Temple and Sport

Divya Desam- Margazhi Special

Margazhi Special


Dawn of devotion
Margazhi- Month of undistracted Devotion to the Lord
Sing Thiruppavai before Sunrise and find eternal bliss

Sunday, November 26 ,2006
S Prabhu

Time: 4am, Month: Margazhi (Mid December),
Location: The narrow streets of Mylapore and Thiruvellikeni

This old and traditional heartland of Madras is already buzzing with action. Quite unmindful of the cold wintry mornings that mark this period, women folks (Madisaarai Maamis) are out there in big numbers and can be seen decorating their front yard as well the streets with big sized beautifully laid out kolams. It is believed that the Kolams in Margazhi drawn before sunrise is a way of inviting Goddess Lakshmi into the homes.

‘Kolam Drawing’ is also the favourite event at the annual four day Sundaram Finance Mylapore Festival, which has now become synonymous with ‘Mylapore and Margazhi’. The Kolam contest that takes place in the Mada Streets as part of this festival attracts participants, including very young kids, from as far off as Kanchipuram and Chengalpet. Do not be surprised if you have a few foreigners too drawing out their own versions of the kolam, such is its popularity.

While the women folks are drawing out the kolams at 4am, the men, especially the Vishnu devotees, are out in the streets in groups with an early morning recital of Thiruppavai, the 30 beautifully composed songs of saint poet Aandal (Shiva devotees recite Maanickavaachagar’s Thiruvembavai). 30 days of sincere, undistracted devotion to the Lord during Margazhi will lead one to happiness and eternal bliss.


So what is this period

The six months from Aadi to Margazhi make up the night of the Gods and the other six months make up the day of the Gods. Thus, it is said, the month of Margazhi corresponds with the dawn of the Gods. The right time to pray for God's grace is the dawn of God's day - the month of Margazhi (mid December to mid January). It is an age old belief that the mind and soul should be completely devoted to the Lord during Margazhi and that explains why there are no other Vaishnavite festivals or weddings during Margazhi (to avoid distractions). It is said that one should give alms and charity in full measure and pray for the elevation of spirit. Hence, the month of Margazhi is considered unique, highly spiritual, sacred and divine. That, in short, is the significance of Margazhi. Even Lord Krishna has said in the Bhagavath Gita ‘Masaanaam Margaseershohum’ meaning ‘I am Margazhi’, which clearly explains the greatness of Margazhi.

About Thiruppavai

Aandal, the only woman saint poet among the twelve Azhvaars is considered to be the human manifestation of the Goddess of Earth. Right from her childhood, Aandal considered herself God's bride and at the age of 5, she composed, in the month of Margazhi, 30 beautiful songs called the Thiruppavai.

A close read of the Thiruppavai gives out an interesting story. While it appears in the early stanzas that Aandal’s intention is to pursue the Lord to marry her, as one reads through the later verses, one finds that she is actually praying to be allowed to serve the lord. It is said that those who sing the Thiruppavai during each day of Margazhi will find eternal bliss every where.

Legend has it that Periyazhvaar gave his foster daughter in marriage to Lord Ranganatha of Srirangam. It is that believed that, on the day of the marriage, Aandal walked into the sanctum sanctorum and merged with Lord Ranganatha.

In the Naalayira Divya Prabhandham (4000 verses of the Azhvaars), no other Azhvaar, except perhaps Nammazhvaar, has brought out the intimacy between the Divine and the devotee as Aandal has done. Thiruppavai celebrates, in thirty songs, a certain simple ritualistic observance on the part of the devotees. The first ten songs celebrate the fruits of the devotional observance, the second ten songs seem to wake up Krishna, to pray for their grace and the last ten songs inspire devotees to take the path of devoted service.

One song of the 30 Thiruppavai verses is dedicated for each of the thirty days of Margazhi. A unique feature in centuries gone by was that letters written during Margazhi used to start with one Thiruppavai Paasuram (relevant to the day) that would serve as an indication of the date of the letter. The date itself was not written in the letter.


Vaishnavism and Saivism acknowledging each other

An interesting facet of Thiruppavai and Thiruvembavai is that the first verse in Thiruppaavai begins with the Maa (Maargazhi Thingal) - the syllable, with which Maanikkavaachakar's name begins - while the first verse in Thiruvembavai begins with the syllable Aa, with which Aandal's name begins. It is said that the stalwarts of Vaishnavism and Saivism had thus acknowledged each other.

Recital of 4000 verses (Prabandham) during Margazhi

It is believed that the 4000 songs of Azhvaars were once lost and that at the Sarangapani temple in Kumbakonam, only ten verses of Nammazhvaar were recited. It is said that Nammazhvaar initiated Naathamuni into the "Divya Prabhandam". Thus Nathamuni put together the 4000 verses sung by the Azhvaars. Credit goes to him for bringing back not just the 1000 verses of Nammazhvaar but also the other three thousand verses during Margazhi.

Recognising this contribution of Nammazhvaar, it is believed that Ramanuja made his idol, installed it at the Srirangam temple, along with those of other Azhvaars and organized, during the Margazhi festival, the recital of 4000 verses in front of the Azhvaar idols seated in the hall on the 21 days(10+10+1).The first 2000 is recited 10 days prior to Viakunta Ekadasi, the 1000 verses of Nammazhvaar 10 days beginning from Vaikunta Ekadasi and the rest 1000 Paasurams on the 21st day.

Vaikunda Ekadesi

The high point of the Margazhi month is the Vaikunda Ekadesi festival. Legend has it, that to protect the Devas, Vishnu once fought a long battle with an Asura. While Vishnu was taking a break, the asura wanted to hit out at him. Shakti, Vishnu's female energy, emerged out of his body and defeated the Asura. A pleased Vishnu named this maiden as Ekadesi and granted her the power to relieve people from the greatest sins, if they observed a fast on this day and also to help them reach Vaikundam. Vaikunda Ekadesi is a very holy day and is to be spent in fasting, prayer and meditation. Devotees look upon this austerity as a means to succeed in their spiritual endeavour.

It is believed that there is no fasting that is even comparable to the Vaikunda Ekadasi fasting, such is its significance. Lord Ranganatha at Srirangam, in all his glory and resplendence, enters the Parama Padha Vaasal (the gateway to salvation) on this day(30th December this year) and devotees pass through this symbolic gate of Heaven or Vaikundam, the abode of Lord Vishnu. This is the only day when the Swarga Vaasal is opened in the year.

At Srirangam, some of the highlights include Lord being adorned as Mohini, the Lord going on a procession in the Horse Vaahanam, Araiyar Sevai and Nammazhvaar Moksham.

At Srivilliputhur, the highlights are Araiyar Sevai, 8 day Neeraatu Utsavam and Aandal Thirukalyanam, marking the culmination of the month long festivities. It is believed that Aandal performed ‘Piriyaa Vidai’, a fast asking the Lord permission to attain him and be inseparable from him. To celebrate this, a wholesome ritual has been created and built around the character of Aandal. Another highlight is the Paavai Nombu celebrations. The Paavai Nombu is a penance that has been practiced, during Margazhi, for several centuries. If devotees observe Paavai Nombu by having bath in the river and singing the praise of the Lord before sunrise, it is believed that they will be free from any harm and that there will be good rains and happiness all around.

Lakhs of devotees throng the Thiruvellikeni temple to witness Lord Parthasarathy, in all his glory and resplendence, enter the Parama Padha Vaasal (the Gateway to Salvation) at around 4am on the Vaikunda Ekadesi day, the only one on which the Swarga Vaasal is opened in the year. Devotees pass through this symbolic Gate of Heaven or Vaikundam, the abode of Lord Vishnu, to obtain his blessings and grace.

The twin Vishnu temples in the heart of Mylapore - Vedantha Desikar and the 1000 years old Aadhi Kesavaperumal temple- attract several thousands of devotees during this month. Festivities at the Vedantha Desikar temple include Nammazhvaar Moksham, Desika Prabhandham and Aandal ThiruKalyanam. At the Aadhi Kesavaperumal temple, the birth place of Peyazhvaar, the highlights are Lord Kesava being adorned as Mohini, Gita Upadesam, 9-day Aandal Neeraatu Utsavam and the street procession of Aandal.

40 kms from Chennai, off the Bangalore Highway, in Sriperambudur, the birth place of Ramanuja, festivities take place in grand style at the 3000 year old Ramanuja Temple from 4am every morning in Margazhi. Thiru Adyaana Utsavam, honouring of all the Azhvaars, Nammazhvaar Moksham and Vaikunda Ekadesi celebrations are some of the highlights.

Similar festivities take place at the Neer Vannan temple in Tiruneermalai on the outskirts, South of Chennai and at the Veera Raaghava Temple in Thiruvallar, about 50 kms from Chennai.

Ø 30 days of unfailing, sincere devotion to the Lord during Margazhi, will lead one to happiness for the rest of the year
Ø Early morning recital of Thiruppavai before sunrise, specially by unmarried women, will help find a suitable groom
Ø One invites Goddess Lakshmi into the house with their Margazhi kolams

Labels: Temple Divya Desam

posted by PRabhu S @ 5:31 pm