‘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 !!
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