Lakshmi

TV Programme - Vijay TV Parampariya Pokkishangal

2012-02-09T13:48:00.000+05:30

T V Programme - Vijay TV Parampariya Pokkishangal (பாரம்பரிய பொக்கிஷங்கள்)

In this morning's episode of Parampariya Pokkishangal (Vijay TV, 6.20 am) in continuation of talks about stone inscriptions (kalvettu) in temples, Kudavayil Dr. M. Balasubramaniam described the inscriptions by Kulothunga II aka Anabhaya Chozhan. (அநபாய சோழன்)

Periya Puranam (பெரிய புராணம்) rendered by Sekkizhar (சேக்கிழார்) was first recited in King Anabhayan's court. Before knowing the Periya Puranam, Anabhayan had inscribed about his reign in the Thiruvarur temple stating that he and his Queen Bhuvanamuzhududaiyaal (புவனமுழுதுடையாள்)

adorn the Chozha throne like Lord Shiva and Parvathi adorning Kailayam. Such was his pride!

After introduction to Periya Puranam, he corrected this inscription to say that he and his queen sit on the Chozha throne due to grace of Lord Shiva.

Learning further from the Periya Puranam, he added another inscription that he is a bee circling the lotus feet of Lord Nataraja! Knowledge about the nayanmars made him so humble!

Recipe - Brown Upma

2012-01-05T09:00:00.000+05:30

Brown Upma

This is yet another delicacy in my in-laws’ place relished by all my brothers-in-law. Just yesterday, when I mentioned to my mother-in-law that I was making it, she was recalling how Seetha Athai used to make it on a large scale when all the kids went home for the holidays.

According to my mother-in-law, nobody can beat Seetha Athai in making this dish. Unfortunately, I never had the chance to meet this great lady and for me my mother-in-law’s version is the best. I can give my self 25% compared to my mother-in-law’s Brown Upma.

Actually this is made in my mother’s place also, but called Puli Upma and definitely not as soft and crispy (yes, it can be soft and crispy at the same time!) as my in-laws’ side version!

Now for the recipe:

Ingredients:

Rice flour (அரிசி மாவு) - 1 cup

Tamarind (புளி) - size of a gooseberry

Chilli powder (மிளகாய்ப்பொடி / காரப்பொடி) - 1 ½ tsp

Turmeric powder (மஞ்சள் பொடி) - ½ tsp

Asafoetida (பெருங்காயத் தூள்) ) - ½ tsp

Mustard (கடுகு) - ½ tsp

Broken Urad daal (உடைத்த உளுத்தம்பருப்பு) - 1 tsp

Red chilli (காய்ந்த மிளகாய்) - 1

Green chilli (பச்சை மிளகாய்) - 1

Curry leaves (கருவேப்பிலை) - 2 sprigs

Oil (எண்ணெய்) - 5 tbsp

Salt (உப்பு) - to taste

Method:

Squeeze the tamarind and extract the juice. Take the rice flour in a wide vessel, add the turmeric powder, chilli powder, asafoetida, salt to this. Mix well and add the tamarind juice to this mix well to make it into consistency of a thick paste. This mixture should not be like idly/dosa batter, but thicker than this. Take a wide kadai, add 2 tbsp of oil, add the mustard, when it crackles, add the urad daal. When the urad daal turns golden brown, add the red chilli and green chilli broken into pieces and the curry leaves. Spoon the paste into the kadai and leave it like this for 2 minutes. In these two minutes, the mixture would have semi cooked in the bottom of the kadai. Now keep turning the mixture in intervals of 2-3 minutes. Check and add the balance oil little by little. After about 7-8 minutes, the mixture would have become small ball sized particles. Keep breaking these balls into smaller pieces with the help of the sharp edged spoon. It is very important to ensure that all the pieces become a uniform size. Keep sautéing at regular intervals and add a little more oil if necessary. Once the whole thing becomes soft above with a crispy coating on the base of the kadai, tasty brown upma is ready to eat!

This is a very yummy snack during rainy season and quite filling!

Another Rangoli Competition

2012-01-03T06:00:00.000+05:30

Another Rangoli Competition

This is the best acknowledgement I have received for myblogs so far.

On 7^th December, 2011 as I was leaving office, I got acall on my mobile. A lady spoke saying that she had seen my blog and would liketo know if I can judge a Rangoli competition in their office.

For a second, I wasn’t sure if it was a crank call. I wenton to ask her details of the kind of office, the competition and number ofjudges etc., not really taking her seriously.

Finally, I let myself agree to be the one and only judge forthis competition in a software firm in Tidel Park,Thiruvanmiyur. This lady, Ahalya, said that one of her colleagues will call andtake details of where to pick me up and advise me on the timings. Thecompetition was supposed to be the next day.

Pat came the call from another girl in 30 minutes asking meif it will be convenient for me to come to their office on Monday, 12^thDecember as the competition had been postponed to then.

Monday evening by 3.30 pm they sent a car to my office topick me up. This was my first visit to Tidel Parkand I was zapped by its sophistication.

I entered the office where the competition was being held (Iwas specifically requested by Ahalya not to mention the name of the company asit is against the company policy) and they were a young cheery lot!

Ahalya & her colleagues

It was quite a sight with the hi-tech cubicles with softwarepeople working on one side and a very traditional Rangolis being made on theother side!

Peacock almost ready

Half done peacock

Beautiful looking floral pattern

Another floral pattern in progress

Christmas theme rangoli

Ganesha done by a couple of guys

Another Ganesha

There were totally seven Rangolis with two participants perteam. All the Rangolis were very nice and quite difficult to judge.

The interesting criterion was the presentation or theexplanation of their Rangoli by the respective teams. In this the team who madethe Ganesha Rangoli won hands down! Their explanation of the Ganesha and the ambigram were very nice.

Lovely Rangoli with an ambigram which reads LIFE here

The ambigram reads DEATH here

I could not give another prize to another Ganesha and thisis the only reason the other Ganesha Rangoli team did not get a prize! Theirpresentation was also beautiful explaining the various colours they used!

The second prize was for the very beautiful peacock. It wasvery colourful and the presentation given here was good fun with the othercolleagues asking the participants to explain the name of the tree on which thepeacock was perched!

I had to give the special prize to the Christmas Rangoli asit was very different from the usual ones. At least I have never seen Christmasdepicted on a Rangoli! The presentation made by this team was also nice withthe explanation of how Christmas signifies joy and gifts, etc.

The two teams with different floral Rangolis were very nicebut not unusual. The colour combinations were so beautiful that seeing the photos, my husbandasked me why I had not considered one of these for the first prize.

Another Rangoli was also of a peacock, not so colourful butwith many gradations of colour as the team explained. They also had done a goodjob especially with entering the fray at the last minute.

All in all, it was good fun and the organizers gave me amemento to take home. I thank Ahalya and her team for this opportunity.

I also thanked Geetharani in our colony who had conductedthe Rangoli competition last year which gave me entry into this new territory!

SATYAM & GOD

2012-01-01T17:49:00.000+05:30

SATYAM & GOD

I heard this discourse for the second time when there was arepeat telecast of Bhakti Thiruvizha in Mumbai on Vijay TV last week. This wasby Professor Ilampirai Manimaran.

The Mahabaratha war is about the begin. Lord Krishna isresting in his room and Duryodhana comes to meet him. Krishnais aware of his arrival but feigns sleep. Duryodhana sits at Krishna’shead waiting for him to wake up. Arjuna arrives and seeing Krishnaasleep, sits at his feet.

Krishna wakes up, seesArjuna and asks him when he came. Arjuna replies that he had just come, butDuryodhana had been waiting there before him. Krishnalooks at Duryodhana in surprise. Though Duryodhana had come first, Krishna says he saw Arjuna first and gives Arjuna thechoice between Him and his soldiers (Narayani sena) as help for the battle.

Arjuna promptly chooses Krishna.Krishna underlines that if Arjuna chooses Him,it will be only Him and he will not take part in the battle. Arjuna humblyagrees and reiterates that Krishna is enoughfor them. Duryodhana who was worried lest Arjuna asks for Narayani sena, is very happy to hear this and accepts the other choice – Narayani sena

Duryodhana triumphantly boasts to Bheeshma that he opted forKrishna’s soldiers whereas the Pandavas had chosen just Krishna who will noteven take part in the battle. A surprised Bheeshma asks Duryodhana again andagain if Krishna said that he will not takepart in the battle.

Finally Bheeshma says “Krishna will take his weapons in thebattle”. A rattled Duryodhana says Krishna had promised not to do so. Bheeshmaswears on his Brahmacharya vrata that Krishna will touch his weapons.

The battle is in full swing and on the 10^th dayBheeshma is in the forefront fighting aggressively. The Pandava side is notable to handle the fierce Bheeshma and were falling rapidly. Seeing this, aworried Arjuna asks Krishna for guidance. Krishna jumps down from his sarathi seat on to theground, wields his chakrayudha and runs towards Bheeshma. Bheeshma is shockedand stops momentarily.

Arjuna rushes behind Krishna and falls at his feet,requesting him to not kill his grandfather. Bheeshma prostrates in front of Krishna. Krishna’s chakrayudha vanishes and he goes backto Arjuna’s chariot.

Now Arjuna is able to take on the not so ferocious Bheeshmaand defeat him.

The battle is over and Bheeshma is lying on his arrow bedwaiting for Utharayanam to leave this world. It is the Tamizh month of Maasi,Sukla paksham, Ashtami thithi and the man who has been bestowed with the powerof choosing his time of death, is ready for mukti.

Lord Krishna and the Pandavas are standing around him.Seeing his favourite Lord, Bheeshma thinks that the Lord is so close, but he isnot in a position to offer him some flowers. Lo and behold, a strong wind bringssome wild thulasi to Krishna’s feet makingBheeshma happy. Bheeshma recites the Vishnu Sahasranama to Yudhishtra at hisrequest.

Bheeshma asks Krishna “what is Satyam?” Krishna says Satyamis God. Bheeshma continues, “in that case, is God beyond Satya?” Krishna says “No”and then Bheeshma asks him, “in that case why did you break your Satyam in thebattle? You had promised that you will not take part in the battle, but youtook the chakrayudha.”

The ever smiling Krishna replies, “yes, I did take thechakrayudha, but I did not use it in the war and why did I do it? You, the manwho in his youth, gave up the pleasures of the young for the sake of your fatherand took Brahmacharya vratha - when such a great person swears on hisBrahmacharya vratha that Krishna will take part in the battle, I had no choicebut to make your promise come true. In this my promise was not kept, but I hadto keep your promise, this is why I took the chakrayudha. This also helpedPandavas as it reduced your ferocity and helped them defeat you!”

Such is the greatness of the benevolent God who is ready tosacrifice his promise for the sake of his bhakta!

Happy 2012!

Recipe - பச்சை புளியஞ்சாதம் (Instant Puliotharai)

2011-12-30T10:30:00.000+05:30

பச்சை புளியஞ்சாதம் (Instant Puliotharai)

This is yet another recipe I learnt from my mother in law, She does this for neivedhyam mostly.
The advantage is, of course, you can make this the moment you feel like having puliotharai!

Ingredients
Tamarind (புளி) - size of a big lemon

rice (அரிசி) - 1 cup

Sesame oil (நல்லெண்ணெய்) - 3 tbsp
Mustard (கடுகு) - 1 tsp
Broken Urad dall (உளுத்தம் பருப்பு) - 2 tsp
Channa dall (கடலை பருப்பு) - 2 tsp
Roasted groundnut (வறுத்த வேர்கடலை) - 2 tsp (optional)
Dry red chillies (காய்ந்த மிளகாய்) - 8 - 10 numbers
Curry leaves (கருவேப்பில்லை) - 2 sprigs
Turmeric powder (சமையல் மஞ்சள்பொடி) - 1/2 tsp

Asafoetida powder (பெருங்காயம் பொடி) - 1/2 tsp

Salt (உப்பு) - to taste

1. Cook the rice and keep aside

2. Squeeze the tamarind with little water to make a thick juice. Please ensure the juice is not thin. We just need about 2/3 cup of thick juice, not more.

3. In a kadai, add 1/2 the quantity of sesame oil, add mustard and the broken pieces of dry chillies. Let the chillies darken a bit as the mustard crackles, add the urad dall, channa dall and then the groundnut. Switch off gas and add the turmeric powder, asafoetida powder and curry leaves.

4. Take the tamarind juice in a wide vessel useful to mix the rice, add the hot rice to this and immediately add the seasoning given above. Add the balance oil to this and salt to taste

Leave it for a few minutes before mixing well.

The tamarind juice kind of gets semi cooked with the hot rice and it will not taste raw.Your pachai pulianchaadam is ready to be eaten with vadam/pappad and just plain curd!

December Season

2011-12-27T10:13:00.002+05:30

December Season

Right from my first year of marriage, I have been watching my mother-in-law keenly following the December music season every year by marking the kutcheris she wanted to attend in the The Hindu dated December 01 featuring details of concerts in all the sabhas in Chennai. Earlier she used to attend at least 5-6 kutcheris at The Music Academy, Narada Gana Sabha and Sri Rama Bhakta Jana Sabha. Nowadays due to old age traveling alone is not possible, but she tries to attend at least a programme or two in Sri Rama Bhakta Jana Sabha.

Despite almost zero knowledge in classical music (I can only listen), my interest was slowly kindled by this over the years that I started bothering my husband to take me for a kutcheri or two. This happened a few years back. From that point onwards, I too started marking the concerts of musicians I like to hear, but alas, it just stopped with that and we managed to hear just one kutcheri of Sanjay Subramaniam at Bharat Kalachar during the season two years back. Inspite of four sabhas within 3 km radius of my office, I have not been able to attend any programme with my office work and other commitments - the same commitments that did not give me time/inclination to blog for the past few months. I thank you all for the number of hits I have been getting on my blog everyday which made me feel really guilty for not writing for some time. This year has been really busy with so many personal problems. Hope to be regular on blogging in 2012.

I have to mention here that Dorai Thatha and Rajeswari Chitti, avid music lovers and regular attendees of the season have been offering me a drama ticket for the 1st of January every year and I have never been able to make use of it.

This year also I kept aside the kutcheri schedule that came with The Times of India and selected 4-5 kutcheris. I have not been able to attend any of these, but out of sheer luck, Ranga got a couple of tickets for a kutcheri by Sudha Raghunathan in Chennayil Thiruvayaru at Kamarajar Arangam last Sunday.

We entered the auditorium to see the front hall full with various stalls of these sponsors and all hands were full with the pamphlets distributed by these people.

One thing I have always heard about was very true; the ladies were decked up like they were attending a wedding! Of course, the December music season in Chennai is almost like a family function for music lovers and they like to dress up so beautifully for the season!

We joined the long, long queue of lovely dressed women and men but were finally disappointed with the mess-up at the entrance. In spite of having a high priced ticket, we could get seats only very much at the back as the whole thing was disorganized. The organizers were so careless about the issue of tickets and seat allotment.

We finally settled in our seats and the concert that was supposed to begin at 7.30 pm finally started at 8 pm. Once it began, all was forgotten and Sudha Raghunathan’s singing mesmerized one and all! I liked her rendering of Nee Irangaayenil best. Katrinele varum Geetham was enjoyed by all present, but for me nobody can beat M S Subbulakshmi in that! Thani avarthanam was really nice and everybody enjoyed it!

Here is the song Nee Irangaayenil

Concert ended around 10 pm with Thalaivaari poochudi unnai.

We came out to have a glimpse of the Saiva Unavu Thiruvizha organized there. The food ranged from a typical South Indian food to chaats, pizzas, ice creams and sweets galore at Sri Krishna Sweets stall. Coffee was mainly from Narasu’s Coffee but was very disappointing. The smell of coffee engulfed us the moment we came out of the auditorium, but the taste was very mediocre! We did not get to taste any of the food in the stalls, but looking at people hogging, I am sure it must have been good!

There a huge apt banner of Kalyana Samayal Saadham scene featuring Ranga Rao as Gadothgajan.

Really nothing to beat the fun fare during December Season!

Krishna stories

2011-08-25T15:57:00.000+05:30

Krishna stories

This is a little late for Krishna Jayanthi, but stories of Krishna never cease to spread cheer and happiness.

I would like to share a couple of cute stories I heard from the life of Lord Krishna in Gokulam amidst the Gopikas and in the love of Yashoda.

In the morning, Little Krishna wakes up to the sound of churning butter. Ever thrilled to see the half-awake Krishna, Yashoda greets him and the Lord walks sleepily to sit on his mother’s lap. Yashoda lovingly feeds Krishna. Suddenly she remembers that she has kept the milk on the stove. She leaves Krishna and rushes to the kitchen. Upset and angry that his mother left him halfway through the feed, Krishna kicks the pot of curd which Yashoda was churning and the curd flows on the courtyard.

The shocked Yashoda, threatens to tie Krishna to a pillar. Krishna keeps a sorry face and mock apologizes to his mother. He is the one who made the rule and hence has to follow it, the rule here being “the wrong-doer has to be punished”. Yashoda cajoles Krishna to help her tie him! The ever-obedient Krishna listens to his mother and allows to be tied to the pillar.

Shree Ananthapadmanabhacharyar narrated this story with a mimicry dialogue between the Lord and Yashoda. He also went on to explain the song “Ee yera malai kulungum” "ஈ ஏற மலை குலுங்கும்" (mountain shakes under the weight of a fly climbing on it) by Kalamega Pulavar.

Kalamega Pulavar was given the above phrase and was asked to sing a song on it. Pulavar sang a beautiful verse explaining - Yashoda tied Krishna so many times that there was a wound on his waist. A fly sits on the raw wound and Krishna tries to shake it off. This Lord holds the whole Universe in him and the moment he shakes, the Universe, our Earth in it and the mountain on this Earth shakes, thereby explaining the phrase “ee yera malai kulungum”

Another story by Thamal Ramakrishnan:

Here the Gopikas complain to Yashoda that Krishna steals butter from all their houses. Yashoda does not believe this as Krishna is with her all through the day. One Gopika is determined to prove that Krishna is a thief. She ties a bell to the butter pot before hanging it in the ceiling. She also keeps her doors open for Krishna to come and steal.

After a few rounds in the other houses in Gokulam, Krishna and his gang come to this Gopika’s house. Surprised to see the doors open, Krishna enters quietly and his friends promptly bend to stand one on top of other to enable Krishna to climb above them to reach the pot. Krishna notices the bell hanging. He promptly holds the bell’s clapper (tongue), takes the butter out and distributes it to his friends. After they have their fill, Krishna releases the bell clapper. He goes on to tell the bell, “I am going to use both my hands to take out the butter and eat my fill. You must be still and not make noise” The bell nods its agreement.

When Krishna puts both his hands inside the pot, takes out the butter and puts in his mouth, the bell rings loudly. Krishna scolds the bell and it replies meekly, “But Krishna, I am used to ringing when offerings are made to God and hence could not help myself.”

Alerted by the bell, the Gopika catches Krishna and takes him to Yashoda. She is holding Krishna’s hand in one of her own and the butter pot in the other. Being dragged at a speed, Krishna asks her to slow down as he is not able to keep up with her pace. As she is in a hurry to complain to Yashoda, the Gopika carries Krishna on her hip and makes him hold the pot. Krishna finds this position very convenient to finish off the balance butter in the pot!

The Gopika reaches Krishna’s house and calls for Yashoda asking her to come and see what she has brought! Yashoda comes out followed by a very cute looking Krishna.

Shocked to see Krishna with Yashoda, the Gopika checks her hip to find her own son sitting there! Such was maya Krishna’s presence all over Gokulam!

TV Programme - Vijay TV Bhakti Thiruvizha

2011-07-08T19:17:00.000+05:30

TV Programme - Vijay TV Bhakti Thiruvizha

Yesterday’s episode of Bhakti Thiruvizha (Vijay TV) moved me to tears.

Professor Ilampirai Manimaran has been talking for the past four days on different stories from The Mahabharata. It is always very nice to hear the stories of Mahabharata.

Being Bhakti Thiruvizha, it has been basically about Lord Krishna’s part in the epic, but today, the concluding episode was about Karnan. It was not his full life history, but in general about what he is famous for – his generosity.

Arjunan has beaten Karnan, but he is still alive. Arjuna is tired of piercing Karnan with his arrows, but he is not yet dead. Arjunan says so to his sarathy, Lord Krishna. Krishna with his mysterious smile says he will sort out the problem. He takes the form of an old Brahmin and goes to Karnan for alms. When Karnan feels sorry for his inability to give the Brahmin anything in the battlefield, Lord Krishna asks Karnan to give away all his good karma as alms. Without hesitation Karnan not only gives away all his good karma as dhaanam, but also gives away the good karma he will get because of giving away all his good karma when he is about to die! The Lord gives Karnan darshan and grants him his wish - how many ever janmas Karnan takes, he will be as generous as he is in this janmam as Karnan!
Lord Krishna comes back to Arjunan and instructs him to aim an arrow at Karnan now.

The Professor went on to explain how pathetic Karnan’s life was

The most important persons in one’s life are Maatha (Mother), Pitha (Father), Guru (Teacher) and Deivam (God).
In Karnan’s life, his mother Kunti deserted him right after birth by putting him in a box and leaving it in the Ganges river
Father Surya Deva is in the sky and not of much help
Teacher Parasuramar taught him everything, but cursed that he will forget the most important asthra prayogamGod, Lord Krishna, joining the opposition, took away his good karma

She also mentioned about the song by Kaviarasar Kannadasan in the Tamizh movie Karnan about his charity

மன்னவர் பொருட்களைக் கை கொண்டு நீட்டுவார் மற்றவர் பணிந்துக் கொள்வார்
மாமன்னன் கர்ணனோ தன் கரம் நீட்டுவான் மற்றவர் எடுத்துக்கொள்வார்
வலதுகை கொடுப்பதை இடது கை அறியாமல் வைத்தவன் கர்ண வீரன்
வறுமைக்கு மறுமையை வைத்ததோர் மாமன்னன் வாழ்கவே வாழ்க வாழ்க!

Usually when people give anything, the donor’s hand is above and receiver’s below. But Karnan will hold things in his hand and the beneficiary can pick up what he needs from him. Such was his generosity!

Karnan will always be remembered for his charity and Mahabharata is incomplete without his story!

Recipe - Vazhaithandu morkootu (வாழைத்தண்டு மோர்க்கூட்டு)

2011-07-07T13:55:00.001+05:30

Vazhaithandu morkootu (வாழைத்தண்டு மோர்க்கூட்டு)

The stem of banana, Vazhaithandu is rich in fibre and is very good for health.

This healthy dish is quite common in my parents’ place and relished by all of us

Ingredients

Banana stem - 1

Toor dall - 2 tsp

Grated coconut - ½ cup

Red chillies - 3

Jeera - ½ tsp

Beaten curd - ¾ cup

Salt - to taste

For seasoning

Oil - 1 tsp

Mustard seeds - 1 tsp

Urad dall - 1 tsp

Curry leaves - a few

Soak the toor dall in a cup of water.

Cut the banana stem into tiny pieces and keep it soaked in water to which few teaspoons of buttermilk is added. This is to ensure that the stem does not blacken due to oxidation

Drain the buttermilk water, wash the cut vegetable once again and cook with some water.

Banana stem takes some time to cook. Add salt half way through. Ensure less salt is only added as this vegetable cannot take much salt.

Grind the coconut, soaked dall, red chillies and jeera with some water into a paste. Add this to the cooked banana stem. Keep stirring as this mixture will thicken very fast because of the toor dall in it. After 2-3 minutes, add the beaten curd and switch off gas after one boil

In a kadai add oil, coconut oil tastes very nice, but any cooking oil is okay. Add mustard seeds and when it splutters, add the urad dall. As soon as the urad dall becomes golden brown, take the kadai off the gas, add the curry leaves to it and then add the seasoning on the vegetable.

Delicious vazhaithandu morkootu is ready to eat!

Panguni (பங்குனி)

2011-03-16T14:25:00.001+05:30

Panguni (பங்குனி)

Panguni is the last month of the Tamil calendar. This year it is from 14th March – 13th April

Karadayan nombu (காரடையான் நோன்பு)

Panguni begins with Karadayan nombu which actually is observed on the last day of maasi just before the beginning of Panguni.

This nombu is also called Savitri nombu as it is being observed by the ladies for the welfare of their husbands following the footsteps of Savitri who fought with Yama and brought back her husband Satyavan to life!

Panguni and Thai are two months in the Tamizh calendar where the exact time of beginning of the month and not just the day is followed. For Thai, we usually check the time of the beginning to make the Thai pongal. For Panguni, the nombu is to be observed and the sacred yellow thread tied and the nombu adai offered to the Goddess just before the ending of Maasi and beginning of Panguni.

Usually ladies fast until the puja time and offer nombu adai both the sweet and salt variety along with butter to the Goddess and tie a yellow thread around their necks praying for the welfare and longevity of their husbands.

The prayer uttered is “உருகாத வெண்ணையும் ஓரடையும் நான் தருவேன், ஒரு நாளும் என் கணவன் என்னை பிரியாதிருக்க வேண்டும்" meaning “I offer you non-melted butter and the adai, please ensure that I never get separated from my husband”.

After the puja, the ladies eat only the adai offerings as prasadam.

This year it was on 13th March late in the night.

Arupathimoovar (அறுபத்திமூவர்)

People of Chennai are quite familiar with the Aruvathimoovar festival which takes place in Mylai Kapaleeswarar Temple.

The ten-day festival which transforms Mylapore completely concludes on Panguni Uthiram day with the celebration of the wedding of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathi. There is a procession of the 63 prime devotees of Lord Shiva on the eighth day, giving the festival the name of Arupathimoovar.

This year Arupathimoovar festival began on 10 March and concludes on 19 March. Here is the programme list for this year's festival. (kind courtesy: my sister Jayashree)

Panguni Uthiram (பங்குனி உத்திரம்)

The combination of the star Uthiram and full moon day in the month of Panguni is known as Panguni Uthiram.
Panguni Uthiram is a day which at home we call “wedding day of the Gods” as on this day the wedding of Shiva and Parvathi is celebrated as part of Arupathimoovar as mentioned above.

Also wedding of Lord Muruga to Deivaanai and Valli is celebrated on this day.

Wedding of Lord Mahavishnu and Mahalakshmi is also celebrated on this day.

Special pujas take place in Siva, Vishnu and Murugan temples on this day.
This year Panguni Uthiram is on 19th March .

Ugadhi (யுகாதி)

The Telugu New Year’s Day is called Ugadhi. This year Ugadhi is on 4th April

Sri Rama Navami (ஸ்ரீ ராம நவமி)

The combination of Navami thithi and Punarpoosam star is celebrated as Sri Rama Navami, birthday of Lord Rama.

Special pujas are conducted in temples and homes with items like neermoru, panagam and kosumalli (salad) offered to the Lord. As this is the beginning of summer, we can see that the food offered is ideal to quench one’s thirst and refresh him!
This year Sri Rama Navami falls on 12th April

Women's day gala in the colony

2011-03-14T14:55:00.001+05:30

Women's day Gala

The Rangoli competition was followed by the Women’s day gala yesterday.

The stalls were put up on Saturday itself and right from morning many residents including me were peeping in to see if the stalls are getting filled.

At 10 am, I could see about 5-6 stalls which increased by the hour and ended up with a total of more than 20 by noon. There was a general lull in the afternoon with the maximum crowd in the foodstall which took care of the sales people’s lunch. By 4.30 pm the whole colony was down at the stalls looking at the different products available for sale!

The products varied right from cars to toys for kids. with scooty, cycles, computers, invertors, water purifiers, tata photon whiz, whirlpool products, roti making machines, summer camp, herbal products from Amirthanandamayi mission, cosmetic products from Oriflame and a few other companies, a variety of products from Amway, Tupperware containers, household cleaning solutions, salwars and bedspreads, kids clothes, fancy jewellery, readymade custard powders and rice mixes, caps & purses, plants and so on.

Car stall

Scooty stall

Cycles

Health care products

Tortilla - roti maker

Cosmetics

Herbal products from Amritanandamayi mission

Laptops

Tupperware

Invertors

Plants

Stall selling bags, caps and purses

Household cleaning solutions

Oriflame products

Whirlpool

Tata photon

Fancy jewellery

Amway products

Clothes for kids

Summer camp with a sample work on display

Salwars, bedspreads etc

People looking at the stalls

The food counter had a huge space and took care of the evening snacks of chat, boli, tea, coffee and fruity and also dosa/chapatti for dinner.


Food counter

Chaats available

As a few of the organizers were trying to conduct games for children, ladies from the Oriflame stall came forward to conduct games for the ladies as this was Women’s day special. They had quite a few games in which we ladies took part enthusiastically!

They gave out Oriflame kits as prizes too!

A game where the ladies were asked to burst others' baloons

Game where the ladies were asked to call out their team names and join the team!


Game where the best impression of lips on paper won the first prize, right side the men are judging

The best dressed lady was chosen by Oriflame and Mrs. Parvathy won the prize!

Singing ability of a few ladies also came out in the open as they were requested to show their talent!

The kids were restless as they did not have much activity. Hence the car stall people conducted a couple of games for them to keep them engaged

Kids enjoying !

The snack counter was full of people trying to have a bite of the chaat items between the fun activity!

Prizes for the rangoli competition were also distributed with special prizes for the first three places and participation prize for all the contestants!

Finally a few kids danced to the film music and it was good fun to watch

All in all it was a very entertaining day!

Rangoli competition in our colony

2011-03-12T23:23:00.003+05:30

Rangoli competition

Anybody entering our colony today would have wondered if Margazhi had come many months early. It was so colourful with different rangolis. These beautiful rangolis were done by the residents of the colony for the rangoli competition which is part of Women’s day celebration.

I was seriously watching Sachin batting and the sudden smell of rain made me wonder if it has started raining in Chennai today. I peeped out of balcony to notice water being sprinkled all over the pathway to get it ready for the rangoli competition.

In about 15 minutes time, the place was abuzz with ladies and kids ready to have a look at the contestants and their artistic skills.

First began the Ther kolam.

On the other side there was a beautiful peacock drawn making me think if the peacock drawn in the white chalk powder is so beautiful how will the final rangoli be!

Another lady was busily drawing the dots with perfection!

There were a few free hand drawings too with a round shape in the centre and getting developed concentrically!

The organizer, other ladies and our President were walking up and down to have a look at the progress as the contestants were busy drawing swift lines and filling up with rangoli amidst the excited kids who were eager to give colouring ideas to their mothers and neighbour aunties!

A time limit of two hours was fixed for the competition but the judges were quite lenient

In fact a couple of contestants joined the contest quite late but were quick to complete.

I walked up and down taking photographs of the progress and found the colouring methods used by the ladies very impressive!

Finally after giving a grace time of more than 15 minutes and waiting for all the contestants to complete their rangolis, the judge announced that time was up and the winners were declared promptly

Here are the twelve colourful rangolis

The stunning jewel-like peacock was a clear winner. The colour combination used by this contestant Dharani was very catchy as the rangoli powder was mixed with salt and glitter powder

The second price went to Senthilselvi whose rangoli was that of four parrots on four branches. The way she had bordered around the parrots with a blue colour looked very attractive and was like a carpet

The third price was given to Sangeetha for the three dimensional effect rangoli. She had mixed salt in some colours and rice in others which made it a very different type of rangoli

As the judge rightly said all the rangolis looked beautiful, but as it is a contest a prize has to be announced which need not necessarily mean that the others were not worthy of prizes!

Kudos to the organizers and the contestants!

Maasi (மாசி)

2011-02-17T15:56:00.001+05:30

Maasi (மாசி)

This penultimate month of the Tamizh calendar is my favourite as this is the month I was born on my mother’s birthday!

This year Maasi is from 13 Feb – 14 Mar

Maasi Magam (மாசி மகம்)

The full moon day in the month of Maasi with star Magam is Maasi Magam. This year Maasi Magam is on 18^th February.

As it is Masi Magam is considered an auspicious day and special poojas are performed in all the temples on this day. Maasi Magam is celebrated as Mahamagam (மகாமகம்) once in 12 years when Jupiter (Guru குரு) transits in Leo (Simha raasi சிம்ம ராசி) in the month of Maasi (when Sun is in Aquarius (kumbha raasi கும்ப ராசி), on the full moon day with Magam star. This is the south Indian equivalent of Kumbh Mela. Maha Magam is celebrated in Kumbakonam where devotees from all over the country assemble to take a bath or sprinkle themselves in the holy tank.

It is believed that the nine sacred rivers of our country viz. Ganga, Yamuna, Sarawathi, Sarayu, Godavari, Mahanadhi, Narmada, Sind, Kaveri come here on this day. Usually our sins are said to be washed away if we bathe in these rivers. On the day of Mahamagam, these rivers come here and cleanse themselves of the accumulated sins of people. Hence it is doubly auspicious to have a dip here as the river waters are said to be part of the tank that day.

As mentioned above this is celebrated once in twelve years and the whole town of Kumbakonam looks festive on this day. Anna dhanam happens in almost every household and the crowd is so huge that the residents prepare themselves to feed the people who come from various parts of the country to have a dip in the tank.

The last Mahamagam was in 2004 and the next is in the year 2016. My mother, born and brought in Kumbakonam and now a resident of Chennai, has had the opportunity to be part of the festival and take a dip during the Mahamagams in 1958, 1980, 1992 and 2004 so far.

Holi

A very colourful festival celebrated in North India, Holi has many legends associated with it.

Holi falls on the full moon day of Maasi

It is said to be the celebration of victory of good over the evil. Holika, sister of Hiranyakashipu and aunt of Prahlad had the power to walk through raging fires without getting burnt. In one of his trials to kill his son Prahlad, Hiranyakashipu asked Holika to make Prahlad sit on her lap and enter the fire so that Prahlad will be killed. Prahlad was protected by Lord Vishnu and Holika was killed as her boon is supposed to work only if she enters the fire alone.

Another legend is the Kama dhaganam (காம தகனம்) (burning of Manmadha or Kama, the God of Love) Lord Shiva is in penance and Parvathi has taken the form of Himavan’s daughter. The asuras are in supreme power and the Devas need Shiva and Parvathi to beget a son to destroy the asuras. They request Manmadha to use his flower arrows on Lord Shiva. Manmadha does this and the Lord opens his third eye in anger and Manmadha is burnt to ashes. This event is called Kama dhaganam and the day it took place is being celebrated as Holi. Later Lord Shiva married Parvathi and on Manmadhan’s consort, Rathi’s request, Lord Shiva brought Manmadha back to life.

Holi also marks the end of winter season and beginning of spring and we see colourful flora all around us.

Whatever maybe the story behind it, Holi is celebrated on a grand scale in many parts of India with people applying colour on each other and playing with waterfilled guns called pichkaris.

This year Holi is on 20 Feb. Though Maasimagam and Holi are supposed to be on full moon day, due to small calculation difference sometimes these festivals are celebrated on consecutive or different days.

Maha Shivaratri (மகா சிவராத்திரி)

Every month, the 14^th day of waning moon (krishna paksham கிருஷ்ண பக்ஷம்) is celebrated as Shivaratri. This day in the month of Maasi is celebrated as Maha Shivaratri. Wedding of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati is said to have taken place on this day. The Lord is said to have performed the cosmic dance, Thandavam also on this day. Special abishekams and poojas are done to the Shiva Lingams in the temples all over India on this day. People fast the whole day and be awake in the night praying to the Lord as being awake on this night is said to increase one’s energy levels.

This year Maha Shivaratri is on 3rd March.

Maasi Sevvai

The Tuesdays of Maasi are considered quite auspicious and people follow many vrathams on this day.

Karadayan Nombu

This vratham followed by ladies for the welfare of their husbands is on the time of ending of the month of Maasi and beginning of the month of Panguni. More details on this festival in the Panguni blog.

TV Programme - Brindavanamum Nandakumaranum

2011-02-10T15:09:00.000+05:30

TV Programme - Brindavanamum Nandakumaranum

In this morning’s episode of Brindavanamum Nandakumaranum, (Vijay TV, 630 am) Sri Muralidhara Swamigal’s interpretation to a few lines of the song “Aadaathu Asangaathu Vaa Kanna” was very beautiful!

This song was sung by Oothukkaadu Venkatasubbayier. Lord Krishna is said to have given darshan to Sri Venkatasubbayier in the temple in Oothukkaadu and he had the privilege of having a vision of Kalinga Nardhanam of the Lord here!

Muralidhara Swamigal’s described as below:
Radha Kalyanam is usually celebrated with pomp in Thanjavur district in the month of Margazhi One such celebration coincided with the day of Thiruvadhirai. In the Oothukaadu temple, Lord Krishna is decorated beautifully and brought out in procession. Venkatasubbayier, sitting in the temple prakaram gets the description of the Lord from some young boys standing there and sings “ Swagatham Krishna, Saranagatham Krishna”, welcoming and prostrating before the Lord. Suddenly he is able to hear the noise of musical instruments like melam and nadaswaram along with the chanting of rudhram. He asks the boys what is happening and they explain that Lord Natarajar from the Shiva temple in Aavur close to Oothukaadu, is coming out in procession as it was Thiruvadhirai day.

Venkatasubbayier sings,

ஆடாது அசங்காது வா கண்ணா
உன் ஆடலில் ஈரேழு புவனமும்
அசைந்து அசைந்தாடுதே
எனவே, ஆடாது அசங்காது வா கண்ணா
ஆடலைக் காணத் தில்லை அம்பலதிறைவனும்
தன் ஆடலை விட்டு இங்கே கோகுலம் வந்தார்......

கனக மணி அசையும் உனது திரு நடனம்
கண் பட்டு போனால் மனம் புண் பட்டு போகுமே!

The interpretation given here by Sri Muralidhara Swamigal is
Krishna, to see your dance, Nataraja has stopped his dance and come here. But please do not dance because everybody will cast their eyes on you, especially Lord Shiva has three eyes and he will cast all his three eyes on you, so aadaathu asangaathu vaa kanna!
I have not heard such an endearing interpretation of this song before and liked it so much and hence sharing here!
Here is a dowloaded version of the song for your ears!

Temple Trails Tamil Nadu : Marudhamalai

2011-02-09T16:35:00.000+05:30

Marudhamalai Temple

This is the first part of a pilgrimage to Tamil Nadu and Kerala. Six of us from our family boarded a train to Coimbatore to go to Ranga’s aunt’s place on a Saturday. As usual I was fascinated by chitti’s garden and went straight there with my morning coffee!

I took many snaps of her plants, trees, the hill range and the paaku thoppu (betelnut plantation) nearby. I did miss the field which used to be there in yonder days as many new houses have come up in the area of Vadavalli. My brother-in-law Nagarajan Anna, being the organiser, was after us to get ready for our first visit to Marudhamalai Murugan Temple. Vadavalli is located just below the Marudhamalai hill range and it takes a very short time to reach the temple from Chitti’s home. Chitti arranged for a call taxi and we all left for the temple after breakfast.

Though this was my second visit to this temple, all looked new to me as there were many modifications while construction work was still going on.

Gopuram of the main sannidhi

Entrance to main sannidhi

construction work

mandapam on the lower level

The name of Sando Chinnappa Devar etched on many places leading to the temple mentioning his contributions, reminded me of the song “Marudhmalai Maamaniye Murugayya” sung by Madurai Somu in the movie Deivam!

As the taxi took us up to the temple, we had to climb only about 20-25 steps to the sannidhis.

people climbing

more steps, dont miss the decoration for Thai poosam

First was Panchavriksha Vinayakar, a very cute Ganapathy under a tree. We tried to make out if there were actually five trees as the name suggests, but could see only one type of leaves! We lit a few ghee lamps there and proceeded to have a darshan of the main deity – Dhandayudhapaani. It was not much crowded and with special darshan tickets, we reached the sannidhi quite quickly. As his name means, Murugan was looking very handsome with a majestic turban on his head and holding the Dhandam. The Vel was also near the Dhandam We had a very good darshan and moved out from the left side itself via a side entrance. The Dhandayudhapaani sannidhi is flanked by the Lord’s parents – Patteeswarar and Maragathaambikai on either side – Saga Uma Skandar style. We had darshan of a quite small Lingam – Patteeswarar and a very sweet looking Maragathaambikai in simple alangaram. We then proceeded towards the front to have darshan of the Navagraha.
I was happy to see a photograph of Arunagirinathar and Pamban Swamigal on either side of the main door leading to the sannidhi of Dhanayudhapaani and remembered by grand father, an ardent devotee of Murugan and follower of Pamban Swamigal. On the right side of the door was the small sannidhi of Varadaraja Perumal. We prayed there and sat down in the mandapam for a few minutes.

We saw markings with directions to the Paambaati Siddhar cave temple and steps leading down. All of us were keen to visit and climbed down another 20 stairs. There was a sannidhi with Shiva lingam and an idol of the Siddhar and a naturally formed shape of a snake. There was a milk in a bowl and we heard that snakes come to drink it. The sannidhi is built around a rocky structure with many natural hollows. The archakar there explained that there is a path to the garba graham of the temple from there which the Siddhar used to visitsthe sannidhi to offer his prayers to Dhandayudapaani. We could feel very good vibrations at this sannidhi and sat there for some time in prayer.

Pambaati siddhar sannidhi

view near the Siddhar sannidhi

On the way up is the Saptakanni sannidhi with seven idols of the Saptakannis covered with turmeric.

We came up the steps again to pray at the moolasthaanam of the temple. This has tiny idols of Murugan with Valli and Deivanai.

Moolasthanam gopuram

We went back again in front of the main sannidhi and prostrated in front of the Dwajasthambam.

Dwajasthambam

Vel near Dwajasthambam

The special darshan queue was so long that we realised that we had just managed to escape the big crowd. We thanked the Lord for the same and climbed down the steps to go back home.

A view of the town from temple level

Book Fair 2011

2011-01-17T18:18:00.002+05:30

Book Fair 2011

This is one fair I have been trying to go to for the past few years, but could succeed only this year.

Just before leaving for the fair, I checked out a few reviews on the net where it said that it is quite crowded on all days. Hence mentally I prepared myself for a rush, but was pleasantly surprised! The crowd was very much there, but the school grounds are so huge that it did not seem overcrowded. On the left side to the entrance, there was a dais and people were sitting in rows ready to hear a lecture by Mr. Satyaseelan. The right side was full of refreshment stalls. I went in through one of the 4-5 entrances and was zapped by the number of stalls! The stalls had mainly a variety of Tamizh books right from highly literary ones to pulp fiction! From what I could see, English books were mainly educational stuff and children’s books mostly with a very small collection of other varieties.

By the time I completed the row of stalls on either side of one line, I realized that it was more than half an hour since I entered! I just had time to browse through two or three such lines and managed to buy a few books for myself, my sister-in-law and her grandson in about 1 hour and 30 minutes. As I came out, I realised that I had not even covered 25% of the fair. Hope to visit this fair in a more leisurely fashion next year!

Thai (தை)

2011-01-15T13:54:00.001+05:30

Thai (தை)

This 10^th month in the Tamizh calendar is considered most auspicious for weddings and has proverbs like “Thai pirandhal vazhi pirakum” (தை பிறந்தால் வழி பிறக்கும்) associated with it. It is harvest time and celebration time all around!

Pongal (பொங்கல்)

The first day of Thai is always Pongal – a thanksgiving to the Sun God for a good harvest – the most important festival in Tamil Nadu.

Pongal is a four-day festival – 1^st day being Bhogi, 2^nd day – the main day, Pongal, 3^rd day – Maatu Pongal and the 4^th day – Kaanum Pongal.

On the 2^nd main day, after the spring cleaning on Bhogi,the newly harvested rice is cooked with milk and jaggery as pongal in new pots painted in bright colours and decorated with manjal and inji bunches, mostly in open area facing the Sun. As the mixture of rice and milk boils over, people call out “Pongalo pongal” in a loud voice joyfully! Along with the Pongal, sugarcane and all vegetables are offered to the Sun God. All this happens in villages and small towns. Here in the city many households just make Pongal in the metal pot or pressure cooker for convenience with the manjal and inji kothu being tied around it after it is taken off the stove! But in all places, people offer their prayers to the Sun God thanking Him for a bountiful harvest!

Whichever way it is celebrated, this is the biggest festival of Tamil Nadu!

I am very happy to see Pongal being prepared in open area thanks to some of the residents of our colony. Above are photos taken this morning!
Along with sweet Pongal, the savoury version, Ven pongal and many preparations with native vegetables, which are available in plenty around this time of the year, are made and it is a feast on this day.

Usually Pongal falls on 14^th January, but sometimes it comes on the next day too, this year it is today – 15^th January.

Maatu Pongal (மாட்டுப் பொங்கல்)

The day after Pongal - it is 16^th January this year - is called Maatu Pongal. This is an acknowledgement and thanksgiving to the cattle for their part in agriculture. On this day, prayers are offered to the cattle, decorating them with haldi/kumkum, paint and new bells, balloons etc. on the horns, garlands, etc and feeding them with a mixture of rice and jaggery. The cattle are also allowed to roam around freely on this day.

Jallikattu (ஜல்லிக்கட்டு) – bull fight where young men try to tame the bulls - a game very much looked forward to by people despite the danger involved in it - also takes places in many villages on this day.

This day is also celebrated as Kanu Pongal. Kanu Pongal is prayer offered by the womenfolk of the family for the welfare of their brothers. On this day, manjal leaves, taken from the manjal kothu tied around the Pongal pot the previous day is spread on a kolam and small balls of yellow, red and white coloured rice are placed on the leaves along with small quantities of Pongal, sugarcane and bits of banana. This again is done on an open area and the food is offered to the crows.

The feast for this day is usually, payasam or vella saadam and all other mixed rice like tamarind rice, lemon rice, curd rice along with aviyal and fried pappadams and vadams.

This day is also called Thiruvalluvar Day in tribute to the great poet!

Kaanum Pongal (காணும் பொங்கல்)

The fourth day of Pongal is Kaanum Pongal which basically means the day of visit. But people prefer enjoying an outing on that day than visiting relatives and friends. When we were kids, it used to be fun to watch people from the nearby towns coming in open bullock carts (the bulls very cutely decorated) for a visit to the city, but nowadays this is a rare sight. Overall, a visit to the beach and even traveling by bus is avoided in our household on this day as it is crowded everywhere!

Thai Poosam(தைப்பூசம்)

Thai poosam is on the full moon day of the month of Thai with the star being poosam. Thai poosam is a day when special prayers are offered at Amman and Murugan temples. Rituals like poomidhi – walking on burning coals and kavadis are followed on this day.

Another important event that takes place on Thai poosam is the Jothi darisanam by Vallalar on this day – where he showed to the world that God is in the form of a Jothi. On this day, every year, Jothi darisanam takes place in temples and tributes paid to this saint.

This year Thai poosam falls on 20th January.

Bagula Panchami (பகுள பஞ்சமி)

It is a pleasure to hear all the carnatic musicians paying tribute in unison to Tyagaraja – one of the music trinities – on this day. Abhishekams are performed to the idol of Tyagaraja in Thiruvayaru and all the carnatic musicians – big and small – sing the Pancharatna Keerathanais in front of the idol. The live telecast of this programme by the TV channels have really helped people like me to understand this tradition to an extent.
This year Bagula Panchami is on 24th January.

Thai Amavasai (தை அமாவாசை)

Though tribute to ancestors is usually performed on all amavasyas, it is specially followed on Thai amavasya.

This year's Thai Amavasai is on 3rd February.

Ratha Saptami(ரத சப்தமி)

The Earth’s rotation around the Sun is completed by 180 degrees in the month of Thai and hence the six months from Thai to Aani it is called Utharayanam and the balance six months from Aadi to Margazhi is called Dakshinayanam. The Sun is said to turn his chariot (actually the earth completes half a circle around the Sun) in the month of Thai. The day this event actually happens is called Ratha Saptami – Ratha meaning chariot and Saptami is the seventh day after Thai amavasya. This year it is on 10th February.

On this day, kolams in the design of chariots are drawn in front of the houses and Chakara Pongal is offered to the Sun God. A ritual of bathing with Erukkam leaves placed on one’s head is also followed on this day.

Though I came to know about the significance of this day much later, I remember looking forward to the procession of Perumal from the Nungambakkam Perumal temple in seven different vahanams on this day every year.

Thai Krithigai (தைக்கிருத்திகை)

All Krithigais are days of prayers to Lord Muruga, but the Krithagai of this month is one of the most important days. Special poojas are performed to the Lord on this day and people offer kavadis and alagu in the Murugan temples.
It is falling on 12th February, the last day of Thai, this year.

Fridays (தை வெள்ளிக்கிழமை)

Like the Fridays of Aadi, Fridays of Thai are also very auspicious and special prayers are held in all Amman temples. Usually ladies follow the custom of offering thamboolam to each other as a prayer for their family welfare. Ladies also follow the special prayer of Maavilaku (மாவிளக்கு) - lighting ghee lamps in dough made of rice, jaggery and ghee on one of the Fridays.

Thiruppavai - Day 30

2011-01-14T04:05:00.006+05:30

Thiruppavai - Day 30

வங்கக் கடல்கடைந்த மாதவனைக் கேசவனைத்
திங்கள் திருமுகத்துச் சேயிழையார் சென்றிறைஞ்சி
அங்கப் பறைகொண்ட ஆற்றை, அணிபுதுவைப்
பைங்கமலத் தண்தெரியல் பட்டர்பிரான் கோதை சொன்ன
சங்கத் தமிழ்மாலை முப்பதும் தப்பாமே
இங்கிப் பரிசுரைப்பார், ஈரிரண்டு மால்வரைத்தோள்
செங்கண் திருமுகத்துச் செல்வத் திருமாலால்
எங்கும் திருவருள்பெற் றின்புறுவ ரெம்பாவாய்

The story of how the Gopikas obtained the blessings of the Madhavan, Kesavan who churned the Thirupparkadal to give the divine nectar to the Devas was described by the daughter of Periyaazhwar, the lotus garland clad Andal, in thirty verses. One who recites these verses without fail will have the blessings of the broad shouldered, red eyed, handsome faced Thirumaal and will be happy forever!

The 30 verses of Thiruppavai ends today. Hope this simple direct translation, without the explanation of the inner meanings which are quite long has been a kind of introduction for people who are not familiar with Thiruppavai.

Special thanks to Mr.Parthasarathi for giving me the idea and Sundari for complete support!

Thiruppavai - Day 29

2011-01-13T04:05:00.002+05:30

Thiruppavai - Day 29

Reciting this verse every morning is considered to be very beneficial to us as this emphasizes our relationship with God!

சிற்றம் சிறுகாலே வந்துன்னைச் சேவித்துன்
போற்றா மரையடியே போற்றும் பொருள்கேளாய்;
பெற்றம்மேய்த் துண்ணும் குலத்தில் பிறந்து நீ
குற்றேவல் எங்களைக் கொள்ளாமல் போகாது;
இற்றைப் பறைகொள்வான் அன்றுகாண் கோவிந்தா!
எற்றைக்கும் ஏழேழ் பிறவிக்கும் உன்தன்னோடு
உற்றோமே ஆவோம்; உனக்கேநாம் ஆட்செய்வோம்;
மற்றைநம் காமங்கள் மாற்றேலோ ரெம்பாவாய்

Oh Lord, we have come this early in the morning to pray at your lotus feet, please listen to us. Lord, having born amidst us, the cowherds, it is incorrect of you not to accept our services. We have come here not only to get your blessings. Not just today nor just in this birth, even in all our future incarnations, we must not think of anyone else and we must always be at your service. Please grant us this boon!

Thiruppavai - Day 28

2011-01-12T04:05:00.002+05:30

Thiruppavai - Day 28

Here Andal underlines the relationship between the Gopikas and the Lord

கறவைகள் பின்சென்று கானம் சேர்ந்துண்போம்;
அறிவொன்றும் இல்லாத ஆய்க்குலத்து உன்தன்னைப்
பிறவி பெறுந்தனைப் புண்ணியம் யாம் உடையோம்;
குறைவொன்றும் இல்லாத கோவிந்தா! உன்தன்னோடு
உறவேல் நமக்கிங் கொழிக்க ஒழியாது!
அறியாத பிள்ளைகளோம் அன்பினால் உன்றன்னைச்
சிறுபேர் அழைத்தனவும் சீறி அருளாதே,
இறைவா, நீ தாராய் பறையேலோ ரெம்பாவாய்

We go behind the grazing cattle to the woods and have our food there. We are really blessed to have you amidst us, unintelligent cowherds. Faultless Govinda, no one can break our relationship with You! In our ignorance, we may have addressed you with simple names, please do not be angry with us for this, please grant us our wishes

Thiruppavai - Day 27

2011-01-11T04:05:00.003+05:30

Thiruppavai - Day 27

Here Andal says how they will complete the nombu

கூடாரை வெல்லும்சீர்க் கோவிந்தா! உன்தன்னை
பாடிப் பறைகொண்டு யாம்பெறும் சம்மானம்;
நாடு புகழும் பரிசினால் நன்றாக,
சூடகமே தோள்வளையே தோடே செவிப்பூவே
பாடகமே என்றனைய பல்கலனும் யாம் அணிவோம்;
ஆடை உடுப்போம்; அதன்பின்னே பாற்சோறு
மூடநெய் பெய்து முழங்கை வழிவார
கூடியிருந்து குளிர்ந்தேலோ ரெம்பாவாய்

Govinda! who defeats all evil, please bless us. We will adorn ourselves with bangles on our hands, armlets on our upper arms, lovely earrings for our ears. We will also wear new clothes. We will have food with ghee overflowing upto our elbows and celebrate with all! We will sing your praise and complete our nombu!

Thiruppavai - Day 26

2011-01-10T04:05:00.003+05:30

Thiruppavai - Day 26

Here Andal lists their requirements for Nombu and requests Kannan to grant same

மாலே! மணிவண்ணா! மார்கழிநீ ராடுவான்
மேலையார் செய்வனகள் வேண்டுவன கேட்டியேல்
ஞாலத்தை எல்லாம் நடுங்க முரல்வன
பாலன்ன வண்ணத்துன் பாஞ்ச சன்னியமே
போல்வன சங்கங்கள் போய்ப்பா டுடையனவே
சாலப் பெரும்பறையே, பல்லாண் டிசைப்பாரே,
கோல விளக்கே, கொடியே, விதானமே,
ஆலின் இலையாய்! அருளேலோ ரெம்பாவாய்

Maale - the one who is very affectionate towards Bhaktas! Manivanna - The one who is blue coloured! If you ask us what we need to follow the nombu - We need conches like your milkwhite Panchajanyam to wake up our friends, Drums (parai) which can make booming noise in your praise, devotees who sing your Pallandu, beautiful lamps which will give light as we walk, flag posts to show that we are observing the nombu and pandal to keep away the mist. O, Lord who reclined on the Aal ilai, please grant us these.

Thiruppavai - Day 25

2011-01-09T04:05:00.002+05:30

Thiruppavai - Day 25

Andal sings His praise and requests him to grant their needs

ஒருத்தி மகனாய்ப்பிறந்து, ஓரிரவில்
ஒருத்தி மகனாய் ஒளித்து வளர,
தரிக்கிலா னாகித் தான்தீங்கு நினைந்த
கருத்தைப் பிழைப்பித்துக் கஞ்சன் வயிற்றில்
நெருப்பென்ன நின்ற நெடுமாலே! உன்னை
அருத்தித்து வந்தோம்; பறைதருதி யாகில்
திருத்தக்க செல்வமும் சேவகமும் யாம் பாடி
வருத்தமும் தீர்ந்து மகிழ்ந்தேலோ ரெம்பாவாய்

You were born to Devaki and on the same night, you became Yashoda's son and grew up in hiding. Kamsan tried to kill you, O, Lord, you were like a fire in his belly and you defeated him! We have come to you. Pray you grant us all our needs so that we can be happy.

Thiruppavai - Day 24

2011-01-08T04:05:00.003+05:30

Thiruppavai - Day 24

This stanza is Andal's praise on Kannan requesting Him to grant their wishes

அன்றிவ் வுலகம் அளந்தாய்! அடிபோற்றி,
சென்றங்குத் தென்னிலங்கை செற்றாய்! திறல்போற்றி,
பொன்றச் சகடம் உதைத்தாய்! புகழ்போற்றி,
கன்று குணிலா எறிந்தாய்! கழல்போற்றி,
குன்று குடையா எடுத்தாய்! குணம்போற்றி,
வென்று பகைகெடுக்கும் நின்கையில் வேல்போற்றி,
என்றென் றுன் சேவகமே ஏத்திப் பறைகொள்வான்
இன்று யாம் வந்தோம், இரங்கேலோ ரெம்பாவாய்.

Praise the feet that measured the worlds! Praise the Lord who killed the demons of Lanka! Praise the one who kicked Sakadasuran and destroyed him! Glory to the Lord who threw the demon in the form of a calf on another demon in the form of a fruit and killed both! Glory to the Lotus feet! Merciful Lord, you are the one who held Govarthana Giri as an umbrella and saved the Gokulam from rains! Praise the spear in your hand which destroys the evil! We are here to sing your glory. Please grant us our wishes

Thiruppavai - Day 23

2011-01-07T04:05:00.000+05:30

Thiruppavai - Day 23

Here Andal requests Kannan to get up and sit on his throne and listen to them

மாரி மலைமுழைஞ்சில் மன்னிக் கிடந்துறங்கும்
சீரிய சிங்கம் அறிவுற்றுத் தீவிழித்து,
வேரி மயிர்பொங்க எப்பாடும் பேர்ந்துதறி,
மூரி நிமிர்ந்து முழங்கிப் புறப்பட்டுப்
போதருமா போலே நீ பூவைப்பூவண்ணா! உன்
கோயில்நின் றிங்ஙனே போந்தருளிக் கோப்புடைய
சீரிய சிங்கா சனத்திருந்து யாம்வந்த
காரியம் ஆராய்ந் தருளேலோ ரெம்பாவாய்.

The lion resting in the mountain cave during rains, wakes up roaring with fiery eyes and comes out. You also come out of your resting place like the lion, sit on your throne and listen to our prayers and grant us our wishes, O, Kayampoo coloured Kanna.

Thiruppavai - Day 22

2011-01-06T04:05:00.006+05:30

Thiruppavai - Day 22

Here Andal requests Kannan to look at them

அங்கண்மா ஞாலத் தரசர் அபிமான
பங்கமாய் வந்துநின் பள்ளிக்கட் டிற்கீழே
சங்கம் இருப்பார்போல் வந்து தலைப்பெய்தோம்;
கிண்கிணி வாய்ச்செய்த தாமரைப்பூப் போலே;
செங்கண் சிறுச்சிறிதே எம்மேல் விழியாவோ?
திங்களும் ஆதித் தியனும் எழுந்தாற்போல்
அங்கணிரண்டுங்கொண் டெங்கள்மேல் நோக்குதியேல்
எங்கள்மேல் சாபம் இழிந்தேலோ ரெம்பாவாய்.

Like the kings and emperors of this world standing humbly near your cot, we have reached you. Why don't you look at us with your lotus blossom eyes? Won't your kind sight fall on us? If you look at us just once with your eyes which are the Sun and the Moon, all our sins will go away.

Thiruppavai - Day 21

2011-01-05T04:05:00.003+05:30

Thiruppavai - Day 21

Here Andal wakes up Kannan singing his praise

ஏற்ற கலங்கள் எதிர்பொங்கி மீதளிப்ப
மாற்றாதே பால்சொரியும் வள்ளற் பெரும்பசுக்கள்
ஆற்றப் படைத்தான் மகனே! அறிவுறாய்!
ஊற்றம் உடையாய்! பெரியாய்! உலகினில்
தோற்றமாய் நின்ற சுடரே! துயிலெழாய்;
மாற்றார் உனக்கு வலிதொலைந்துன் வாசற்கண்
ஆற்றாது வந்துன் அடிபணியு மாபோலே,
போற்றியும் வந்தோம் புகழ்ந்தேலோ ரெம்பாவாய்.

You are the son of Nandagopan who has herds of cattle providing milk which overflows the vessels held to milk them! Please wake up! The strongest! The Supreme! Our brightest light! wake up! Like the enemies who fall at your feet, defeated by you, we have come to your feet singing your praise!

Thiruppavai - Day 20

2011-01-04T04:05:00.001+05:30

Thiruppavai - Day 20

Here Andal continues to wake up Kannan and Nappinnai

முப்பத்து மூவர் அமரர்க்கு முன்சென்று
கப்பம் தவிர்க்கும் கலியே! துயிலெழாய்;
செப்பம் உடையாய்! திறலுடையாய்! செற்றார்க்கு
வெப்பம் கொடுக்கும் விமலா! துயிலெழாய்;
செப்பன்ன மென்முலை செவ்வாய் சிறுமருங்குல்
நப்பின்னை நங்காய்! திருவே! துயிலெழாய்;
உக்கமும் தட்டொளியும் தந்துன் மணாளனை
இப்போதே எம்மைநீ ராட்டேலோ ரெம்பாவாய்

The saviour of Muppathu Mukkodi Devas, please wake up! The one who has the power and strength to punish the evil and protect the bhaktas, wake up! Beautiful Nappinnai, wake up! Please provide us with the hand fans and mirrors needed for the Nombu and allow us to have the auspicious bath along with your husband!

Thiruppavai - Day 19

2011-01-03T04:05:00.004+05:30

Thiruppavai - Day 19

Here Andal requests Kannan and Nappinnai to wake up
குத்து விளக்கெரியக் கோட்டுக்கால் கட்டில்மேல்
மெத்தென்ற பஞ்ச சயனத்தின் மேலேறிக்
கொத்தலர் பூங்குழல் நப்பின்னை கொங்கைமேல்
வைத்துக் கிடந்த மலர்மார்பா! வாய் திறவாய்;
மைத்தடங் கண்ணினாய்! நீ உன் மணாளனை
எத்தனை போதும் துயிலெழ ஒட்டாய்காண்,
எத்தனை யேலும் பிரிவாற்ற கில்லாயால்,
தத்துவம் அன்று தகவேலோ ரெம்பாவாய்.

Broad shouldered Kanna, you are lying on the cot with legs made of elephant tusks surrounded by soft lamps, fast asleep with your head on Nappinnai's breasts. Why dont you open your mouth?

Beautiful, kajal eyed Nappinnai! You will not let your husband wake up whatever the time maybe. You do not want to be separated from him even for a minute. This does not show your righteousness.

Thiruppavai - Day 18

2011-01-02T04:05:00.002+05:30

Thiruppavai - Day 18

Here Andal has reached Kannan's chamber and requests his consort Nappinnai to open the door

உந்து மதகளிற்றன் ஓடாத தோள்வலியன்,

நந்தகோ பாலன் மருமகளே! நப்பின்னாய்!
கந்தம் கமழும் குழலீ! கடைதிறவாய்;
வந்தெங்கும் கோழி அழைத்தனகாண்; மாதவிப்
பந்தல்மேல் பல்கால் குயிலினங்கள் கூவினகாண்;
பந்தார் விரலி! உன் மைத்துனன் பேர்பாட,
செந்தா மரைக்கையால் சீரார் வளையொலிப்ப
வந்து திறவாய், மகிழ்ந்தேலோ ரெம்பாவாய்.

Nappinnai, daughter-in-law of the strong elephant like Nandagopan who never retreats against enemies but fights with them valiantly, Fragrant haired Nappinnai, open the door; the rooster is croaking, the cuckoos on the jasmine creepers are chirping. We are singing the praise of your husband, our Lord Kannan. Please open the door with your bangle-clad lotus like hands!

Thiruppavai - Day 17

2011-01-01T04:05:00.005+05:30

Thiruppavai - Day 17

Here Andal wakes up everybody in the palace of Nandagopan

அம்பரமே, தண்ணீரே, சோறே அறஞ்செய்யும்
எம்பெருமான்! நந்தகோ பாலா! எழுந்திராய்;
கொம்பனார்க் கெல்லாம் கொழுந்தே! குலவிளக்கே!
எம்பெரு மாட்டி! யசோதாய்! அறிவுறாய்;
அம்பரம் ஊடறுத் தோங்கி உலகளந்த
உம்பர்கோ மானே! உறங்கா தெழுந்திராய்;
செம்பொற் கழலடிச் செல்வா! பலதேவா!
உம்பியும் நீயும் உறங்கேலோ ரெம்பாவாய்.

Nandagopa, our king who makes us happy by providing us with food and clothes, wake up!
The one who takes care of your womenfolk, our leading light, Yashoda, wake up
Devathi deva who measured heaven and earth with his feet, please wake up
Bala deva (Balaramar) wearing golden anklets, you and your younger brother, please arise!

Thiruppavai - Day 16

2010-12-31T04:02:00.007+05:30

Thiruppavai - Day 16

Here Andal and her friends have reached the palace of Nandagopan and request them to open the door

நாயக னாய்நின்ற நந்தகோபனுடைய
கோயில்கா ப்பானே! கொடித்தோன்றும் தோரண
வாயில்காப் பானே! மணிக்கதவம் தாள்திறவாய்;
ஆயர் சிறுமிய ரோமுக்கு அறைபறை
மாயன் மணிவண்ணன் நென்னலே வாய்நேர்ந்தான்;
தூயோமாய் வந்தோம் துயிலெழப் பாடுவான்;
வாயால் முன்னமுன்னம் மாற்றாதே அம்மா! நீ
நேய நிலைக்கதவம் நீக்கேலோ ரெம்பாவாய்.

The gatekeeper of Nandagopan’s palace, please open the door. Kannan promised us girls yesterday that he will grant us our wishes. We have come here with clean hearts to sing Suprabhatham for him. Please do not deny us entry. Please allow us inside.

Thiruppavai - Day 15

2010-12-30T04:05:00.002+05:30

Thiruppavai - Day 15

Here Andal cajoles her friends to come and this song is in the form of a conversation

எல்லே இளங்கிளியே! இன்னம் உறங்குதியோ?
சில்லென் றழையேன்மின், நங்கைமீர்! போதர்கின்றேன்;
'வல்லை, உன் கட்டுரைகள்! பண்டேஉன் வாயறிதும்!'
'வல்லீர்கள் நீங்களே, நானேதான் ஆயிடுக!'
'ஒல்லைநீ போதை, உனக்கென்ன வேறுடையை?'
'எல்லோரும் போந்தாரோ?' 'போந்தார், போந்து எண்ணிக்கொள்'
வல்லானை கொன்றானை, மாற்றாரை மாற்றழிக்க
வல்லானை மாயனைப் பாடேலோ ரெம்பாவாய்.

"Hey parrot! Are you still asleep? "
"Hey girls, don’t make noise, I am coming"
"Yes, we know about your sharp tongue"
"You people are good at saying such things and you are blaming me, let it be!"
"You come now"
"What about the others? Has everybody come?"
"Yes, if you want, please come and count, everybody is here"
Let us sing the praise of the Lord who killed the elephant Kuvalayapeedam and destroyed the enemies.

Thiruppavai - Day 14

2010-12-29T04:05:00.004+05:30

Thiruppavai - Day 14

Andal continues to call her friends

உங்கள் புழைக்கடைத் தோட்டது வாவியுள்
செங்கழுநீர் வாய்நெகிழ்ந்து ஆம்பல்வாய் கூம்பின காண்;
செங்கல் போடிக்கூறை வெண்பல் தவத்தவர்,
தங்கள் திருக்கோயில் சங்கிடுவான் போகின்றார்;
எங்களை முன்னம் எழுப்புவான் வாய்பேசும்
நங்காய்! எழுந்திராய், நாணாதாய்! நாவுடையாய்!
சங்கோடு சக்கரம் ஏந்தும் தடக்கையன்
பங்கயக் கண்ணானைப் பாடேலோ ரெம்பாவாய்.

In your backyard garden, Sengazhuneer flowers have bloomed and the night queen flowers are drooping. Yogis have gone to wake up the Lord in the temple by blowing the conch. Yesterday you told us that you will wake us up this morning. You have not only failed to do so, but not even ashamed about it! You seem to speak empty words! Please get up now, let us sing in praise of the Pangaya Kannan holding the discus and conch in his hands!

Thiruppavai - Day 13

2010-12-28T04:05:00.002+05:30

Thiruppavai - Day 13

Here Andal tells her friends that it has dawned and asks her to join her for the nombu

புள்ளின்வாய் கீண்டானை, பொல்லா அரக்கனைக்
கிள்ளிக் களைந்தானைக் கீர்த்திமை பாடிப்போய்,
பிள்ளைகள் எல்லாரும் பாவைக் களம்புக்கார்;
வெள்ளி எழுந்து, வியாழம் உறங்கிற்று;
புள்ளும் சிலம்பினகாண்; போதரிக் கண்ணினாய்!
குள்ளக் குளிரக் குடைந்து நீராடாதே,
பள்ளிக் கிடத்தியோ? பாவாய்! நீ நன்னாளால்
கள்ளம் தவிர்ந்து கலந்தேலோ ரெம்பாவாய்.

All the other girls have already left singing the praise of the Lord who destroyed the demon who came in the form of a crane; who removed the heads of Ravana. Venus has arisen and Jupiter has set. Birds have started making noises. Hey beauty with eyes like lotus and deer, on this auspicious day how can you still be in bed thinking of Kannan secretly? Come to bathe with us.

Thiruppavai - Day 12

2010-12-27T04:05:00.006+05:30

Thiruppavai - Day 12

Andal continues to cajol her friends to wake up

கனைத்திளங் கற்றெருமை கன்றுக் கிரங்கி

நினைத்து முலைவழியே நின்றுபால் சோர

நனைத்தில்லம் சேறாக்கும் நற்செல்வன் தங்காய்!

பனித்தலை வீழநின் வாசல் கடைபற்றிச்
சினத்தினால் தென்னிலங்கைக் கோமானைச் செற்ற
மனத்துக் கினியானைப் பாடவும்நீ வாய்திறவாய்!
இனித்தான் எழுந்திராய்; ஈதென்ன பேருறக்கம்?
அனைத்தில்லத் தாரும் அறிந்தேலோ ரெம்பாவாய்.

You belong to such a prosperous family that your place becomes slushy as it is continuously drenched by the overflowing milk from the buffaloes thinking of their calves! Here we are standing outside your house in this mist singing the praise of Lord Rama who killed the king of Lanka, Ravana, and you are still not saying anything. All the others have woken up. Atleast wake up now, how can you sleep like this?

Thiruppavai - Day 11

2010-12-26T04:05:00.006+05:30

Thiruppavai - Day 11

Andal continues to wake up her friends here

கற்றுக் கறவைக் கணங்கள் பலகறந்து,
செற்றார் திறலழியச் சென்று செருச்செய்யும்
குற்றமொன் றில்லாத கோவலர்தம் பொற்கொடியே!
புற்றர வல்குல் புனமயிலே! போதராய்,
சுற்றத்துத் தோழிமார் எல்லாரும் வந்துநின்
முற்றம் புகுந்து முகில்வண்ணன் பேர்பாட,
சிற்றாதே பேசாதே செல்வப்பெண் டாட்டிநீ
எற்றுக் குறங்கும் பொருளேலோ ரெம்பாவாய்.

You belong to the clan of Gopalas who has herds of milking cows with calves; who very bravely fight against their enemies by attacking them in their area and defeating them; who are faultless.

You are like a carefree peahen wandering in the forest, get up, when your friends and relatives have come to your place together and are singing on Kannan, you are fast asleep. why are you doing this?

Thiruppavai - Day 10

2010-12-25T04:05:00.002+05:30

Thiruppavai - Day 10

நோற்றுச் சுவர்க்கம் புகுகின்ற அம்மனாய்!
மாற்றமும் தாராரோ வாசல் திறவாதார்?
நாற்றத் துழாய்முடி நாரா யணன்நம்மால்
போற்றப் பறைதரும் புண்ணியனால் பண்டொருநாள்
கூற்றத்தின வாய்வீழ்ந்த கும்ப கரணனும்
தோற்றும் உனக்கே பெருந்துயில்தான் தந்தானோ?
ஆற்ற அனந்தல் உடையாய்! அருங்கலமே!
தேற்றமாய் வந்து திறவேலோ ரெம்பாவாய்.

Till yesterday you were the one to follow the nombu perfectly, thinking of the Lord all the time in total bliss, why aren't you even opening the door this morning? Can't you atleast reply to us? The Lord who wears the fragrant tulasi garland only blesses us to follow the nombu successfully. Kumbakarnan has been killed. You seem to have defeated Kumbakarnan in sleeping! Lazy girl! Clear your head and open the door!

Thiruppavai - Day 09

2010-12-24T04:05:00.002+05:30

Thiruppavai - Day 09

Here and the next few paasurams, Andal continues to wake up her various friends

தூமணி மாடத்துச் சுற்றும் விளக்கெரிய,
தூபங் கமழத் துயிலணைமேல் கண்வளரும்
மாமான் மகளே! மணிக்கதவம் தாள்திறவாய்;
மாமீர்! அவளை எழுப்பீரோ? உம்மகள்தான்
ஊமையோ? அன்றிச் செவிடோ அனந்தலோ?
ஏமப் பெருந்துயில் மந்திரப் பட்டாளோ?
'மாமாயன், மாதவன், வைகுந்தன்' என்றென்று
நாமம் பலவும் நவின்றேலோ ரெம்பாவாய்

My dear cousin, you are fast asleep in the comforts of your soft bed with fragrance and dim lights around, please open the door. Aunty! please wake her up. Is your daughter dumb? or deaf? Is she drugged? or has she gone to a state of not able to wake up at all? Why she has still not woken up after hearing our chants of "Mayane, Madhavane, Vaikundanathane"? Please wake up your daughter.

Thiruppavai - Day 08

2010-12-23T04:05:00.001+05:30

Thiruppavai - Day 08

கீழ்வானம் வெள்ளென்று, எருமை சிறுவீடு
மேய்வான் பரந்தனகாண்; மிக்குள்ள பிள்ளைகளும்
போவான் போகின்றாரைப் போகாமல் காத்துன்னைக்
கூவுவான் வந்து நின்றோம், கோதுகலமுடைய
பாவாய்! எழுந்திராய்; பாடிப் பறைகொண்டு
மாவாய் பிளந்தானை, மல்லரை மாட்டிய
தேவாதி தேவனைச் சென்றுநாம் சேவித்தால்
ஆவாவென் றாராய்ந் தருளேலோ ரெம்பாவாய்

It has already dawned! The buffaloes of Ayarpaadi have gone to graze the fresh grass. We have stopped the other girls who are ready for the nombu and all of us are waiting at your door to take you. Cheerful lass, wake up, let us pray to Lord Kannan to give us the necessary to follow the nombu. If we pray to the Devathi Devan Lord Narayanan who killed the Asura in the form of a horse and who destroyed the wrestlers, he will bless us.

Thiruppavai - Day 07

2010-12-22T04:05:00.003+05:30

Thiruppavai - Day 07

Here Andal continues to wake her friends

கீசுகீ சென்றெங்கும் ஆனைச்சாத் தன்கலந்து
பேசின பேச்சரவம் கேட்டிலையோ? பேய்ப்பெண்ணே!
காசும் பிறப்பும் கலகலப்பக் கைபேர்த்து
வாச நறுங்குழல் ஆய்ச்சியர் மத்தினால்
ஓசைப் படுத்தத் தயிரரவம் கேட்டிலையோ?
நாயகப் பெண்பிள்ளாய்! நாராயண மூர்த்தி
கேசவனைப் பாடவும்நீ கேட்டே கிடத்தியோ?
தேசமுடையாய்! திறவேலோ ரெம்பாவாய்.

Have you still not heard the sparrows making chirping noises talking to each other as they leave their nests in search of food? Have you also not heard the ladies of Aayarpaadi with fragrant flowers on their tresses, churning the curd noisily with their bangles making jingling sounds as they move their hands to and fro? You are our leader, how can you still sleep after hearing our singing on Kesavan? Hey, beauty, open the door.

Thiruppavai - Day 06

2010-12-21T04:05:00.004+05:30

Thiruppavai - Day 06

Here Andal wakes up her friends

புள்ளும் சிலம்பினகாண்; புள்ளரையன் கோயிலில்
வெள்ளை விளிசங்கின் பேரரவம் கேட்டிலையோ?
பிள்ளாய்! எழுந்திராய், பேய்முலை நஞ்சுண்டு,
கள்ளச் சகடம் கலக்கழியக் காலோச்சி,
வெள்ளத்தரவில் துயிலமர்ந்த வித்தினை,
உள்ளத்துக் கொண்டு முனிவர்களும் யோகிகளும்
மெள்ள எழுந்து அரியென்ற பேரரவம்
உள்ளம் புகுந்து குளிர்ந்தேலோ ரெம்பாவாய்

Hear the birds chirping, can't you hear the booming sound of the white conch in the temple of our Lord whose vehicle is the king of birds, Garudan? Yogis and Rishis are chanting "Hari Hari" meditating on Lord Narayanan who drank Bhoodhana's life along with the poison she had applied on her breasts and tried to feed him; who killed Sakadasuran when he came steathily at great speed as a cart by hitting it with his legs; who sleeps in the Thirupparkadal. Don't these chants enter your ears and cool your hearts? Please wake up at least now.

Thiruppavai - Day 05

2010-12-20T04:05:00.004+05:30

Thiruppavai - Day 05

Here Andal explains the benefits of praying to Lord Krishna

மாயனை மன்னு வடமதுரை மைந்தனை,
தூய பெருநீர் யமுனைத் துறைவனை,
ஆயர் குலத்தினில் தோன்றும் அணிவிளக்கை,
தாயைக் குடல்விளக்கம் செய்த தாமோதரனை
தூயோமாய் வந்துநாம் தூமலர் தூவித்தொழுது
வாயினால் பாடி மனத்தினால் சிந்திக்க
போய பிழையும் புகுதருவான் நின்றனவும்
தீயினில் தூசாகும் செப்பேலோ ரெம்பாவாய்

The Lord who was born in Mathura, lives on the banks of the Yamuna, who has done many miracles, who is the light of Gokulam, who brought greatness to his mother by being in her womb, let us worship this Kannan with new and fresh flowers and our singing. If we pray to him with our hearts, all our past, present and future sins will be destroyed like dust in fire. Therefore please do sing His praise

Thiruppavai - Day 04

2010-12-19T04:05:00.003+05:30

Thiruppavai - Day 04

Here Andal prays for timely rains :

ஆழி மழைக்கண்ணா! ஒன்று நீ கைகரவேல்
ஆழியுள் புக்கு முகந்துகொ டார்த்தேறி
ஊழி முதல்வன் உருவம்போல் மெய்கறுத்து
பாழியந் தோளுடைப் பற்பநா பன்கையில்
ஆழிபோல் மின்னி, வலம்புரிபோல் நின்றதிர்ந்து
தாழாதே சார்ங்கம் உதைத்த சரமழைபோல்
வாழ உலகினில் பெய்திடாய், நாங்களும்
மார்கழி நீராட மகிழ்ந்தேலோ ரெம்பாவாய்

Oh, Rain God! Please do not hide anything. Please go into the sea, take all the water to the skies noisily, make clouds as dark as the supreme Lord who is the very reason for this world to exist, make lightning like the discus he is holding in his handsome broad shouldered arms, make thunder like the conch in his hands and make the rain flow like the arrow from his bow Saarngam so that this earth can flourish and we can bathe in this auspicious month of Margazhi!

Thiruppavai - Day 03

2010-12-18T04:04:00.001+05:30

Thiruppavai - Day 03

Here Andal explains the good results when we follow the nombu

ஓங்கி உலகளந்த உத்தமன் பேர்பாடி
நாங்கள் நம் பாவைக்குச் சாற்றிநீர் ஆடினால்
தீங்கின்றி நாடெல்லாம் திங்கள்மும் மாரிபெய்து
ஓங்கு பெருஞ்செந்நெ லூடு கயல் உகளப்
பூங்குவளைப் போதில் பொறிவண்டு கண்படுப்ப,
தேங்காதே புக்கிருந்து சீர்த்த முலைபற்றி
வாங்கக் குடம் நிறைக்கும் வள்ளல் பெரும்பசுக்கள்
நீங்காத செல்வம் நிறைந்தேலோ ரெம்பாவாய்

“When we follow this nombu by bathing early, singing the names of Narayanan who measured all the worlds with his Trivikrama avatharam, our country will flourish with timely and enough rains, with the result of which, the crops will grow well and the fish will swim merrily in the ponds filled with water. The bees will rest on the well bloomed flowers; the cow will fill the vessels with milk the moment her udder is touched to milk them.”

Here Andal portrays the richness and prosperity that will result on following the paavai nombu.

Thiruppavai - Day 02

2010-12-17T04:16:00.001+05:30

Thiruppavai - Day 02

In this second song, Andal explains the norms to be followed during this nombu

வையத்து வாழ்வீர்காள்! நாமும் நம்பாவைக்குச்
செய்யும் கிரிசைகள் கேளீரோ! பாற்கடலுள்
பையத் துயின்ற பரமன் அடி பாடி
நெய்யுண்ணோம்; பாலுண்ணோம்; நாட்காலை நீராடி
மையிட் டெழுதோம்; மலரிட்டு நாம் முடியோம்;
செய்யா தனசெய்யோம்; தீக்குறளைச் சென்றோதோம்;
ஐயமும் பிச்சையும் ஆந்தனையும் கைகாட்டி
உய்யுமா றெண்ணி உகந்தேலோ ரெம்பாவாய்

“My dear people born on this earth, here are the ways to follow the nombu. We must bathe early in the morning, singing the praise of the Paraman who reclines in the paarkadal. On the days of this paavai nombu, we will not have milk and its products like ghee. We will not decorate our tresses with flowers or beautify our eyes with kajal. We will also not do the things which our ancestors forbade us from doing nor shall we talk ill of others. We will give alms generously.”

Thiruppavai - Day 01

2010-12-16T04:06:00.017+05:30

Thiruppavai Day 01

Today is the first day of Margazhi. Margazhi is the most sacred month in the Tamizh calendar. Lord Krishna says that he is Margazhi among the months. One can imagine the sanctity of this month from his words!

The ritual of singing Thiruppavai - in praise of Mahavishnu and Thiruvempavai - in praise of Sivan during the month of Margazhi has been followed for a long long time.

This Margazhi, I am posting the 30 songs of Thiruppavai – one song per day on the 30 days of Margazhi.

I dedicate this to Mr. K.Parthasarathi, who not only gave me the idea, but also helped me with a lot of inputs. Thank you Mr.Parthasarathi!

Thiruppavai was sung by Andal, one of the twelve Azhwars whose compositions on Mahavishnu form the Nalayira Divyaprabandam. A brief account on Andal is available on my earlier blog on Andal

In Thiruppavai, Andal shows us the way to reach the Lord by the simple but very effective way of Bhakti! She has shown the way of Vratham called paavai nombu with all its rules and regulations in her compositions and confirms that people who follow this paavai nombu are sure to reach the Lord’s feet!

All the 30 songs are composed as Andal waking her friends early in the morning of Margazhi to follow the Vratham to attain the Lord.

I give below the songs in Tamizh, one each day, with the gist of it in English as I feel that a word by word translation may not read well.

Here is the first song:

மார்கழித் திங்கள் மதிநிறைந்த நன்னாளால்
நீராடப் போதுவீர் போதுமினோ நேரிழையீர்
சீர்மல்கும் ஆய்ப்பாடிச் செல்வச் சிறுமீர்காள்
கூர்வேல் கொடுந்தொழிலன் நந்தகோபன் குமரன்
ஏரார்ந்த கண்ணி யசோதை இளஞ்சிங்கம்
கார்மேனிச் செங்கண் கதிர்மதியம் போல்முகத்தான்
நாரா யணனே நமக்கே பறைதருவான்
பாரோர் புகழப் படிந்தேலோ ரெம்பாவாய்

Here Andal calls her friends, the beautiful girls of the prosperous Gokulam saying “this is the month of Margazhi where the moon shines brightly in the sky, come and have your bath. The dark skinned, lotus eyed, moon faced Krishna, son of the very tough Nandagopan and mother Yashoda’s lion cub will give us his blessings and we can follow the nombu with all his blessings"

Nandagopan is said to be tough – koorvel kodunthozhilan – as he is very protective about his young son

Margazhi (மார்கழி)

2010-12-15T16:56:00.000+05:30

Margazhi (மார்கழி)

The most beautiful month in the Tamizh calendar! Lord Krishna says that he is the month of Margazhi from which one can imagine the beauty and sanctity of this month.

It is considered very auspicious to visit the temples everyday in the early morning during this month. This custom has been followed by our people over the ages and now it has been proven scientifically that the ozone layer is closest to the Earth during this time and hence breathing in the fresh early morning air during this month is very beneficial to our health.

Temples are opened earlier in the morning in Margazhi and special pujas are conducted to the deities.

Margazhi is synonymous with Tiruppavai and Tiruvempavai to one and all.

Andal recited the 30 verses of Tiruppavai on the 30 days of Margazhi, followed the Paavai nombu and attained Lord Mahavishnu.

Manikavasagar recited Thiruvempavai on Lord Shiva. In these verses, the saint visualises himself as a female and sings in praise of the Lord in the early hours of Margazhi

Kolam

Margazhi is known for lovely kolams. People decorate the entrance of their homes with decorative kolams and rangolis.

Margazhi Bhajanai & Unjavrithi

Margazhi is known for its bhajanai early morning and people also do unjavrithi. People go in groups singing in praise of God.

Again all these are being followed to ensure that people get benefited by the pure oxygen early in the morning!

Vaikunta Ekadasi (வைகுண்ட ஏகாதசி)

All Ekadasis are considered to be days to follow the vratham of avoiding rice. Rice is the staple food of South India and it is better to avoid it at least once in a fortnight to cleanse the digestive system. The eleventh day after the new moon and the full moon is called Ekadasi and we are supposed to follow the vratham of avoiding rice and eating light on these days. Even if the vratham is not followed on all ekadasis, it is important to follow it on Vaikunta Ekadasi. It is believed that people who follow the vratham of avoiding rice and salt and be awake the whole night reciting Lord Mahavishnu’s name on this day will reach Vaikundam after leaving this world. Vaikunta Ekadasi is the eleventh day of the waxing moon. This year it falls on 17th December. Ever year all temples of Mahavishnu have the beautiful ritual of “sorgavaasal” (சொர்க்க வாசல்) on the early morning of Vaikunta Ekadasi and the whole day is celebrated on a grand scale in these temples

Thiruvadhirai (திருவாதிரை) aka Arudhra darisanam (ஆருத்ரா தரிசனம்)

Thiruvadhirai is the star of Lord Shiva and this festival is celebrated in His honour. Arudhra darisanam is celebrated on the full moon day of Margazhi and this year it falls on 22nd December. This festival is celebrated in all Sivan temples with special abhishekams to the Siva lingams on the eve of Thiruvadhirai and special alangarams and pujas on Thiruvadhirai day. The celebrations at Chidambaram are the best with special pujas to Natarajar.

This time of the year is very close to harvest and all kinds of native vegetables are available aplenty. Hence the offerings to Lord Shiva are kali (களி) - a sweet made with rice and jaggery - and kootu (கூட்டு) - a side dish made of all native vegetables and coconut.

Thiruvadhirai ther (தேர்) (chariot) is said to be very famous and in fact many people including those in our household have the habit of decorating their front porches with kolams in the design of chariots.

Hanumath Jayanthi (ஹனுமத் ஜெயந்தி)

Hanumath Jayanthi – the birthday of Lord Hanuman is celebrated on different months in different part of India, but in Tamil Nadu, it is the new moon day of Margazhi which usually coincides with Hanuman’s birth star Moolam. This year it falls on 4th January 2011.

Bhogi pandigai (போகி பண்டிகை)

The last day of Margazhi, before the “wedding season” month of Thai is born, come Bhogi Pandigai. This pandigai is on the day before the grand tamizh festival of Pongal. This year it falls on 14th January 2011. Just before Bhogi, the houses are cleaned, painted and all old and unwanted things are burnt on bhogi day marking the entry of new and exit of old stuff. Of course, nowadays burning is discouraged as it creates pollution.

Music Season

Last, but not the least, is the Margazhi music season in Chennai. The music season is not just music, but dance and drama too with many lecture demonstration sessions useful for learners. Again the music season does not wait for Margazhi anymore as the city is growing and with sabhas all over the place, the duration of the season has increased. This year music season began on the 1st of December and is in full swing now. It is a pleasure to watch the sabhas full of different types of people right from the lovely pattu sari clad ladies to the girls in jeans - many of them foreigners - enjoying the kutcheris alike. For the past 10-15 years the food served in the sabha canteens has gained almost as much importance as the kutcheris themselves with caterers vying for a slot.

All in all, Margazhi is a lively month right from temples early morning to the kutcheris late evening!

Nostalgia

2010-12-06T18:20:00.000+05:30

Cat (Art?) Dosa

After a long time I had the chance to make animal shaped dosas yesterday. Ranga's niece and her family had come home and I made a cat dosa, elephant dosa and fish dosa for the grandson!

Everybody around including Ranga was surprised to see the art in dosa!

I travelled down the memory lane to the great days at No.1. Ranganathan Road where my sister Sundari used to make cat shaped dosa for me. I do remember that Amma used to make small dosas - like the mini uthappams we get in Saravana Bhavan these days - just to make it more interesting for us to eat! To my knowledge it was Sundari who created the cat dosa first. I used to be very fascinated by the cat and used to eat just the tail, then the ears and then the head and so on, what fun it was! Later in life, I extended to elephant shape, fish shape, star shape etc for the many nephews and nieces, but till date cat dosa is the first one that I make when I get a chance to entertain a child with different shaped dosas!

Thank you Sundari for introducing me to this art. This blog is just for you!

In so many years, Ranga says he has never seen these dosas made by me and took some snaps!

TV Programme - Kannapiran Kadhai Amudham

2010-11-18T22:03:00.000+05:30

TV Programme - Kannapiran Kadhai Amudham

In this morning's episode of Kannapiran Kadhai Amudhu on Podhigai TV, Sri Velukkudi Krishnan gave a very cute example of why God punishes bad men. He first put a question - is God partial? Being God, how would He judge people as good or bad? Sri. Krishnan also gave a reply with this sweet example

A child plays with a stick. The child's mother keeps an eye on him. As he plays, the child tries to poke his own eye with the stick. Mother's reaction is to warn the child and if the child tries to do it again and again, she throws the stick away and beats the child.

Mother = God

Child = Jeevathma

Stick = The body Jeevathma takes

As the child (jeevathma plays), mother (God) just observes. Once the child (jeevathma) tries to hurt himself, mother (God) hits the child (jeeavathma) and throws the stick (body) away!

Karthigai (கார்த்திகை)

2010-11-17T14:43:00.000+05:30

Karthigai (கார்த்திகை)

This eighth month in the Tamizh calendar is one of the darkest months as it is one during which it rains the most, the others being Purattasi and Aippasi Daytime is quite less in this month as it becomes dark by 5.30-6.00 pm during this month.

First day of Karthigai

Today is the first day of Karthigai.

The first day of Karthigai is well known for Iyappan. People planning to visit Sabarimala for Makara jothi, start their vratham on this day. Iyappan vratham starts with the wearing of tulasi mani maalai on this day and following the strict rules and regulations of this vratham. Iyappan temples are beautifully decorated and special pujas are done for the Lord on this day.

The other very old significance of the first day of Karthigai is Mudavanuku moksham (முடவனுக்கு மோக்ஷம்) – the moksha of the lame man. The story behind this is that a lame man wanted to bathe in the Cauvery waters in Kumbakonam atleast on kadaimugam day (last day of Aippasi) as bathing in Kumbakonam Cauvery on all days of Aippasi is considered to give one moksham.
Even today this is followed and people throng the river on the kadaimugam day to ensure they atleast have a dip in the river on that day. By the time he reached Mayavaram (aka Mayiladuthurai), Aippasi ended and the month of Karthigai had begun. To fulfill the lame man’s wish, God blessed him saying that he will attain moksham even if he bathes in the Cauvery in Mayavaram.

Karthigai deepam(கார்த்திகை தீபம்)

The most important festival of Karthigai is Karthigai deepam, which falls on the full moon of the month of Karthigai. This year Karthigai deepam falls on 21^st November. Karthigai deepam is mainly celebrated in all Sivan temples with the most important being Thiruvannamalai Deepam. The main deepam being lit in Thiruvannamalai is a great sight and is always telecast on TV every year. Lighting of the deepam takes place in all other Sivan temples also on a grand scale. At home, people light agal vilakku (lamps made of red clay) filled with oil and new cotton wick and place them decoratively near the front door as well as backyard. Lighting of the lamps in this month must have started mainly because, as mentioned above, this is one of the darkest months and lamps were lit to get rid of the darkness. As in everything else, this is being celebrated as a festival. In fact, a couple of lamps are kept at the entrances to homes in the evenings on all days of Karthigai in yonder days. Even nowadays many people follow this including our household. Whatever maybe the reason, it is a joy to see the rows of lamps on the people’s balconies on the day of Karthigai deepam.

Since Karthigai deepam comes quite close to Diwali, bursting of fire-crackers for Karthigai is also observed.

The sweets made for Karthigai are the Karthigai pori and adhirasam. Karthigai pori is a very healthy sweet as there is no deep frying or ghee used in it.

Karthigai Amavasya

Karthigai amavasya is celebrated as Sridara Aiyyavaal urchavam (ஸ்ரீதர அய்யவாள் உற்சவம்) in Thiruvisalur The legend behind this is that Sridhara aiyyavaal on the day of his mother’s ceremony, went to have bath in the river nearby to get ready for the ritual. On his way back, he met a few untouchables begging for food. Moved by their condition, Aiyyavaal brought them home and fed them with the food made for the ceremony. Immediately the agraharam where he lived disowned him and he could not get any Vadyar (priest) to do the ceremonies for him. He prayed to God and suddenly three men came out of nowhere and offered to do the ceremonies and have lunch too. Immediately after lunch, the men vanished and Aiyyavaal understood that it must have been the Mumoorthigal – Brahma, Vishnu, Sivan. Despite this, the he was advised to go to Varanasi and bathe in the River Ganga for the sin of feeding the untouchables. He again prayed to God as he was too old to travel all the way to Varanasi. God blessed him that on Karthigai amavasya day, River Ganga will flow from the well behind his house. Ganga overflowed in his well on this day. To this day Ganga is said to have kept her promise and flows in that well and it is considered sacred to have bath from the waters of that well on Karthigai amavasya day. This day is being celebrated as Sridhara Aiyyavaal urchavam even today. This urchavam is celebrated for ten days with the Amavasya day being the concluding day. This year Aiyyavaal urchavam / Amavasya falls on 5^th December. Aiyyavaal who lived about three hundred years ago is said to be one of the gurus of the nama japa sampardaya.

Recipe : Karunaikizhangu Thuvayal

2010-11-16T18:28:00.000+05:30

Karunaikizhangu thuvayal (கருணைக்கிழங்கு துவையல்)

This is my favourite among the dishes made out of karunaikizhangu, the other one being karunaikizhangu masiyal, my sister Sabi's favourite! I have never personally made this dish as the slightly itchy karunaikizhangu is not relished in my inlaw's place but I love to hog it whenever Amma makes it for me.

Karunaikizhangu (கருணைக்கிழங்கு) (yam)- 2 numbers
Mustard seeds (கடுகு) - 1 tsp
Urad dall (உளுத்தம்பருப்பு) - 2 tsp
Dry red chillies (காய்ந்த மிளகாய்) - 4
Tamarind (புளி)          - 2 inch strip / 2 tsp of pulp
Asafoetida (பெருங்காயம்) - 1/2 tsp
Turmeric powder (மஞ்சள் பொடி) -1/2 tsp
Salt (உப்பு)     - to taste
Gingelly Oil (நல்லெண்ணெய்) - 2 tsp

Peel the yam and cut into small round pieces. Wash well and pressure cook in water adding turmeric powder. It should be well cooked with two whistles. Take out the cooked yam, drain the water completely and let it cool.

In a kadai take oil, add mustard seeds and when it crackles, add the urad dall, let it become golden, add the red chillies and switch off the gas. Put these in a mixie along with tamarind, salt and asafoetida and grind.

Mash the cooled yam with a masher and add the ground mixture to it. Mix the whole thing together and your karunaikizhangu thuvayal is ready to eat with hot rice and gingelly oil!

Temple Trails Tamil Nadu : Kandakottam, Chennai – Soorasamharam – Part II

2010-11-14T21:33:00.000+05:30

Soorasamharam at Kandakottam - Part II

We waited for about 15 minutes witnessing the police organising the crowd very well. Slowly the traffic was stopped on our side of the road and the Sooran came first and positioned himself.

Many young men dressed up as Murugan’s soldiers including Veerabahu followed and next came the much awaited Murugan. What a beautiful deity! His vahanam was the horse. He had the Vel which his mother Parvati had given in one hand and a beautiful bow in his other hand. I saw Murugan as Parimelazhagar for the first time!

There was a commentary going on about the events on one side. First was the Veerabahu thoothu. When Sooran did not listen to Veerabahu, war was declared. Sooran came with his sword and kedayam for the battle and Murugan nipped his head with his Vel. Sooran went back and came again with Yaanai mugam (elephant-face). Murugan removed this head and he again came back with Singa mugam (lion-face), Yaali mugam, Aatu mugam (goat-face), Puli mugam (tiger face) and Kudhirai mugam (horse-face). Murugan detached all the heads with his Vel and finally Sooran came with his original face. Every time the head was removed with the Vel, the whole area resounded with the chant of “Vetrivel, Veeravel” and “Arohara”!

Then Sooran went around the Lord and when he came to the front, he took the form of a tree. The ever benevolent Murugan did not kill him like any other Gods do to the Asuras, but split the tree into a cock and peacock and kept the Sooran near him always!

Here is the video of the Soorasamharam

The Soorasamharam here ended with the Sooran taking the form of a tree and deepaarathanai (aarti) was performed to the Lord. Once the deepaarathanai was done, the crowd started moving and we also proceeded home satisfied with a great darshan of the Soorasamharam.

Temple Trails Tamil Nadu : Kandakottam, Chennai – Soorasamharam – Part I

2010-11-12T14:31:00.001+05:30

Soorasamharam at Kandakottam - Part I

When we had a great darshan of the Soorasamharam at Vadapalani temple last year, Jayashree decided that she will take me to Kandakottam for this year Soorasamharam. Who will get such a sister, who instead of just enjoying herself, ensures that I also get the pleasure out of such visits. Thank you Appa and Amma for such a sister and thank you Jay, Love you!

We had enquired at the temple and found that Soorasamharam will take place around 7 pm. To find a comfortable place to stand, we reached the temple by 5.30 pm to have the darshan of the Lord. Despite hearing a lot through my parents and grandparents, this was my first visit to this temple. I was thrilled to see the well decorated gopuram (temple tower) but was a little bothered about the long queue which stretched to the road on the side of the temple. But the queue moved so fast that within 7-8 minutes, we were inside the temple.

It was a very quick darshan and volunteers were pushing people as they had to accommodate a huge crowd. I just glimpsed the idols of Vallalar and Pamban Swamigal on the left. On our right was Murugan. Murugan looked very very cute in full alangaram. I was surprised to see such small idols of Valli Deivayanai sametha Murugan. On either side of the sannidhi were separate sannidhis for Valli and Deivayanai.

We moved further to have darshan of Ganapathy in front of us and I was just allowed to read the words Suriyan and Veerabagu by which time the volunteers pushed us out. I promised myself to make a detailed trip to this temple again and blog about it including the legend and history.

As we came out the Dwajasthambam was to our left and many ladies were lighting ghee lamps nearby. We moved to our right and reached a very beautifully decorated mandapam. On the left side on a raised platform there were beautiful water rangolis on plates. The rangolis were of Ganapathy, Valli Deivayanai sametha Arumugan, Gnanapandithan, Murugan on his mayil vahanam, Natarajar and Vallalar. Inspite of being six days old, the rangolis were looking beautiful and a lady nearby wondered how it would have been on day one.

On the right side near the decorated pillars was the Urchavamurthy on Mayil vahanam. It was a pleasure to have his darshan. Like Thatha used to say, the youthful Murugan gives one so much cheer and energy! We had our fill of this Murugan and proceeded further.

The staircase next to this had “way to Kandan Kalaiarangam” written on it and people were going up and down. We too went up out of curiosity. We were delighted to see the gopurams from there.

There was no programme happening at the Kalaiarangam. But people were just sitting around and relaxing there.We came down and moved further right to have darshan of another Urchavar. This happened to be Valli Deivayanai sametha Arumugan complete with his Vel and Sevalkodi. All the six faces were looking so beautiful and benevolent!

We reached the side entrance of the temple and came out. While coming out, I could feel the presence of Murugan everywhere and the Bhakthi of the people in that area and all around there were shops in the Lord's name.

We once again enquired about the timings and exact location of Soorasamharam with a few people. We then reached the main road near Eithirajulu Naidu Sons and stood a comfortable place hoping to get a good view. The traffic was in full swing and people around were saying that it will be stopped the moment, Murugan comes out of the temple in oorvalam (procession). While waiting in such a huge but organized crowd, I could not stop feeling proud of our country where we never give up such festivities and celebration for the sake of our livelihood, but make it a part of our lifestyle!

Diwali Legiyam

2010-11-04T19:31:00.000+05:30

Diwali Legiyam (தீபாவளி லேகியம்)

This is a digestive prepared during Diwali and eaten early in the morning to ensure that the heavy food consumed this time gets digested easily. This is one of the most important things in the Diwali list at home.

Ingredients

1. Sukku (சுக்கு) (dry ginger)               25 gm
2. Kandanthippili (கண்டந்திப்பிலி)      25 gm
3. Arisi thippili  (அரிசி திப்பிலி)          25 gm
4. Parangipattai   (பரங்கிப்பட்டை)      25 gm
5. Sitharathai   (சித்தரத்தை)           25 gm
6. Milagu (மிளகு) (pepper)          25 gm
7. Dhaniya (தனியா) (coriander seeds)   15 gm
8. Jeera  (சீரகம்)            10 gm
9. Omam   (ஓமம்)      20 gm
10.Adhimaduram  (அதிமதுரம்)   25 gm
11. Jadhikkai   (ஜாதிக்காய்)           1/2
12. Jadipathiri (ஜாதிப்பத்திரி)      5 gm
13. Elakkai (ஏலக்காய்) (Cardamom)  10 gm
14. Ginger   (இஞ்சி)         50 gm
15. Jaggery    (வெல்லம்) 1/2 kg
16. Ghee (நெய்)        100 gm
17. Honey  (தேன்)     100 gm

Dry roast ingredients number 1 to 13 separately one after the other. Take care not to over heat. Powder all the roasted ingredients together and sieve.

Dissolve jaggery in water, heat slightly and filter it. Take the filtered jaggery water in a pan (kadai) and boil it.

Grind the ginger and take out the juice. Keep this juice aside for a few minutes so that the sediment settles below. We will be using only the clear ginger water on top. Add this ginger water to the boiling jaggery. Add the honey and let the solution boil for some more time. Before the jaggery reaches the paagu consistency but boils very well, add the sieved powder. Keep stirring till it thickens slightly. Add the ghee little by little to the thickening mixture. Once it starts leaving the sides of the pan, it is ready to be taken off the stove.

This legiyam is in the consistency of halwa and can be shaped into balls and eaten. As mentioned above it is a great digestive and helps our tummy when attacked by diwali sweets and savouries.

This medicinal legiyam can be made not just during Diwali but anytime one feels to have a natural digestive medicine.

Diwali Recipe : Adhirasam

2010-11-03T16:14:00.000+05:30

Adhirasam (அதிரசம்)

I tried adhirasam for the first time yesterday and it came out well. I got the recipe from my mother

Ingredients:

Rice flour (அரிசி மாவு) : 2 cups
Jaggery (வெல்லம்) : 1 1/4 cup
Cardamom powder ( ஏலக்காய் பொடி) : 1/2 tsp
Ghee (நெய்) : 3 tsp
Oil (எண்ணெய்) : for deep frying
Water (தண்ணீர்) : as required

Dissolve jaggery in water, heat it slightly and then filter it. Boil the filtered jaggery water well until huge bubbles form on the surface. This is much before any string consistency.

Take the rice flour in a wide bowl and part it circularly in the centre (like a well). Now, add the boiled jaggery to it and stir well with a ladle. Ensure there are no lumps. Let this mixture cool. Add cardamom powder and ghee to the cooled rice mixture and knead it well.

Heat the oil in a saucepan (kadai). In the meanwhile, take a small ball of the mixture the size of a lemon and flatten to the size of a puri on a greased plastic sheet. You can do this with your fingers.

Drop the puri into the hot oil and deep fry.

Once it becomes slightly brown, press it well with the help of two spoons to ensure any excess oil is drained and keep it aside to cool. Repeat the same procedure for the balance dough.

Adhirasam is ready to be enjoyed for Diwali!

NOTE: In case one adhirasam breaks in the oil, then probably the jaggery is more. The taste varies with different qualities of rice/jaggery. Do check and add a few more tsp of flour if required.