestors advised the children to get up in the early morning and start studying before a lighted oil lamp.

WHY WE ARE TOLD NOT TO STEP ON THE HORIZONTAL ROUND STONE AT THE ENTRANCE WHILE ENTERING A TEMPLE ?

Swamyea Saranam......

Regardless any Hindu temple, a horizontal stone will be placed at the entrance of temple. This stone has a lot of meanings and reasons behind that many people today are not aware or even understand about the value.We are told by the elders not to step on the stone. But have you wonder the reason behind this practice?

The first thing we should do before entering a temple is wash our feet. After we wash our leg, hand and sprinkle a little water onto our head to cleanse off to open our magnetic entrance points of our body, we should stand in front of the Main Entrance, look at the Gopuram and Kalasam to pray and ask for permission from the "Thuarabala or Thuaramala" which you can see at the left and right of the temple at entrance.

As we enter into the temple, we must cross over the horizontal stone and shall not step on the stone. As we cross over the stone, we should think in our mind that
"I'm leaving all my negatives, worries & bad thoughts behind this point to get the Lord's blessings and obtain the positive energy"
and then step into the temple.

By doing so, it's believed that we will leave all our negatives & bad things outside the temple & go into the temple empty to get the positive vibrations & increase our positive energy.
If we step on the stone and go into the temple, it's believed that we carry everything together with us & we may not get the full benefits of worshipping in a temple.

A temple is a place full of positive energy and vibrations. Thousands of holy scripts and mantra being recited at the temple daily by the priest. We can increase our positive energy and vibration by worshipping in temple for a greater living on this earth.Do visit temple more often to enjoy the positive vibe.

SHARE this post on your wall and EDUCATE others on our tradition. Its our responsibility to restore our priceless traditions and customs.

Lord Ayyappa : The Shaneeswaran Ayyappan

Swamyea Saranam.....

It is believed that Lord Ayyappa has his divine control over Lord Shani. According to Hindu astrology, Shani or Saturn is one among the planets. People who believe in astrology and horoscope always think about that the position of Shani on their horoscope which they believe can cause misery to their life.

Lord Ayyappa (Dharma Shastha) is the union of the spiritual powers of Lord Vishnu (the Lord of the universe) and Lord Shiva (the supreme power). So with his great power Lord Ayyappa has got control over Lord Shani. He is also known by the name Shaneeshwaran Ayyappan.

There is a wonderful relation between Lord Ayyappa and Shani. Once a verbal conflict happened between Lord Ayyappa and Shani. It was about the ill effects that will happen to a person during Shani period. Lord Ayyappa wanted to save all his devotees from the trouble of Shani. So he asked Shani about the ill effects to suggest remedies. The person having Shani Dosha will lose his natural colourful flair 'Kesha Nakha Sanskaara'(haircut and clipping of nails), will suffer from extreme cold and austere habits, will lose his property and will be forced to beg.


So Lord Ayyappa suggested Ayyappa Deeksha. It is believed that Shani Dasha (Period) for a person is for 7 years. Lord Ayyappa suggested that his devotees will take Ayyappa Deeksha for 41 days and experience the same difficulties that Shani would have given in a period of seven years. The devotee should wear black dress which is the colour associated with Lord Shani. It also represents an isolated mind free of worldly pleasures. The devotees should not shave or get hair cut and clip nail. He has to spend time in bhajans, doesn't wear foot wear, have to take cold bath early in the morning, will sleep on the floor, practice Brahmacharya and takes Bhiksha. Also the walk to the difficult Sabarimala will all add up and match to the scenario of Shani's effects.Thus a devotee who takes the Ayyappa Deeksha in similar way will be free from the clutches of Shani.

Devotees try to get rid of Shani Dosha by conducting Ayyappa Bhajans. By worshipping Lord Ayyappa it is believed that Sade Sati, Ashtama Shani, Kandaka Shani, 71/2 Shani and fear will all be removed from ones life. To get rid of the evils of Shani (Shani dosham) devotees offer Niranjanam to Ayyappa on Saturdays.

Neeranjanam is one of the most important offering made to Lord Shani. Sachets of Thil (Sesame Seeds or Ellu) and raw rice (other than boiled) are dipped in sesame oil and kept inside a coconut. Coconut pieces are placed in a plate of raw rice. These sachets are then lit in front of Lord Ayyappa or Lord Sani preferably on Saturdays.

The step by step instructions are given below: Take a tray with raw rice and cut a coconut into two pieces and keep it in the plate. Take two small pieces of cloth and place small amounts of raw rice and sesame in them. Make a packet from the above. Corners of the cloth pieces can be twisted by hand or tied by a thread. Depending on how long to burn the pieces either dip the sachets in sesame oil or add sesame oil into the coconut and light up the sachets. Always keep the offering in a sacred and safe place. Chanting of Ayyappa mantras in front of Neeranjanam makes it more divine.

How to celebrate the first day of Diwali, Vasubaras and Dhanteras?

Aum Namah Shivaya....

Introduction....

Diwali is celebrated on four consecutive days – the thirteenth (Dhanatrayodashi), the fourteenth (Narak Chaturdashī) and the new moon day (Amāvasyā – Lakshmīpūjān) of the dark fortnight of Āshwin and the first day of the bright fortnight of Kārtik (Balipratipadā). In this article, we will explain how the various days of Diwali are to be celebrated.

Before the festival of Diwali begins, the twelfth day of the dark fortnight of Āshwin is celebrated as Vasubâras or Govatsa dvâdashî. This day is also celebrated as Gurudvâdashî.
Vasubâras (Govatsa dvâdashî)

In a legend, it is mentioned that from the Great Churning of the ocean (samudramanthan) five wish-fulfilling cows (kâmadhenûs) emerged. Among these five wish-fulfilling cows, a divine cow Nandâ had also emerged. This vowed religious observance is performed to worship this divine cow Nandâ. On this day, married women (soubhâgyava¬tîs) undertake a fast partaking of only one meal, and either in the morning or evening; worship an embellished cow and her calf.
Gurudvâdashî

On this day the disciples worship their Guru.

Although Vasubâras and Gurudvâdashî are included as a part of Diwali celebrations; but these are altogether different festivals.

Dhanatrayodashī (or Dhanteras) (first Day of Deepavali)

This day is celebrated in 3 different ways as described below:
Dhan means that aspect due to which our life runs smoothly. Dhanteras is very important for business men, who worship their treasuries on this day. Their commercial year is from Diwali to next year’s Diwali. They consider this day to be a beginning of a new accounting year for their business.

Dhanvantari jayanti

Deity Dhanvantari is one of the twenty four Incarnations of Deity Vishnu. He has four hands like Deity Vishnu, which carry Sudarshan Chakra, Conch, Jalouka and pot of Amrut (Nectar). Deity Dhanvantari is the founder of Āyurvēda.

According to the Āyurvēda, the birthday of the Deity Dhanvantari falls on this day. Āyurvēdic doctors (vaidyas) worship Him on this day. They give prāsad (Holy food item) of small pieces of neem leaves and sugar to the visitors. This has great significance because the neem fruit has originated from Divine Nectar (Amrut) and Dhanvantari is the Deity who bestows immortality. It is said that if one chews five to six neem leaves everyday then the likelihood of suffering from any disease is highly unlikely. One should pray to Deity Dhanvantari for the effectiveness of the medicine before taking medicines.

Preparing prasad of neem leaves
A few flowers of neem
10-12 tenderleaves of neem
4 spoons soaked chana daal or soaked chana
1 spoon honey
1 spoon jeera
Pinch of Asafoetida

Mix all the above ingredients in a bowl and add salt to taste. Then grind it till it becomes a soft paste. Then we offer it to God and pray with devotion that God partakes this Naivedya (food item offered to God). Once we have offered it to God we can distribute it to others.

Yamadipadan

Deity Yama (Yamarāj, Deity of Death) is allotted the task of taking one’s life (prāṇa) away at the destined time. One can never escape death. However, to prevent untimely death, on Dhanatrayodashi, in the evening, thirteen oil lamps made of wheat flour are lit. These lamps are kept outside the house with its flame facing southwards. Usually, a lit lamp’s flame is never kept facing southwards.
Brief ritualistic worship (inside home)

Material required
13 lamps preferably made of wheat flour (if not possible, one can use clay/earthen lamps)
Vegetable oil (1 litre)
Flowers
Material used for ritualistic worship (puja)
Procedure
First do aachman – pouring water from the left hand into the right hand with a spoon and drinking the water from the right hand.
Then deshkaal is recited and sankalpa (resolve) is made.

Then the ritualistic worship of the lamps is done. A flower is offered to each lamp and then Obeisance is offered to the lamps.). Then the lamps are taken outside the house and kept on a hard surface facing the South direction. One can keep the lamps in the verandah, parapet wall or front porch of the house on a paved surface. (Caution – Please take care not to keep the lamps near any fire hazards)

After placing the lamp, one should pray as follows – ‘I offer these thirteen lamps to the son of the Sun Deity (Sûrya) so that He liberates me from the clutches of death and bestows His blessings.’ After the prayer we should offer obei¬sance.

If one has difficulty in performing the ritualistic worship, one can place the lamps and make the prayer as given above. to be continued second Day of Diwali, Narak chaturdashi?

Happy Diwali Friends

Why do we light lamps at home

It is considered to be auspicious to light lamps in the morning and evening at home. It is believed that, if kids light lamps in the morning and study, it will help them to reach to their dreams faster without much difficulties in academic area. Lighting the lamp in the evening, brings wealth and prosperity to any house. There are certain procedures to follow while lighting the lamps.

One has to make sure that, the northern side of the house is closed fully. If a door or a window is open, make sure that, you shut it before lighting the lamp. The reason for this is, the magnetic current flows from the south pole to the north pole and if the doors or windows are open in the northern side, along with the magnetic current or field, the power of the lit lamp also may go out. The positive energy should remain fully inside and eliminate any kind of negative energy which is present inside the house. It is advised to chant the following while lighting the lamp, or upon seeing a lit lamp,

"Shivam Bhavathu Kalyanam, Ayurarogya Vardhanam
Mama Shathru Vinashaaya Sandhyadeepam Namo Nama:"

It is recommended to have two flames, one to the east and the other to the west. Make sure that, those pairs of wicks are not on top of the other one. It is better not to light the lamp directly using a match box or lighter. Use another small lamp, light it first and then the lamp should be lit with the small one. The wicks should be fully immersed into either ghee or oil. It is not recommended to use them if ghee or oil was used in the kitchen. The wicks used should also be preferably of cotton and clean. Never set one, three or four pairs of wicks. Two and five are advised always while seven is also fine. But, the most auspicious is with nine flames.

Hope that, it is not necessary to mention here that, the one who lights the lamp should also care about his/her personal cleanliness before arranging the lamps or lighting them.

Vibhuti / Thiruneeru (Holy Ash)

Vibhuti (Sanskrit : vibhūti ; Tamil : Thiruneeru ) is a word that has several meanings in Hinduism. Generally, it is used to denote the sacred ash which is made of burnt dried wood in Vedic rituals. The Hindu devotees make a paste by mixing vibhuhti with water and apply it as three horizontal lines across the forehead and other parts of the body to please Lord Shiva. Vibhuthi smeared across the forehead to the end of both eyebrows is called Tripundra. .

Meaning:

In Sanskrit, Bhoothi means Aishwaryam, meaning wealth, treasure, precious. Vi-bhoothi with an Upasarga (preposition "vi") means very or more valuable. The synonyms of Vibhuhti in Sanskrit as said in the Amara-kosha is "Vibhuthi: bhoothi: Aishwaryam".Vibhuhti can also be called as Bhoothi,Aishwaryam,Basma etc.,.

Sacred ash:

Vedic scriptures say as follows "Lalaata Shoonyam Smashaana Tulyam",which means that "an empty forehead is comparable to a cemetery". So, Hindus pay special attention that their forehead is smeared with vibhooti and it remains all the time over their body in a day. Even the Almighty Lord Shiva who sports vibhuti all the time stands as an example to his followers that however one be considered as great person in this mortal world,he needs to smear his forehead and the body with holy ash prepared from a special kind of wood as he does (Lord Shiva) in the Immortal adobe of Kailasa. So,it is considered by vedic scholars that even great saints,seers,yogis and the like should wear vibhuthi all the time over forehead and other parts of the body in form of three lines to make a Tripundra. Vibhuthi smeared horizontally to make three parallel lines with forefinger,middle finger and ring finger across the forehead & other parts of the body like chest,stomach,arms,elbows,wrists etc is called as Tripundra.It is mandatory for the devotees of Lord Shiva to have Tripundra over their body all the time.A person who smears Vibhuthi purifies himself from sins and also removes the sins of persons who looks at him besmeared with Vibhuthi or theeruneru.

The great saint Thiru Gyaana Sambandar did many wonders with Vibhuthi and he expounds the greatness of Vibhuti in one of his Pathigams called "Thiruneetru Pathigam" as follows,

Mandhira maavadhu neeru| Vaanavar meeladhu neeru ||
Sundhara maavadhu neeru |Thudhikkap paduvadhu neeru ||
Thandhira maavadhu neeru| Chamayaththil ullaadhu neeru ||
Senthuvar vaayumai pangan|Thiruaalavaayaan Thiruneerae ||

Meaning:

Mantra is the ash; Higher than heavenly people is the ash; Beauty is the ash; Praised is the ash; Technique is the ash; In the religion is the ash; The Lord of Thiruaalavaay (Lord Sundareshwarar,Madurai) who share the body with the red lipped Parvathi - His Holy Ash.

Panchakshara mantra and the above Pathigam are generally recited by devotees while smearing Vibhuthi.Winning the Jains in the challenge on fire Thirugnana Sambandhar sang the above marvelous hymn Thiruppaachuram explaining the king and the world the limitless grace and glory of Lord Shiva and won the Jains in the water challenge.Thiru Gyana sambandar won the Jains and re-converted the king and his people back to Shaivism by Vibhuthi reciting the above Pathigam.

Vibhuthi of Vaitheeswaran Koil and Thiruchendur Murugan Temple is famous for curing many incurable diseases.

Vibhuti is the sacred ash used in religious worship in Hinduism.The main ingredient of Vibuthi is a special kind of wood. It is burned in a sacred fire (Homa) to form white ash. Vibhuti is placed on the forehead as it is considered sacred and holy.

Scriptures say that Vibhuthi should not be wasted by spilling it in on floor or walls after receiving it as a Prasaad (consecrated substance) from a Shiva Temple. Goddess Bhoomi Devi (the Goddess of Earth) cannot tolerate the weight of certain substances. They are Vibhuthi, Tulsi (basil) leaves, Sacred Deepa (lamp), Sacred Thread etc., due to their sacredness. So,they are kept over a Asanam (throne) to give respect to those articles. They are not kept on the floor directly.

The ash has several symbolic meanings:

It serves as a reminder to the believer to cast away selfish and worldly desires that wrap the self in maya, and calls to mind the story of how Shiva burned Kama (the god of desire) to ashes when Kama attempted to break Shiva's focus on the Divine Truth

Normally worn along with red tilaka. Vibhuti relates to Shiva and Red tilaka to Shakti. Reminds that Shiva and Shakti form the universe and everything is though the union of Shiva and Shakti.
Glorious attributes

Vibhuti may refer to glorious attributes of the divine, and in this context is translated as 'all pervading', 'superhuman power', 'wealth' and so on.

The ash of any burnt object is not regarded as holy ash.Vibhuti (AKA Bhasma,Thiruneeru,the holy ash) is the ash from the Homa (consecrated fire) where wood is used to perform the ritual. Or the deity is worshipped by pouring ash as abhisheka and is then distributed as Prassad to devotees. Bhasma is generally applied on the forehead,neck,chest,arms,stomach elbow,wrists etc.,. Some apply it on other parts of the body, like the knees,toes,scalp etc.,.It is considered very auspicious for the hindus especially shaiva sect of people to smear vibhuthi all over the body.

Sri Adi Shankaracharya praises the greatness of Vibhuthi Of Lord Murugan in his "Sri Subramnaya Bhujanga Stotra" as follows ,

ApasmAra kushta kshayArsha prameha|
JvaronmAdha gulmAdhi rogA mahAntha||
PishAchAshcha sarve bhavatpatra bhoothim|
Vilokya kshanAth tArakAre dravanthe|| (Shloka no.25)

Meaning:

Oh Conqueror of Taraka! Severe epilepsy, leprosy, consumption, lung diseases, venereal diseases, fevers, mental diseases of all types, they run away the moment they see Thy Vibhuti contained in a leaf.

The word bhasma means “that by which our sins are destroyed and the Lord is remembered". ”Bha” implies Bhartsana (“to destroy”) and “sma” implies smaranam (“to remember”). The application of Bhasma therefore signifies destruction of the evil and remembrance of the divine. Bhasma is called Vibhuti (“glory”) as it gives glory to one who applies it and raksha (which means a source of protection) as it protects the wearer from ill health and evil, by purifying him or her. The ash we apply indicates that we should burn false identification with body and become free of the limitations of birth and death. It also reminds us that the body is perishable and shall one day be reduced to ashes. As death can come at any moment, this awareness must increase our drive to make the best use of time. This is not to be misconstrued as a morose reminder of death, but as a powerful pointer towards the fact that time and tide wait for none.

Bhasma is specially associated with Lord Shiva, who applies it all over His body. According to Hindu mythology Vibhuti or Bhasma is said to be favorite to Lord Shiva and that's why He is often called Vibhuti Bhushan (the one having ash as his ornament). Shiva devotees apply bhasma as a tripundra (the form of three lines). When applied with a red spot in the centre, the mark symbolises Shiva-Shakti (the unity of energy and matter that creates the entire seen and unseen universe).

Ash is what remains when all the wood is burnt away and it does not decay. Similarly, the Lord is imperishable Truth that remains when the entire creation of innumerable names and forms is dissolved.

Bhasma is believed to have medicinal value and is used in many ayurvedic medicines. It absorbs excess moisture from the body and prevents colds and headaches.

The Upanishads say that the famous Mrutyunjaya mantra should be chanted whilst applying ash on the forehead, thus:

“Om Tryambakam yajaamahe sugandhim pushtivardhanam Urvaarukamiva bandhanat mrutyor muksheeya maamritaat !!”

“We worship the three-eyed Lord Shiva who nourishes and spreads fragrance in our lives. May He free us from the shackles of sorrow, change and death effortlessly, like the fall of a ripe cucumber from its stem!!”

In yajna vibhuti is considered very sacred and is used as fuel to burn the offerings like ghee,milk,curd,rice,holy twigs etc.,in Lord Agni who carries the offerings to the respective devata in a yajna.The residue left over which is white in colour is considered as vibhuthi and is given to the devotees as prasaad for daily use to please Lord Shiva.

Common Adulterants used in Manufacturing:

Many Vibhuthi Manufacturers these days adulterate their Vibhuthi product with Jersey and Friesian's animals dung ashes, rice bran ashes, rice husk ashes, boiler waste ashes, Thermal Power plant ashes, Bio-gas energy plants, white stone powder, paper cellulose, calcium carbonate, paints, chemicals, etc... These substances make them unfit for spiritual use. Due to lack of knowledge and awareness, the above adulterants are used by the manufacturers to gain a huge profit, as they are cheaply available and are considered as waste by-products by various industries. Many people have developed skin allergies with the use of these adulterated Vibhuthi. Special care needs to be taken by the Shiva devotees that Vibhuthi is without adulterants and is prepared in a traditional way (from wood) to gain the benefits of smearing Vibhuthi.

What is Karma?

Aum Namah Shivaya.....

A king was touring his kingdom on his elephant. Suddenly he stopped in front of a shop in the market and said to his minister, "I don't know why, but I want to hang the owner of this shop." The minister was shocked. But before he could ask the king why, the king had moved on.

The next day, the minister went to that shop dressed as one of the locals to see the shopkeeper. He casually asked him how his business was faring. The shopkeeper, a sandalwood merchant, reported sadly that he had hardly any customer. People would come to his shop, smell the sandalwood and then go away. They would even praise the quality of the sandalwood but rarely buy anything. His only hope was that the king would die soon. Then there would be a huge demand for sandalwood for performing his last rites. As he was the only sandalwood merchant around, he was sure the king's death would mean a windfall.

The minister now understood why the king had stopped in front of this shop and expressed a desire to kill the shopkeeper. Perhaps, the shopkeeper's negative thought vibration had subtly affected the king, who had, in turn, felt the same kind of negative thought arising within.

The minister; a noble man, pondered over the matter for a while. Without revealing who he was or what had happened the day before, he expressed a desire to buy some sandalwood. The shopkeeper was pleased. He wrapped the sandalwood and handed it over to the minister.

When the minister returned to the palace, he went straight to the court where the king was seated and reported that the sandalwood merchant had a gift for him. The king was surprised. When he opened the package, he was pleasantly surprised by the fine golden color of the sandalwood and its agreeable fragrance. Pleased, he sent some gold coins to the sandalwood merchant. The king also felt sorry in his heart that he had harbored unbecoming thoughts of killing the shopkeeper.

When the shopkeeper received the gold coins from the king, he was astounded. He began to proclaim the virtues of the king who had, through the gold coins, saved him from the brink of poverty. After some time, he recalled the morbid thoughts he had felt towards the king, and repented for having entertained such negative thoughts for his own personal goal.

If we have a good and kind thought for another person, that positive thought will come back to us in a favorable way. But if we harbor evil thoughts, those thoughts will come back to us as retribution.

"What is Karma?" asked Swami
Many replied, "our words, our deeds, our feelings, our actions......"

Swami shook his head and said

"Your thoughts are your Karma!"

Power of divine camphor....

Aum Namah Shivaya........

Camphor is a small white crystalline substance used commonly in India and South East Asia. Also known as karpooram or kapoor, its burning is essential to any Hindu aarti ritual. There are some important spiritual reasons for its use in Hinduism and even a few scientific ones.

Spiritual And Scientific Benefits Of Camphor

1. The burning of camphor is symbolic of the destruction of human ego. When it is burned it slowly disappears without leaving any residue

2. The fumes of burning camphor purify the air and inhaling it can be beneficial.

3. Camphor can also purify the homes of devotees and drive away evil spirits and negative energy.

4. From a scientific viewpoint it can effectively kill germs and keep mosquitoes away.

5. Smelling camphor fumes can be beneficial for people suffering from sthma, typhoid and measles.

6. It also has the ability to give temporary relief to those who are afflicted by epilepsy, hysteria and rheumatism.

7. Camphor and camphor oil is also burnt in other cultures for similar reasons as it has many spiritual benefits.

Camphor is a transparent waxy crystalline material that has a strong pungent aroma. In French it is known as camphre, in Latin as camfora, in Arabic as kafur, and in Sanskrit or Hindi, we know it as karpura.

Camphor is widely used in Hindu religious ceremonies. as Hindus worship the holy flame by burning camphor. Burning of camphor symbolises union with God — just as the camphor burns itself out without leaving any residue, so does burning one’s ego in the fire of true knowledge will lead them to complete union with God.

According to the ancient Indian traditional systems of healing, camphor purifies the air and inhaling that air has numerous medicinal benefits. Camphor products are used to relieve pain and reduce itching. It has also been used to treat fungal infections and minor burns.

In the modern time, camphor is also available in the form of essential oil meant for aromatherapy and is an active ingredient in nasal, chest and muscular ointments. People who know its benefits, use camphor as moth and insect repellent too.

One of the biggest uses of camphor is to remove negativities. The following rituals can be performed using camphor if you feel an evil eye has impacted a person or a home.

w Burn camphor every morning and evening in the aroma oil dispenser or a camphor lamp so that the fragrance should reach all corners of the house or office. At times, there are huge deposits of soot on the outside of the bowl in which we burn the camphor. It is said that this is the negative energy which is now burnt.

w To remove your own negative thoughts, one can light fire in a small vessel, take camphor in right hand and rotate it thrice in clockwise direction over the face and head. Feel all the negative vibrations, thoughts and energy absorbed by camphor. Put the camphor in the burning fire until it extinguishes.

w Place a bowl of vinegar and add a square of camphor into it. Leave the bowl in every room that needs cleansing. Replace them everyday for 40 days, all negative energies in the space will be cleared

w Light a camphor tablet, ask the person whose evil eye impact has to be removed to stand facing east. Hold this lighted camphor and do three or nine clockwise and then three or nine anti-clockwise hand movements, one up and down movement in front of him/her. Then hold the pointer finger over the black portion of the flame. Put a tilak on the forehead and stomach of the healer and keep this burning camphor away and wash the healer’s hands, feet and eyes with fresh water.

Ayurvedic Names: Sanskrit-Kapoor, Ghausar, Himavalka
Hindi: Kapoor, Karpura,

International Names: English-Borneo camphor French-Camphre, German-Kampher-Persian- Kafu, Kafur, Kafoor Arabic-Kafoor.

History: India is the biggest user of camphor. It is a part of their Religious activities. In Hindu temples during the worship of god, various rituals has been conducted at the end camphor has been burned and offered to God with Prayers to conclude the worship. It was mainly imported by Indians from China, Japan & Subcortical Countries. It has been used in Ayurveda dating back to 5000 years mainly used as an germ killer. It is internally used for infectious diseases as well as externally on the skin, mixed with other material for infections.

Habitat: (a) Indigenos to Bornio. It is Commercially grown in China, Formosa, Sumatra, Medagaskar, Sri-Lanka, India and other subtropical countries. (b) It is a tree, grows fast in subtropical regions lives for hundreds of years. Camphor has been extracted from those trees which are about 50 or more years old and able to face mutilation.

Part used for oil : Whole tree but mainly chipping of the upper part of the stem has been done so that the tree can exist & produce more.

Source and Methods of getting oil: Chips of the stem of the tree has been mixed with water and left for few days, after that boiled in big tubs. The camphor resin comes out from the wood due to heat and float on the surface of the water it has been collected. It becomes solid when cools down. For getting essential oil camphor resin has been steam distilled again.

Constituents of the oil: Alcohol, Borneol, Pinene Camphene, Dipentene, Ketone, Camphor, Terpenes, Safrole

Action: Antiseptic, Diaphoretic, Stimulant, Antispasmodic internally expectorant, sedative, narcotic, Carminative, aphrodisiac

Aroma of the oil: It has a mixed bitter and pungent aroma with a strong penetrating odor. It is extremely volatile and has its own peculiar fragrance indicating camphor.
Uses in Ayurveda:

• Camphor has been burned to purify the atmosphere. It is an excellent Germ Killer. Hindus burn it at the end of their Rituals like fire sacrifice, worship of the God during auspicious ceremonies like marriage, birth of child etc. It is extremely volatile. It burns with much smoke & Bright redish light. Hindus bring Burning lamp of camphor near them and by their both hands push its smoke towards them and smell it. It is also considered as a ghost Buster perfume. It is believed by Hindus that camphor has hotter, pungent and penetrating aroma. It is so strong as well as powerful that it drives away evil forces such as ghosts, daemons, evil spirits and negativity from the atmosphere as well as places where it has been used. Scientifically speaking, drives away flies, mosquitos, and all kind of bugs from the place as well as Kills germs found in the atmosphere. As it produces very thick Dark smoke. Western people may not like it to burn it this way. Which Indians do not care, due to their spiritual belief. Best way to burn in the west is to burn its oil in the perfume lamps in the Room to purify the atmosphere and to drive away evil forces, lives in the Room.
Useful in all kinds of fevers like Measles, Typhoid, whooping cough, spasmodic Asthma, hiccup. In cases of hysteria, hymphomania, epilepsy. Its use has been proven effective. Also useful in dysmenorrhoea, acute rheumatism etc.

•In case of toothache, its use has been recommended useful. In diarrhoea collic pain, food poisoning and several digestive system infections. Useful in eczema of the genitals. It is a powerful stimulant for digestive, circulatory and nervous systems. Gives stimulation to the heart muscles, helps in mental depressions due to sudden shocks. It should always be taken only in moderation. Excess use may cause nausea, womating convulsions etc.

One Hundred and Eight Shiva Thandavam....

Aum Namah Shivaya......

Lord Shiva is also known as Nataraj, the Dancing God. This divine art form is performed by Lord Shiva and his divine consort Goddess Parvati. The dance performed by Lord Shiva is known as Tandava. Shiva’s Tandava is a vigorous dance that is the source of the cycle of creation, preservation and dissolution. Tandava depicts his violent nature as the destroyer of the universe.

Characteristics of Tandava Dance According to scholars, ‘Characteristics of the Tandava Dance’ have been described in the fourth chapter of Bharat Muni’s Nata Shastra, which is referred to as fifth Veda and an expression of Lord Shiva’s eternal dance - Tandava. It says that Shiva’s Tandava is embellished with 108 karanas and the 32 anghaharas - the composite parts of the dance. Bharat Muni further says that Lord Shiva conceived the dance, as he was very much fond of dancing every evening. Shiva further mentioned that 108 karnas included in tandava could be employed in the course of dance, fight, and personal combats and in other special movements like strolling.

Types of Tandava Some scholars believe that there are seven different types of Tandava. The tandava performed with joy is called Ananda Tandava and that which is performed in violent mood is called Rudra Tandava. The other types of tandava identified are Tripura Tandava, Sandhya Tandava, Samara Tandava, Kaali Tandava, Uma Tandava and Gauri Tandava. However, there are few people who believe that there are 16 types of Tandava.

Significance of Shiva′s Tandava Nritya According to religious scholars, the cosmic dance of Shiva, called ′Anandatandava,′ meaning, ‘the Dance of Bliss’ symbolizes the cosmic cycles of creation and destruction, as well as the daily rhythm of birth and death. The dance is a pictorial allegory of the five principle manifestations of eternal energy - creation, destruction, preservation, salvation, and illusion.

According to learned scholar, Coomerswamy, the dance of Shiva also represents his five activities namely,

′Shrishti′ - creation, evolution
′Sthiti′ - preservation, support
′Samhara′ - destruction, evolution
′Tirobhava′ - illusion
′Anugraha′ - release, emancipation, grace

The overall temper of the image is paradoxical, uniting the inner tranquillity, and outside activity of Shiva.

Lasya The dance performed by Goddess Parvati is known as Lasya. In Lasya, the movements are gentle, graceful and sometimes erotic. Some scholars call Lasya, the feminine version of Tandava. Lasya is of two kinds - Jarita Lasya and Yauvaka Lasya. According to the Puranas, Shiva dances a wild and vigorous (tandava) dance in the cremation grounds at night but dances a soft and graceful (lasya) dance in the tranquillity of the twilight.

One Hundred and Eight Shiva Thandavam Listed below

ThalapushpapudamThandavam
VarthithamThandavam
LalithorukamThandavam
AbaviththamThandavam
SamangamThandavam
LeenamThandavam
SwasthikareshithamThandavam
ManadalashswasthikamThandavam
NiruttakamThandavam
ArththaniruttakamThandavam
KadichchinnamThandavam
ArththareshithagamThandavam
VasashwashthikamThandavam
UnthmaththagamThandavam
ShwashtikamThandavam
BirushtaswashthikamThandavam
ThiksswashthikamThandavam
AlaathakamThandavam
KadeesamamThandavam
AshipthareshithamThandavam
VishipthashipthakamThandavam
ArththaswasthikamThandavam
AnchithamThandavam
BujangathrashithamThandavam
OorththuvajanuThandavam
NigunjithamThandavam
MaththalliThandavam
ArththamaththalliThandavam
ReshithaniguttithamThandavam
PaathaabaviththamThandavam
LalithamThandavam
KoornithamThandavam
LalithamThandavam
ThandabatchamThandavam
BujangathrasthareshithamThandavam
NooburamThandavam
SyvasagareshithamThandavam
BrahmaragamThandavam
SadhuramThandavam
BujankaanchithagamThandavam
ThandagareshithamThandavam
ViruchigakuttithamThandavam
KadippranthamThandavam
LathaviruchagamThandavam
SinnamThandavam
ViruchigareshithamThandavam
ViruchigamThandavam
IvyamsithamThandavam
ParsuvaniguttagamThandavam
LalaadathilagamThandavam
KiranthagamThandavam
KunchithamThandavam
SakramandalamThandavam
UromandalamThandavam
AashibthamThandavam
ThalavilasithamThandavam
ArkkalamThandavam
VitchipthamThandavam
AavarththamThandavam
DolaapaathamThandavam
VivirththamThandavam
VinivirththamThandavam
PaatchuvakraanthamThandavam
NisthambithamThandavam
VithyuthpranthamThandavam
AthikranthamThandavam
VivarththikamThandavam
GajakreedithagamThandavam
ThalasamspodithamThandavam
GarudapluthagamThandavam
GandasoosiThandavam
ParivirththamThandavam
PaarsuvajanuThandavam
KiruthravaleenagamThandavam
SannathamThandavam
SoosiThandavam
ArththasoosiThandavam
SoosiviththamThandavam
AbakraanthamThandavam
MayooralalithamThandavam
SarppithamThandavam
ThandapaathamThandavam
HarinapluthamThandavam
PrengkolithamThandavam
NithambamThandavam
SkalithamThandavam
KarihasthagamThandavam
PrasarppithagamThandavam
SimmavikreedithamThandavam
SinkaakarshithagamThandavam
UthruththamThandavam
UbasirythagamThandavam
ThalasangkattithamThandavam
AynithamThandavam
AvakiththagamThandavam
NivasamThandavam
ElakaakkireedithamThandavam
OoruthviruththamThandavam
MathaskalithamThandavam
VishnukkiraanthamThandavam
SampraanthamThandavam
VishkambamThandavam
UthkattithamThandavam
VirushabakkireedithamThandavam
LolithamThandavam
NagaapasarppithamThandavam
SagadasyamThandavam
GangavatharanamThandavam

GODDESS VINAYAKI or Ganeshani is the feminine form of Lord Ganesha.

Aum Namah Shivaya.......

GODDESS VINAYAKI or Ganeshani is the feminine form of Lord Ganesha....... She is the ‘Mistress of Obstacles’. Vinayaki is also known as Gajanani, Ganeshwari Gajamukhi or Vigneshwari. Goddess Vinayaki worship is prevalent in the Tamil speaking south of India. In the Madurai area in Tamil Nadu, Vinayaki is referred to as Vyagrapada Ganapathy.In Tibet, an elephant headed goddess, Ganeshani, is worshiped in Tibet.

SHAKTI: Goddess Vinayaki is elephant-headed Goddess just as Ganesha is the elephant headed God of Obstacles. Her elephant head shares a female body. With such attributes, Vinayaki is assumed to be the Shakti of Vinayaka or the female form of Ganesha. The Agni Purana is the one of the first Purana that lists Ganesha’s shaktis. Linga Purana also list Vinayaki as a Shakti.

MATRIKA: In the Devi Purana and some Upapuranas, Gananayika or Vinayaki is identified as Ganesha’s Shakti. Here she is elephant headed and has the ability to remove obstacles. This places her as the ninth Matrika. Traditionally seven matrikas are mentioned. But the list seems to be extended to accomodate Mahalaskmi or Yogeshwari and Vinayaki as the eighth and ninth Matrika.
Vinayaka is mentioned in the Matya Purana to mean ‘belonging to Vinayaka or Ganesha’. There, she is one of the Matrikas considered as a Shakti of Shiva more than Ganesha. Here Vinayaki is associated to Ganesha by name only and she is created to by Lord Shiva to fight the demon Andhaka.
PURANAS: Mahapuranas and Upapuranas carry legends pertaining to Lord Ganesha’s marriage. Some religious scriptures put Ganesha on par with Hanuman to be a Brahmachari practicing celibacy. However, by Puranic accounts, he was married to Riddhi, Siddhi and Buddhi. Ridhi represents prosperity, Siddhi represents spiritual power and Buddhi represents wisdon. These consorts appear in human form and appear on either side. Vinayaka, seems to extend this list.

There are legends to state that Goddess Saraswathi, Goddess of knowledge and Goddess Lakshmi also married Lord Ganesha. Lakshmi and Ganesha are worshipped together, one removing obstacles in the path of wealth and the other gracing wealth. Lakshmi apparently turns up as Riddhi – material welfare and Siddhi – spiritual prosperity.

In Skanda Purna, Lakshmi is cursed to have an elephant head, which she gets rid of doing penance to Lord Brahma. In Skanda Purana there is no reference to Vinayaki. But the cursed elephant headed goddess seems to be remotely linked to Malini, Ganesha as mother or consort Lakshmi.
Both Ganesha and Saraswathi control Buddhi. Now, Vinayaki is also considered to be the wife of Lord Ganesha. Man makes God in his own image and it appears that they have given the elephant headed God an elephant headed consort.

The Vayu Purana, Skanda Purana and Harivamsa describe elephant faced Matrikas. Female ganas take names like Gajanana or elephant faced. There is mention of Gajamukhi, elephant faced matrikas. Jyeshtha, the Goddess of Misfortune is also described as elephant faced. Ganeshani and Vinayaki are one of the sixty four Yogini Shaktis or matrika goddesses. But there does not seem to be any rituals or pujas attributed to Vinayaki.

DEPICTION: The description in Gorakshasamhita is an elephant faced Vinayaki, pot-bellied, having three eyes and four arms. She holds a parashu and a plate of modakas. In Shilparatna, the 16th century iconographical treatise, there is a description of an elephant headed goddess residing in the Vindyas. This image has two trunks and body of a woman. She is vermillion complexioned with ten arms. She is pot-bellied with a full breast and beautiful hips. These are post Shaktism images depicting Shaktis of gods.

A Vinayaki sculpture is found in Chitrapur Math in Shirali. Here, Vinayaki is full-breasted, but slender, unlike pot-bellied Ganesha. Her two front hands are held in abhaya, fear not and vrada, boon giving mudras. She carries a sword and a noose. Her trunk is turned to the left. This image is said to be a Shakta Goddess.

There is a non-potbellied Vinayaki from Giryek in Bihar. She is a four-armed goddess carries a gada, ghata and parashu. An image from the Pratihara dynasty shows a pot-bellied Vinayaki, with four arms holding a gada-parashu combination, a lotus, an unidentifiable object and a plate of modaka held by the trunks.

BUDDHISM: In the Buddhist tradition, there is a female Ganesha called Ganapatihridaya – Heart of Ganesha. Aryamanjusrimulakalpa, a buddhist text describes Vinayaki as siddhi of Vinayaka. She shares various attributes of Ganesha, she removed obstacles and is also elephant headed. Here Vinayaki is described as the daughter of Ishana. That is a reference to God Shiva.

Hara Hara Mahadeva........

Lord Dakshinamurthy and Four Kumaras

Aum Namah Shivaya...........

Sanaka, Sananda, Sanathana and Sanatkumara, also called as ‘Kumaras’, were born from the mind of Lord Brahma. When Brahma ordered them to procreate, they rejected the orders of Brahma. They were very dispassionate and not interested in material things. They began to think about the reason for existence of something called “Creation”, and also the reason for their very own existence. Several questions sprang from their minds but there was none competent enough to answer their questions. They wandered for about one hundred years. The young Kumaras began to look old with grey hair as their quest for Truth intensified during the period.

The almighty and all merciful Lord Shiva who is the indweller of all beings decided to enlighten four Kumaras. He himself appeared as a sixteen year old youth under the Banyan tree. When the four elderly Sanakadi rishis first beheld the sixteen-year-old Sri Dakshinamurty sitting under the banyan tree, they were at once attracted by Him, and understood that He was the real Guru.

Dakshinamurthy

They approached Him, did three pradakshinas(circumambulation) around Him, prostrated before Him, sat at His Feet and began to ask shrewd and pertinent questions about the nature of reality and the means of attaining it. Because of the great compassion and fatherly love (vatsalya) which He felt for His aged disciples, the young Sri Dakshinamurty was overjoyed to see their earnestness, wisdom and maturity, and gave apt replies to each of their questions.

But as He answered each consecutive question, further doubts arose in their minds and they asked further questions. Thus they continued to question Sri Dakshinamurty for a whole year, and He continued to clear their doubts through His compassionate answers.

Finally, however, Sri Dakshinamurti understood that if He continued answering their questions, more doubts would arise in their minds and their ignorance (ajnana)would never end.

Therefore, suppressing even the feeling of compassion and fatherly love which was welling up within Him,He merged Himself into the Supreme Silence. Because of their great maturity (which had ripened to perfection through their year-long association with the Sadguru), as soon as Sri Dakshinamurti assumed Silence, they too automatically merged into Supreme Silence, the true state of the Self.”

By the grace of Lord Dakshinamurthy, the indweller of all, Kumaras have become free from all kinds of doubts. They have become Jnanis(enlightened). They realised that they are ‘Atman’ (‘Self’) alone. Having realized Atman(Shiva) the Kumaras freed themselves from all fetters. They said :

Om nama pranavarthaya,
Suddha jnanaika moorthaye nama,
Nirmalaya prasanthaya,
Sri Dakshinamurthaye nama.

Gurave sara lokaanam,
Bishaje bhava roginaam,
Nidhaye sarva vidhyanam,
Sri Dakshinamurthaye nama.

“Salutations to that Dakshinamurthy, Who is the meaning of the pranava, “om”, Who is the personification of unalloyed wisdom(Jnana), Who is always Pure And who is the epitome of peace. Salutations to that Dakshinamurthy, Who is the teacher of the entire world, Who is the doctor to those afflicted by the disease of birth and death, And who is the treasure house of all knowledge.”

Amma

Amma is one name that comes most often and most freely from the child’s mouth. A mother’s love towards her offspring is pure, flawless and endearing. There is no mix-up in this relationship. May be the son or daughter may not reflect the same degree of affection as amother. A saying in Tamil endorses this view viz (quote):- “ Petra manam pithu, pillai manam kallu “.  

Devi Aparadh Kshamapana Stotram ‘  describes  ‘ there may be a child who is wrong but never there is a mother who is wrong’. A person who wants to confess to Goddess recites this particular stotram and seeks pardon. A line in the stotram declares that the mother always cares for her child without an iota of selfishness.

It is a common sight to see a calf calling ‘ Amma’ in an open and loud voice. The mother cow shows her affection fondly and the scene is portrayed as a ready reckoner by artists, to say the least.  It may not be an exaggeration if I say  that the generations of human beings began to say ‘Amma’ after observing the calf calling the ' mother-cow '.

‘Amma’ means the same in ‘Marathi’, ‘Kannada’,  ‘Telugu’ as in ‘Tamil’.  Malayalam language says it slightly differently as ‘ Ammai’. In Sanskrit, amma is referred as ‘Amba’ or ‘Ma’ simply. Hindi language calls the same as ‘Ma’ or ‘Mayi’. “Mammi’ or ‘Mamma’ is what English has adopted for Amma.

While we discuss about Amma’s kindness, please keep in mind that she is Amma only to the physical body she possesses. In the event the death of the child or its mother, there is no continuing relationship between the mother and child. The child is born after a new pregnancy. The child gets a new mother.

But there is another ‘MOTHER’ who stands as ‘Amma’ to all lives and not to the physical body alone as that of a human mother. Physical body is subjected to decay but not the life or atma. After death, the life leaves the body but takes a rebirth in another body - a new avatar.

The Goddess is referred always as ‘Amma’ or 'Amman' or ‘Ambal’ which profoundly describes that she is

‘ Jagatheeswari or Mother of the Universe’ or to enhance the saying as the ' Mother of all living entities '.

Significance of the Tamil Month ‘ Aadi ’

‘Aadi’ - the 4th month in the Tamil Calendar begins on 17th July this year and lasts up to 16th August. This article describing the significance of Aadi month  is the third in the series after  ‘Vaikasi’ and ‘Aani’ which were written in the beginning of the  respective Tamil Months. The Sun traverses in Kataka Rasi during this time and hence ‘Aadi month’ is also called as ‘Kataka’ or ‘Karkataka’- the month of Cancer in the Zodiac Sign.

Sun begins its journey Southward from North in Aadi , religiously known as ‘Dakshinayana Punya Kala’. ‘Pithru-Tharpanam’ (obeisances to forefathers) is performed before Utharayana ends and hence falls on 16th July this year.

Aadi marks the twilight zone and beginning of  the night time for Devas. As we light the oil lamp in ‘Sandhya-Kalam’ and worship the Gods, Devas also start worshipping Goddess Shakthi in Aadi month. The Sun symbolises fatherhood and the Moon motherhood and the Sun sets forth its journey to meet the Moon in her house ‘Kataka’ in Aadi month. The Sun adores Pasupathi’ as its Lord and the moon  ‘Gowri’ in turn. The Lord goes to the house of Shakti to be in union with the Goddess in Aadi. Thus Goddess Shakti  predominantly rules in this month of Karkataka or Cancer. For the same reasons, ‘Aradhana’ to Goddess Shakti and many festivals in temples take place in grand manner in the month of Aadi. The wind blows mighty in Aadi to mark the union of the Lord with Shakti. ‘Aadi Kartril Ammiyum Parakkum’ is a famous Tamil proverb.

As Devas are engaged in worshipping Shakti auspicious ceremonies like marriages and Upanayanams  are not conducted during the month of Aadi or ‘ Ashada ‘  as it is believed that blessings of Devas can not be invoked as they are engaged in ‘Shakti-Upasana’. The newly married brides go to their parents’ homes during this period to learn more about religious matters and how to lead a harmonious life in their in laws’  place. Further if the bride happens to conceive in Ashada, the delivery will be in April-May during the peak summer season which would cause more anxiety. This is also a reason for the brides going to their mothers’  homes in Ashada when   ’sampradaya offerings’ (‘Seer’’ in Tamil) are made from the brides’ side.

‘Varalakshmi Vratham’ is an important puja observed by women in Aadi which falls on a Friday occurring just before the full moon day. Sumangalis exchange ‘thamboolam’, bangles after the Upasana of Devi Varalakshmi in mutual interest.

‘Lord Vamana’ is the principal Lord of the month Aadi. He shines beautifully as a rising Sun. Aandal, one of the greatest devotees of Lord , vows to marry the Lord from her childhood.

She was born in Aadi month in the star Pooram. ‘Aadipooram’  is celebrated as the birthday of Aandal. Aandal’s or Kodhai Nachiyar’s  devotional music known as ‘Thiruppavai’  is  in praise of Lord Krishna and she carries the Lord with her music to heights of bhakti..

Aandal ensures that the garland already earmarked for puja is in order and would enhance Lord’s looks by looking at the mirror after she wears it first. She would imagine the mirror image of Lord Krishna appearing beautifully with the garland round him - such was her immense devotion.

During the Aadi Pooram festival in temples Goddess Devi is taken in procession with elaborate decoration - known as car festival.. I remember even today how eagerly I watched the car festival, as a boy of 6 in Nagapattinam when  Neelayadhakshi Amman seated in the car came in procession and stopped in front of our house. We lived in the Sannathi Street then.

Alavandar alias Yamunacharya is another celebrated Vaishnavite born in the month of Aadi in the star Uthiradam in Veera Narayana Puram., near Mannargudi in Tamilnadu. Alavandar the grandson of the great Nathamunigal,  was a child prodigy, a great scholar and Acharya .  Alavandar came under the tutelage of  Sri Manakkal Nambi and learnt Vedas & Upanishads

( Sri Alavandar Swamy in the Picture )

with proficiency.  Swami Alavandar is amongst the most important acharyas of Sri Vaishnava tradition. He was the foremost to identify that Sri Ramanuja was the future of Sri Vaishnavism and ordered all his disciples to give due respect to Sri Ramanuja.

Aadi Amavasya is the day when The Sun who as the father meets the Moon who is considered the mother in the house ‘Kataka’ belonging to the Moon. People go to Rameswaram to have a dip in the Bay of Bengal or other sacred places and perform tharpana to forefathers and thus get rid of the sins committed and to invoke their blessings.

Aadi Perukku also known as Pathinettam Perukku falls on 18th day of Aadi.  It is a day when people pay tribute to Water for its life saving properties.

Water is Nature’s bountiful resource for grace. Pachai Amman , also known as  Kanni Amman in Thirumullaivoyal is worshipped. Devotees rush to have rendezvous with the goddess on Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays in Aadi. She is considered as the  goddess of marriage. Like Earth gives food, Water is also considered as sacred necessity to meet the needs of an individual. Water resources like Temple Tanks (like the temple tank in Vaitheeswaran Koil or Teppakulam in Meenakshi Temple, Madurai), rivers like Ganga, Kaveri, Narmada, Yamuna are considered sacred and bath in these and in the seas running along Tiruchendur Temple, Rameswaram and in Triveni Sangam in Allahabad, etc. purifies the body and soul. During Adiperukku the river basins receive copious rain due to the onset of monsoon on the day of Aadi Pathinettu which coincides with August 2nd or 3rd every year. That is why Aadi is the best month for sowing ,rooting, planting of seeds and vegetation as it is a peak monsoon season. ‘ Aadi Pattam Thedi Vidhai’ is a famous saying in Tamil, meaning that the month is the best for sowing the seeds.

‘ Mulaipari ‘ is an important ritual in the villages at this time when they carry on their heads pots of sprouted and germinated Navadhanya in pots and carry them to river basins, offer prayers for

marriages to happen and implying fertility to women and for the continuation of human race with

with peace and harmony. They pour the germinated seeds into the river as offerings.

Aadi rings in joy and fervour as large section of people rush for shopping from dawn to dusk as best deals are offered with a tag in Tamil ‘Aadi Thallupadi’. (Sales come with attractive discounts)

All the year’s major festivals and worship is packed in the month of Aadi and in the six months that follow. This article has brought out them starting from Dakshinayana Punya Kaalam, Aadi Pandigai on the first day of Aadi, Aadi Krithigai ( a fasting day and worship of Lord Karthikeyan), Thiruvadipuram, Aadi Amavasya,  Rig, Yajur Upakarma, Gayathri japam, Varalakshmi Vratham,  Aadi Velli, Aadi Chevvai, Pathinettam Peru or Aadi Perukku, Aadi Pooram and Mulaipari.The festivals culminate with Makara Sankranti. So the saying in Tamil ‘ Aadi Azhaikkum, Thai Thudaikkum’ appropriately describes the six month period starting from Aadi month.

I wish to divert the readers to the pages of a historic Novel  namely  ‘PONNIYIN SELVAN ’ , a best seller for all times to come, where the great author Amarar KALKI introduces the story and the hero Vandhiyath Thevan in the first chapter in the lake Veeranarayanpuram on the eve of Aadi Perukku. We have seen earlier in this article that Veeranarayanapuram is the birthplace of Alavandar Swamy.

Aadi is the month of dedicated worship to Goddess Shakti and let us offer our prayers Goddess Shakti  for peace and prosperity.

Sarvamangala Mangalye Shive Sarvartha Sadhike,

Saranye Thriyambike Gowri Narayini Namosthuthe !!