Devotion and Prayers during Margazhi month
Posted on: 16/Dec/2017 2:26:35 PM
According to the Hindu mythology, the sacred Tamil calendar month of Margazhi, also know as Dhanur, is considered to be the dawn period for the Devas. The epics declare that whoever gets up at 4.30 AM, completes the morning chores, bathes, and then prays the Lord Sriman Narayanan, will incur the benefit equivalent to having done 1000 years of prayer with the single day of prayer in this sacred month of Margazhi. There is an endless number of benefits by performing prayers as above during the entire sacred month of Margazhi.
During this sacred month � Thiruvempavai is chanted in the Lord Siva temples to get the blessings of Siva-Parvathi and Thiruppavai is chanted in the temples of Lord Vishnu to get the blessings of Lord Krishna. The Vedas inform that those who do this chanting will receive the blessings of the Lords.
The maidens (who are unmarried) can undertake �Karthiyayini nonbu� (penance) in the month of Margazhi to get their preferred husbands and to manage the family with him.
The epics indicate the Krukshetra war in Mahabharatha took place in the month of Margazhi.
During the start of this war, Arjuna expressed his reluctance to fight with his own kith and kin and informs this to Lord Krishna. Lord Krishna, who was performing the role of the chariot driver for Arjuna, enlighted him (Bhagavat Geetha) and clears the confusions in Arjuna`s mind.
Lord Siva�s star is Thiruvathirai. So, on the Thiruvathirai Day during the sacred month of Margazhi, special Abhishekhams and Arudhra Darshan are performed on the Lord Nataraja.
It is also a tradition to make a special gruel � Thiruvathirai kali � accompanied by a side-dish made of 8 vegetable. The significance of this is that the devotees who perform this will be blessed with worry-free life during all their 7 births on earth.
The month of Margazhi is the last month of the half-year period called Dakshinayana. The traditional belief is the all the Devas assemble at Chidambaram to have the holy Darshan of Chidambaram Lord Nataraja. The divine chariot procession of the deity of Lord Siva on this festival is a supreme and wonderful spectacle to behold.
The day of Ekadasi is special for Lord Vishnu. The sastras explain that those who undertake �viratham� on the day of Ekadasi in the growing phase of the moon in the month of Margazhi and have a divine Darshan of the Lord Vishnu along with His consorts Sridevi and Bhoodevi will attain �Moksham�.
The sacred event of the opening of �Sorga Vasal� (gates of heaven) is performed on the day of Vaikunta Ekadasi in all the Vaishnavite temples, The sacred scriptures quote that by crossing the sorga vasal on this sacred day, the devotees will be cleansed of all their sins and become sacred and also will earn entry to the heavens.
Out of the famous 30-songs compilation of the Vaishnavite Saint Andal, the 27th song starts with �Koodarai vellum seer Govinda� � with this song, the scriptures mention that Andal got the approval from Lord Vishnu to wed her. Though she earned her coveted desire at the 27th song itself, the saint Andal, also known as �Soodik kodutha sudarkodi�, completed all the 30 songs.
The day of the 27th song mentioned above is popularly known as �KoKoodaravalli� in the Vaishnavite circles. On this day, as a tradition, in all Vaishnavite temples, especially in the temple at Srivilliputhur � the birth place of saint Andal � the sacred dish of �sweet Pongal� made with jaggery and flowing ghee (clarified butter) is prepared, offered to the Lord and Sri Andal, and then distributed to the devotees.
According to the myths, those who have a Darshan on this �Koodaravalli� day will be blessed � the unmarried maidens will get the husbands of their choice.
The last day of the sacred month of Margazhi is celebrated as the festival of �Bhogi�.
On the day of Bhogi, people from North India have the tradition of praying to the Rain God � Indra. They also worship Lord Krishna and get the blessings.
