Tamil month Purattasi's (18-09-2011 to 17-10-2011) significance.
The rituals in Tamil culture is purely bases on the healthy living of human beings. The important celebrations in this month are Purattasi Saturdays, Maavilakku, Mahalaya Amavasay and Durga Navarathri. Purattasi month is dedicated to lord Venkatajalabathy. It is believed that lord venkatajalabathy came to earth this month. Special prayers are offered at Tirupathi hills.
Purattasi Saturdays
All Saturdays are considered very auspicious. This whole Purattasi month, Lord Venkatachalabhathy is worshiped with fasting in Saturdays as it is a favorite day for the lord. I have learned that in kottaimalai, near vellore, there is a vishnu temple called Padavedu kottaimalai Sri Venugopalswamy temple at the top of the hills, which is opened only on saturdays from 9 AM to 4 PM. the miracle in that temple is that only in Purattasi saturdays, the sun rays falls exactly on the feet of the lord and raises to head in the early morning. Know one knows on which Saturday this happens. This temple is around 200 km away from Chennai.
This month worshiping Sani bhagavan in Saturdays is also considered as an important one because during this time it is believed that Sani bhagavan losses its malefic powers. So worshiping this month will fetch more benefits.
Purattasi Maavilakku
Maavilakku on purattasi saturdays are very important for Tamilians. The reason behind this ritual is that the lord Venkatajalabhathy expects his devotees to be close to him in hills. However that is not possible for every one due to myriad reasons. For those who could not travel to Tirupati hills can light Maavillakku in thier homes and worship lord vishnu by chanting thy name 'Govinda'. Thy blesses them through rays ofMaavillakku light. Scientifically the carbon emitted through the mixture of rice flour and cow's ghee will destroy all ill radiation from the home.
Mahalaya Amavasay
Every Tamil month has one Amavasay or New moon day and only on that day the tharpanam or oblations are given to our ancestors. However the Purattasi month Amavasay is considered as auspicious one. The reason is that it is believed only on this month our ancestors come to earth and stay here for first 15 days before New moon and entire 15 days is auspicious for giving tharpanam or oblations for our ancestors. The waning period of moon is called Krishna paksham in sanskrit. Purattasi month Amavasay is calledMahalaya Paksham. By performing this rituals we are twice blessed by our ancestors.
Purattasi Navarathri.
In Sanskrit Nava means nine and Rathri means night. Purattasi Navarathri is called as Durga Navarathriand most important among navarathri's. This month marks beginning of winter. Autumnal equinox occurs on this month. An important celestial occurrence is that the sun crosses the celestial equator and moves southward in north hemisphere.
Some people fast during navarathri days. The reason behind the fasting is that to equip the body to the changing climate. Tamil culture rituals are based on the fact 'living harmony with nature". During Navarathri Golu is the important function. Golu means deploying dolls of deities, saints and human beings in an order. The first three days are for worshiping Devi Durga. Next three days for worshiping Devi Lashmi. Last three days for worshiping Devi Saraswathi. On the tenth day Saraswathi Pooja or Ayudha Pooja is celebrated. This is good way of socializing too.
Among the Tamil months only on this Purattasi month fast of abstienence of meat eating is observed. As I said in the begging of the articles, this the special feature Purattasi month deserves.
I wish all a Happy Purattasi masam.
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