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 Bhakthi movements , which most probably preceded the philosophical movements of
Adi Sankara and Saint Ramanuja.

The sentinels Bhakthi 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 traveled 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.

Thiru Gnanasambhandar

Swami Sharanam Team.... Today is the avathara dhinam of Thiru Gnanasambhandar, the youngest of shaivaite saints....He is one of the most prominent of the sixty-three Nayanars. He was born at Sirkazhi. When Sambandar was three years old his parents took him to the Shiva temple where Shiva and Parvati appeared before the child. His father saw drops of milk on the child's mouth and asked who had fed him, whereupon the boy pointed to the sky and responded with the song, the first verse of the Tevaram. At the age of 16, he is said to have attained salvation along with his bride during the marriage ceremony... Let his Nyanam also flow to us on this auspicious day. Ellam Shiva Mayam. 🙏

Nirjala Ekadasi

Swami Sharanam Team, Today is fasting for Pandava Nirjala Ekadasi.

One who reads or hears the narration of the boundless glories of NIRJALA Ekadasi with devotion goes back to the spiritual abode.

SIGNIFICANCE OF NIRJALA EKADASI :

Bhima says to Sri Vyasa Muni, my elder brother Yudhisthira, mother Kunti devi, brothers Arjuna, Nakula and Sahadeva, and 

Draupadi fast completely on the Ekadasi day. 

I have tried but unable to fast. My hunger is too great too bear fasting on every Ekadasi. 

I can give in charity, I can worship Lord Kesava but I cannot fast. Please instruct me how I can obtain the mercy....

"On hearing Bhima's pathetic entreaty, Sri Vyasa Muni said, 

"O Bhima, if you want to go to the heavenly planets, avoiding the hellish condition, then you must refrain from eating on both Ekadasi days each month.

"Bhima interjected: 'O Vyasa Muni! It is impossible for me to fast on 24 Ekadasi's per year. 

Bhima says with great endeavour I may be able to fast one day a year…

"Sri Vyasa Muni said: 'Therefore I will tell of a sublime method by which all your desires will be fulfilled. This method is the concentrated essence of all the Puranas. Anybody who observes Ekadasi of the waning and waxing Moons by fasting never goes to hell."

"Sri Vyasa Muni replied: During the waxing Moon in the month of Jyestha during the suns presence in either Taurus or Gemini Rasi, there is an Ekadasi known as Nirjala Ekadasi. 

On this greatest of days, one should observe total fasting without even water to drink. One should observe acamana by drinking an amount of water equal to a single mustard seed.

"One must not eat anything at all on this Ekadasi, otherwise the vow is broken and the results lost. One should abstain from eating and drinking from Sunrise on the day of Ekadasi until Sunrise on the day of Dvadasi. In this way, if one successfully completes fasting on this day, he receives the results of having observed all the Ekadasi's of the year.

Eating is actually prohibited on all the Ekadasi's, and even drinking water is prohibited on Nirjala Ekadasi. By observing this Ekadasi one receives the benefit of bathing in all the holy rivers, and visiting all the holy places of pilgrimage. If one follows this Ekadasi vrata he need not fear being approached by the Yamadutas at the time of death, rather he will be greeted by the Vishnudutas and transferred to the abode of Vishnu. If on the day of Dvadasi following Nirjala Ekadasi one gives water in charity to others, all his sinful activities will come to an end!

"When Bhima told the other Pandavas what he had heard about this Nirjaala Ekadasi, they all decided to observe it's magnificence accordingly. From that day onward Bhima began observing this Nirjala vrata, once a year. Thereafter this Ekadasi is famously known as Pandava Nirjala, or Bhimaseni Ekadasi.

Swamiye Sharanam Ayyappa......