A 'margazhi' diary: some reflections - 1

[Guest guest]

Dear friends,

 

Yesterday in a mood of sudden and wanton

thoughtlessness adiyen had wondered to himself:

"mArghazhi is a month only nubile girls look forward

to; it is the time they observe 'pAvai-nOnbu' and

'vratam'; a time when they bathe in icy waters, fast

("ney unnOm, pAl unnOm nAt kAle neerAdi") and pray for

good grooms for themselves; "tiruppAvai" is alright

for such maidens.

 

But of what use or significance is it to virile young

men? Would young men be enthused by the idea of waking

up in the wee 'brahma-muhurtam' hours of the day,

congregate in numbers and trek to the riverside for

"mArgazhi-neerAttam"?". Doubtful.

 

As if in answer to adiyEn's unusual, if not quixotic,

"samshayam", our beloved AndAl this morning (19th

December) gave me a fitting retort... almost like a

slap on the face.

 

This morning adiyen woke up to "vaikunata-ekadasi" and

prepared for the obligatory "upavAsam" -- the day-long

fasting enjoined on all abiding SriVaishnavas,

irrespective of gender or marital status.

 

It suddenly dawned on me that for having dared

yesterday, even if momentarily, to question the

efficacy of observing mArgazhi-vratam and for being

faintly dismissive of it as a 'female affair',

Sri.AndAl was perhaps reminding me: "If "mArgazhi"

doesn't get you, O great masculine hero, "ekAdasi"

surely will! And observe some kind of "vrata" you

certainly will! This day, you too, shall perforce

arise at "brahma-muhurtam"! You too will bathe in icy

cold waters; you too like "aayarpAdi" damsels will

gather in flocks and you too, like them, shall go

around the streets in procession singing His glories

("uttaman pEr pAdi") and earnestly seek Govindan's

great "mani-kadhavu", His doorsteps (i.e. "parama-pada

vAsal")!".

 

dAsan,

Sampathkumaran

 

 

 

Thousands of Stores. Millions of Products. All in one place.

Shopping: