16th july,2009,
thursday
8.30p.m
Dear friends,
Good evening.today is karkidaka sankranthi.the holi month of karkidakam,Ramayan month begins from tomorrow.heavy rains and stormy nights changes the whole atmosphere.nanda went to our ancestoral house today to get it cleaned and lighted lamp in our Naga Raja temple and kalari.she is lucky to have darshan of Guruvayoorappan and Bhagavathi of Kaveedu temple.this is one of the one hundred and eight devi temples of kerala.now this temple is under the management of Guruvayoour Devaswom and the gokulam is shifted to the vast compounds.it is really nice to see the cows of Shree Guruvayoorappan in the long sheds.and these cows are offered by the ardent devotees.our machil bhagavathy is in Chembalankulangara Bhagavathy Temple.
let me recollect my childhood days rich in traditions n culture.on karkidaka sankranthi,in the evenings,our helper ammu[she is no more] used to clean the house and take the waste and take round of our house.we children shout loudly that'' Chetta bhagavathy,go out, and Lakshmi devi come in....'' and run after her taking sticks in our hands.we were sending the Chetta Bhagavathy far away.she used to go to the stream near by and put the waste in the water.water will be sprinkled in the rooms and we wait anxiouly for the arrival of Goddess Lakshmi.the whole nalukettu was ready.what a nice way to believe, Goddess Lakshmi will visit only the clean and decorated houses!we were always taught when we wash our feet,the back side of our ankles should be thoroughly washed,orelse Chetta Bhagavathy will enter on our body!and my God!even now, i get scared and check so many times whether i have washed my feet properly.in our tharavadu water will be kept in big kuttakam[a huge vessel] and kindi[instead of mugs]will be kept by the side.those who enter the house will wash the feet first.
The huge compound of our ancestoral house was full of different plants n trees. the pambin kavu[the jungle-abode of Nagas] took the major share of the compound and there was a small pambin kavu called as mundian thara.the whole karkidaka month we offer the yellow wicks[wicks dipped in turmeric powder mixed with water],to the snakes.i still remember,we were so scared to go inside the pambinkavu;it was so dark.i used to feel, the snakes would come from any corner.and i must tell you,we are really scared of snakes!so we pray whole heartedly and enter pambinkavu!once a year thirumeni[priest] will come to do the grand pooja for nagas.[Aayilya pooja].we chant the special prayer for nagas written by amma.
We pluck dashapushpam and keep them in plantain leaf for Devi in the poojaroom.mukkutti,thiruthali,nilappana,krishna kranthi,kayyunni,ppovamkurunthala,cheroola,uzhinja,karuka and muyalchevi make dashapushpam.even in the heavy rains,we used to get up early and walk ten minutes to reach kulam[tank]and take a dip in cool water!''wow'' the whole body would shiver but i must admit, it was so refreshing and one becomes so energetic after having bath in cold water!and in the mornings after having an early bath in our trdaitional kulam,we light the lamp and after putting bhasmam and chandanam,make chanthu pottu out of mukkutti leaves.and we apply the thick paste as bindi on our forehead,even now i can enjoy that smell!hey,those who have not tried out till now,please make this chanthu pottu out of mukkutty leaves n you will love it.applying kanmashi is a must.[and i always insist for namboothiri's kanmashi n it's not available now].muthassi used to make kanmashi at home.i miss all these traditions these days.girls take an oil bath on tuesdays and fridays and boys take oil bath on wednesdays and saturdays.even now i follow that ritual.
ashtamangyala set is a symbol of prosperity and for any auspicious occasion the ashtamangyala set is a must!you can see,how beautifully this is kept in the photo above![i have taken this photo;D].
!amma,i still don't know how did you manage the time,with rituals,and prayers and your time demanding profession of teaching!amma n achan always had time for us,the five children and without complaints,so beautifully you have fulfilled your duties!we always used to get up to the wonderful atmosphere of tharavadu where amma n achan would be chanting the prayers loudly.and after the hectic schedule amma used to walk the long distance to Sree Krishna High School,Mammiyoor!amma,we are the blessed children!and achan will be very happy admiring your ways,of being with us supporting us and still instilling confidence!amma,anu would have been a big zero without your constant advices and blessings!and let me rest my head on your lap,and cry my heart out for any time the storm will rise in her mind again as karkidakam is going to begin!amma,i don't know how i will spend these dark long nights and i need to be with you!and to maintain he mental balance,i depend on my creative writing a lot!
Tomorrow is muppettu friday and it is a must to put mylanchi[mehandi].nanda will put mylanchi and i can only join her happiness.maza n my little star used to enjoy all these traditions.this time Ramayana month begins on muppettu friday and in all hindu families ramayan will be read loudly.we are not supposed to read Ramayanam in the evenings as we will be disturbing Hanumanji.it is the sandhya vandanam time of Hanumanji.here in Ayyappa temple ashtadravya ganapathy homam begins tomorrow morning and ashta dala bhagaval seva in the evenings after deeparadhana. we have Shree Rama Mandir,Kali Mandir and a church in the premises of Shree Ayyappa Temple.
Maha ganapathy homam and gajaraja pooja and aanayootu will be conducted in Vadakkunathan temple in trichur.nanda willbe having darshan of Shree Vadakkumnathan and she has offered Aanayootu.devotees rush to the premises to watch the wonderful sight of worshipping so many elephants standing in a line and offering them the special feast!what a nice way to love and show that we do take care of the animals!and i must tell you,all the elephants [nearly seventy]of Lord Guruvayoorappan will be offered special ayurveda treatment in this Karkidaka month.as per the instructions of the doctors[vet],the special menu will be decided for each elephant.
In this hectic life of present days, we struggle to follow the traditions specially the pravasis.still,chanels try to reach us through different religious programmes and blogegrs like ramesh sadashivam and arun bring awareness on Ramayanam through their posts.and it is really an interesting news,you must have watched.Baby samuel of chnganassery recites Ramayanam daily in this holi month for the last so many years.so,nice to watch him on the television screen, reading the holi granth in the traditional way!friends,irrespective of caste we can always adopt the best from all other religions.he looks so pious and simple!such personalities attract me a lot!
friends,having the rare chance of visiting the four temples of Sree Rama,Lakshmana,Bharatha and Shatrughna on the same day is considered as equivalent of reading the whole Ramayanam once.purifying our bodies and mind we are preparing ourselves to welcome the new year.many devotees really make it possible.
I know all of you will be busy to go to bed early tonight as you have to get up early.
It's Anu signing off...
And let's chant the prayer deep from our heart,
"Rama,rama ,rama , rama,rama,rama ,pahimam...
Rama padam cherane,mukunda rama pahimam...."
Anu prays for all of you...........two of my friends are leaving for kerala tomorrow and i wish them a very happy and safe journey.enjoy the karkidakam rains but please take care.enjoy being with your dear n near ones,but please continue blogging.i will be anxiouly waiting for your posts along with other readers.thanks a lot my dearest dost,for choosing the beautiful image of Goddess Lakshmi,for me.that was a real kind gesture from you.[and your selections are always better!;D]
my friends,i will be taking a break to enjoy the monsoon magic,not from you,but from my work.i'm waiting for that very badly to forget the office and spend the whole time in a different way!
Wishing one and all a holi and an aupicious Ramayan month,
Sasneham,
Anu
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