Though almost all Tamil months are special, among them Purattasi Aippasi Karthigai and Thai gain much importance; the former has many rituals and temple festivals and these and other rituals in ensuing Tamil months are focussed on the healthy living of human beings. The important celebrations that fall in this month are Purattasi Saturdays, Maavilakku, Mahalaya Amavasya, and Durga Navaratri.
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| Rathayatra, a form of Hindu festival. no.pinterest.com |
Purattasi month is dedicated to Lord Sri Vishnu and saturdays are considered auspicious for Vishnu devotees. It is believed that Lord Venkatajalapathi descended on earth this month and at Tirupati balaji temple, AP special prayers and thirukalyana rituals are done with religious fervor. Devotees from different parts of india go on a pilgrimage to the hill temple in this particular month to get blessed by the lord of the universe. As a matter of fact in almost all Vaishnava temples in South India Purattasi rituals are celebrated with great devotion and bhakti. Mention may be made of Srirangam temple, Srivilliputhur Andal temple, Sri Vishnu temple, Mandya, KA, etc. Padavedu Kottaimalai Sri Venugopala Swamy temple (atop the hill near Vellore) on Saturdays is open from 9 am to 4 pm and the the sun rays fall right on the holy feet (Patham) of the lord who is supposedly trying to raise his head in the early morning. On Saturdays countless devotees go on a fast - skipping meal to cleanse their body and mind so that they could prepare themselves to attain salvation - free from the mundane and seesaw battle of life and death.
Much importance is given to the worshiping Sani Bhagavan on Purattasi Saturdays as no earthling is free from his bad effects. The assumption has been that during this phase of time Sani Bhagavan losses his harmful or evil malefic powers. So offering prayer to him at his shrine will negate the malevolent effects and the devotees will be free from negative forces.
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Mahalaya Amavasya
Every month (whether in Tamil or Kannada or Malayalam, etc), has an Amavasya or New moon day and tradition has it on that day only tharpanam or oblations are are done to get blessed by our pithroos or forefathers.
Purattasi month Amavasya is said to be the most auspicious one and it is believed that our forefathers visit our place and and stay here for sometime before the New moon and the entire 15 days are said to be auspicious for doing tharpanam or oblations for our ancestors. The waning period of the moon is known as Krishna Paksha in Sanskrit and Purattasi month Amavasya is called Mahalaya Paksham. The ritual is a must for every Hindu regardless of region or birth and the people who do he rituals with dedication will be blessed twice by the departed ancestors. .
Purattasi Navaratri - In Sanskrit Nava meaning nine and Rathri meaning night is an important religious function in this month and in west Bengal Durga Puja is the most important ritual on par to Onam festival of Kerala in which the return of Mahabali is celebrated with much ado. This month marks the beginning of winter and the autumnal equinox occurs in this month. An important celestial occurrence is that the sun crosses the celestial equator and moves southward in the northern hemisphere.
In Sanskrit Nava means nine and Rathri means night. Purattasi Navaratri is called as Durga Navaratri and most important among Navratri's. This month marks the beginning of winter. The autumnal equinox occurs this month. An important celestial occurrence is that the sun crosses the celestial equator and moves southward in the northern hemisphere. Navaratri Golu is one of the most important ritual and Golu - displaying dolls of deities, saints, animals, etc is set at homes and also in temples. Each night is dedicated to the worship of goddess. The first three days are dedicated to Devi Durga. Next three days for Devi Lakshmi and last three days are for worshipping Devi Saraswathi. On the tenth day, Sarasvati Pooja or Ayudha Pooja is celebrated on a grand manner. Vijayadasami day is chosen by countless Hindu parents to initiate their young kid into the world of learning and writing. In the state of tamil nadu in the month of Purattasi non-vegetarian food is a taboo and people skip it so that they could focus more on meditation and worship of god.
Among the Tamil months only on this Purattasi month, a fast of meat-eating is observed. As I said at the beginning of the article this is the special feature, Purattasi month deserves.
https://www.giri.in/blog/Purattasi
http://www.navrangindia.in/2022/08/important-hindu-festivals-of-tamil_17.html
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