ADI PORAM & PERUKU

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ADI POORAM

The months Adi and Thai are important. These mark the start of the ayana

(solstice). Ayana means path. Utharayana is when the sun travels from south

to north in a northward incline. Dakshinayana is when the sun moves

southwards from north to south. The six months Thai to Ani form utharayana,

and Adi to Marghazhi dakshinayana. Utharayana with its long days is but one

day for the immortals; and dakshinayana with its long nights one night. Thai

and Adi, as the start of their day and their night, acquire importance. Adi

(July-August) is considered a special month for the Mother in her various

manifestations. Adi Pooram is said to be the day when the Mother gave

darshan to deities like Sri Devi and Andal, and the day Uma attained

womanhood. Hence the celebration of Adi Pooram as a grand festival for the

Mother in temples. It is said that dakshinayana is ideal for worship of

Shakti and utharayana for worship of Shiva. The offering of pulse sprouts on

Adi Pooram day symbolizes Shakti's engaging in creation on this day. Andal,

the only woman among the 12 vaishnavite devotees who composed Divya

Prabhandham, is said to have been born on this day. Perur Puranam stresses

that worship of the Mother on this day yields immense benefit. Indeed, all

four Fridays in Adi are ideal for worship of the Mother. There is special

puja on these days in temples.

ADI PERRUKKU

This festival when the river is worshipped as the embodiment of woman falls

on the 18th day of Adi (July-August). At embankments on rivers, in olden

days when dams were unknown, women from farming families prayed to the river

to flow perennially to enable them raise three crops in the year. River

mother, they prayed, on you depends our livelihood! Wearing new clothes and

carrying chitranna - sweet pongal, tamarind rice, coconut rice, lemon rice,

and a variety of side dishes including pappad, vadagam, chutney, and

buttermilk - they went to riverbanks and worshipped the river waters with

traditional offerings like coconut, plantain, betel leaf and areca nut.

Hailing the flowing river as Mother Kaveri, they adorned her with ear ring

and black beads. Newly weds are on this day offered special reception by the

bride's parents. Let us pray to Mother Kaveri that water flows perennially,

rendering the earth fertile .