Krishnamuralika: November 2013

Indian Cultural Association - Ibadan, NIGERIA.
Namastte 2013. Exciting cultural event-

Thiruvathira -

Participents-

Mrs. Raji Vinod, Mrs. Sunitha Viswanathan, Mrs. Lekha Anil Kumar,

Mrs. Thenmozhi Satish, Mrs. Revathi G Nair And Miss. Advita Vinod.

Parvanendu Mukhee Lyrics

paarvanendhu mukhi paarvathii

gireeswarante chinthayil muzhuki valanju

paarvanendhu mukhi paarvathii

gireeswarante chinthayil muzhuki valanju

nidraneeigiallum pakalum maahesa roopam

sailaputhrikkullil thelinjoo...

nidraneeigiallum pakalum maahesa roopam

sailaputhrikkullil thelinjoo...

paarvanendhu mukhi paarvathii

gireeswarante chinthayil muzhuki valanju

sarpa naayaka bhooshayenthum

sambasivanude charugalathil(2)

vighnamozhinjoru naalithagathmaja

varanamaalikayumambodu charthi (paarva)

kaamya darsana devi pinne

kamaharanude punya sareeram(2)

paathiyumazhakil pakutheduthuma

pathimanasane vilayanamaakki (paarva)

Thiruvathira

Thiruvathira is a Hindu festival celebrated in the South Indian state of Kerala and Tamil nadu on the full moon day of the month of Dhanu, TamilMargazhi (mid-December to mid-January). Ardradarshan celebrated in Tamil Nadu corresponds to Thiruvathira of Kerala since both are related to lord Shiva. At Chidambaram in Tamil Nadu, the Sri Natarajar temple's annual Festival, Uthsav. is celebrated corresponding to this date. Literary and historical evidence in the form of stone inscriptions state that the festival has been celebrated on this day for more than 1500 years.

Tamil hymns of Manikkavacakar's Tiruvacakam (particularly the hymns Tiruvembavai and Tiruppalliezhuchi) are chanted in temples instead of Sanskrit mantras. On the very day of Thiruvathira the idols of Nataraj (Lord Shiva) and his consort Shivagami (Parvati) are taken out of the temple premises for a grand procession. It is one of the major events in almost all the Shiva temples in Tamil Nadu and Kerala.

In Kerala, the festival is celebrated as the birthday of Lord Shiva. Thiruvathira is the nakshatra or "star" as per the Malayalam calendar of Lord Shiva. Another belief is that the festival commemorates the death of Kamadeva, the Hindu god of erotic desire. It is believed that on this day, the Goddess Parvathi finally met Lord Shiva after her long penance and Lord Shiva took her as a saha-dharma chaarini (equal partner). Both Parvathi and Shiva present this ideal to devotees in the form of Ardha-Nareeshawara (half male, half female form).

In Kerala, Thirvathira is an important traditional festival along with the other popular festivals, Onam and Vishu. This has been celebrated by theNambuthiri, Kshatriya and Nair communities of Kerala from days of yore. It is largely a festival for women; unmarried women observe a partial fast on this day to get good husbands and married women take a fast from the preceding day (Makayiram nakshatra) and on the day of Thiruvathira for the well being of their husband and family. The first Thiruvathira of a newly wedded woman is her poothiruvathira.

The fast essentially involves abstaining from rice-based food. The typical meal includes cooked broken wheat and Thiruvathira puzhukku, a delightful mix of tuber vegetables: colocasia (chembu), yam (chena), Chinese potato (koorka), sweet potato (madhurakizhangu) with long beans (vanpayar) and rawplantain fruit (ethakaya), cooked with a thick paste of freshly ground coconut. The dessert is koova payasam, a sweet dish made of arrow root powder,jaggery and coconut milk.

Thiruvathirakali is a dance form performed by women on the day of Thiruvathira to the accompaniment of Thiruvathira paattu, folk songs telling tales of lovesick Parvati, her longing and penance for Lord Shiva's affection and Shiva's might and power. The sinuous movements executed by the group of dancers around a nilavilakku embody lasya or the amorous charm and grace of the feminine. The dance follows a circular, pirouetting pattern accompanied by clapping of the hands and singing. Today, Thiruvathirakali has become a popular dance form for all seasons.

In Tamil Nadu, the married women will fast during the day time. They will take food before sunrise and start their fasting. They will break the fast after witnessing the moon rise. There is special food called Thiruvadhirai kali and koottu, which is made out of seven vegetables, that is cooked and served on this day. The dancing form of Lord Shiva is taken out on procession from all Shiva temples in Tamil Nadu. In Chidabaram, The night before the full moon, An abishekam, or holy shower, to the Lord Shiva is performed with the nine most precious gems (navarathnas), including diamonds, coral, pearls, jade and emerald, among others. On the day of full moon, the chariot procession takes place.

Thiruvathira means "sacred big wave", using which this universe was created by Lord Shiva about 132 trillion years ago.