Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Significance Of Margazhi Month

Mattu Pongal
Swamy & Thayar

Andal @ Srivalliputtur
The greatness of Margazhi month
The Yugam, in which presently we are living, is called as “Kali Yugam”. Other than this Kali Yugam, there are 3 Yugams that we have crossed and they are Kretha, Thretha and Dwapara Yugam. In all these 3 yugams, Sriman Narayanan has taken lots of Avatharams (incarnations) to protect the Dharmam against Adharmam (evil) and protect the life of his bhaktas.
The holy star Mrigaseersha combined with the Pournami thithi is the birth of the great Margazhi month. This year the popular and auspicious Margazhi month has begin on Tuesday the 16th December at 5.37PM among the 12 Tamil months, Margazhi brings the spring season.
The month of Margazhi which is supposed to be sacred from all aspects. Thus it's rendered to the GODhimself in aim of attaining prosperity and blessings, hoping GODshowers with all good luck. The very objective this month is to get together and offer the prayers, he will surely listens to it.
How to go about it?
Generally Brahma Muhurtham is considered to be good time perform pooja. Early morning on all 30 days Margazhi between 4.00 am to 6.00 am is beneficial for human being while the whole Margazhi the Brahma Muhurtham for DEVAS.
It is celebrated not only on Sri Vaishnavas and Saivas of Hindu religion but also Christians celebrate Margazhi. In this month, there are many programmes for SriVaishnavas in particular. On all the thirty days of this month, Tirupavai Pasurams will be rendered in the early morning in all temples and houses. Adhyayana Utsavam for 21 days (10+10+1) will also be held during this month by rendering holy scriptures (Four thousand Divya Prabhandam Pasurams) at 108 Divya Desam including Sri Rangam and many other Vaishnava Sthalams. The famous Vaikunda Ekadasi also will be celebrated in the early hours of the Tenth day of Adhyayana Utsavam the people will join with Lord in proceeding Symbolically to Swargham and on this Swargavasal will be opened in all temples. Lakhs of people gather on 3rd January 2004, the Vaikunta Ekadesi day in Sri Rangam, Tirupathi, Thiruvallikeni. Kanchi, Srivilliputhur, Brindavan and in many other temples. Saivites will celebrate Arudhara Dharshan. In Srivilliputhur, there will be "Piriya Vidai and Sri Andal Neerattu Utsavam" and followed by Sri Andal Thirukkalyanam on Bhogi Day".
The Proverb in Tamil says that "Thai Piranthal Vazhi Pirakkum". On completion of Margazhi and commencement of Thai, there would be better future and there is a way for happiness and good omens.
On Bhogi day, people not only cleans the houses, burn the old things but also purifies from bad things or situation by rendering prayers. Children also celebrate this month perhaps they enjoy holidays as Half yearly exams also conclude in this month only.
Elders and music lovers also visit to the Sabhas in the evening to listen music, attend dance programmes and other cultural activities throughout Margazhi. This month is familiarly known as Margazhi Maha Festival. All musicians, Vocalists and doyens of singers will gather together at Thiruvayaru and render Keerthanas of Sri Thiyagarajar. Doordarshan in All India Radio in is relaying this live. Thus, the New Year starts with the year ending in a Divine Manner.
In Tirumalai, only the sattrumarai pasurams used to be recited during the JEER SATTRUMARAI on all days and whereas at the time of commencement of Margasirsha, Margazhi month, entire Tiruppalli Ezhucchi and Tiruppavai will be rendered by Sri JEER Swami and all Sri Vaishnavites gather at Sri Varahar Sannadhi and Srivari Moolavar Sannadhi.
In Delhi, Sri Ramanuja Kainkarya Sabha also completes 17th Aavarti of reciting Divya Prabhandhams during this very Margazhi month in the weekly Sevakalam in all the houses of Sri Vaishnava Grahasthas on rotation from 1989.
Sriman U.Ve Sitarama Iyengar (GTS Iyengar) Swami also conducts 30 days Dhanurmasa Aradhana Vrathothsavam with unique style of Thiruvaradhanam and Homam in this Maragazhi month as in the past 14 years.
Courtesy-
Compiled by :
Kandoor Thirunarayanapuram Thiruvengada Srinivasa Iyengar

2 comments:

Bhuvaneswari Jayaraman said...

thank you, Chitappa for this note on Marghazi masam. Coincidently, I had decided to advance my wake up time from 5:30 am to 4:00 am and now given the significance it strengthens my resolve.

Bhuvani

Bhuvaneswari Jayaraman said...

Taking further Seenu chitappa's blog on Robin Sharma's book - The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari, i quote a few lines from Rhonda Byrne's Secret - "...you have good emotions and good feelings. You know when they come because they make you feel good. Excitement, joy, gratitude, love. imagine if we could feel that way everyday. when you celebrate good feelings , you'll draw to you more good feelings, and things that make you feel good."

I wanted to share with you something that made "feel good" and that is- watching snow fall for the first time. I am currently in Boston at Rinku and Rajit's place. It started to snow on Friday and wherever you look outside it is just white all around. The lawn outside Rinku's apartment building has a good several inches of snow and it was such a pleasure to watch little children come out to play in the snow. One little guy, like a Zen buddha, lay on the snow for a while- I am sure it made for the softest mattress he has ever slept on. The snow even had a magnetic influence on adults like me and several others in the building and they were generally people from countries where it doesn't snow.
I was reminded of one of the Emirates Ad, where two African men run out of their hotel room to catch snowflakes
I got a preview of a white christmas. Christmas never fails to cheer me up, there is something about the spirit of this month- we also celebrate margazhi masam. The christmas songs- especially Ave Maria and what child is this. You can listen to Josh Groban's rendering of these songs on Youtube. Celine Dion's christmas album is another favourite of mine.

All this snowing also led to my flight to Atlanta getting cancelled; so I am leaving for Atlanta today and much as I would have wanted a direct flight, I now have to fly Boston-Washington DC-Atlanta. Then I thought, how could I leave the US without atleast hopping in and flying out of the capital('s airport).

MERRY CHRISTMAS.

with regards,

Bhuvani