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THIRUPALLI EZHUCHI
The entire month of Margazhi (December-January ) is a period of
early morning bath, prayer, and temple worship completed
before dawn, in spite of the chilly weather. The songs sung are Thiryupavai and
Thiruvampavai..
THIRUVADHIRAI
Thiruvadhirai or Arudhra Darshan
festival on
the full moon day of Margazhi is sacred to Lord Nataraja, the dancing Shiva.
Streams of devotees flow to Chidambaram to attend this festival
at the temples for the Tamil Shaivaits. Lord Shiva is believed
to have given darshan to saint Manickavacakar on this day on the completion
of his recital of Thiruvampavai. In Perur of Melai Chidambaram,
Lord Shiva is believed to have given darshan to Kamadhenu
(the divine cow of plenty) on this day. In the small hours of morning
oil, milk, honey, coconut-water, and curd are poured over image of Shiva
and the ceremony continues till day-break when the lord give darshan to the cow.
VAIKUNTA EKADESI
In the month of
Margazhi, a twenty-day festival beginning
with the bright fortnight takes place at Srirangam, the temple for the Tamil
Vaishnavites. Thousands of
people attend the Mohini Avatara festival or Nachiarkolam (10th day) and Ekadesi festival (11th day).
Songs
of the Alwars are recited in this festival. On the 18th day, the encounter of
the Lord with Thirumangai Alwar takes place and Thiruvaimozhi festival, which the
Alwar inaugurated is concluded on the 20th day. On the 11th day and every
day, thereafter lord Ranganatha comes through the Paramapatha vasal
or the Gate of heaven to receive offerings of several edibles and
bless the saints, and returns to the sanctum sanctorum is a ceremonial
procession .
MAHAM
Maham comes in the month of Maasi and the images of gods and
goddesses are taken out to the sea for a dip. In areas away from the coast, the
rivers or the tanks are the centres for this float festival.
The Maham is an annual event.
But once in twelve years,
its importance exceeds bounds of imagination. When the planet Guru or
Jupiter enters Simha sign, the Kumba Mela festival of south India
is held at the famous Mahamaham tank at Kumbakonam. Vast crowds gather in
Kumbakonam and ordinary folk have a dip in the tank, along with the saints
and philosophers. All the rivers of India are said to meet at Mahamaham
Tank on this day and so, a purificatory bath in this tank on this particular day
is considered equal to the combined effect of dips in all the holy rivers
of India.
MAHA SIVARATRI
New-moon night in Massy is the great night of Shiva or
Maha Shivaratri is very sacred to the devotees of Lord Shiva.
Tradition on this day, Lord Shiva consumed the deity poison which
emanated when the ocean of milk was churned by the Devas and Asuras, and this
saved the universe.
The worship that was offered to Shiva on that night is being
repeated annually. Another version is that at the time of deluge, the
whole world was immersed in complete darkness, and the divine mother Parvati restored light to the world,
by offering worship to the Shiva
on this night. It is said that the rituals observed by the ordinary folk are
the same as those observed by Parvati
Maha Sivaratri is observed in every temple dedicated to
Lord Shiva and in every Shaivite Hindu household. The devotees keep vigil the whole night.
Throughout the night, the people worship
Shiva by chanting "Om Nama Sivaya " or singing hymns in his
praise. The next morning they take their bath and after worshipping Shiva,
break their fast. Shiva temples are specially illuminated on that
occasion and the deity is worshipped in four different ways, during the
four periods of night, each three hours. The image is anointed with milk,
curd, butter or honey during the four periods.
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