Festivals of January & February

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THAI POOYAM A festival occurring in Thai (January-February), on the day of the star Pooyam either on Pournami or around that time. One legend says that on a Thursday in Thai that also happened to be the day of Pooyam star and pournami, Shiva and Parvati engaged in an ecstatic cosmic dance, as Brahma, Vishnu, Indra and the Devas watched. This indicates that this is a day ideal for worship of Shiva. According to another legend, as Shiva was imparting a mantra to Parvati, Subrahmanya eavesdropped on them. For that error, Parvati laid a curse on him, in line with the rule that even a son, if erring,

must be punished. To be redeemed from her curse, Subrahmanya offered hard penance at Thirupparankunram. Pleased with his penance, Shiva and Parvati manifested before him and lifted the curse. The day on which Parvati’s curse on Subrahmanya was lifted was a Thai Pooyam. It is thus a special day for worship of Lord Subrahmanya, taking kavadis loaded with milk pots for offering to him for eradication of ills afflicting us. Yet another legend has it that Kaveri, grieving that she had not secured the eminence acquired by Ganga through her position atop Shiva’s locks and also on Vishnu’s feet called Nupuram, sat under a peepul tree on the banks of Sara Pushkarini and offered penance to Narayana. Pleased by her penance, Narayana appeared as a baby in her lap. That day when he manifested thus was, again, a Thai Pooyam. And a particularly important

day for worship of Lord Vishnu after a bath in Kaveri. To this day, in several temples in South India, the utsava idol is decked out and taken to the banks of the Kaveri for special worship there. Vinayaka Sashti Sashti, which is favored for worship of Lord Subrahmanya, is favored also for worship of Vinayaka. There is a sashti vrata for

such worship. In a legend not many know, while Shiva and Parvati were playing chess, Vishnu happened to utter a falsehood in support of Shiva’s play and an enraged Parvati threw a curse on Vishnu. Shiva told Vishnu that he would be redeemed from the curse at the time of destruction of Gajamukhasura. And the curse was duly lifted when Vishnu met Vinayaka returning after vanquishing Gajamukhasura. The day of that meeting between Vishnu and Vinayaka was sashti thithi with sathayam star in Marghazhi. Vishnu initiated a vrata on that day, calling it Vinayaka Sashti vrata and declaring that, since the curse on him was lifted on that day, those observing the vrata would be relieved of all difficulties and would acquire every prosperity. In Vinayaka temples, Bhargava Puranam, called Perum Kaathai, and Vinayaka Kavacham are read in Karthikai, starting from krishna paksha prathama and ending on sukla paksha sashti, and special worship is offered to the deity on sukla paksha sashti. It seems

in olden days people observed this vrata for 21 days, wearing a wrist band made of 21 turns of thread. In Tamil Nadu, the community called Nagarathar observe a day as Pillaiyar Nonbu. Vaikunta Ekadasi Falling in moon’s waxing phase sukla paksha in Marghazhi (December-January), this is an austerity everyone knows about. There are two ekadasis each month, but this one in Marghazhi

is considered special. This is what Padma Puranam says about this austerity. In Krita Yuga there was a demon called Muran who harassed both Devas and mortals. Unable to bear his tyranny, the Devas sought refuge in Shiva. He directed them to approach Vishnu. Consoling the Devas, Vishnu went out to battle with Muran. As, during the battle, Vishnu rested awhile in a cave in Badrikashrama, his shakti – female energy – assumed the form of a beautiful damsel, fought Muran, and slayed him. Vishnu, waking up, saw her, named her Ekadasi and issued the boon that people worshipping her would reach Vaikunta. Thus, it is said, was born the first ekadasi. That was a Marghazhi sukla paksha ekadasi. Sages and

immortals began observing the ekadasi vrata regularly since then. The demon Muran represents the qualities tamas and rajas. Vishnu represents the life principle. The import of the ekadasi vrata is, therefore, that one can conquer rajas and tamas through fasting and go on to a better life. There are two ekadasis each month, but the year as a whole has one more, making for 25 in all. The Dhanur month sukla paksha ekadasi is Vaikunta Ekadasi. Shaivaites call this Nanjunda Ekadasi. Some believe it was on this day Shiva consumed nanju, the poison that emanated from the churning of the ocean. There is a temple to Shiva as Nanjundeswara in Nanjangud in Karnataka. Now consider all ekadasis occurring in a year. The ekadasi in Marghazhi krishna paksha (waning moon) – in December-January – is Mokshai; the one in sukla paksha (waxing moon) Utpathi. Forefathers of those who observe these vratas attain salvation. In Thai (January-February) krishna paksha, the ekadasi is called saphala. Those who observe this vrata, offering fruits to the Almighty, and make deepa dana – gift of lamps – recover lost wealth. The sukla paksha ekadasi is Putrata, which yields progeny. The Masi (February-March) krishna paksha ekadasi is Shadtila. Those who observe this will, even if they have nothing to give as dana, acquire the benefits of dana. The sukla paksha ekadasi is Jaya, which dispels the consequences of brahmahathi. The Panguni (March-April) krishna paksha ekadasi, called Vijaya, enables the observer of the vrata to vanquish foes. The sukla paksha ekadasi is called Amalaka. In Chithirai (April-May), the ekadasi in krishna paksha is Papa Mochani: those observing this and offering worship to the Lord will be cleansed of sins acquired knowingly or otherwise. The ekadasi in sukla paksha is Kamata, which blesses the observers with all they need and sets them on the path of righteousness. In Vaikasi (May-June) krishna paksha, the ekadasi is Varudhini; the sukla paksha ekadasi is Meghini. The Ani (June-July) krishna paksha ekadasi is Apara. The sukla paksha ekadasi is Nirjala: those observing this will reap the benefits of observance of all 25 ekadasis. The Adi (July-August) krishna paksha ekadasi is Yogini: its observance dispels the consequence of actions incurring the wrath of Shiva. The

sukla paksha ekadasi is Sayini, whose observance yields immense benefit. From Adi, incidentally, begins the austerity called chatur masyam. Avani (August-September) krishna paksha ekadasi is Kamika. Its observance fulfils wishes. The sukla paksha ekadasi is Putrata, observance of which yields progeny. Purattasi (September-October) krishna paksha ekadasi is Aja, which ended the tribulations of Harishchandra.

The sukla paksha ekadasi, called Padmanabha, is observed to invoke rain. Aippasi (October-November) krishna paksha ekadasi is Indira; the sukla paksha ekadasi is Pasankusa. In Karthikai (November-December) krishna paksha, the ekadasi is Rama; in sukla paksha it is Prabodhini. Elders have laid down that Lakshmi will bless those who observe all 25 ekadasi vratas and worship the Lord with tulasi.

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