Significance of Margazhi Masam

From Today the holy month of Margazhi. Shaivites sing Thiruvempavai written by Saint Manicka Vasagar in the temple town of Thiruvannamalai.

The ancient Tamil Nadu saw two important Bhakti movements, which most probably preceded the philosophical movements of
Adi Sankara and Saint Ramanuja.

The sentinels Bhakti movement worshipping Lord Shiva were called Nayanmars and those worshipping Lord Vishnu were called Azhwars.

History records the story of 63 Nayanmars and their story is chronicled in a book called “Periya puranam” written by Chekizhar who was an eminent poet of those times.

Among those 63 sages, four Natyanmars were the most important and they were Appar, Thirugnana Sambandar, Thirunavukkarsar and Manika Vasagar.

All of them were great poets and travelled through out Tamil Nadu visiting the shiva temples and composing poems on the deities in each Temple.

The work of Manika Vasagar who was a Kshatriya by caste is called as Thiru vasagam (Holy script).”Thiru Vasagathukku urugar Evvasagathukkum Urugar” meaning,” those who do not melt for Thiruvasagam will never melt for any other book”, is a famous Tamil Saying of those times.

Thiruvempavai is a part of Thiruvasagam and was composed in the temple town of Thiruvannamalai during the month of Margazhi(December-January) when the temple town was celebrating the Pavai Nolumbu.

This is a penance observed by unmarried girls of those times to get good husbands. The maids all wake up early, wake each other up and with song and dance go to the ponds and streams for bathing and then worship Pavai (woman goddess) and request her to bless them with suitable husbands.

Courtesy: PR Ramachander Mama

Kanchipuram Athi Varadhar

Kanchipuram Athi Varadhar 

1st July 2019 to 17th August 2019 Athi Hill in Kanchipuram. 
Awakening and rising every forty years from the depths of ‘Ananthasaras,’ the temple tank. 

Athivaradhar emerges to remain with his devotees for 48 days.
The last time he came out was on July 2, 1979, and earlier on July 12, 1939. 
When he emerges, he brings with him strength and prosperity, which dispels darkness. 

Athivaradhar is actually a seven and a half feet long idol, made out of the divine fig tree. 

According to legend, Brahma created the moorthi of Athi Varadhar.  
Brahma was performing a yagnam in the Athi forest (Fig forest) now Kanchipuram.
Forgot to invite his wife Goddess Saraswati and concluded the yagnam with Gayathri & Savithri devi 
Angry Saraswati came in form on a raising river to destroy the Yagam at the same time Perumal lied down on the Anathasheyam to stop the river flow, seeing Perumal in this position Devi Saraswathi changed her direction. And Brahma completed the Yagam successfully and after Brahma and other 
gods paid respects to Perumal and asked him Varam which Perumal happily granted. So he was called as Varadar.

This moorthi was the main deity (Moola Moorthi) in the Grabhagraha until early 16th century. 
Due to fear of Muslim invasions and to preserve the valuable moorthi, Athi Varadar was immersed inside 
the Pushkaranai (Anatha Saravora) inside the temple premises secretively, such that only one family knew the exact place.

For nearly 40 long years the temple had no moorthy in the grabhagraha and no pooja was being performed in the temple. 
The two brothers in Dhatacharya lineage, who were the Dharamakartha of the temple at that time and under whose 
supervision of this Moorthy was hidden, passed away.
Unable to find the Athi Varadhar, the authorities decided to place a vigraham made of stone from the near by place called PazayaSeevaram. 

Around the year 1709  due to some reasons (which is unknown till the date), the Pushkarani was emptied and the Athi Varadar was seen lying inside.
 Then Authorities decided that this moorthi has to be taken out every 40 years for pooja for 48 days and again to be immersed in the kalyani for another 40 years and so on. This decision was based on the fact that, Kaliyuga pooja for Varadhar is done by Sesha devuru and Anatha sarovara has sesha devaru sannidhana , it was gods WILL that HE immersed himself inside the Kalyani because of this very reason.

Significance of Panguni Uttiram

Significance of Panguni Uttiram Day

Kaliyuga Varadan Karunya Moorthi...Shree  Dharma Sastha Birth is on Panguni Uthiramnal...

Goddess Parvati and Lord Shiva's Marriage happens on Panguni Uthiram Day
(Parvati in form of Gowri marries Lord Shiva in Kanchipuram, that the reason this day is also called as Gowri Kalyanam Day)

Goddess Devasana Marriage with Lord Muruga on Panguni Uthiram Day.

Goddess Sita and Lord Rama marriage on Panguni Uthiram Day.

Pushkala Devi marriage with Sastha happens on Panguni Uthiram Day.

Mahalaxmi incarnated to Earth on Panguni Uttiram Day during the churning of Ocean.

During this day offerings/prayers to almighty will yield Couples with affection, reignite love,
understanding. 

Significance of Karadaiyan Nombu

The significance of Karadaiyan Nombu:

Karadaiyan Nombu is observed by married women in the southern states of India.

It's observed on a day when the transition takes place between two Tamil months,

Panguni and Massi.

The word ‘Karadai’ refers to ‘a holy dish and ‘nombu’ means ‘upvasam or vratam.’ Karadaiyan Nombu is observed in remembrance of ‘Satyvan and Savithri.’

Savithri was the daughter of the King Asrapathi. Savithri wanted to marry Sathyavan who lived in the forest. Despite knowing that he would die within a year of marriage, Savithri married Sathayavan.

Savithri did penance her husband. She offered Durwa grass and Peepal leaves. She offered Prasad of wild rice and Toor dal also known as Kara Adai in Tamil. The last day of Sathayavan arrived. Savithri stayed by his husband.

The Lord of death Yama came. But he was pleased with her devotion. He wanted to grant her boon. Savithiri expressed her desire to be the mother of 100 children.

Yama realized that to fulfil Savithiri's wish he would have to spare Sathyavan's life. Hence, he granted her wish to honour her courage and devotion.