Observing TRADITIONAL EERAN DRESS during worship-reg

[Guest guest]

It is learnt from the elder devotees of Guruvayur that in olden days it was

customary to take bath in the temple pond and enter the temple with EERAN

DRESS;and the women devotees irrespective of their age were compulsorily wearing

our old type ONNARA during worship at Guruvayur.If so,what was the concept

behind that custom?cud any respected devotee explain?.....OM NAMO NARAYANAYA!

[Guest guest]

guruvayur , " rejanee.devi " <rejanee.devi wrote:

>

> It is learnt from the elder devotees of Guruvayur that in olden days it was

customary to take bath in the temple pond and enter the temple with EERAN

DRESS;and the women devotees irrespective of their age were compulsorily wearing

our old type ONNARA during worship at Guruvayur.If so,what was the concept

behind that custom?cud any respected devotee explain?.....OM NAMO NARAYANAYA!

>

This is a custom available only in Kerala. In almost all the temples there are

temple tanks meant for the public to bathe. There will be a banyan tree also. It

is customary that people directly go to the tank and finish the bath, not

ordinary bath, mungi kuli, immerse onself completely thrice and then get up from

the water, just wipe the head of the extra water and then with all clothes

dripping water go around the banyan tree and then enter the temple. This was

done in the early hours of the morning and most of the people who come at that

time to the temple would be wet and dripping. When you bow before the main nada

you will find streams of water flowing from the nada due to many such devotees

bowing. Gents wear only a mundu and a thorthu with of course the wet

undergarment, whereas ladies come in the same condition without even wiping away

the water flowing all over their body with all disheveled hair matted with

excess water. Everybody have only one mission to have the darshan of the Lord.

They wont talk to each other, no social talk, no recognition of acquaintances,

just think of the god and move forward to get in front of the Sree koil to get a

glimpse of the God. Not only in Guruvayoor in every temple in Kerala old timers

used to do this practice. But the temple tanks were not cleaned properly and lot

of mud got accumulated in the tanks and bathing in these tanks became a health

risk and hence people discontinued. But many such big tanks are being cleaned.

The cleaned the Guruvayoor tank recent. Here the main tank of Ernakulathappan

was also cleaned and all the muck has been removed.

While doing pithru karmam even in homes, ladies are asked to come without

drying their bodies and so also are men. When the karmam is done by the side of

the riven, the same procedure is followed. According to the tanthric practices

which are used in the temples by the Namboothiris, bathing and coming in the

same condition is said to be more sudhham than otherwise. Guruvayoor melsanthi

may also be taking bath many times a day according to the number of pujas to be

performed.

[Guest guest]

Hari-Om

=======

 

What you have heard is true with some exceptions. In the years of yore majority

of the common folks did not have a pond within their property,and bathig was not

a convenient activity. What most people had was a well and well water was used

for all household purposes. Besides most of the devotees travelled long

distances often on foot to have darsan of Guruvayoorppan, The journey was

exhausting and it made theirr body sweat, their clothes somehow dirty and the

only way to refresh themselves was to use the temple pond. ( When enterimg the

temple one should be clean in body and mind.) It is not true that the devotees

took bath in the temple pond ; What they did was to have a (full) dip/ or 3 or

nine dips in the pond and proceed to the temple with eeran clothes. Eeran cloth

ensures it is not contaminated in any way and often they could not afford to

carry spare clean clothes with them.

For women ONNARA was the traditional attire in those days and hence they used

them, It is wrong to say it was compulsory for them to wear that irrespective of

age. Sari, blouse, half-sari. full length skirt etc were items of novelty and

availble only to the super wealthy ( such as Royal family members, elite society

members etc. )and iornically, those rich folks seldom went to the temples

outside ( they had their privte places of worship )in those days and therefore

ordinary folks wore what was readily available and affordable.

There was also an unwritten rule that the ordinary people should only dress

modestly. Anything else would invite the suspecion of the upper-class society

and liable to be accused of irregular activities.

I am an ardent devotee of Sri Gurruvayoorappan but I still do not understand the

logic behind the rule that men should enter the the temple premises half-naked,

that is, without shirt ( lso in Sree Padmanabha temple, TVM ) . I have visited

temples in North India, , Africa and United States of America where one is

allowed to go in shirt and pants.

There are no such restrictions in Akshardham temple in Gandhinagar, Gujarat or

even in Amarnath and other famous temples . If it is a matter of cleanliness ,

what about the sadhus and sanyasis who roam around the temples in unwashed

clothes ?

 

I believe these rules are created in gone by years which no one has the nerve to

change.

 

 

jai shree krisha !

 

Achuthan Nair

 

guruvayur , " rejanee.devi " <rejanee.devi wrote:

>

> It is learnt from the elder devotees of Guruvayur that in olden days it was

customary to take bath in the temple pond and enter the temple with EERAN

DRESS;and the women devotees irrespective of their age were compulsorily wearing

our old type ONNARA during worship at Guruvayur.If so,what was the concept

behind that custom?cud any respected devotee explain?.....OM NAMO NARAYANAYA!

>

[Guest guest]

guruvayur , " chirattapuram " <anair1101 wrote:

>

> Hari-Om

> =======

>

> What you have heard is true with some exceptions. In the years of yore

majority of the common folks did not have a pond within their property,and

bathig was not a convenient activity. What most people had was a well and well

water was used for all household purposes. Besides most of the devotees

travelled long distances often on foot to have darsan of Guruvayoorppan, The

journey was exhausting and it made theirr body sweat, their clothes somehow

dirty and the only way to refresh themselves was to use the temple pond. ( When

enterimg the temple one should be clean in body and mind.) It is not true that

the devotees took bath in the temple pond ; What they did was to have a (full)

dip/ or 3 or nine dips in the pond and proceed to the temple with eeran clothes.

Eeran cloth ensures it is not contaminated in any way and often they could not

afford to carry spare clean clothes with them.

> For women ONNARA was the traditional attire in those days and hence they used

them, It is wrong to say it was compulsory for them to wear that irrespective of

age. Sari, blouse, half-sari. full length skirt etc were items of novelty and

availble only to the super wealthy ( such as Royal family members, elite society

members etc. )and iornically, those rich folks seldom went to the temples

outside ( they had their privte places of worship )in those days and therefore

ordinary folks wore what was readily available and affordable.

> There was also an unwritten rule that the ordinary people should only dress

modestly. Anything else would invite the suspecion of the upper-class society

and liable to be accused of irregular activities.

> I am an ardent devotee of Sri Gurruvayoorappan but I still do not understand

the logic behind the rule that men should enter the the temple premises

half-naked, that is, without shirt ( lso in Sree Padmanabha temple, TVM ) . I

have visited temples in North India, , Africa and United States of America where

one is allowed to go in shirt and pants.

> There are no such restrictions in Akshardham temple in Gandhinagar, Gujarat or

even in Amarnath and other famous temples . If it is a matter of cleanliness ,

what about the sadhus and sanyasis who roam around the temples in unwashed

clothes ?

>

> I believe these rules are created in gone by years which no one has the nerve

to change.

>

>

> jai shree krisha !

>

> Achuthan Nair

>

> guruvayur , " rejanee.devi " <rejanee.devi@> wrote:

> >

> > It is learnt from the elder devotees of Guruvayur that in olden days it was

customary to take bath in the temple pond and enter the temple with EERAN

DRESS;and the women devotees irrespective of their age were compulsorily wearing

our old type ONNARA during worship at Guruvayur.If so,what was the concept

behind that custom?cud any respected devotee explain?.....OM NAMO NARAYANAYA!

> >

>

Thank you Sir! for an elaborate and authentic response;it was a scholarly and

historic note on my query.....may Lord Krishna bless yu and yr

family!......rejanee with regards.

[Guest guest]

guruvayur , " ramachandramenon " <ramachandramenon

wrote:

>

> guruvayur , " rejanee.devi " <rejanee.devi@> wrote:

> >

> > It is learnt from the elder devotees of Guruvayur that in olden days it was

customary to take bath in the temple pond and enter the temple with EERAN

DRESS;and the women devotees irrespective of their age were compulsorily wearing

our old type ONNARA during worship at Guruvayur.If so,what was the concept

behind that custom?cud any respected devotee explain?.....OM NAMO NARAYANAYA!

> >

> This is a custom available only in Kerala. In almost all the temples there are

temple tanks meant for the public to bathe. There will be a banyan tree also. It

is customary that people directly go to the tank and finish the bath, not

ordinary bath, mungi kuli, immerse onself completely thrice and then get up from

the water, just wipe the head of the extra water and then with all clothes

dripping water go around the banyan tree and then enter the temple. This was

done in the early hours of the morning and most of the people who come at that

time to the temple would be wet and dripping. When you bow before the main nada

you will find streams of water flowing from the nada due to many such devotees

bowing. Gents wear only a mundu and a thorthu with of course the wet

undergarment, whereas ladies come in the same condition without even wiping away

the water flowing all over their body with all disheveled hair matted with

excess water. Everybody have only one mission to have the darshan of the Lord.

They wont talk to each other, no social talk, no recognition of acquaintances,

just think of the god and move forward to get in front of the Sree koil to get a

glimpse of the God. Not only in Guruvayoor in every temple in Kerala old timers

used to do this practice. But the temple tanks were not cleaned properly and lot

of mud got accumulated in the tanks and bathing in these tanks became a health

risk and hence people discontinued. But many such big tanks are being cleaned.

The cleaned the Guruvayoor tank recent. Here the main tank of Ernakulathappan

was also cleaned and all the muck has been removed.

> While doing pithru karmam even in homes, ladies are asked to come without

drying their bodies and so also are men. When the karmam is done by the side of

the riven, the same procedure is followed. According to the tanthric practices

which are used in the temples by the Namboothiris, bathing and coming in the

same condition is said to be more sudhham than otherwise. Guruvayoor melsanthi

may also be taking bath many times a day according to the number of pujas to be

performed.

>

Thank yu respected Menon Sir!I am too much learnt of the eeran dress practice

now from yr.detailed note on the matter.Hope yu continue to write on the

traditional dress code also;especially on the practice of customary ritual

attire like ONNARA;praying for blessings from Lord Guruvayurappa....OM NAMO

NARAYANAYA....with regards ....Rejanee.

[Guest guest]

I am surprised at the sudden interest in you about the traditional dress styles of nair ladies of Kerala. Till the end of last generation nair ladies wore onnara as the undergarment beneath the traditional mundu. Onnara, is one and a half mundu, slightly longer than the traditional mundu, which weavers weave specially and keep. When we go for our annual purchase of clothes during Onam season, my wife used to ask for certain number of onnara mundu and so many settu mundu. Settu Mundu is the mundu and the uthareeyam or melmundu. Hence the women of Kerala had three piece of clothes on them, i.e., mundu, onnara and melmundu or randamundu. This is the dress of traditional nair ladies. Namboothiri ladies had only one long, very long piece of cloth which one end they wore around them and the other end they covered themselves up.

They are very seldom seen outside and when they come they come in groups and wearing a palm leaf parasole so that they cover their face from the crowd. Others when they see a namboothiri woman or a group of women coming they move away. Other castes had no such dress code as such. I may say that most of the women in Kerala in the last century did not wear anything to cover their upper body. Nobody took it as amiss. It is the usual practice. Woman when they go to the temples had their upper body fully exposed like men and there was no distinction between men and women. This practice was stopped to a great extent by the social reformers like Narayana Guru, Chattambi Swamigal, and they compelled the women to cover themselves up always. Even now there are ladies who wear onnara mundu which gives them great protection and composure to their body. Even now people go and bathe in Guruvayur temple tank or chottanikkara temple tank and go

inside the temple in wet clothes and worship god. In Thriprayar temple they have a large population of fishes and feeding the fishes is an offering to Thriprayarappan.

--- On Wed, 17/6/09, rejanee.devi <rejanee.devi wrote:

rejanee.devi <rejanee.devi[Guruvayur] Re: Observing TRADITIONAL EERAN DRESS during worship-regguruvayur Date: Wednesday, 17 June, 2009, 8:12 PM

 

 

guruvayur@grou ps.com, "chirattapuram" <anair1101@. ..> wrote:>> Hari-Om> =======> > What you have heard is true with some exceptions.. In the years of yore majority of the common folks did not have a pond within their property,and bathig was not a convenient activity. What most people had was a well and well water was used for all household purposes. Besides most of the devotees travelled long distances often on foot to have darsan of Guruvayoorppan, The journey was exhausting and it made theirr body sweat, their clothes somehow dirty and the only way to refresh themselves was to use the temple pond. ( When enterimg the temple one should be clean in body and mind.) It is not true that the devotees took bath in the temple pond ; What they did

was to have a (full) dip/ or 3 or nine dips in the pond and proceed to the temple with eeran clothes. Eeran cloth ensures it is not contaminated in any way and often they could not afford to carry spare clean clothes with them.> For women ONNARA was the traditional attire in those days and hence they used them, It is wrong to say it was compulsory for them to wear that irrespective of age. Sari, blouse, half-sari. full length skirt etc were items of novelty and availble only to the super wealthy ( such as Royal family members, elite society members etc. )and iornically, those rich folks seldom went to the temples outside ( they had their privte places of worship )in those days and therefore ordinary folks wore what was readily available and affordable.> There was also an unwritten rule that the ordinary people should only dress modestly. Anything else would invite the suspecion of the upper-class society and liable to be accused of

irregular activities.> I am an ardent devotee of Sri Gurruvayoorappan but I still do not understand the logic behind the rule that men should enter the the temple premises half-naked, that is, without shirt ( lso in Sree Padmanabha temple, TVM ) . I have visited temples in North India, , Africa and United States of America where one is allowed to go in shirt and pants.> There are no such restrictions in Akshardham temple in Gandhinagar, Gujarat or even in Amarnath and other famous temples . If it is a matter of cleanliness , what about the sadhus and sanyasis who roam around the temples in unwashed clothes ?> > I believe these rules are created in gone by years which no one has the nerve to change.> > > jai shree krisha !> > Achuthan Nair> > guruvayur@grou ps.com, "rejanee.devi" <rejanee.devi@ > wrote:> >> > It is learnt from the elder devotees of Guruvayur that in olden days it was customary to take bath in the temple pond and enter the temple with EERAN DRESS;and the women devotees irrespective of their age were compulsorily wearing our old type ONNARA during worship at Guruvayur.If so,what was the concept behind that custom?cud any respected devotee explain?.... .OM NAMO NARAYANAYA!> >>Thank you Sir! for an elaborate and authentic response;it was a scholarly and historic note on my query.....may Lord Krishna bless yu and yr family!..... .rejanee with regards.

ICC World Twenty20 England '09 exclusively on ! CRICKET

[Guest guest]

Dear all,Radhe Krishna!I had a chance to go thru my inbox after a long time, may be more than a week due to failure of my broadband system, and I am answering the first mail which caught my attention.  I remember, as a boy, I used to go to the temple tank at Mavelikara along with either my father or mother, have the bath and visit the temple, offer prayers and come home.  It was all in the natural order of things that we go and have bath, wear the Eeran dress, visit temple and come home.   And if there are a few temples to be visited, by the time we come home, the mundu would have dried up also, saving us the trouble of changing the dress!  So there is no tradition or custom involved in this. 

One point to be remembered is that while we are straightaway going to the temple after bath, there is no chance of contamination with dirt, and hence we will be clean.Now we all take our bath in the bathrooms, and hence, there is no need of wearing eeran dress!

I dont find any other reason for wearing the wet dress.  God has never said that worship should be with eeran dress.   It is only to be understood that we should be clean physically and mentally  (Sa-bahya-abhyantharah suchih) while worshipping the favourite deity.

RegardsKVG.On Tue, Jun 16, 2009 at 10:02 PM, rejanee.devi <rejanee.devi wrote:

 

 

 

 

 

It is learnt from the elder devotees of Guruvayur that in olden days it was customary to take bath in the temple pond and enter the temple with EERAN DRESS;and the women devotees irrespective of their age were compulsorily wearing our old type ONNARA during worship at Guruvayur.If so,what was the concept behind that custom?cud any respected devotee explain?.....OM NAMO NARAYANAYA!

[Guest guest]

Hari-Om

 

About taking a dip in the temple pond.

This remindss me about an incident that took place a few years ago.

I had left India long ago as a boy and as a grown up , I was not familiar with

the various religious customs. I was in India with wife and kids and I was

seeking help for relief for my 4 year old daughter who was suffering from acute

infantile etzema. Allopatheic treatment was not helpful. At the suggestion of

our astrologer, we proceeded to Pampu Mekkattu Illam near Mala > that is because

we had Sarpakkavu withing our anscetral home and it seems the inmates of the

Kavu were not happy. We went to pampu Mekkattu to do penance. On arrival we

explained our desire to do what ever neceessary but looking at us the Karyastan

told us that the Thirumeni will not see us unless we , that is me, my wife and

child get ourselves change of clothes, have a dip in the illam pond and proceed

in eeran clothes. We had no spare clothes and did not come prepared. We pleaded

but the answer was a big NO. Later on We went to Mannarasala,where there are no

trict rules, near Haripad and did the necessary poojas.

To make us see reason, he narrated a story.

A few months ago The Chief Justice had come from Trissoor ( 25 miles away ) in

his personal car to consult the Thirumeni. His honor had taken bath, hd changed

into fresh clean clothes fefore undertaking the journey,

The Thirumeni insisted that His Honor follow the same ritual as everybody, that

is take a dip and come in eeran dress.

We decided to go home and return another day , well prepared.

 

WE , nor the Chief Justice asked for any explnation and we were not given any

but the fact is that there are certain things beyond our comprehension.

 

jai shree krishna !

Achuthan Nair.

 

 

 

guruvayur , " K.V Gopalakrishna " <gopalakrishna.kv

wrote:

>

> Dear all,

> Radhe Krishna!

>

> I had a chance to go thru my inbox after a long time, may be more than a

> week due to failure of my broadband system, and I am answering the first

> mail which caught my attention. I remember, as a boy, I used to go to the

> temple tank at Mavelikara along with either my father or mother, have the

> bath and visit the temple, offer prayers and come home. It was all in the

> natural order of things that we go and have bath, wear the Eeran dress,

> visit temple and come home. And if there are a few temples to be visited,

> by the time we come home, the mundu would have dried up also, saving us the

> trouble of changing the dress! So there is no tradition or custom involved

> in this.

>

> One point to be remembered is that while we are straightaway going to the

> temple after bath, there is no chance of contamination with dirt, and hence

> we will be clean.

>

> Now we all take our bath in the bathrooms, and hence, there is no need of

> wearing eeran dress!

> I dont find any other reason for wearing the wet dress. God has never said

> that worship should be with eeran dress. It is only to be understood that

> we should be clean physically and* mentally* (Sa-bahya-abhyantharah suchih)

> while worshipping the favourite deity.

> Regards

> KVG.

> On Tue, Jun 16, 2009 at 10:02 PM, rejanee.devi <rejanee.deviwrote:

>

> >

> >

> > It is learnt from the elder devotees of Guruvayur that in olden days it was

> > customary to take bath in the temple pond and enter the temple with EERAN

> > DRESS;and the women devotees irrespective of their age were compulsorily

> > wearing our old type ONNARA during worship at Guruvayur.If so,what was the

> > concept behind that custom?cud any respected devotee explain?.....OM NAMO

> > NARAYANAYA!

> >

> >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Dear Friends,

I remember that in olden days we were not supposed to touch the bed which we sleep,once we get up in the morning and have a bath. We should go to the temple in wet clothes. .Also while going to the temple after taking bath we should not touch the people who have not taken bath yet.You all know that we should not accidentally even touch the Tantri who does the pooja. All this is done for extreme Shudhi while in the temple and praying to the Lord, I presume.

regards,

Sreedevi menon

Om Namo Narayanaya

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

--- On Thu, 6/18/09, chirattapuram <anair1101 wrote:

chirattapuram <anair1101[Guruvayur] Re: Observing TRADITIONAL EERAN DRESS during worship-regguruvayur Date: Thursday, June 18, 2009, 4:18 PM

 

 

Hari-OmAbout taking a dip in the temple pond.This remindss me about an incident that took place a few years ago. I had left India long ago as a boy and as a grown up , I was not familiar with the various religious customs. I was in India with wife and kids and I was seeking help for relief for my 4 year old daughter who was suffering from acute infantile etzema. Allopatheic treatment was not helpful. At the suggestion of our astrologer, we proceeded to Pampu Mekkattu Illam near Mala > that is because we had Sarpakkavu withing our anscetral home and it seems the inmates of the Kavu were not happy. We went to pampu Mekkattu to do penance. On arrival we explained our desire to do what ever neceessary but looking at us the Karyastan told us that the Thirumeni will not see us unless we , that is me, my wife and child get ourselves change of clothes, have a dip in the illam pond and proceed in eeran clothes. We had no spare clothes and

did not come prepared. We pleaded but the answer was a big NO. Later on We went to Mannarasala, where there are no trict rules, near Haripad and did the necessary poojas.To make us see reason, he narrated a story.A few months ago The Chief Justice had come from Trissoor ( 25 miles away ) in his personal car to consult the Thirumeni. His honor had taken bath, hd changed into fresh clean clothes fefore undertaking the journey, The Thirumeni insisted that His Honor follow the same ritual as everybody, that is take a dip and come in eeran dress. We decided to go home and return another day , well prepared. WE , nor the Chief Justice asked for any explnation and we were not given any but the fact is that there are certain things beyond our comprehension.jai shree krishna !Achuthan Nair.guruvayur@grou ps.com, "K.V Gopalakrishna" <gopalakrishna. kv wrote:>> Dear all,> Radhe Krishna!> > I had a chance to go thru my inbox after a long time, may be more than a> week due to failure of my broadband system, and I am answering the first> mail which caught my attention. I remember, as a boy, I used to go to the> temple tank at Mavelikara along with either my father or mother, have the> bath and visit the temple, offer prayers and come home. It was all in the> natural order of things that we go and have bath, wear the Eeran dress,> visit temple and come home. And if there are a few temples to be visited,> by the time we come home, the mundu would have dried up also, saving us the> trouble of changing the dress! So there is no tradition or custom involved> in this.> > One

point to be remembered is that while we are straightaway going to the> temple after bath, there is no chance of contamination with dirt, and hence> we will be clean.> > Now we all take our bath in the bathrooms, and hence, there is no need of> wearing eeran dress!> I dont find any other reason for wearing the wet dress. God has never said> that worship should be with eeran dress. It is only to be understood that> we should be clean physically and* mentally* (Sa-bahya-abhyantha rah suchih)> while worshipping the favourite deity.> Regards> KVG.> On Tue, Jun 16, 2009 at 10:02 PM, rejanee.devi <rejanee.devi@ ...>wrote:> > >> >> > It is learnt from the elder devotees of Guruvayur that in olden days it was> > customary to take bath in the temple pond and enter the temple with EERAN> > DRESS;and the women devotees

irrespective of their age were compulsorily> > wearing our old type ONNARA during worship at Guruvayur.If so,what was the> > concept behind that custom?cud any respected devotee explain?.... .OM NAMO> > NARAYANAYA!> >> > > >>

[Guest guest]

guruvayur , ramachandra menon <ramachandramenon

wrote:

>

> I am surprised at the sudden interest in you about  the traditional dress

styles of nair ladies of Kerala.  Till the end of last generation nair ladies

wore onnara as the undergarment beneath the traditional mundu.  Onnara, is

one and a half mundu, slightly longer than the traditional mundu, which weavers

weave specially and keep. When we go for our annual purchase of clothes during

Onam season, my wife used to ask for certain number of onnara mundu and so many

settu mundu. Settu Mundu is the mundu and the uthareeyam or melmundu.  Hence the

women of Kerala had three piece of clothes on them, i.e., mundu, onnara and

melmundu or randamundu. This is the dress of traditional nair ladies.

Namboothiri ladies had only one long, very long piece of cloth which one end

they wore around them and the other end they covered themselves up. They are

very seldom seen outside and when they come they come in groups and wearing a

palm leaf parasole so that they cover

> their face from the crowd. Others when they see a namboothiri woman or a

group of women coming they move away. Other castes had no such dress code as

such. I may say that most of the women in Kerala in the last century did not

wear anything to cover their upper body. Nobody took it as amiss. It is the

usual practice. Woman when they go to the temples had their upper body fully

exposed like men and there was no distinction between men and women. This

practice was stopped to a great extent by the social reformers like Narayana

Guru, Chattambi Swamigal, and they compelled the women to cover themselves up

always. Even now there are ladies who wear onnara mundu which gives them great

protection and composure to their body. Even now people go and bathe in

Guruvayur temple tank or chottanikkara temple tank and go inside the temple in

wet clothes and worship god. In Thriprayar temple they have a large population

of fishes and feeding the fishes is an

> offering to Thriprayarappan.  

>     

>

> --- On Wed, 17/6/09, rejanee.devi <rejanee.devi wrote:

>

>

> rejanee.devi <rejanee.devi

> [Guruvayur] Re: Observing TRADITIONAL EERAN DRESS during worship-reg

> guruvayur

> Wednesday, 17 June, 2009, 8:12 PM

>

>

guruvayur@grou ps.com, " chirattapuram " <anair1101@ ..> wrote:

> >

> > Hari-Om

> > =======

> >

> > What you have heard is true with some exceptions. In the years of yore

majority of the common folks did not have a pond within their property,and

bathig was not a convenient activity. What most people had was a well and well

water was used for all household purposes. Besides most of the devotees

travelled long distances often on foot to have darsan of Guruvayoorppan, The

journey was exhausting and it made theirr body sweat, their clothes somehow

dirty and the only way to refresh themselves was to use the temple pond. ( When

enterimg the temple one should be clean in body and mind.) It is not true that

the devotees took bath in the temple pond ; What they did was to have a (full)

dip/ or 3 or nine dips in the pond and proceed to the temple with eeran clothes.

Eeran cloth ensures it is not contaminated in any way and often they could not

afford to carry spare clean clothes with them.

> > For women ONNARA was the traditional attire in those days and hence they

used them, It is wrong to say it was compulsory for them to wear that

irrespective of age. Sari, blouse, half-sari. full length skirt etc were items

of novelty and availble only to the super wealthy ( such as Royal family

members, elite society members etc. )and iornically, those rich folks seldom

went to the temples outside ( they had their privte places of worship )in those

days and therefore ordinary folks wore what was readily available and

affordable.

> > There was also an unwritten rule that the ordinary people should only dress

modestly. Anything else would invite the suspecion of the upper-class society

and liable to be accused of irregular activities.

> > I am an ardent devotee of Sri Gurruvayoorappan but I still do not understand

the logic behind the rule that men should enter the the temple premises

half-naked, that is, without shirt ( lso in Sree Padmanabha temple, TVM ) .. I

have visited temples in North India, , Africa and United States of America where

one is allowed to go in shirt and pants.

> > There are no such restrictions in Akshardham temple in Gandhinagar, Gujarat

or even in Amarnath and other famous temples . If it is a matter of cleanliness

, what about the sadhus and sanyasis who roam around the temples in unwashed

clothes ?

> >

> > I believe these rules are created in gone by years which no one has the

nerve to change.

> >

> >

> > jai shree krisha !

> >

> > Achuthan Nair

> >

> > guruvayur@grou ps.com, " rejanee.devi " <rejanee.devi@ > wrote:

> > >

> > > It is learnt from the elder devotees of Guruvayur that in olden days it

was customary to take bath in the temple pond and enter the temple with EERAN

DRESS;and the women devotees irrespective of their age were compulsorily wearing

our old type ONNARA during worship at Guruvayur.If so,what was the concept

behind that custom?cud any respected devotee explain?.... .OM NAMO NARAYANAYA!

> > >

> >

> Thank you Sir! for an elaborate and authentic response;it was a scholarly and

historic note on my query.....may Lord Krishna bless yu and yr family!......

..rejanee with regards.

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

Love Cricket? Check out live scores, photos, video highlights and more.

Click here http://cricket.

>

Thank yu respected Menon Sir for a prompt response;we were introduced to the

ritual cloths like onnara when we had a darsan at Guruvayur a few months back.My

aunt who was leading our pilgrim team insisted us to compulsorily wear onnara

while entering the temple as the dress had some base in thanthrasasthra and the

related concepts.And we followed that old tradition and felt a definite bhava or

concentration of mind during worship.After that we are of opinion that onnara is

a befitting ritual cloth;both for worship and it brings in confidence in women

irrespective of their age;but the problem is that many new generation girls are

quite unaware of the advantages of that dress;and they are not properly trained

by the elders to practise it.It is also learnt that the ban of churidhar inside

the temple was mainly due to to the inconvenience caused by it to accommadate

our riual onnara;if possible let us follow the traditional clothing during

temple worship.Valuable comment on the matter are expected........praying for

the blessings of Lord Krishna to all our beloved devotees.....Rejanee.

[Guest guest]

guruvayur , NVP Menon <nvpmenon wrote:

>

> Dear Friends,

> I remember that in olden days we were not supposed to touch the bed which we

sleep,once we get up in the morning and have a bath. We should go to the temple

in wet clothes. .Also while going to the temple after taking bath we should not

touch the people who have not taken bath yet.You all know that we should not

accidentally even touch the Tantri who does the pooja. All this is done for

extreme Shudhi while in the temple and praying to the Lord, I presume.

> regards,

> Sreedevi menon

> Om Namo Narayanaya

>  Dear Sreedevi madom,yr note on the sudhi concept and bathing early in the

morning is commendable!Though not practical now,a true devotee cud try to follow

such conventions.Thank yu;being a tradition loving lady we hope yu mention the

ritual and thanthric concept of our old customary cloths like onnara;especially

during worship at a temple........with namaskaram and true devotion to Lord

Guruvarappan......Rejanee.  

>  

>  

>  

>  

>  

>  

>

>

> --- On Thu, 6/18/09, chirattapuram <anair1101 wrote:

>

>

> chirattapuram <anair1101

> [Guruvayur] Re: Observing TRADITIONAL EERAN DRESS during worship-reg

> guruvayur

> Thursday, June 18, 2009, 4:18 PM

>

>

Hari-Om

>

> About taking a dip in the temple pond.

> This remindss me about an incident that took place a few years ago.

> I had left India long ago as a boy and as a grown up , I was not familiar with

the various religious customs. I was in India with wife and kids and I was

seeking help for relief for my 4 year old daughter who was suffering from acute

infantile etzema. Allopatheic treatment was not helpful. At the suggestion of

our astrologer, we proceeded to Pampu Mekkattu Illam near Mala > that is because

we had Sarpakkavu withing our anscetral home and it seems the inmates of the

Kavu were not happy. We went to pampu Mekkattu to do penance. On arrival we

explained our desire to do what ever neceessary but looking at us the Karyastan

told us that the Thirumeni will not see us unless we , that is me, my wife and

child get ourselves change of clothes, have a dip in the illam pond and proceed

in eeran clothes. We had no spare clothes and did not come prepared. We pleaded

but the answer was a big NO. Later on We went to Mannarasala, where there are no

trict rules, near

> Haripad and did the necessary poojas.

> To make us see reason, he narrated a story.

> A few months ago The Chief Justice had come from Trissoor ( 25 miles away ) in

his personal car to consult the Thirumeni. His honor had taken bath, hd changed

into fresh clean clothes fefore undertaking the journey,

> The Thirumeni insisted that His Honor follow the same ritual as everybody,

that is take a dip and come in eeran dress.

> We decided to go home and return another day , well prepared.

>

> WE , nor the Chief Justice asked for any explnation and we were not given any

but the fact is that there are certain things beyond our comprehension.

>

> jai shree krishna !

> Achuthan Nair.

>

> guruvayur@grou ps.com, " K.V Gopalakrishna " <gopalakrishna. kv@>

wrote:

> >

> > Dear all,

> > Radhe Krishna!

> >

> > I had a chance to go thru my inbox after a long time, may be more than a

> > week due to failure of my broadband system, and I am answering the first

> > mail which caught my attention. I remember, as a boy, I used to go to the

> > temple tank at Mavelikara along with either my father or mother, have the

> > bath and visit the temple, offer prayers and come home. It was all in the

> > natural order of things that we go and have bath, wear the Eeran dress,

> > visit temple and come home. And if there are a few temples to be visited,

> > by the time we come home, the mundu would have dried up also, saving us the

> > trouble of changing the dress! So there is no tradition or custom involved

> > in this.

> >

> > One point to be remembered is that while we are straightaway going to the

> > temple after bath, there is no chance of contamination with dirt, and hence

> > we will be clean.

> >

> > Now we all take our bath in the bathrooms, and hence, there is no need of

> > wearing eeran dress!

> > I dont find any other reason for wearing the wet dress. God has never said

> > that worship should be with eeran dress. It is only to be understood that

> > we should be clean physically and* mentally* (Sa-bahya-abhyantha rah suchih)

> > while worshipping the favourite deity.

> > Regards

> > KVG.

> > On Tue, Jun 16, 2009 at 10:02 PM, rejanee.devi <rejanee.devi@ ...>wrote:

> >

> > >

> > >

> > > It is learnt from the elder devotees of Guruvayur that in olden days it

was

> > > customary to take bath in the temple pond and enter the temple with EERAN

> > > DRESS;and the women devotees irrespective of their age were compulsorily

> > > wearing our old type ONNARA during worship at Guruvayur.If so,what was the

> > > concept behind that custom?cud any respected devotee explain?.... .OM NAMO

> > > NARAYANAYA!

> > >

> > >

> > >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Dear Sreedevi madom,yr note on the sudhi concept and bathing early in the

morning is commendable!Though not practical now,a true devotee cud try to follow

such conventions.Thank you being a tradition loving lady we hope you mention the

ritual and thanthric concept of our old customary clothes;especially during

worship at a temple........with namaskaram and true devotion to Lord

Guruvarappan......Rejanee.

 

 

 

guruvayur , " rejanee.devi " <rejanee.devi wrote:

>

> guruvayur , NVP Menon <nvpmenon@> wrote:

> >

> > Dear Friends,

> > I remember that in olden days we were not supposed to touch the bed which we

sleep,once we get up in the morning and have a bath. We should go to the temple

in wet clothes. .Also while going to the temple after taking bath we should not

touch the people who have not taken bath yet.You all know that we should not

accidentally even touch the Tantri who does the pooja. All this is done for

extreme Shudhi while in the temple and praying to the Lord, I presume.

> > regards,

> > Sreedevi menon

> > Om Namo Narayanaya

 

 

> >  

> >  

> >  

> >  

[Guest guest]

Hari-om

-------

We gurudevs have had a lengthy, prolonged discussion on the merits (mostly) and

demerits of worshipping , clad in wet clothes and the ancient Kerala women's

costumes.

 

What about Men ?

Has anyone thought of the men's attire in those bygone days ?

It was a common sight in those days to observe older men working in the paddy

fields or harvesting the crops, clad in what is called a Langoti. Another verson

of the Langoti is a Konakam, a strip of cloth about 4 " wide and about 3 - 4 feet

in length, one end hung from a waist cord and the other pulled tight and

inserted into the back portion of the waist band. To protect them from the

sun's rays they often wore a crude, home- made hat fashioned out of the outer

covering of the araecaunut leaf.

It WAS CUSTOMARY for men to have a white Thorthu, a small mundu of knee-length

, to wrap around the waist.

Often the rear end of the konakam would hang down all the way down to knee level

portruding from under the Thorthu.

WE used to describe this as " Sunday is longer than Monday . "

Small boys often wore multi-colored Konakams.

A more sophiscated way of dress style was to wear a Mundu over the under pant.

They had a second short mundu ( Randamundu ) thrown over the shoulder but

seldom wore a shirt.

 

jai shree krishna !

 

PS

==

Dear moderator, if you think that this article is slightly awkward. please do

not post it.

 

 

 

---

 

 

 

 

In guruvayur , " rejanee.devi " <rejanee.devi wrote:

>

> guruvayur , NVP Menon <nvpmenon@> wrote:

> >

> > Dear Friends,

> > I remember that in olden days we were not supposed to touch the bed which we

sleep,once we get up in the morning and have a bath. We should go to the temple

in wet clothes. .Also while going to the temple after taking bath we should not

touch the people who have not taken bath yet.You all know that we should not

accidentally even touch the Tantri who does the pooja. All this is done for

extreme Shudhi while in the temple and praying to the Lord, I presume.

> > regards,

> > Sreedevi menon

> > Om Namo Narayanaya

> >  Dear Sreedevi madom,yr note on the sudhi concept and bathing early in the

morning is commendable!Though not practical now,a true devotee cud try to follow

such conventions.Thank yu;being a tradition loving lady we hope yu mention the

ritual and thanthric concept of our old customary cloths like onnara;especially

during worship at a temple........with namaskaram and true devotion to Lord

Guruvarappan......Rejanee.  

> >  

> >  

> >  

> >  

> >  

> >  

> >

> >

> > --- On Thu, 6/18/09, chirattapuram <anair1101@> wrote:

> >

> >

> > chirattapuram <anair1101@>

> > [Guruvayur] Re: Observing TRADITIONAL EERAN DRESS during

worship-reg

> > guruvayur

> > Thursday, June 18, 2009, 4:18 PM

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> > Hari-Om

> >

> > About taking a dip in the temple pond.

> > This remindss me about an incident that took place a few years ago.

> > I had left India long ago as a boy and as a grown up , I was not familiar

with the various religious customs. I was in India with wife and kids and I was

seeking help for relief for my 4 year old daughter who was suffering from acute

infantile etzema. Allopatheic treatment was not helpful. At the suggestion of

our astrologer, we proceeded to Pampu Mekkattu Illam near Mala > that is because

we had Sarpakkavu withing our anscetral home and it seems the inmates of the

Kavu were not happy. We went to pampu Mekkattu to do penance. On arrival we

explained our desire to do what ever neceessary but looking at us the Karyastan

told us that the Thirumeni will not see us unless we , that is me, my wife and

child get ourselves change of clothes, have a dip in the illam pond and proceed

in eeran clothes. We had no spare clothes and did not come prepared. We pleaded

but the answer was a big NO. Later on We went to Mannarasala, where there are no

trict rules, near

> > Haripad and did the necessary poojas.

> > To make us see reason, he narrated a story.

> > A few months ago The Chief Justice had come from Trissoor ( 25 miles away )

in his personal car to consult the Thirumeni. His honor had taken bath, hd

changed into fresh clean clothes fefore undertaking the journey,

> > The Thirumeni insisted that His Honor follow the same ritual as everybody,

that is take a dip and come in eeran dress.

> > We decided to go home and return another day , well prepared.

> >

> > WE , nor the Chief Justice asked for any explnation and we were not given

any but the fact is that there are certain things beyond our comprehension.

> >

> > jai shree krishna !

> > Achuthan Nair.

> >

> > guruvayur@grou ps.com, " K.V Gopalakrishna " <gopalakrishna. kv@>

wrote:

> > >

> > > Dear all,

> > > Radhe Krishna!

> > >

> > > I had a chance to go thru my inbox after a long time, may be more than a

> > > week due to failure of my broadband system, and I am answering the first

> > > mail which caught my attention. I remember, as a boy, I used to go to the

> > > temple tank at Mavelikara along with either my father or mother, have the

> > > bath and visit the temple, offer prayers and come home. It was all in the

> > > natural order of things that we go and have bath, wear the Eeran dress,

> > > visit temple and come home. And if there are a few temples to be visited,

> > > by the time we come home, the mundu would have dried up also, saving us

the

> > > trouble of changing the dress! So there is no tradition or custom involved

> > > in this.

> > >

> > > One point to be remembered is that while we are straightaway going to the

> > > temple after bath, there is no chance of contamination with dirt, and

hence

> > > we will be clean.

> > >

> > > Now we all take our bath in the bathrooms, and hence, there is no need of

> > > wearing eeran dress!

> > > I dont find any other reason for wearing the wet dress. God has never said

> > > that worship should be with eeran dress. It is only to be understood that

> > > we should be clean physically and* mentally* (Sa-bahya-abhyantha rah

suchih)

> > > while worshipping the favourite deity.

> > > Regards

> > > KVG.

> > > On Tue, Jun 16, 2009 at 10:02 PM, rejanee.devi <rejanee.devi@ ...>wrote:

> > >

> > > >

> > > >

> > > > It is learnt from the elder devotees of Guruvayur that in olden days it

was

> > > > customary to take bath in the temple pond and enter the temple with

EERAN

> > > > DRESS;and the women devotees irrespective of their age were compulsorily

> > > > wearing our old type ONNARA during worship at Guruvayur.If so,what was

the

> > > > concept behind that custom?cud any respected devotee explain?.... .OM

NAMO

> > > > NARAYANAYA!

> > > >

> > > >

> > > >

> > >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

the rules are man made

it is left the individual to take it or otherwise

more than rule is true bakthi

for bhakthi there is no rule

for L.K.G child uniform,showe are attractions

for a Phd student,all these things are of no meaning

are we in L.K.G or in

please do not waste time in talking rules-regulations-

krishna cares only the inner heart

not the art

narayana krishnamoorthi

 

On 6/19/09, rejanee.devi <rejanee.devi wrote:

 

 

 

 

 

guruvayur , NVP Menon <nvpmenon wrote:>> Dear Friends,

> I remember that in olden days we were not supposed to touch the bed which we sleep,once we get up in the morning and have a bath. We should go to the temple in wet clothes. .Also while going to the temple after taking bath we should not touch the people who have not taken bath yet.You all know that we should not accidentally even touch the Tantri who does the pooja. All this is done for extreme Shudhi while in the temple and praying to the Lord, I presume.

> regards,> Sreedevi menon> Om Namo Narayanaya>  Dear Sreedevi madom,yr note on the sudhi concept and bathing early in the morning is commendable!Though not practical now,a true devotee cud try to follow such conventions.Thank yu;being a tradition loving lady we hope yu mention the ritual and thanthric concept of our old customary cloths like onnara;especially during worship at a temple........with namaskaram and true devotion to Lord Guruvarappan......Rejanee.  

>  >  >  >  >  >  > > > --- On Thu, 6/18/09, chirattapuram <anair1101 wrote:> > > chirattapuram <anair1101> [Guruvayur] Re: Observing TRADITIONAL EERAN DRESS during worship-reg

> guruvayur > Thursday, June 18, 2009, 4:18 PM> >

> > > > > > > Hari-Om> > About taking a dip in the temple pond.> This remindss me about an incident that took place a few years ago. > I had left India long ago as a boy and as a grown up , I was not familiar with the various religious customs. I was in India with wife and kids and I was seeking help for relief for my 4 year old daughter who was suffering from acute infantile etzema. Allopatheic treatment was not helpful. At the suggestion of our astrologer, we proceeded to Pampu Mekkattu Illam near Mala > that is because we had Sarpakkavu withing our anscetral home and it seems the inmates of the Kavu were not happy. We went to pampu Mekkattu to do penance. On arrival we explained our desire to do what ever neceessary but looking at us the Karyastan told us that the Thirumeni will not see us unless we , that is me, my wife and child get ourselves change of clothes, have a dip in the illam pond and proceed in eeran clothes. We had no spare clothes and did not come prepared. We pleaded but the answer was a big NO. Later on We went to Mannarasala, where there are no trict rules, near

> Haripad and did the necessary poojas.> To make us see reason, he narrated a story.> A few months ago The Chief Justice had come from Trissoor ( 25 miles away ) in his personal car to consult the Thirumeni. His honor had taken bath, hd changed into fresh clean clothes fefore undertaking the journey,

> The Thirumeni insisted that His Honor follow the same ritual as everybody, that is take a dip and come in eeran dress. > We decided to go home and return another day , well prepared. > > WE , nor the Chief Justice asked for any explnation and we were not given any but the fact is that there are certain things beyond our comprehension.

> > jai shree krishna !> Achuthan Nair.> > guruvayur@grou ps.com, " K.V Gopalakrishna " <gopalakrishna. kv@> wrote:

> >> > Dear all,> > Radhe Krishna!> > > > I had a chance to go thru my inbox after a long time, may be more than a> > week due to failure of my broadband system, and I am answering the first

> > mail which caught my attention. I remember, as a boy, I used to go to the> > temple tank at Mavelikara along with either my father or mother, have the> > bath and visit the temple, offer prayers and come home. It was all in the

> > natural order of things that we go and have bath, wear the Eeran dress,> > visit temple and come home. And if there are a few temples to be visited,> > by the time we come home, the mundu would have dried up also, saving us the

> > trouble of changing the dress! So there is no tradition or custom involved> > in this.> > > > One point to be remembered is that while we are straightaway going to the> > temple after bath, there is no chance of contamination with dirt, and hence

> > we will be clean.> > > > Now we all take our bath in the bathrooms, and hence, there is no need of> > wearing eeran dress!> > I dont find any other reason for wearing the wet dress. God has never said

> > that worship should be with eeran dress. It is only to be understood that> > we should be clean physically and* mentally* (Sa-bahya-abhyantha rah suchih)> > while worshipping the favourite deity.

> > Regards> > KVG.> > On Tue, Jun 16, 2009 at 10:02 PM, rejanee.devi <rejanee.devi@ ...>wrote:> > > > >> > >> > > It is learnt from the elder devotees of Guruvayur that in olden days it was

> > > customary to take bath in the temple pond and enter the temple with EERAN> > > DRESS;and the women devotees irrespective of their age were compulsorily> > > wearing our old type ONNARA during worship at Guruvayur.If so,what was the

> > > concept behind that custom?cud any respected devotee explain?.... .OM NAMO> > > NARAYANAYA!> > >> > > > > >> >>

[Guest guest]

Hari-om

=======

 

There is a very valid point in what Reganeeji has just mentioned. We should

congratulate her aunt for introducing the Onnara concept to her group to make

them understand and appreciate the old cultural values and their importance. I

wish we had many more aunts like her in our community ! When the ancients

introduced onnara it had a definite purpose and that was what Rejanee

experienced after trying it on , that is, " The Bhava or poisture when

worshiping and the self confidence " a woman feels in that attire.

The gurudevas , including myself who commented on this subject earler had

overlooked to emphasise this very important aspect of this age old traditonal

dress style.

 

jai shree krishna 1

 

Achuthan Nair

 

guruvayur , " rejanee.devi " <rejanee.devi wrote:

>

> guruvayur , ramachandra menon <ramachandramenon@> wrote:

> >

> > I am surprised at the sudden interest in you about  the traditional dress

styles of nair ladies of Kerala.  Till the end of last generation nair ladies

wore onnara as the undergarment beneath the traditional mundu.  Onnara, is

one and a half mundu, slightly longer than the traditional mundu, which weavers

weave specially and keep. When we go for our annual purchase of clothes during

Onam season, my wife used to ask for certain number of onnara mundu and so many

settu mundu. Settu Mundu is the mundu and the uthareeyam or melmundu.  Hence the

women of Kerala had three piece of clothes on them, i.e., mundu, onnara and

melmundu or randamundu. This is the dress of traditional nair ladies.

Namboothiri ladies had only one long, very long piece of cloth which one end

they wore around them and the other end they covered themselves up. They are

very seldom seen outside and when they come they come in groups and wearing a

palm leaf parasole so that they cover

> > their face from the crowd. Others when they see a namboothiri woman or a

group of women coming they move away. Other castes had no such dress code as

such. I may say that most of the women in Kerala in the last century did not

wear anything to cover their upper body. Nobody took it as amiss. It is the

usual practice. Woman when they go to the temples had their upper body fully

exposed like men and there was no distinction between men and women. This

practice was stopped to a great extent by the social reformers like Narayana

Guru, Chattambi Swamigal, and they compelled the women to cover themselves up

always. Even now there are ladies who wear onnara mundu which gives them great

protection and composure to their body. Even now people go and bathe in

Guruvayur temple tank or chottanikkara temple tank and go inside the temple in

wet clothes and worship god. In Thriprayar temple they have a large population

of fishes and feeding the fishes is an

> > offering to Thriprayarappan.  

> >     

> >

> > --- On Wed, 17/6/09, rejanee.devi <rejanee.devi@> wrote:

> >

> >

> > rejanee.devi <rejanee.devi@>

> > [Guruvayur] Re: Observing TRADITIONAL EERAN DRESS during

worship-reg

> > guruvayur

> > Wednesday, 17 June, 2009, 8:12 PM

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> > guruvayur@grou ps.com, " chirattapuram " <anair1101@ ..> wrote:

> > >

> > > Hari-Om

> > > =======

> > >

> > > What you have heard is true with some exceptions. In the years of yore

majority of the common folks did not have a pond within their property,and

bathig was not a convenient activity. What most people had was a well and well

water was used for all household purposes. Besides most of the devotees

travelled long distances often on foot to have darsan of Guruvayoorppan, The

journey was exhausting and it made theirr body sweat, their clothes somehow

dirty and the only way to refresh themselves was to use the temple pond. ( When

enterimg the temple one should be clean in body and mind.) It is not true that

the devotees took bath in the temple pond ; What they did was to have a (full)

dip/ or 3 or nine dips in the pond and proceed to the temple with eeran clothes.

Eeran cloth ensures it is not contaminated in any way and often they could not

afford to carry spare clean clothes with them.

> > > For women ONNARA was the traditional attire in those days and hence they

used them, It is wrong to say it was compulsory for them to wear that

irrespective of age. Sari, blouse, half-sari. full length skirt etc were items

of novelty and availble only to the super wealthy ( such as Royal family

members, elite society members etc. )and iornically, those rich folks seldom

went to the temples outside ( they had their privte places of worship )in those

days and therefore ordinary folks wore what was readily available and

affordable.

> > > There was also an unwritten rule that the ordinary people should only

dress modestly. Anything else would invite the suspecion of the upper-class

society and liable to be accused of irregular activities.

> > > I am an ardent devotee of Sri Gurruvayoorappan but I still do not

understand the logic behind the rule that men should enter the the temple

premises half-naked, that is, without shirt ( lso in Sree Padmanabha temple, TVM

) .. I have visited temples in North India, , Africa and United States of

America where one is allowed to go in shirt and pants.

> > > There are no such restrictions in Akshardham temple in Gandhinagar,

Gujarat or even in Amarnath and other famous temples . If it is a matter of

cleanliness , what about the sadhus and sanyasis who roam around the temples in

unwashed clothes ?

> > >

> > > I believe these rules are created in gone by years which no one has the

nerve to change.

> > >

> > >

> > > jai shree krisha !

> > >

> > > Achuthan Nair

> > >

> > > guruvayur@grou ps.com, " rejanee.devi " <rejanee.devi@ > wrote:

> > > >

> > > > It is learnt from the elder devotees of Guruvayur that in olden days it

was customary to take bath in the temple pond and enter the temple with EERAN

DRESS;and the women devotees irrespective of their age were compulsorily wearing

our old type ONNARA during worship at Guruvayur.If so,what was the concept

behind that custom?cud any respected devotee explain?.... .OM NAMO NARAYANAYA!

> > > >

> > >

> > Thank you Sir! for an elaborate and authentic response;it was a scholarly

and historic note on my query.....may Lord Krishna bless yu and yr family!......

..rejanee with regards.

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> > Love Cricket? Check out live scores, photos, video highlights and

more. Click here http://cricket.

> >

> Thank yu respected Menon Sir for a prompt response;we were introduced to the

ritual cloths like onnara when we had a darsan at Guruvayur a few months back.My

aunt who was leading our pilgrim team insisted us to compulsorily wear onnara

while entering the temple as the dress had some base in thanthrasasthra and the

related concepts.And we followed that old tradition and felt a definite bhava or

concentration of mind during worship.After that we are of opinion that onnara is

a befitting ritual cloth;both for worship and it brings in confidence in women

irrespective of their age;but the problem is that many new generation girls are

quite unaware of the advantages of that dress;and they are not properly trained

by the elders to practise it.It is also learnt that the ban of churidhar inside

the temple was mainly due to to the inconvenience caused by it to accommadate

our riual onnara;if possible let us follow the traditional clothing during

temple worship.Valuable comment on the matter are expected........praying for

the blessings of Lord Krishna to all our beloved devotees.....Rejanee.

>

[Guest guest]

I beg to differ. All rules were not man-made. Some, yes. Does it mean all man-

made rules should be ignored ? Ther is no compariton between LKG students and

Ph.D graduates.

Bhakti is the expression of love and respect toward one's ishtadevada. and when

following the Bhakti marg we have to follow the applicable rules or otherwise

bhakti will turn into vibhakti.

Bhakti rules are laid down by Bhagavan Himself in the first book of rules, The

Bhagavat Gita.

We should read the Gita more often.

 

jai shree krishna !

 

 

guruvayur , Krishnamoorthi Venkatraman

<krishnamoorthi.venkatraman wrote:

>

> the rules are man made

> it is left the individual to take it or otherwise

> more than rule is true bakthi

> for bhakthi there is no rule

> for L.K.G child uniform,showe are attractions

> for a Phd student,all these things are of no meaning

> are we in L.K.G or in

> please do not waste time in talking rules-regulations-

> krishna cares only the inner heart

> not the art

> narayana krishnamoorthi

>

>

>

> On 6/19/09, rejanee.devi <rejanee.devi wrote:

> >

> >

> >

> > guruvayur <guruvayur%40>, NVP Menon

> > <nvpmenon@> wrote:

> > >

> > > Dear Friends,

> > > I remember that in olden days we were not supposed to touch the bed which

> > we sleep,once we get up in the morning and have a bath. We should go to the

> > temple in wet clothes. .Also while going to the temple after taking bath we

> > should not touch the people who have not taken bath yet.You all know that we

> > should not accidentally even touch the Tantri who does the pooja. All this

> > is done for extreme Shudhi while in the temple and praying to the Lord, I

> > presume.

> > > regards,

> > > Sreedevi menon

> > > Om Namo Narayanaya

> > > Dear Sreedevi madom,yr note on the sudhi concept and bathing early in

> > the morning is commendable!Though not practical now,a true devotee cud try

> > to follow such conventions.Thank yu;being a tradition loving lady we hope yu

> > mention the ritual and thanthric concept of our old customary cloths like

> > onnara;especially during worship at a temple........with namaskaram and true

> > devotion to Lord Guruvarappan......Rejanee.

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > > --- On Thu, 6/18/09, chirattapuram <anair1101@> wrote:

> > >

> > >

> > > chirattapuram <anair1101@>

> > > [Guruvayur] Re: Observing TRADITIONAL EERAN DRESS during

> > worship-reg

> > > guruvayur <guruvayur%40>

> > > Thursday, June 18, 2009, 4:18 PM

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > > Hari-Om

> > >

> > > About taking a dip in the temple pond.

> > > This remindss me about an incident that took place a few years ago.

> > > I had left India long ago as a boy and as a grown up , I was not familiar

> > with the various religious customs. I was in India with wife and kids and I

> > was seeking help for relief for my 4 year old daughter who was suffering

> > from acute infantile etzema. Allopatheic treatment was not helpful. At the

> > suggestion of our astrologer, we proceeded to Pampu Mekkattu Illam near Mala

> > > that is because we had Sarpakkavu withing our anscetral home and it seems

> > the inmates of the Kavu were not happy. We went to pampu Mekkattu to do

> > penance. On arrival we explained our desire to do what ever neceessary but

> > looking at us the Karyastan told us that the Thirumeni will not see us

> > unless we , that is me, my wife and child get ourselves change of clothes,

> > have a dip in the illam pond and proceed in eeran clothes. We had no spare

> > clothes and did not come prepared. We pleaded but the answer was a big NO.

> > Later on We went to Mannarasala, where there are no trict rules, near

> > > Haripad and did the necessary poojas.

> > > To make us see reason, he narrated a story.

> > > A few months ago The Chief Justice had come from Trissoor ( 25 miles away

> > ) in his personal car to consult the Thirumeni. His honor had taken bath, hd

> > changed into fresh clean clothes fefore undertaking the journey,

> > > The Thirumeni insisted that His Honor follow the same ritual as

> > everybody, that is take a dip and come in eeran dress.

> > > We decided to go home and return another day , well prepared.

> > >

> > > WE , nor the Chief Justice asked for any explnation and we were not given

> > any but the fact is that there are certain things beyond our comprehension.

> > >

> > > jai shree krishna !

> > > Achuthan Nair.

> > >

> > > guruvayur@grou ps.com, " K.V Gopalakrishna " <gopalakrishna.

> > kv@> wrote:

> > > >

> > > > Dear all,

> > > > Radhe Krishna!

> > > >

> > > > I had a chance to go thru my inbox after a long time, may be more than

> > a

> > > > week due to failure of my broadband system, and I am answering the

> > first

> > > > mail which caught my attention. I remember, as a boy, I used to go to

> > the

> > > > temple tank at Mavelikara along with either my father or mother, have

> > the

> > > > bath and visit the temple, offer prayers and come home. It was all in

> > the

> > > > natural order of things that we go and have bath, wear the Eeran dress,

> > > > visit temple and come home. And if there are a few temples to be

> > visited,

> > > > by the time we come home, the mundu would have dried up also, saving us

> > the

> > > > trouble of changing the dress! So there is no tradition or custom

> > involved

> > > > in this.

> > > >

> > > > One point to be remembered is that while we are straightaway going to

> > the

> > > > temple after bath, there is no chance of contamination with dirt, and

> > hence

> > > > we will be clean.

> > > >

> > > > Now we all take our bath in the bathrooms, and hence, there is no need

> > of

> > > > wearing eeran dress!

> > > > I dont find any other reason for wearing the wet dress. God has never

> > said

> > > > that worship should be with eeran dress. It is only to be understood

> > that

> > > > we should be clean physically and* mentally* (Sa-bahya-abhyantha rah

> > suchih)

> > > > while worshipping the favourite deity.

> > > > Regards

> > > > KVG.

> > > > On Tue, Jun 16, 2009 at 10:02 PM, rejanee.devi <rejanee.devi@>wrote:

> > > >

> > > > >

> > > > >

> > > > > It is learnt from the elder devotees of Guruvayur that in olden days

> > it was

> > > > > customary to take bath in the temple pond and enter the temple with

> > EERAN

> > > > > DRESS;and the women devotees irrespective of their age were

> > compulsorily

> > > > > wearing our old type ONNARA during worship at Guruvayur.If so,what

> > was the

> > > > > concept behind that custom?cud any respected devotee explain?.... .OM

> > NAMO

> > > > > NARAYANAYA!

> > > > >

> > > > >

> > > > >

> > > >

> > >

> >

> >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Krishna, Guruvayoorappa,

Dear Devotees

of the Lord,

Poojya

chirattappuram’s description of old men seemed to me sitting and watching

 

on a visual

medium. It is so beautiful; nicely couched in polite language. Really wonderful

 

and humbly

appreciate. We, men, are really proud of you!!!

Padaravindame

Saranam, Guruvayoorappa Saranam.

mpr

 

 

Thank you,

Have a great

day,

mprnair,

nairradhakrishnan.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

guruvayur [guruvayur ] On Behalf Of chirattapuram

Friday, June 19, 2009 11:39

AM

guruvayur

[Guruvayur] Re: Observing

TRADITIONAL EERAN DRESS during worship-reg

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hari-om

-------

We gurudevs have had a lengthy, prolonged discussion on the merits (mostly) and

demerits of worshipping , clad in wet clothes and the ancient Kerala women's

costumes.

 

What about Men ?

Has anyone thought of the men's attire in those bygone days ?

It was a common sight in those days to observe older men working in the paddy

fields or harvesting the crops, clad in what is called a Langoti. Another

verson of the Langoti is a Konakam, a strip of cloth about 4 " wide and

about 3 - 4 feet in length, one end hung from a waist cord and the other pulled

tight and inserted into the back portion of the waist band. To protect them

from the sun's rays they often wore a crude, home- made hat fashioned out of

the outer covering of the araecaunut leaf.

It WAS CUSTOMARY for men to have a white Thorthu, a small mundu of knee-length

, to wrap around the waist.

Often the rear end of the konakam would hang down all the way down to knee

level portruding from under the Thorthu.

WE used to describe this as " Sunday is longer than Monday . "

Small boys often wore multi-colored Konakams.

A more sophiscated way of dress style was to wear a Mundu over the under pant.

They had a second short mundu ( Randamundu ) thrown over the shoulder but

seldom wore a shirt.

 

jai shree krishna !

 

PS

==

Dear moderator, if you think that this article is slightly awkward. please do

not post it.

 

---

 

In guruvayur ,

" rejanee.devi " <rejanee.devi wrote:

>

> guruvayur ,

NVP Menon <nvpmenon@> wrote:

> >

> > Dear Friends,

> > I remember that in olden days we were not supposed to touch the bed

which we sleep,once we get up in the morning and have a bath. We should go

to the temple in wet clothes. .Also while going to the temple after

taking bath we should not touch the people who have not taken bath yet.You

all know that we should not accidentally even touch the Tantri who does the pooja.

All this is done for extreme Shudhi while in the temple and praying to the

Lord, I presume.

> > regards,

> > Sreedevi menon

> > Om Namo Narayanaya

> > Dear Sreedevi madom,yr note on the sudhi concept and bathing

early in the morning is commendable!Though not practical now,a true

devotee cud try to follow such conventions.Thank yu;being a tradition

loving lady we hope yu mention the ritual and thanthric concept of our old

customary cloths like onnara;especially during worship at a temple........with

namaskaram and true devotion to Lord Guruvarappan......Rejanee.

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> > --- On Thu, 6/18/09, chirattapuram <anair1101@> wrote:

> >

> >

> > chirattapuram <anair1101@>

> > [Guruvayur] Re: Observing TRADITIONAL EERAN DRESS during

worship-reg

> > guruvayur

> > Thursday, June 18, 2009, 4:18 PM

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> > Hari-Om

> >

> > About taking a dip in the temple pond.

> > This remindss me about an incident that took place a few years ago.

> > I had left India

long ago as a boy and as a grown up , I was not familiar with the various

religious customs. I was in India

with wife and kids and I was seeking help for relief for my 4 year old daughter

who was suffering from acute infantile etzema. Allopatheic treatment was not

helpful. At the suggestion of our astrologer, we proceeded to Pampu Mekkattu

Illam near Mala > that is because we had Sarpakkavu withing our anscetral

home and it seems the inmates of the Kavu were not happy. We went to pampu

Mekkattu to do penance. On arrival we explained our desire to do what ever

neceessary but looking at us the Karyastan told us that the Thirumeni will not

see us unless we , that is me, my wife and child get ourselves change of

clothes, have a dip in the illam pond and proceed in eeran clothes. We had no

spare clothes and did not come prepared. We pleaded but the answer was a big

NO. Later on We went to Mannarasala, where there are no trict rules, near

> > Haripad and did the necessary poojas.

> > To make us see reason, he narrated a story.

> > A few months ago The Chief Justice had come from Trissoor ( 25 miles

away ) in his personal car to consult the Thirumeni. His honor had taken bath,

hd changed into fresh clean clothes fefore undertaking the journey,

> > The Thirumeni insisted that His Honor follow the same ritual as

everybody, that is take a dip and come in eeran dress.

> > We decided to go home and return another day , well prepared.

> >

> > WE , nor the Chief Justice asked for any explnation and we were not

given any but the fact is that there are certain things beyond our

comprehension.

> >

> > jai shree krishna !

> > Achuthan Nair.

> >

> > guruvayur@grou ps.com, " K.V Gopalakrishna "

<gopalakrishna. kv@> wrote:

> > >

> > > Dear all,

> > > Radhe Krishna!

> > >

> > > I had a chance to go thru my inbox after a long time, may be

more than a

> > > week due to failure of my broadband system, and I am answering

the first

> > > mail which caught my attention. I remember, as a boy, I used to

go to the

> > > temple tank at Mavelikara along with either my father or mother,

have the

> > > bath and visit the temple, offer prayers and come home. It was

all in the

> > > natural order of things that we go and have bath, wear the Eeran

dress,

> > > visit temple and come home. And if there are a few temples to be

visited,

> > > by the time we come home, the mundu would have dried up also,

saving us the

> > > trouble of changing the dress! So there is no tradition or

custom involved

> > > in this.

> > >

> > > One point to be remembered is that while we are straightaway

going to the

> > > temple after bath, there is no chance of contamination with

dirt, and hence

> > > we will be clean.

> > >

> > > Now we all take our bath in the bathrooms, and hence, there is

no need of

> > > wearing eeran dress!

> > > I dont find any other reason for wearing the wet dress. God has

never said

> > > that worship should be with eeran dress. It is only to be

understood that

> > > we should be clean physically and* mentally* (Sa-bahya-abhyantha

rah suchih)

> > > while worshipping the favourite deity.

> > > Regards

> > > KVG.

> > > On Tue, Jun 16, 2009 at 10:02 PM, rejanee.devi <rejanee.devi@

....>wrote:

> > >

> > > >

> > > >

> > > > It is learnt from the elder devotees of Guruvayur that in

olden days it was

> > > > customary to take bath in the temple pond and enter the

temple with EERAN

> > > > DRESS;and the women devotees irrespective of their age were

compulsorily

> > > > wearing our old type ONNARA during worship at Guruvayur.If

so,what was the

> > > > concept behind that custom?cud any respected devotee

explain?.... .OM NAMO

> > > > NARAYANAYA!

> > > >

> > > >

> > > >

> > >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Dear all,Radhe Krishna!Interestingly, Pujya Chirattapuram's discussion has shifted from worship to work!    That is a good sign, especially when most of us Keralites believe in the dictum, " Work is worship! "

Many of the senior citizens in the group may nostalgically remember their boyhood days in the early part of the last century----at least I do---- when we were running about bare-footed and wearing only a koupeenam (the Sanskrit name for Konakam)!     And lo! Guruvayoorappan Himself is pleased if we present Him with a red Pattu-konakam!, as though He was one among us in those days!

Loving regardsKVG.On Sun, Jun 21, 2009 at 7:34 PM, mprnair <nairradhakrishnan wrote:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Krishna, Guruvayoorappa,

Dear Devotees

of the Lord,

Poojya

chirattappuram’s description of old men seemed to me sitting and watching

 

on a visual

medium. It is so beautiful; nicely couched in polite language. Really wonderful

 

and humbly

appreciate. We, men, are really proud of you!!!

Padaravindame

Saranam, Guruvayoorappa Saranam.

mpr

 

 

Thank you,

Have a great

day,

mprnair,

nairradhakrishnan.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

guruvayur [guruvayur ] On Behalf Of chirattapuram

Friday, June 19, 2009 11:39

AM

guruvayur

[Guruvayur] Re: Observing

TRADITIONAL EERAN DRESS during worship-reg

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hari-om

-------

We gurudevs have had a lengthy, prolonged discussion on the merits (mostly) and

demerits of worshipping , clad in wet clothes and the ancient Kerala women's

costumes.

 

What about Men ?

Has anyone thought of the men's attire in those bygone days ?

It was a common sight in those days to observe older men working in the paddy

fields or harvesting the crops, clad in what is called a Langoti. Another

verson of the Langoti is a Konakam, a strip of cloth about 4 " wide and

about 3 - 4 feet in length, one end hung from a waist cord and the other pulled

tight and inserted into the back portion of the waist band. To protect them

from the sun's rays they often wore a crude, home- made hat fashioned out of

the outer covering of the araecaunut leaf.

It WAS CUSTOMARY for men to have a white Thorthu, a small mundu of knee-length

, to wrap around the waist.

Often the rear end of the konakam would hang down all the way down to knee

level portruding from under the Thorthu.

WE used to describe this as " Sunday is longer than Monday . "

Small boys often wore multi-colored Konakams.

A more sophiscated way of dress style was to wear a Mundu over the under pant.

They had a second short mundu ( Randamundu ) thrown over the shoulder but

seldom wore a shirt.

 

jai shree krishna !

 

PS

==

Dear moderator, if you think that this article is slightly awkward. please do

not post it.

 

---

 

In guruvayur ,

" rejanee.devi " <rejanee.devi wrote:

>

> guruvayur ,

NVP Menon <nvpmenon@> wrote:

> >

> > Dear Friends,

> > I remember that in olden days we were not supposed to touch the bed

which we sleep,once we get up in the morning and have a bath. We should go

to the temple in wet clothes. .Also while going to the temple after

taking bath we should not touch the people who have not taken bath yet.You

all know that we should not accidentally even touch the Tantri who does the pooja.

All this is done for extreme Shudhi while in the temple and praying to the

Lord, I presume.

> > regards,

> > Sreedevi menon

> > Om Namo Narayanaya

> >  Dear Sreedevi madom,yr note on the sudhi concept and bathing

early in the morning is commendable!Though not practical now,a true

devotee cud try to follow such conventions.Thank yu;being a tradition

loving lady we hope yu mention the ritual and thanthric concept of our old

customary cloths like onnara;especially during worship at a temple........with

namaskaram and true devotion to Lord Guruvarappan......Rejanee.  

> >  

> >  

> >  

> >  

> >  

> >  

> >

> >

> > --- On Thu, 6/18/09, chirattapuram <anair1101@> wrote:

> >

> >

> > chirattapuram <anair1101@>

> > [Guruvayur] Re: Observing TRADITIONAL EERAN DRESS during

worship-reg

> > guruvayur

> > Thursday, June 18, 2009, 4:18 PM

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> > Hari-Om

> >

> > About taking a dip in the temple pond.

> > This remindss me about an incident that took place a few years ago.

> > I had left India

long ago as a boy and as a grown up , I was not familiar with the various

religious customs. I was in India

with wife and kids and I was seeking help for relief for my 4 year old daughter

who was suffering from acute infantile etzema. Allopatheic treatment was not

helpful. At the suggestion of our astrologer, we proceeded to Pampu Mekkattu

Illam near Mala > that is because we had Sarpakkavu withing our anscetral

home and it seems the inmates of the Kavu were not happy. We went to pampu

Mekkattu to do penance. On arrival we explained our desire to do what ever

neceessary but looking at us the Karyastan told us that the Thirumeni will not

see us unless we , that is me, my wife and child get ourselves change of

clothes, have a dip in the illam pond and proceed in eeran clothes. We had no

spare clothes and did not come prepared. We pleaded but the answer was a big

NO. Later on We went to Mannarasala, where there are no trict rules, near

> > Haripad and did the necessary poojas.

> > To make us see reason, he narrated a story.

> > A few months ago The Chief Justice had come from Trissoor ( 25 miles

away ) in his personal car to consult the Thirumeni. His honor had taken bath,

hd changed into fresh clean clothes fefore undertaking the journey,

> > The Thirumeni insisted that His Honor follow the same ritual as

everybody, that is take a dip and come in eeran dress.

> > We decided to go home and return another day , well prepared.

> >

> > WE , nor the Chief Justice asked for any explnation and we were not

given any but the fact is that there are certain things beyond our

comprehension.

> >

> > jai shree krishna !

> > Achuthan Nair.

> >

> > guruvayur@grou ps.com, " K.V Gopalakrishna "

<gopalakrishna. kv@> wrote:

> > >

> > > Dear all,

> > > Radhe Krishna!

> > >

> > > I had a chance to go thru my inbox after a long time, may be

more than a

> > > week due to failure of my broadband system, and I am answering

the first

> > > mail which caught my attention. I remember, as a boy, I used to

go to the

> > > temple tank at Mavelikara along with either my father or mother,

have the

> > > bath and visit the temple, offer prayers and come home. It was

all in the

> > > natural order of things that we go and have bath, wear the Eeran

dress,

> > > visit temple and come home. And if there are a few temples to be

visited,

> > > by the time we come home, the mundu would have dried up also,

saving us the

> > > trouble of changing the dress! So there is no tradition or

custom involved

> > > in this.

> > >

> > > One point to be remembered is that while we are straightaway

going to the

> > > temple after bath, there is no chance of contamination with

dirt, and hence

> > > we will be clean.

> > >

> > > Now we all take our bath in the bathrooms, and hence, there is

no need of

> > > wearing eeran dress!

> > > I dont find any other reason for wearing the wet dress. God has

never said

> > > that worship should be with eeran dress. It is only to be

understood that

> > > we should be clean physically and* mentally* (Sa-bahya-abhyantha

rah suchih)

> > > while worshipping the favourite deity.

> > > Regards

> > > KVG.

> > > On Tue, Jun 16, 2009 at 10:02 PM, rejanee.devi <rejanee.devi@

....>wrote:

> > >

> > > >

> > > >

> > > > It is learnt from the elder devotees of Guruvayur that in

olden days it was

> > > > customary to take bath in the temple pond and enter the

temple with EERAN

> > > > DRESS;and the women devotees irrespective of their age were

compulsorily

> > > > wearing our old type ONNARA during worship at Guruvayur.If

so,what was the

> > > > concept behind that custom?cud any respected devotee

explain?.... .OM NAMO

> > > > NARAYANAYA!

> > > >

> > > >

> > > >

> > >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Hari-Om

-------

Respected KVG ji and (MPR) Nairji, Pranaam.

 

I am humbled.

As they say, God dwells in the detail(s).

Whether we are in the mandir worshipping the Lord or in the field toiling to

make ends meet, God witnesses our deeds. That was my assumption when I wrote

that. So I believe I am not too much off the track when the venue was shifted

from the place of worship to the place of work.

I like it when you say Guruvayoorappn will be pleased if presented with a red

konakam. Isn't it a marvellous sight to observe Unnikrishna clad in a Red Silk

Kowpeenam ( to use your words) holding the odakuzhal in his hands and a naughty

smile on his lips ?

 

jai shree krishna !

 

Achuthan Nair (Chirattapuram )

 

guruvayur , " K.V Gopalakrishna " <gopalakrishna.kv

wrote:

>

> Dear all,

> Radhe Krishna!

>

> Interestingly, Pujya Chirattapuram's discussion has shifted from worship to

> work! That is a good sign, especially when most of us Keralites believe

> in the dictum, " Work is worship! "

>

> Many of the senior citizens in the group may nostalgically remember their

> boyhood days in the early part of the last century----at least I do---- when

> we were running about bare-footed and wearing only a koupeenam (the Sanskrit

> name for Konakam)! And lo! Guruvayoorappan Himself is pleased if we

> present Him with a red Pattu-konakam!, as though He was one among us in

> those days!

>

> Loving regards

> KVG.

>

> On Sun, Jun 21, 2009 at 7:34 PM, mprnair <nairradhakrishnanwrote:

>

> >

> >

> > Krishna, Guruvayoorappa,

> >

> > Dear Devotees of the Lord,

> >

> > Poojya chirattappuram's description of old men seemed to me sitting and

> > watching

> >

> > on a visual medium. It is so beautiful; nicely couched in polite language.

> > Really wonderful

> >

> > and humbly appreciate. We, men, are really proud of you!!!

> >

> > Padaravindame Saranam, Guruvayoorappa Saranam.

> >

> > mpr

> >

> >

> >

> > Thank you,

> >

> > Have a great day,

> >

> > mprnair,

> >

> > nairradhakrishnan

> >

> >

> >

> > ------------------------------

> >

> > ** guruvayur [guruvayur ] *On

> > Behalf Of *chirattapuram

> > *Sent:* Friday, June 19, 2009 11:39 AM

> > *To:* guruvayur

> >

> > *Subject:* [Guruvayur] Re: Observing TRADITIONAL EERAN DRESS during

> > worship-reg

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> > Hari-om

> > -------

> > We gurudevs have had a lengthy, prolonged discussion on the merits (mostly)

> > and demerits of worshipping , clad in wet clothes and the ancient Kerala

> > women's costumes.

> >

> > What about Men ?

> > Has anyone thought of the men's attire in those bygone days ?

> > It was a common sight in those days to observe older men working in the

> > paddy fields or harvesting the crops, clad in what is called a Langoti.

> > Another verson of the Langoti is a Konakam, a strip of cloth about 4 " wide

> > and about 3 - 4 feet in length, one end hung from a waist cord and the other

> > pulled tight and inserted into the back portion of the waist band. To

> > protect them from the sun's rays they often wore a crude, home- made hat

> > fashioned out of the outer covering of the araecaunut leaf.

> > It WAS CUSTOMARY for men to have a white Thorthu, a small mundu of

> > knee-length , to wrap around the waist.

> > Often the rear end of the konakam would hang down all the way down to knee

> > level portruding from under the Thorthu.

> > WE used to describe this as " Sunday is longer than Monday . "

> > Small boys often wore multi-colored Konakams.

> > A more sophiscated way of dress style was to wear a Mundu over the under

> > pant.

> > They had a second short mundu ( Randamundu ) thrown over the shoulder but

> > seldom wore a shirt.

> >

> > jai shree krishna !

> >

> > PS

> > ==

> > Dear moderator, if you think that this article is slightly awkward. please

> > do not post it.

> >

> > ---

> >

> > In guruvayur <guruvayur%40>, " rejanee.devi "

> > <rejanee.devi@> wrote:

> > >

> > > guruvayur <guruvayur%40>, NVP

> > Menon <nvpmenon@> wrote:

> > > >

> > > > Dear Friends,

> > > > I remember that in olden days we were not supposed to touch the bed

> > which we sleep,once we get up in the morning and have a bath. We should go

> > to the temple in wet clothes. .Also while going to the temple after taking

> > bath we should not touch the people who have not taken bath yet.You all know

> > that we should not accidentally even touch the Tantri who does the pooja.

> > All this is done for extreme Shudhi while in the temple and praying to the

> > Lord, I presume.

> > > > regards,

> > > > Sreedevi menon

> > > > Om Namo Narayanaya

> > > > Dear Sreedevi madom,yr note on the sudhi concept and bathing early in

> > the morning is commendable!Though not practical now,a true devotee cud try

> > to follow such conventions.Thank yu;being a tradition loving lady we hope yu

> > mention the ritual and thanthric concept of our old customary cloths like

> > onnara;especially during worship at a temple........with namaskaram and true

> > devotion to Lord Guruvarappan......Rejanee.

> > > >

> > > >

> > > >

> > > >

> > > >

> > > >

> > > >

> > > >

> > > > --- On Thu, 6/18/09, chirattapuram <anair1101@> wrote:

> > > >

> > > >

> > > > chirattapuram <anair1101@>

> > > > [Guruvayur] Re: Observing TRADITIONAL EERAN DRESS during

> > worship-reg

> > > > guruvayur <guruvayur%40>

> > > > Thursday, June 18, 2009, 4:18 PM

> > > >

> > > >

> > > >

> > > >

> > > >

> > > >

> > > >

> > > >

> > > > Hari-Om

> > > >

> > > > About taking a dip in the temple pond.

> > > > This remindss me about an incident that took place a few years ago.

> > > > I had left India long ago as a boy and as a grown up , I was not

> > familiar with the various religious customs. I was in India with wife and

> > kids and I was seeking help for relief for my 4 year old daughter who was

> > suffering from acute infantile etzema. Allopatheic treatment was not

> > helpful. At the suggestion of our astrologer, we proceeded to Pampu Mekkattu

> > Illam near Mala > that is because we had Sarpakkavu withing our anscetral

> > home and it seems the inmates of the Kavu were not happy. We went to pampu

> > Mekkattu to do penance. On arrival we explained our desire to do what ever

> > neceessary but looking at us the Karyastan told us that the Thirumeni will

> > not see us unless we , that is me, my wife and child get ourselves change of

> > clothes, have a dip in the illam pond and proceed in eeran clothes. We had

> > no spare clothes and did not come prepared. We pleaded but the answer was a

> > big NO. Later on We went to Mannarasala, where there are no trict rules,

> > near

> > > > Haripad and did the necessary poojas.

> > > > To make us see reason, he narrated a story.

> > > > A few months ago The Chief Justice had come from Trissoor ( 25 miles

> > away ) in his personal car to consult the Thirumeni. His honor had taken

> > bath, hd changed into fresh clean clothes fefore undertaking the journey,

> > > > The Thirumeni insisted that His Honor follow the same ritual as

> > everybody, that is take a dip and come in eeran dress.

> > > > We decided to go home and return another day , well prepared.

> > > >

> > > > WE , nor the Chief Justice asked for any explnation and we were not

> > given any but the fact is that there are certain things beyond our

> > comprehension.

> > > >

> > > > jai shree krishna !

> > > > Achuthan Nair.

> > > >

> > > > guruvayur@grou ps.com, " K.V Gopalakrishna " <gopalakrishna.

> > kv@> wrote:

> > > > >

> > > > > Dear all,

> > > > > Radhe Krishna!

> > > > >

> > > > > I had a chance to go thru my inbox after a long time, may be more

> > than a

> > > > > week due to failure of my broadband system, and I am answering the

> > first

> > > > > mail which caught my attention. I remember, as a boy, I used to go to

> > the

> > > > > temple tank at Mavelikara along with either my father or mother, have

> > the

> > > > > bath and visit the temple, offer prayers and come home. It was all in

> > the

> > > > > natural order of things that we go and have bath, wear the Eeran

> > dress,

> > > > > visit temple and come home. And if there are a few temples to be

> > visited,

> > > > > by the time we come home, the mundu would have dried up also, saving

> > us the

> > > > > trouble of changing the dress! So there is no tradition or custom

> > involved

> > > > > in this.

> > > > >

> > > > > One point to be remembered is that while we are straightaway going to

> > the

> > > > > temple after bath, there is no chance of contamination with dirt, and

> > hence

> > > > > we will be clean.

> > > > >

> > > > > Now we all take our bath in the bathrooms, and hence, there is no

> > need of

> > > > > wearing eeran dress!

> > > > > I dont find any other reason for wearing the wet dress. God has never

> > said

> > > > > that worship should be with eeran dress. It is only to be understood

> > that

> > > > > we should be clean physically and* mentally* (Sa-bahya-abhyantha rah

> > suchih)

> > > > > while worshipping the favourite deity.

> > > > > Regards

> > > > > KVG.

> > > > > On Tue, Jun 16, 2009 at 10:02 PM, rejanee.devi <rejanee.devi@>wrote:

> > > > >

> > > > > >

> > > > > >

> > > > > > It is learnt from the elder devotees of Guruvayur that in olden

> > days it was

> > > > > > customary to take bath in the temple pond and enter the temple with

> > EERAN

> > > > > > DRESS;and the women devotees irrespective of their age were

> > compulsorily

> > > > > > wearing our old type ONNARA during worship at Guruvayur.If so,what

> > was the

> > > > > > concept behind that custom?cud any respected devotee explain?....

> > .OM NAMO

> > > > > > NARAYANAYA!

> > > > > >

> > > > > >

> > > > > >

> > > > >

> > > >

> > >

> >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Dear all,Radhe krishna!I can visualize the Lord standing under the tree cross-legged, showing His beautiful thighs and wearing the red silken kowpeenam with wonderfully melodious notes flowing out of His golden Odakkuzhal--

How nicely has Bhattatiri described the beautiful thighs of the Lord in the stanza " Ooroo, Charoo, Thavoroo-------chitthachorou Ramayaah!    Viswa-kshobham visankya dhruvam anisam ubhou peetha-chelavrthangou------   etc.!   Even lakshmi devi is afraid of the entire world of Bhaktas getting agitated on seeing the beautiful thighs of the Lord, and hence covered them with a yellow silken robe!

My eyes have gone blurred by tears of joy and Bhakti!Loving regardsKVG.On Mon, Jun 22, 2009 at 8:02 AM, chirattapuram <anair1101 wrote:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hari-Om

-------

Respected KVG ji and (MPR) Nairji, Pranaam.

 

I am humbled.

As they say, God dwells in the detail(s).

Whether we are in the mandir worshipping the Lord or in the field toiling to make ends meet, God witnesses our deeds. That was my assumption when I wrote that. So I believe I am not too much off the track when the venue was shifted from the place of worship to the place of work.

I like it when you say Guruvayoorappn will be pleased if presented with a red konakam. Isn't it a marvellous sight to observe Unnikrishna clad in a Red Silk Kowpeenam ( to use your words) holding the odakuzhal in his hands and a naughty smile on his lips ?

 

jai shree krishna !

 

Achuthan Nair (Chirattapuram )

 

guruvayur , " K.V Gopalakrishna " <gopalakrishna.kv wrote:

>

> Dear all,

> Radhe Krishna!

>

> Interestingly, Pujya Chirattapuram's discussion has shifted from worship to

> work! That is a good sign, especially when most of us Keralites believe

> in the dictum, " Work is worship! "

>

> Many of the senior citizens in the group may nostalgically remember their

> boyhood days in the early part of the last century----at least I do---- when

> we were running about bare-footed and wearing only a koupeenam (the Sanskrit

> name for Konakam)! And lo! Guruvayoorappan Himself is pleased if we

> present Him with a red Pattu-konakam!, as though He was one among us in

> those days!

>

> Loving regards

> KVG.

>

> On Sun, Jun 21, 2009 at 7:34 PM, mprnair <nairradhakrishnanwrote:

>

> >

> >

> > Krishna, Guruvayoorappa,

> >

> > Dear Devotees of the Lord,

> >

> > Poojya chirattappuram's description of old men seemed to me sitting and

> > watching

> >

> > on a visual medium. It is so beautiful; nicely couched in polite language.

> > Really wonderful

> >

> > and humbly appreciate. We, men, are really proud of you!!!

> >

> > Padaravindame Saranam, Guruvayoorappa Saranam.

> >

> > mpr

> >

> >

> >

> > Thank you,

> >

> > Have a great day,

> >

> > mprnair,

> >

> > nairradhakrishnan

> >

> >

> >

> > ------------------------------

> >

> > ** guruvayur [guruvayur ] *On

 

> > Behalf Of *chirattapuram

> > *Sent:* Friday, June 19, 2009 11:39 AM

> > *To:* guruvayur

> >

> > *Subject:* [Guruvayur] Re: Observing TRADITIONAL EERAN DRESS during

> > worship-reg

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> > Hari-om

> > -------

> > We gurudevs have had a lengthy, prolonged discussion on the merits (mostly)

> > and demerits of worshipping , clad in wet clothes and the ancient Kerala

> > women's costumes.

> >

> > What about Men ?

> > Has anyone thought of the men's attire in those bygone days ?

> > It was a common sight in those days to observe older men working in the

> > paddy fields or harvesting the crops, clad in what is called a Langoti.

> > Another verson of the Langoti is a Konakam, a strip of cloth about 4 " wide

> > and about 3 - 4 feet in length, one end hung from a waist cord and the other

> > pulled tight and inserted into the back portion of the waist band. To

> > protect them from the sun's rays they often wore a crude, home- made hat

> > fashioned out of the outer covering of the araecaunut leaf.

> > It WAS CUSTOMARY for men to have a white Thorthu, a small mundu of

> > knee-length , to wrap around the waist.

> > Often the rear end of the konakam would hang down all the way down to knee

> > level portruding from under the Thorthu.

> > WE used to describe this as " Sunday is longer than Monday . "

> > Small boys often wore multi-colored Konakams.

> > A more sophiscated way of dress style was to wear a Mundu over the under

> > pant.

> > They had a second short mundu ( Randamundu ) thrown over the shoulder but

> > seldom wore a shirt.

> >

> > jai shree krishna !

> >

> > PS

> > ==

> > Dear moderator, if you think that this article is slightly awkward. please

> > do not post it.

> >

> > ---

> >

> > In guruvayur <guruvayur%40>, " rejanee.devi "

> > <rejanee.devi@> wrote:

> > >

> > > guruvayur <guruvayur%40>, NVP

 

> > Menon <nvpmenon@> wrote:

> > > >

> > > > Dear Friends,

> > > > I remember that in olden days we were not supposed to touch the bed

> > which we sleep,once we get up in the morning and have a bath. We should go

> > to the temple in wet clothes. .Also while going to the temple after taking

> > bath we should not touch the people who have not taken bath yet.You all know

> > that we should not accidentally even touch the Tantri who does the pooja.

> > All this is done for extreme Shudhi while in the temple and praying to the

> > Lord, I presume.

> > > > regards,

> > > > Sreedevi menon

> > > > Om Namo Narayanaya

> > > > Dear Sreedevi madom,yr note on the sudhi concept and bathing early in

> > the morning is commendable!Though not practical now,a true devotee cud try

> > to follow such conventions.Thank yu;being a tradition loving lady we hope yu

> > mention the ritual and thanthric concept of our old customary cloths like

> > onnara;especially during worship at a temple........with namaskaram and true

> > devotion to Lord Guruvarappan......Rejanee.

> > > >

> > > >

> > > >

> > > >

> > > >

> > > >

> > > >

> > > >

> > > > --- On Thu, 6/18/09, chirattapuram <anair1101@> wrote:

> > > >

> > > >

> > > > chirattapuram <anair1101@>

> > > > [Guruvayur] Re: Observing TRADITIONAL EERAN DRESS during

> > worship-reg

> > > > guruvayur <guruvayur%40>

 

> > > > Thursday, June 18, 2009, 4:18 PM

> > > >

> > > >

> > > >

> > > >

> > > >

> > > >

> > > >

> > > >

> > > > Hari-Om

> > > >

> > > > About taking a dip in the temple pond.

> > > > This remindss me about an incident that took place a few years ago.

> > > > I had left India long ago as a boy and as a grown up , I was not

> > familiar with the various religious customs. I was in India with wife and

> > kids and I was seeking help for relief for my 4 year old daughter who was

> > suffering from acute infantile etzema. Allopatheic treatment was not

> > helpful. At the suggestion of our astrologer, we proceeded to Pampu Mekkattu

> > Illam near Mala > that is because we had Sarpakkavu withing our anscetral

> > home and it seems the inmates of the Kavu were not happy. We went to pampu

> > Mekkattu to do penance. On arrival we explained our desire to do what ever

> > neceessary but looking at us the Karyastan told us that the Thirumeni will

> > not see us unless we , that is me, my wife and child get ourselves change of

> > clothes, have a dip in the illam pond and proceed in eeran clothes. We had

> > no spare clothes and did not come prepared. We pleaded but the answer was a

> > big NO. Later on We went to Mannarasala, where there are no trict rules,

> > near

> > > > Haripad and did the necessary poojas.

> > > > To make us see reason, he narrated a story.

> > > > A few months ago The Chief Justice had come from Trissoor ( 25 miles

> > away ) in his personal car to consult the Thirumeni. His honor had taken

> > bath, hd changed into fresh clean clothes fefore undertaking the journey,

> > > > The Thirumeni insisted that His Honor follow the same ritual as

> > everybody, that is take a dip and come in eeran dress.

> > > > We decided to go home and return another day , well prepared.

> > > >

> > > > WE , nor the Chief Justice asked for any explnation and we were not

> > given any but the fact is that there are certain things beyond our

> > comprehension.

> > > >

> > > > jai shree krishna !

> > > > Achuthan Nair.

> > > >

> > > > guruvayur@grou ps.com, " K.V Gopalakrishna " <gopalakrishna.

> > kv@> wrote:

> > > > >

> > > > > Dear all,

> > > > > Radhe Krishna!

> > > > >

> > > > > I had a chance to go thru my inbox after a long time, may be more

> > than a

> > > > > week due to failure of my broadband system, and I am answering the

> > first

> > > > > mail which caught my attention. I remember, as a boy, I used to go to

> > the

> > > > > temple tank at Mavelikara along with either my father or mother, have

> > the

> > > > > bath and visit the temple, offer prayers and come home. It was all in

> > the

> > > > > natural order of things that we go and have bath, wear the Eeran

> > dress,

> > > > > visit temple and come home. And if there are a few temples to be

> > visited,

> > > > > by the time we come home, the mundu would have dried up also, saving

> > us the

> > > > > trouble of changing the dress! So there is no tradition or custom

> > involved

> > > > > in this.

> > > > >

> > > > > One point to be remembered is that while we are straightaway going to

> > the

> > > > > temple after bath, there is no chance of contamination with dirt, and

> > hence

> > > > > we will be clean.

> > > > >

> > > > > Now we all take our bath in the bathrooms, and hence, there is no

> > need of

> > > > > wearing eeran dress!

> > > > > I dont find any other reason for wearing the wet dress. God has never

> > said

> > > > > that worship should be with eeran dress. It is only to be understood

> > that

> > > > > we should be clean physically and* mentally* (Sa-bahya-abhyantha rah

> > suchih)

> > > > > while worshipping the favourite deity.

> > > > > Regards

> > > > > KVG.

> > > > > On Tue, Jun 16, 2009 at 10:02 PM, rejanee.devi <rejanee.devi@>wrote:

> > > > >

> > > > > >

> > > > > >

> > > > > > It is learnt from the elder devotees of Guruvayur that in olden

> > days it was

> > > > > > customary to take bath in the temple pond and enter the temple with

> > EERAN

> > > > > > DRESS;and the women devotees irrespective of their age were

> > compulsorily

> > > > > > wearing our old type ONNARA during worship at Guruvayur.If so,what

> > was the

> > > > > > concept behind that custom?cud any respected devotee explain?....

> > .OM NAMO

> > > > > > NARAYANAYA!

> > > > > >

> > > > > >

> > > > > >

> > > > >

> > > >

> > >

> >

> >

>