Navarathri Kolu /Professor Vasudhaa Narayan's question

[Guest guest]

Dear Members of the Prapatthi group :

 

Here are some comments on the tradition of

Kolu during the Navarathri days concluding with

Vijaya Dasami :

 

1. The south Indian ladies and particularly in TamiL Naadu

have this ancient tradition of displaying family treasures of

Bommais ( painted earthern ware ) of the Gods, Goddesses

and a host of other figures representing the life around ( animals,

Chettiyaar , Birds , politicians , spirtiual figures et al) . They take it out

of

the boxes , where they were stored safely during the rest of the year.

Men are needed only to unpack and to set up the steps , where the

Bommais are displayed . Afterwards , the Ladies of the house and

particularly young girls take over.

 

2. The bommais are made in two towns in south. Every year the

bommai makers anticipate new trends and introduce contemproary

figures . One town is PaNNurutti and the other is Bhuvana Giri .

The first town is midway between Madras and Kumbakonam. Bhuvana Giri

with the suffix of Giri symbolizing Sanyasi is few miles from Chidambharam.

Sri Raghavendra Swamigal was born in Bhuvana Giri and became a

great Madhva Achaarya .

 

3. In the highest step , The statues (Bommais ) of Gods and Goddesses

are displayed. At the bottom most step are Bommais related to the

creations of the Lord such as Birds, animals et al are displayed.

Homage paid to the entire creations of the Lord and His consort.

In the smaartha tradition, Vinaayaka Bommai is the first one to be

placed on the Kolu.

 

4. On the Navarathri days , Unmaaried girls and Sumangalis

visit the houses of the village . The resident of the house offers them

ManjaL (turmeric ) , Kumkumam and BhakshaNam . The visitors

are invited to sing before the Kolu. Three days of Navaraathri are dedicated to

Durgaa, three days to Lakshmi and the final three days to Saraswathi .

In the Vedic way , one can unite them as Veda Maathaa revered as

ILaa , Bharathi and Saraswathi . Some men folk abandon their houses ,

especially when poor singers insist on readily accepting the invitation to sing

and return home after the vambhu Vichaaram at the Vaykkankarai .

Usually , the activities subside by Nine p.m . It is a wonderful social occasion

 

for the unmarried boys and girls to see each other in a safe and festival

type of setting .

 

5.Kalasa Aavahanam and the consecration of the Goddess is

done by devout . Lalitha Sahasra Naamam or Maha Lakshmi

sahasra Naamam is recited every day. Gold and other coins are put inside

the Pot of consecrated water. It is like Udaga Saanthi. At the end

of the Nine days , the consecrated water is used for ProkshaNam

of the younger ones and the Abhisheakm of the eldest Sumangali.

 

6. On the Vijaya dasami day , the aiming of arrows is intended to

symbolize the Gods showering powerful arrows to destroy our

accumulated sins and misdeeds .

 

Thus the Kolu during Navaraathri for 9 days after the Maalaya Paksha

Amavaasyai has many social and spiritual significances .

 

This year , Navarathri commences on Sunday, October 13 .

Saraswathi Aavaahanam is on October 18 , which also

happens to be the birth day of MaNavaaLa MaamunigaL.

Next day is Durghaashtami . Saraswathi Pujaa is

on Oct 20 (SravaNam day ).

 

Vijaya Dasami is on October 21, which is also the birthday

of Poygai Azhwaar ; the birth days of Bhootham and Pey Azhwaars

follow right after (October 22 and 23 ). Ekadasi falls on October 23

as well .It is wonderful reflect on the glorious three hundred verses

of these three Azhwaars just after Navaraathri celebration on the Eakadasi day

...

 

V.Sadagopan