MAAVILAKKU====>>>>

[our pooja room on an aadi velli in 2007]

Many of the Tamilians [irrespective of the sub-sects] offer Maavilakku [மாவிளக்கு] to the GOD of their choice ===> Amman, Perumal, Murugan ===> in temples or at their homes.

In our custom we offer this on the 1st Aadi and 1st Thai Vellikizhamai [Kataka/Karkatam and Makara months' first friday].

Now let me venture about the dough preparation:::==>>>

INGREDIENTS:

• Raw Rice => 2 cups
• Jaggery [preferred one is jaggery powder :: நாட்டுசக்கரை => 1 cup.
  
• Cardamom => 2 nos. [powdered]
• Ghee => 2 table spoons.
• Wick => 2 numbers poothiri [not the conventional one]
  

Method:
Wash the rice and keep it soaked for 10 or 15 minutes ==> drain well and spread on a clean white cloth ==> grind the rice in a mixer [in small quantity] and seive [சலிக்கவேண்டும்] ==> when the powdered rice is ready, mix the flour with the jaggery powder [to add more taste, one can add honey and grated coconut] and powdered cardamom ==> spead the dough on a plate ==> make two cup shape mould on the dough ==> pour ghee ==> put the wick.

Draw a kolam and place the plate containing the Maavilakku. Decoarate with flower. Lit the lamp by chanting slokams of the GOD to whom it is offered. [we chant VENKATRAMANA GOVINDA, SANKATA HARANA GOVINDA at the time of lighting the lamp followed by Vishnusahasranamam and Devi slokams]. When the lamp is about to go off, do neivedhyam of Milk or Fruits. Afterwards, remove the burnt wick, mix the dough properly, distribute the Maavilakku Mavu Prasadm [yummy.......]

====================

SANKATAHARA CHATHURHTI // MAHA SANKATAHARA CHATHURTHI

Mooshika Vahana
Mooshika vaahana modhaha hastha
Chamara karna vilambitha suthra
Vamana rupa maheswara puthra
Vigna vinayaka padha namaste

Namavali
Pahi pahi Gajanana
Parvathi thanaya gajanana

=============================
this slokam i learnt during my childhood from BALA BHAJANAVALI
==> all slokas will be published with mp3 track later

The SANKATAHARA Chaturthi vratha occurs during the fourth day of They Pirai Paksha, everymonth. The MAHA SANKATAHARA Chaturthi occurs on the fourt day of They Pirai Paksha in the month of AAVANI [tamil], Chingam [mqlayalam], Simha/Bhadrapadha [sanskrit]. (Sankatahara Chathurthi falling on Tuesday is known as ANGARIKA Sankatahara Chaturthi).

This Vratam starts before the sun rise and go up to the sight of moon, some time even upto midnight. The purpose of this Vratam is to overcome difficulties and problems. People suffering from the ill effects of Moon [Chandran] or Mars [Angaraka] can follow this Vratham.

This Vratam is very auspicious for eliminating all obstacles in life and to reshape one's problems into opportunities.

On this day one can chant Ganesha Sahasranaamam, Sankashta Naashana Ganesha Sthothram or simple stootrams on Lord Ganesha.

||Sankashta Nashana Ganesha Sthothram ||

Pranamya shirasa devam gouri puthram vinayakam | Bhakthavasam smarenithyam aayuhkaamartha sidhaye || 1 || Prathamam vakrathundancha ekadantham dvitheeyakam | Thritheeyam krishnapingaksham gajavakram chathurthakam || 2 || Lambodharam panchamanchancha shashtam vikatamevacha | Sapthamam vignaraajancha dhoomravarnam thathashtamam || 3 || Navavam balachandrancha dashamanthu vinayakam| Ekadhasham ganapathim dwadhashanthu gajananam|| 4 || Dwadashaithani namani trisandhyam yahpatenaraha | Nachavignabhayam thasya sarvasidhi karam param|| 5 || Vidhyarthi labhathe vidhyam dhanarthi labhathe dhanam | Puthrarthi labhathe puthran moksharthi mokshamapnayath || 6 || Japedh ganapatistotram shadbirmasai palamlabheth | Samvathsarena sidhincha labhathe nathra samshayaha || 7 || Ashtabhyo brahmanebhyashcha likithva yeh samarpayeth | Thasya vidhya bhaveth sarva ganeshasya prasadhathaha|| 8 || ||Iti Shree Narada Purane Sankata Nashanam Ganesha Sthrothram Sampoornam ||

==================================

Idugampalayam Vinayagar
[near coimbatore]

Eachanary Vinayagar
[near coimbatore]

VARALAKSHMI VRATHAM

[varalakshmi poojai @ GanSriPar's House == 2007]


Sri Lakshmi Gayathri:

Ohm Mahalakshmyai cha Vidmahe Vishnupriyai cha Dhi-Mahi
Tanno Lakshmth Prachodayat

"Om. Let us meditate on the Great Goddess Sri Lakshmi, the consort of Sri Maha Vishnu. May that effulgent Maha Lakshmi Devi inspire and illuminate our mind with understanding."

\\ ============================================ //

This vratham is celebrated on the FRIDAY before the Full Moon of Tamil Aadi [jul-aug] to appease the Goddess Lakshmi to grant boons.

The previous [thursday] evening of the festival, the house is cleaned and a bronze or silver kalasam [sombu] is filled with rice or water, coins, turmeric, a whole lime, betel leaf and nut. The kalasam is decorated with sandal paste and kumkum, a coconut smeared with turmeric is kept on it and mango leaves placed around. The face of Goddess Lakshmi decorated with jewels is placed against the coconut. Arati is taken at night after the Goddess is offered Venpongal [white pongal] as neivedhyam.

On the day of Vratham the Goddess is welcomed to the specially erected pandal by singing the song "Bhagyadha Lakshmi Baramma......". The kalasam is placed on a bed of raw rice spread over a plantain leaf. Pooja is begun with an invocation to Lord Ganesha. During the Pooja the Lakshmi Sahasranamam and other slokas are chanted.

After doing the pooja a yellow thread called 'saradu' is tied by the women on their right wrists. in our family husband ties the saradu and for the unamrried girls, mother. The women who do the Nonbu/Vratham fast that day eating only certain foods that have been offered to the Goddess first [kozhukattai ==>>> sweet, savour]

The evening women visit one another for exchange of thamboolam. The next day after doing the punar pooja in the night they sing lakshmi songs, praying for the prosperity of the whole family and arati, the kalasam will be kept in the drum or vessel which is treated as the main granary of rice. Next moring the water is sprinkled all over the house or the rice will be kept separately to prepare Sakkarapongal [sweet pongal] on the next friday..

http://www.carnatica.net/nvr/vara.pdf ==> NINE COMPOSITIONS ON
SHRI VARALAKSHMI Text in Sanskrit & Tamil (by various composers

http://music.cooltoad.com/music/download.php?id=293401 ==> for downloading Baagyadha Lakshmi Baaramma ==> Aruna Sairam [composed by L.Vaidhyanathan], duration 6.11 mts., 8.5 mb, 192 bit stero.

http://www.spiritual-happiness.com/sanskritscriptures.html#mahalakshmi
for streaming audio...

Let us all pray HER and get blessings for our prosperity on this great occasion.

((//\\[][][][][][]//\\))

KALABHAIRVAR [loyal attendant of Lord Shiva]

|| KALA BHAIRAVAR ||

[pic @ gansripar's pooja room]

[@ 6.00 pm on all sundays -----deepam in a broken coconut with ghee...wick in a small red square cloth containing 12 ghee roasted pepper.

===================================================================
Kalabhairava is an incarnation of Lord Shiva.
He is also the presiding deity of the planet Rahu.
Hence for Rahu related troubles reciting
the kalabhairava ashtakam [Adhi Sankara Bhagawt Pada] is a very good remedy.
==================================================================

Devaraajasevyamaanapaavanaanghripankajam
Vyaalayagyasuutramindushekharam Krupaakaram
Naaradaadiyogivrundavanditam Digambaram
Kaashikaapuraadhinaathakaalabhairavam Bhaje .. 1

Bhaanukotibhaasvaram Bhavaabdhitaarakam Param
Niilakanthamiipsitaarthadaayakam Trilochanam Kaalakaalamambujaakshamakshashuulamaksharam
Kaashikaapuraadhinaathakaalabhairavam Bhaje .. 2

Shuulatankapaashadandapaanimaadikaaranam
Shyaamakaayamaadidevamaksharam Niraamayam
Bhiimavikramam Prabhum Vichitrataandavapriyam
Kaashikaapuraadhinaathakaalabhairavam Bhaje .. 3

Bhuktimuktidaayakam Prashastachaaruvigraham
Bhaktavatsalam Sthitam Samastalokavigraham
Vinikvananmanogyahemakinkiniilasatkatim
Kaashikaapuraadhinaathakaalabhairavam Bhaje .. 4

Dharmasetupaalakam Svadharmamaarganaashanam
Karmapaashamochakam Susharmadhaayakam Vibhum Svarnavarnasheshhapaashashobhitaangamandalam
Kaashikaapuraadhinaathakaalabhairavam Bhaje .. 5

Ratnapaadukaaprabhaabhiraamapaadayugmakam
Nityamadvitiiyamishhtadaivatam Nira.Njanam.
Mrutyudarpanaashanam Karaaladamshhtramokshanam Kaashikaapuraadhinaathakaalabhairavam Bhaje .. 6

Attahaasabhinnapadmajaandakoshasamtatim
Drushhtipaattanashhtapaapajaalamugrashaasanam
Ashhtasiddhidaayakam Kapaalamaalikaadharam
Kaashikaapuraadhinaathakaalabhairavam Bhaje .. 7

Bhuutasa.Nghanaayakam Vishaalakiirtidaayakam
Kaashivaasalokapunyapaapashodhakam Vibhum
Niitimaargakovidam Puraatanam Jagatpatim
Kaashikaapuraadhinaathakaalabhairavam Bhaje .. 8

Phalastuti

Kaalabhairavaashhtakam Pathanti Ye Manoharam
Gyaanamuktisaadhanam Vichitrapunyavardhanam
Shokamohadainyalobhakopataapanaashanam Prayaanti
Kaalabhairavaamghrisannidhim Naraa Dhruvam

(((((((((())))))))))

Naga Panchami

\\//\\// NAGA PANCHAMI \\//\\//

Naag Panchami or festival of snakes is a unique festival dedicated to honour the Serpent God or Naag Devta. Falling on the fifth day of Shravan in July/August, reverence for the cobra (snakes) are paid.

People visit temples specially dedicated to snakes and worship them. Shiva temples are also favoured places for veneration as snakes are considered dear to him.

In South India, people sculpt images of snakes using cow dung, which are then placed on either side of the entrance to the house. This is done to welcome the snake god.

In some other parts of southern India, figures of snakes are drawn with red sandalwood paste on wooden boards, or clay images of snakes coloured yellow or black are purchased. These are then worshipped and offered milk since snakes are believed to like milk.

One of the oldest and auspicious festivals, women fast on this day. Also, women draw pictures and images of snakes on walls of their houses with a mixture of cowdung, milk and black powder. Offerings of milk, ghee, sweets, water and rice are also made at the sites of snake holes. Devotees consider themselves lucky if snakes drink offered milks. Naag panchami is observed and celebrated in different ways in various parts of India.

It is mainly observed in Southern India, Maharashtra and Bengal. In Jodhpur, huge cloth effigies of the serpents are displayed at major fairs. Also in W.Bengal and parts of Assam and Orissa, the snake deity worshipped on Naga Panchami is the goddess Manasa. In Kerala, huge crowds throng snake temples on this day to worship stone or metal icons of the cosmic serpent Ananta or Sesha.

Nag Panchami is also connected with the following legend of Krishna. Young Krishna was playing with the other cowboys, when suddenly the ball got entangled in the high branch of a tree. Krishna volunteered to climb the tree and fetch the ball. But below the tree there was a deep part of the river Yamuna, in which the terrible snake Kaliya was living. Everybody was afraid of that part of the river.

Suddenly Krishna fell from the tree into the water. Then that terrible snake came up. But Krishna was ready and jumping on the snake’s head he caught it by the neck. Kaliya understood that Krishna was not an ordinary boy, and that it would not be easy to overcome him. So Kaliya pleaded with Krishna: “Please, do not kill me.” Krishna full of compassion asked the snake to promise that henceforth he would not harass anybody. Then he let the snake go free into the river again.

On Nag Panchami day the victory of Krishna over the Kaliya snake is commemorated. For this reason Krishna is known as “Kaliya Mardan”. Snakes are believed to like milk. As this is the day of the serpents, devotees pour milk into all the holes in the ground around the house or near the temple to propitiate them. Sometimes, a small pot of milk with some flowers is placed near the holes so that the snakes may drink it. If a snake actually drinks the milk, it is considered to be extremely lucky for the devotee.

Nagaraja Namasthesthu
Haraharayitha Dehine
Hara Me Sakalan Rogan
Dada Me Sath Prajam Drisam

Salutations to Sri Nagaraja,
who adorns Sri Siva's Body,
please destroy all illness in me and bless me with good progeny.

=========================================================

Snake in KOLAM:

Snake kolams originally evoked the spiraling of life forces and the aspiration for an evolution in consciousness. Today they are often used to protect the house from thieves, evil spirits or unwanted visitors, as is the spiral in the Sumerian and Egyptian cultures. These kolams are a kind of curse catcher, or emotions screen to keep the household pure and serene. Negative spirits are not necessarily wandering outside the house. They may be seen as ill feelings in ourselves. Thus, there is a call to wake up and be purified in mind and thought.

Aadi Perukku // Padinettamper

It is celebrated on the 18th day of the Tamil month Aadi in the Kaveri River basin districts of Tanjore and Trichi when the water level in the river rises significantly.

Aadiperukku, water ritual through religious practice:

Aadiperukku, otherwise called Padinettam Perukku – is peculiar to the Cauvery delta and is intended to celebrate the rising of the river, which is expected to occur invariably on the 18th day of the solar month, Aadi corresponding to the 2nd or 3rd of August. Hence "Padinettam perukku" - Padinettu signifies eighteen, and Perukku denotes rising. This festival is observed predominately by women in Tamil Nadu. The Aadiperukku, as a water-ritual, celebrated by women is said to honour Nature.

Whole families go the river bank and offer puja. There is a belief that young girls who do this puja offering Kaadholai (earrings made of palm leaf), Karugamani (black beads) and Kaapparisi (a sweet made of hand pounded rice and jaggery) will be blessed with good husbands. The families spend the evening by the river, eating preparations of rice like puliyodharai, lemon rice etc. Playing to the tune of Aadiperukku folk songs and Kummi by group by young women are the major attractions during this festival [the song which comes to my mind is "aadi padinettu, aadudhu poonchittu, ellorum kondadungo..." ].

All the year's major festivals are packed into the six months that follow, culminating with Makara Sankranthi or Thai Pongal in mid- January, giving meaning to the Tamil saying, 'Aadi Azhaikkum, Thai Thudaikkum'.

The original meaning of the ritual performance is a request to the village Goddess for rain for fertility of land, in order to secure a rich harvest. The women are involved in large groups significantly implying the fertility of women also ensuring continuation of human race with peace and harmony through empowered women.

Though many of us do not live along the River Banks, celebrate Padinettamper with the preparation of yemmy variety rice ==>>> Puliyansaadam [tamarind rice], Thengaisaadam [coconut rice], Thayirsaadam [curd rice] with fried vadam [crispy accompaniment]

The original meaning of the ritual performance is a request to the village Goddess for rain for fertility of land, in order to secure a rich harvest. The women are involved in large groups significantly implying the fertility of women also ensuring continuation of human race with peace and harmony through empowered women.