[Vaideekam] Pavithrothsavam

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Respected Shri Sadagopan, An excellent article on a topic that is known yet not so well known to many.The article is detailed, precise and yet written in sipmle prose thereby enlightening everyone.Looking forward to many such articles from you, Vasu Vadhyar & other knowledgable members. Humble Pranams Bharat"Dr. Sadagopan" <yennappan wrote: SrI: Dear All : A friend of mine asked me to send him a quick write up in English on PavithrOthsavam since his temple wishes to conduct PavithrOthsavam at their Community Temple. I thought of sharing this quickly prepared essy with you all to encourage you to attend the PavithrOthsavam at the dhivya dEsams . This is the season ! NamO NaarAyaNAya , V.Sadagopan THE PAVITHROTHSAVAM BY V.SADAGOPAN This is an annual festival (uthsavam) at the Hindu Temples and is conducted over 3, 5 ,7 or 9 days during the lunar calendar months of SraavaNam , Aasvayugam and Bhadrapatham ( July , August and September). This is an uthsavam conducted according to the codes of worship prescribed by Vaikaanasa or Paancharaathra Aagamaas for temple worship. The main purpose of this uthsavam is to restore the sanctity and the power of the Moorthys worshipped at the temple . Pavithram means a sacred , holy and sanctified object like the consecrated images of the Moorthys worshipped at the Temple according to prescribed Vedic and Aagamic procedures . Once the vital power of the Lord is invoked in these consecrated images of the Lord and His consorts through prathishtai , it would be a great sin to view these images as being made up of stone , wood or metal . By infusion of the sanctity and power of the Lord , these images become Pavithram . We perform daily worship to such consecrated images to bless us and grow our spiritual progress day by day. Why do we perform Pavthrothsavam annually ? ************************************************************** During every day of the year, there are lapses and mistakes made in the worship of the divine couple . These lapses creep in and accumulate over time in a conscious or unknowing manner. Some of these lapses and errors arise (1) due to missiing or mispronouncing Veda mantrams or (2) due to the archakaas ( officiating priests) rushing through the prescribed steps of daily worships ( 16 upachaarams and six Aasanams) or (3) due to the suboptimal body cleanliness of the priests or the (visiting) devotees resulting in a polluted environment . Thus, any number of trespasses (apachaarams) and omisisons or shortcuts might have resulted during the course of an year's worship. The

integrated effect of these lapses result in the gradual dimunition of the sanctity and power of the Moorthys that are being worshipped. The affected Moorthys become inappropriate for the conductance of our daily worship as a result of these lapses and carelessness on our part . How do we restore the Sanctity and Saannidhyam ( presence of the Divine Power) ? *********************************************************************************************************** The annual performance of the Pavithrothsavam as per the steps prescribed by one or the other VaishNavite Aagamas restores the power and saannidhyam in the Moorthys for whom we perform daily Aaraadhanam .Our Lord

responds to our contrition/ repentance (nirvedham) over our lapses and responds by becoming present (100 percent ) in His consecrated images that are being worshipped at that temple . Pavithrothsavam takes place in a specially designed area of the temple known as Yaaga Saalaa , where homams (offerings in fire to the accompaniment of Veda Mantrams) take place over 3 0r 5 or 7 or 9 days both in the Mornings and Evenings . The processional deity ( uthsava Moorthy) visits the Yaaga Saalaa during these homams . His servants like Vishvaksenar , Garudan and a host of others protect the directions

and help in the successful completion of the Homams . There are special fire pits ( Agni kuntams) , where the special offerings ( havis) are presented . The whole uthsavam consists of myriad details including the placement of vessels of silver or brass (Kumbhams )containing water to be consecrated over the duration of the Pavithrothsavam . Paalikais ( eartheren vessels containing seeds for germination ) are watered daily and preserved throughout the uthsavam . The havis placed in the sacred fire to the accompaniment of various Veda Mantrams are a special kind of grain known as Yavam , Paddy , bamboo rice , Flowers , fragrant incense , ghee, twigs form special trees , fruits , Paayasam , Pongal and plain cooked rice (suddha annam).The mantrams associated with individual offerings are recited 108 times. Ghee is the most important ingredient , when other material for homam are not available. Saanthi homam is done at the end of each day's sessions at the Yaaga Saalaa. On the final day, a grand offering consisting of many ingredients is made in the sacrificial fire . This grand offering is known as Poornaahuthi . The kinds and lengths of the Pavithra maalais ( necklaces /garlands) used during the Pavitrothsavam *********************************************************************************************************************************** These Maalais are the unique objects associated with this uthsavam . They are of different lengths for adorning the different limbs of the Moorthys and are made up of cotton threads linked by knots. The number of these cotton threads to be used for different Moorthys are prescribed by the Aagamaas and these threads forming the Maalais are soaked in turmeric water to give their distinct yellow color . Besides the number of cotton threads specified , there are specifications in the number of knots that a particular maalai can have . Some of the

maalais have 27 or 50 or 75 or 100 or 200 threads and based on the particular limb of the Lord , these maalais can have 27, 32 ,41 or 108 knots . For instance , the dhruva bhEram ( Moola Moorthy ) , the procesisonal deity , the divine consorts of the Lord ( Sri Devi and Bhu Devi) adorn specifically constrcuted pavithra maalais . Post-Poornaahuthi steps ******************************** Once the Poornahuthi ceremony is completed , the main (Soma) Kumbham containing the consecrated water is carried on the head of the officiating priest and carried ceremoniously into the sanctum . The sacred water inside the Kumbham is now sprinkled on the different limbs of

the Lord and Pavithra Maalais are placed on those limbs of the Lord and around the neck of the Lord . After few minutes of adornment by the Lord , the Maalais are removed with the recitation of appropriate Veda Mantrams . This way the reduced power in the Moorthys are restored for another year's devout worship. In the evening , the processional deities are taken around for all to enjoy .Special prasaadhams are prepared for the Lord during the day and distributed to the assembled devotees. The need for Competent Priests to conduct the Multi-faceted PavithrOthsavam **************************************************************************************************** There are many steps in PavithrOthsavam such as anuj~nai ( seeking permission to perform the uthsavam from the Lord ) , ankurArpaNam ( planting of special seeds in earthern containers with soil for germination of seeds ) , Mrudh SangrahaNam ( collection of soil for planting the seeds and seeking the permission of BhUmi Devi ) , VaasudEva Punyaahavachanam ( as the first step to cleanse the Uhtsavam site) , invocation of different devathais to protect the directions of the Yaaga Saalaa , creation of the special fire pits to hold the consecrated fire used in the different homams during the mornings and the evenings of the uthsavam days (ChakrAbhja Mandalam and other two or three of special geometric

shapes) , Kumbha sTaapanam ( consecration and the placement of the vessels to hold the water to be used at the end ot the Uthsavam ) , Saannidhya Yaachanam in the Mahaa kumbham , Agni Prathishtai , the Placement of the basket containing the specially ( laboriously) prepared Pavitra Maalais of specific dimensions , Agni Prathishtai , the Performance of the various homams at the main and the auxilary Homa Kuntams ( Fire pits) and many other activities . The above listing of activities is not in a sequential order and is for illustartion purposes only . Form the myriad of these highly skilled activities by well trained priests , it

is clear that successful PavithrOthsavam can be conducted only by competent Aagamic experts. It is a rigorous uthsavam to offset the major deficencies accrued over a period of one year in Bhagavath AarAdhanam and to ask the Lord's forgivance for the apachArams as well as to restore His sanctity in the archaa Moorthys of the Temple. It is a fulfilling experience to sponsor , participate and experience such an important uthsavam that kindles the flame of divinity at the Temple and showers auspiciouness on the community of the Lord's devotees . Subhamasthu !

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