This is THE festival of Madurai that attracts huge crowds every year.Chithirai is the first month of the Tamil solar year (April-May) and Thiruvizha in Tamil means festival.What takes place in this 10 day festival is indeed a spectacular exhibition of religious fervour.
The celebrations begin with the ceremonial hoisting of the flag (Kodi Yetram). Most festivals atleast in Tamilnadu and Kerala have this as the beginning.This is followed by the Pattaabhisekam, or the coronation of Mother Meenakshi as the queen of Madurai.Then, She starts on Her DigVijayam, or conquest of the world.After this happpens the much awaited celestial wedding of the divine couple-Meenakshi and Sundareswarar.Following the wedding is the Ther Thiruvizha where the devout take the richly adorned chariots in procession through the city of Madurai.
With all the spotlight on the divine couple, here comes another VIP to the scene-Azhagar. Lord Vishnu, who is present as Azhagar in the Azhagarmalai hills, some 30 km from the city starts His journey to Madurai, for attending His sister Meenakshi's wedding. He is carried by devotees on a golden horse, and this welcoming is called EdhirSevai.
Finally, as He tries to cross the Vaigai river en route to the city, He gets to know that His sister's wedding is already over. Furious that He is not able to attend the wedding, He gets into the river, and then proceeds back home. This event, called "Azhagar Aatril Eranguthal", is the climax of the festival, and brings the city to a standstill, as Bhaktaas pour in to see this event. In fact, people gather near the place the previous night itself, in the thousands!
This ends the Chithirai festival, on Chithira Pournami day, whcih is very auspicious. One may also get the Darshan of Azhagar the next day, in Vandiyur, a place on the way to Azhagarmalai.
The true festive spirit of such an event cannot be described by words, one must take part in this to actually realize the excitement coupled with devotion. Also, this is a unique festival that's special for Shaivas as well as Vaishnavas!
Showing posts with label purana. Show all posts
Showing posts with label purana. Show all posts
Friday, April 30, 2010
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Puranas-a bunch of lies?
I am a member of some online groups discussing Hinduism.
In such groups, sometimes I find some half baked "scholars" who claim
that they know everything in Hinduism.
Such "scholars" falsely assert that only the Vedas are true, the others
like the Puranas and Itihasas are just fiction.
Accounting for distortions and misinterpretations that might have crept
into them along the millennia through which Hindu works have existed, we
can definitely say that they are not just a "bunch of lies".
I can go on giving examples proving the authenticity of such wonderful works,
but I will just give one-this one convinced me long long back that the Puranas
are indeed true.
Near Chennai in Tamilnadu, there is a place called Thirukazhukukundram
(also known as Thirukazukundram) having a Siva temple. The Devaaram (an
ancient Tamil text) says that 2 Rishis come here as eagles to worship
Lord Siva. This is also mentioned in the Sthala Purana of the temple.
While the exact date of composition of these Puranas cannot be
ascertained, even Leftist historians (who have a habit of proclaiming
that everything that is Hindu suddenly sprang up only 1500 years ago)
would agree that they are atleast a few centuries old.
Now, the fact is that the eagles had been coming to the temple until
very recently. Everyday, they would come and accept rice from the
priest. What's more, the eagles were TWO in number, as mentioned in the
Puranas, and this had been happening for centuries! I will not accept
conspiracy theories here. These eagles weren't pets, they just came from
somewhere at midday and then left after having the offering. Moreover,
nobody advertised the coming of the eagles to make money. In fact this
temple is not that famous when compared to the Madurai Meenakshi temple,
Srirangam temple,Rameswaram temple,etc.
I am convinced. I am a Hindu and don't need "miracles" and ordinances
from a central body declaring that such a person is a "saint" and need
to be worshipped. No points for guessing what I am referring to. :)
PS: For the past 10 years or so, the eagles have not been coming
(but the priest still waits with his offering for the eagles at midday,
hoping that they will come).
Plausible reasons suggested for this are:
1. The eagles have been killed due to the use of pesticides in the region.
2. The painting of the temple in gaudy colours (repelling the eagles) by the atheist
Tamilnadu government, which is notorious of destroying many priceless ancient
paintings in temples across the state by just painting/whitewashing the walls with scant regard to the existing paintings.
This explains the desperate need for protecting our religious heritage from destruction.
In such groups, sometimes I find some half baked "scholars" who claim
that they know everything in Hinduism.
Such "scholars" falsely assert that only the Vedas are true, the others
like the Puranas and Itihasas are just fiction.
Accounting for distortions and misinterpretations that might have crept
into them along the millennia through which Hindu works have existed, we
can definitely say that they are not just a "bunch of lies".
I can go on giving examples proving the authenticity of such wonderful works,
but I will just give one-this one convinced me long long back that the Puranas
are indeed true.
Near Chennai in Tamilnadu, there is a place called Thirukazhukukundram
(also known as Thirukazukundram) having a Siva temple. The Devaaram (an
ancient Tamil text) says that 2 Rishis come here as eagles to worship
Lord Siva. This is also mentioned in the Sthala Purana of the temple.
While the exact date of composition of these Puranas cannot be
ascertained, even Leftist historians (who have a habit of proclaiming
that everything that is Hindu suddenly sprang up only 1500 years ago)
would agree that they are atleast a few centuries old.
Now, the fact is that the eagles had been coming to the temple until
very recently. Everyday, they would come and accept rice from the
priest. What's more, the eagles were TWO in number, as mentioned in the
Puranas, and this had been happening for centuries! I will not accept
conspiracy theories here. These eagles weren't pets, they just came from
somewhere at midday and then left after having the offering. Moreover,
nobody advertised the coming of the eagles to make money. In fact this
temple is not that famous when compared to the Madurai Meenakshi temple,
Srirangam temple,Rameswaram temple,etc.
I am convinced. I am a Hindu and don't need "miracles" and ordinances
from a central body declaring that such a person is a "saint" and need
to be worshipped. No points for guessing what I am referring to. :)
PS: For the past 10 years or so, the eagles have not been coming
(but the priest still waits with his offering for the eagles at midday,
hoping that they will come).
Plausible reasons suggested for this are:
1. The eagles have been killed due to the use of pesticides in the region.
2. The painting of the temple in gaudy colours (repelling the eagles) by the atheist
Tamilnadu government, which is notorious of destroying many priceless ancient
paintings in temples across the state by just painting/whitewashing the walls with scant regard to the existing paintings.
This explains the desperate need for protecting our religious heritage from destruction.
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