aanai pandigai / kAttikai deepotsavam

[Guest guest]

Dear Friends,

 

I would like to wish all of you a joyous kArttikai deepotsavam.

On this full moon day, when the kRttikA nakshatra is present,

we observe a second festival of lights to celebrate the supreme

Light who resides resplendently within our heart. The Vedanta

describes His effulgence as the 'param-jyOti' (supreme Light),

'jyotishAm jyOti' (Light of lights), the Original Light of whom

the lights of the sun and moon are mere reflections.

 

This Supreme Light shines within all of us --

'antar-jyOtir ameyam ekam amRtam kRshNAkhyam ... param-aushadham'

(That boundless, immortal, unique effulgence known as Krishna

shines within --

drink that divine medicine which bestows complete liberation)

declares the author of the Mukunda Mala.

 

'antar-jyOtiH kimapi yaminAm' --

(The indescribable inner effulgence perceived by the yogins) --

exclaims Sri Vedanta Desika in amazement.

 

So celebrated by the ancient seers, this Blissful, Boundless

Light present within is celebrated externally today. This day

has such a profound significance that it stands alongside

SrI jayantI, SrI rAma navamI, and SrI narasimha jayantI and

the month of mArgazhi as one of those few days when a 'visesha-

ArAdhanam' (special worship) is traditionally performed.

 

In some regions, particulary Karnataka, the kArttikai deepotsava

is also known as 'Anai paNDigai' ("Elephant Festival", or Anai

habba in Kannada). This is to celebrate the avatAra of Gaja Lakshmi.

On the day she took form, the celestial divine elephants performed a

tirumanjanam (ceremonial bath) for her. We therefore remember her

today. There are also some other elephant-related stories that

are mentioned in this context, and I invite other members to share

what they know.

 

What follows is a brief description of how the kArttikai deepotsava

and Anai paNDigai are celebrated in my family. The pUja for Gaja

Lakshmi is conducted in the morning and the Deepa for Vishnu is

celebrated in the evening. In the morning, you take two elephant

sculptures -- traditionally the elephants were made out of clay

specially for this occasion -- and place them alongside an idol

of (Gaja) Lakshmi and Narayana. Decorate them with flowers,

thirumaN, etc. You can offer some whatever sweets or delicacies

have been prepared to Lakshmi-Narayana along with the elephants.

On the morning of the next day (some do it on the third day), some

thayir-sAdam (yogurt rice) is tied to their tummies and sealed with

a leaf (you can stuff the elephants with them if they are made of

clay). The clay elephants are then immersed in a river or tank

(visarjana).

 

On the evening of kArttikai, the deepotsava is celebrated.

There are many details which vary from family to family and

tradition to tradition, but generally the following is observed.

The first deepam (oil lamp) lit is the paramAtman Vishnu Himself.

You should light a lamp thinking of Him, and then that lamp should

be used to light lamps everywhere inside the house, in the backyard,

everywhere. Lamps should also be lit on the threshold of the house,

traditionally with clay lamps. All lights in the house should be on

for some time that evening. I am told that my grandfather was very

particular about this -- Light, Light, Light everywhere -- there

should be no darkness.

 

Then ArAdhanam is performed and stotras, particularly Sri

Vishnu Sahasranamam are recited, and during the mangaLArati

a small piece of cotton cloth is soaked in ney (ghee) and

is lit in front of the Lord. You can wind the cloth on a stick

and unroll it as it burns. The ash is worn as "raksha".

 

I request other members to share their memories of this festival.

 

May we all seek to know that Effulgent Light resident within

our hearts!

 

aDiyEn rAmAnuja dAsan

Mani

[Guest guest]

mani wrote:

>I would like to wish all of you a joyous kArttikai deepotsavam.

>On this full moon day, when the kRttikA nakshatra is present,

>we observe a second festival of lights to celebrate the supreme

>Light who resides resplendently within our heart. The Vedanta

>describes His effulgence as the 'param-jyOti' (supreme Light),

>'jyotishAm jyOti' (Light of lights), the Original Light of whom

>the lights of the sun and moon are mere reflections.

 

It is also the thirunakshatram of our beloved kaliyan (thirumangai

AzhwAr), in whose honor begins the "anadhyayanam" period for all

divyaprabandham; ended by thai hastam, swami kooraththalwan's

thirunakshatram - except for the adhyayana/vaikuntha ekadasi time

in between. There are differences in the tradition as to when

anadhyayanam period ends, but generally none where its beginning,

(i.e. kArthikai krthikA) and where the recitation of thiruppavai

during mArkazhi maasam are concerned. Best wishes to everyone

on this sacred occasion!!

 

kanchath thirumangai yugakka vandhOn vAzhiyE

kaliyanurai kudikoNda karuththudaiyOn vAzhiyE

thirumangai AzhwAr thiruvadigaLE SaraNam

 

adiyEn SriRangapriya daasan

-Srinath C.

--

 

 

 

 

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