Tag: Meenakshiamman temple

When God Rushes Across The River Chithirai Festival Madurai

Ever heard of God rushing across the River to provide Salvation?

Every year Lord Vishnu,Kallazhakar from Azahkar Koil, near Madurai,Tamil Nadu,India, on the Pradhamai(the next Day after Full Moon in the month of Chiththirai-April end) after adorning himself with the Garland prepared for him by Andal(Srivilliputhur, 48 Km from Madurai) who pined for him eventually married Him) rushes to Madurai from Azhagar Koil, visits Suthapas , a Rishi, who was cursed by Sage Dhurvasa for having failed to respect him.

Suthapas was born as a Frog(Mandukam) and was in penance in Madurai.

Dhurvasa had decreed that Suthapas shall obtain salvation by Lord Vishnu when He crosses the River Vedavathi,Vaigai now.

True to Dharma Lord Vishnu gets down the river on a horse and enters Madurai.

Lord Vishnu gets down the River, riding a Horse.

Being the elder brother of Goddess Uma, He is being accorded all the respects due to a brother by Goddess Uma,Meenakshiamman, Madurai.

Temple priests offer the Obeisance on behalf of Goddess Uma.

The festival coincides with Meenakshiamman Thirukkalyanam in Madurai.

Legend has it , as the elder brother of Uma, Lord Vishnu , gave Her away to Lord Siva, Chokkanathar(Godenhued) on this day.

Earlier the marriage was celebrated in Madurai in Maasi (about two months earlier)

King Tirumalai Naicker, to build unity among Saivite and Vaishnavas , merged these two festivals into one and had it celebrated in Chithirai.

Madurai will be brimming with Devotees from the day Lord Vishnu enters the River(அழகர் ஆற்றில் இறங்குதல் ).

Live telecast of this Fesival On Vasanth TV on 24 April 2013 ,17 hours IST

மூலவர்	:	பரமஸ்வாமி
	உற்சவர்	:	சுந்தர்ராஜப் பெருமாள் ( ரிஷபத்ரிநாதர்), கல்யாணசுந்தர வல்லி
	அம்மன்/தாயார்	:	ஸ்ரீதேவி, பூதேவி
	தல விருட்சம்	:	ஜோதி விருட்சம், சந்தனமரம்.
	தீர்த்தம்	:	நூபுர கங்கை
	ஆகமம்/பூஜை	:	–
	பழமை	:	1000-2000 வருடங்களுக்கு முன்
	புராண பெயர்	:	திருமாலிருஞ்சோலை
	ஊர்	:	அழகர்கோவில்
	மாவட்டம்	:	மதுரை
	மாநிலம்	:	தமிழ்நா

For Delayed Marriages, Tiruvelvikkudi,Mayuram (ramanan50.wordpress.com)
Lord Vishnu Took River Cauvery His Mother Thiruindhalur (ramanan50.wordpress.com)

24 Apr 2013

Temple Accounts Are Submitted To God Daily Madurai
God is treated as the head of the Family in Hindu families.

They are called Kula Deivam’ in Tamil, literal meaning, head of Clan.

Meenakshi Amman temple,Madurai

Any auspicious ceremony at Homes is preceded by a Pooja to this Deity, be it a naming ceremony of the child , marriage.

I will be posting separately on this subject.

If God is being treated as the Head of the family at Home , what about the Temples where hundreds come worship and share their joys and sorrows?

So all respect that is due to the Head is being accorded to God, as one would to an Elder of the Family.

As such in temples there was and still is habit of presenting the daily accounts of the Temple to the reigning deity.

But there are exceptions, depending on the Sthala Purana (details of the origin of the Place).

But in most of the Temples the Account Submission id done daily, in South India.

This is done after the Artha jama Pooja (10.30 pm), when God is sent to His bed room.

For those who are unaware of Hinduism’s treatment (!) of God as one of us, this might sound strange.

The Poojas are performed , the od and the goddess are led into their Bed room (பள்ளியறை) , after offering them boiled Cow’s Milk.( it will be distributed to the devotees, it will taste heavenly(அரவணைப்பால்)

i shall post on this Bed room aspect separately.

( seem to be committing for a lot of posts, hope I remember to write).

As soon as God enters the bed room, the accountant of the Temple reads out the Accounts for the day before God and seeks his approval.

Then an Arati is performed and the bed room is closed.( Arati- a practice in which some pieces of camphor is lit on a special plate and showed around God thrice to the chanting of mantras.)

This practice is being followed in Madurai Meenakshi Amman Temple even to-day.
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19 Apr 2013

Tag: Meenakshiamman temple

When God Rushes Across The River Chithirai Festival Madurai

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