Maathangalil Marghazhi
The month of Marghazhi (Dec 14 - Jan 13) is considered to be very auspicious by Tamils.
One gets up very early, takes bath, and then goes to a temple to pray. Sri Andal, even in her childhood, was contemplating to marry Lord Vishnu (Sri Ranganathar) and as she grew up, she took a Vrath. She composed 30 paasurams (poems) in praise of the Lord, and this collection of songs is called "Thiruppavai". If we sing this thiruppavai songs in the month of Marghazhi early mornings, it is very auspicious. If not all the 30 songs, at least one song per day.
Sage Manickka Vachakar, one of the 64 Nayanmars (Shiva's devotees), has composed 20 songs called "Thiruvempaavai" and 10 songs called "Thiru PalliEzuchchi". One has to sing these songs also in Marghazhi.
A few TV channels telecast one song each from Thiruppaavai and Thiruvempaavai and arrange a scholar to give the spiritual meaning of these songs. For the first time in my 65 years, this year I made a promise to myself that I would get up at 5 AM daily during this month and sing / chant these songs. I bought the song-books from Giri Traders, Mylapore. The previous day i.e on 15th Dec I set the alarm for 5.00 next morning.
But, on the morning of 16th Dec, the first day of Marghazhi, I woke at 4.55 and after morning ablutions, started Thiruppaavai with "Marghazhi thingal mathi nirantha nannaalaam ..."Thus continued my next 30 days. Without break. All these 30 days, I woke up at 5-15AM and sang Thiruppaavai and Thiruvempaavai daily. My wife, Vijaya, also woke up with me daily at 5-15.
Marghazhi came to an end on 15th Jan 2007. My waking up at 5-15 daily continues ...A refreshing and most satisfying experience.
Rajappa
11:26 on 16 Jan 2007
The month of Marghazhi (Dec 14 - Jan 13) is considered to be very auspicious by Tamils.
One gets up very early, takes bath, and then goes to a temple to pray. Sri Andal, even in her childhood, was contemplating to marry Lord Vishnu (Sri Ranganathar) and as she grew up, she took a Vrath. She composed 30 paasurams (poems) in praise of the Lord, and this collection of songs is called "Thiruppavai". If we sing this thiruppavai songs in the month of Marghazhi early mornings, it is very auspicious. If not all the 30 songs, at least one song per day.
Sage Manickka Vachakar, one of the 64 Nayanmars (Shiva's devotees), has composed 20 songs called "Thiruvempaavai" and 10 songs called "Thiru PalliEzuchchi". One has to sing these songs also in Marghazhi.
A few TV channels telecast one song each from Thiruppaavai and Thiruvempaavai and arrange a scholar to give the spiritual meaning of these songs. For the first time in my 65 years, this year I made a promise to myself that I would get up at 5 AM daily during this month and sing / chant these songs. I bought the song-books from Giri Traders, Mylapore. The previous day i.e on 15th Dec I set the alarm for 5.00 next morning.
But, on the morning of 16th Dec, the first day of Marghazhi, I woke at 4.55 and after morning ablutions, started Thiruppaavai with "Marghazhi thingal mathi nirantha nannaalaam ..."Thus continued my next 30 days. Without break. All these 30 days, I woke up at 5-15AM and sang Thiruppaavai and Thiruvempaavai daily. My wife, Vijaya, also woke up with me daily at 5-15.
Marghazhi came to an end on 15th Jan 2007. My waking up at 5-15 daily continues ...A refreshing and most satisfying experience.
Rajappa
11:26 on 16 Jan 2007
Hi Rajapa,
ReplyDeleteI came across ur article while I was searching for katyayani vrath which Sri andal too performed to attain Lord as her husband.Do u know anything abt the vrath?
Any advice would be very much appreciated. thanks a lot.