Tamil month of Purattasi and its significance.

 

Tamil month of Purattasi and its significance.

The rituals in Tamil culture is purely based on the healthy living of human beings. The important celebrations in this month are Purattasi Saturdays, Maavilakku, Mahalaya Amavasay and Durga Navarathri. Purattasi month is dedicated to lord Venkatachalapathi. It is believed that lord venkatachalapathi came to earth this month. Special prayers are offered at Tirupathi hills.

Purattasi Saturdays

All Saturdays are considered very auspicious. This whole Purattasi month, Lord Venkatachalapathi is worshiped with fasting in Saturdays as it is a favorite day for the Lord. In Kottaimalai, near vellore, there is a Vishnu temple called Padavedu kottaimalai Sri Venugopalswamy temple on top of the hills, which is opened only on Saturdays from 9 AM to 4 PM. the miracle in that temple is that only in Purattasi saturdays, the sun rays falls exactly on the feet of the lord and raises to head in the early morning. No one knows on which Saturday it will happen. This temple is around 200km away from Chennai.

Worshiping Shani bhagavan on Saturdays in Purattasi month is also considered as an important one because during this time it is believed that Shani bhagavan loses its malefic powers. So worshiping this month will fetch more benefits.

Purattasi Maavilakku

Maavilakku on purattasi Saturdays are very important for Tamilians. The reason behind this ritual is that the lord Venkatachalapathi expects his devotees to be close to him in hills. However that is not possible for everyone due to myriad reasons. For those who could not travel to Tirupati hills can light Maavillakku in their homes and worship him by chanting 'Govinda'. He blesses them through rays of Maavillakku light. Scientifically the carbon emitted through the mixture of rice flour and cow's ghee will destroy all negatives from the home.

Mahalaya Amavasai

Every Tamil month has one Amavasai or New moon day and only on that day the tharpanam or oblations are given to our ancestors. However the Purattasi month Amavasai is considered as auspicious one. The reason is that it is believed only on this month our ancestors come to earth and stay here for first 15 days before New moon and entire 15 days is auspicious for giving tharpanam or oblations to our ancestors. The waning period of moon is called Krishna paksham in sanskrit. Purattasi month Amavasai is called Mahalaya Paksham. By performing this rituals we are twice blessed by our ancestors.

Purattasi Navarathri.

In Sanskrit Nava means nine and Rathri means night. Purattasi Navarathri is called as Durga Navarathri and most important among navarathri's. This month marks beginning of winter. Autumnal equinox occurs in this month. An important celestial occurrence is that the sun crosses the celestial equator and moves southward in north hemisphere.

Some people fast during navarathri days. The reason behind the fasting is that to equip the body to the changing climate. Tamil culture rituals are based on the fact of 'living harmony with nature". During Navarathri Golu is the important function. Golu means deploying dolls of deities, saints and human beings in an order. The first three days are for worshiping Devi Durga. Next three days for worshiping Devi Lashmi. Last three days for worshiping Devi Saraswathi. On the tenth day Saraswathi Pooja or Ayudha Pooja is celebrated. This is good way of socializing too.

We wish all a Happy Purattasi masam.