How to lit up charcoal and use Sambrani

Sambrani is called benzoin resin in English and it is the resin of a tree that is dried, powdered and sold in the markets, either as a powder or in blocks

To light  up sambrani smoke, coal is collected in sambrani holder and the sambrani powder is sprinkled over it.The ayurveda, advises us to use sambrani, as it calms the nerves, and produces tranquility, thus making the person ready for prayers. Years back women after having their hair wash, used to light up sambrani and keep a straw basket above it. The steam will seep out of the pores of the straw basket. If we keep our wet hair near the basket, it will dry it very soon and also leave a beautiful fragrant smell in our hair. Even if we have hair wash during winter months, if we use sambrani, we will not get a headache, especially if we have long, thick hair. I try to follow this tradition, once in a while. Sambrani is also used for babies, after children have their bath, sambrani is lit and brought in that room. This prevents them from catching a cold but make sure not to bring the smoke too near the babies, as it will make them cough. No auspicious day is complete without sambrani, sambrani is always lit during our prayers and rituals. Nowadays a new variety of sambrani called computer sambrani is available. This type does not need any coal, these are like cones made with sambrani, just light them like dhoops. Somehow, they seem fake because they produce black smoke and smell so weird. We can  regularly light up sambrani every Friday morning, take it to every room in the house, this tradition also wards of mosquitoes and cleanses the whole place. Yo can powder neem leaves and kungilium(Guggul) along with sambrani for using it around the home. It is even more effective for warding of the mosquitoes. Every once in a while when you have plenty of time, take an oil bath, play some divine music, light up sambrani and dry your hair with it.

METHOD:1. This is sambrani powder, it comes as a block or like this in powder form. Use this as such for drying your hair, when using it keep a straw basket above the sambrani holder after sprinkling the sambrani powder. The fumes will seep through the pores, now you can dry your hair with the fumes. Keeping the straw basket prevents accidents and it also lets out fumes evenly

2. For using it around the home, take fresh neem leaves, dry and powder them in a mixer. Now take sambrani, kungilium and add to the powdered neem leaves and powder together well. It need not be very fine, even if it is a bit coarse it is ok. To use, sprinkle the powder over hot coal and take it around the home.

3. To use sambrani holder, collect hot coal in sambrani holder, sprinkle little bit sambrani powder, it will start emitting smoke. Once the smoke stops, add some more sambrani powder. Also try to fan the coal periodically to prevent it from loosing it's heat.

NOTES:

• Once you open up a sambrani packet, store it in airtight box.
• Sambrani holders are available every where, buy ones with a long handle else it will be difficult to hold it.
• Usually sambrani holders are made of brass.
• Light up sambrani at least weekly once and fill the whole house with the smoke. It will ward of mosquitoes, make the whole house smell divine.
• Even for headaches, sambrani smoke is very good.
• I will give full details about kungilium in future posts.

Sambandam Mudaliar Family in Thirupathi

The Thali Design

This is almost the same design as what our family wears. There are slight modifications from this design.
This design is called Thoppa thaali with thennamkithu oodha poo.

The Full set will have a golden chain with yellow sacred thread tied along the gold chain and with 7 to 9 pendants along both sides of the thirumangalyam like the one below.


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The  different types Pendants or ooruvu are Pineapple,Mango,Coconut, gold coin,banana, Conch,Coral bead  , Mahalakshmi , etc

A Pillaiyar idol for home and the Pillayar Pooja at Home

The Pillaiyar pooja will be done on all auspicious days like on fridays,Amavasai ,Krithigai and all festive days.Usually a house will maintain 2 Kal (Stone )pillayars.Some have a silver one along with a stone one. When we buy a new pillayar in stone , we need to keep them immersed in water or rice for 45 days .Then we can start doing the regular pillayr poojai at home.We should not have a Pillayar idol or that matter any idol more than 12 inches or more than your palm size at home.Start your first poojai on a auspicious day like Friday or Monday.

Between Engagement and Wedding - Procedures for worshiping various Gods in Mudaliar Community

Between nichaiyadartham and wedding there is a month long procedure of worshipping various gods. I have tried to list them in order
1. Vinayakar poojai- Done on an auspicious friday
2. Kula deiva valzipadu- the whole family goes to the kuladaivam temple and make pongal .Our Kula deivam temple is Kadumbadi amman ,near Mahabalipuram and Illayanar Vellore near Kanchipuram.
3. Thaligai- done on an saturday for Perumal
4.Ragi khoozh - done on a sunday for mariamman. On the sunday evening a chicken is sacrificed and a special poojai is done. Its called "kumbam podurathu"
5. Munishswarar-(not for all families) done on a sunday or monday
6 kateri- (not for all families) done on any day but only in the nights and only family members can participate. The goddess is worshipped with a black sari. A small house with 11 rooms is made with sand. 11 types of non-veg is prepared and offered
7. Poovadaikari (sumangali poojai)- very important and a must for all mudaliars. All the sumangalis who are no more are remembered and worshipped
8.kani poojai- (not for all) all the unmarried deceased women are remembred and worshipped
apart from this vadagam and oorukai are prepared and offered to god on a holy day. there several such traditions which are very unique to mudaliars but sadly all these stuffs are vanishing like due drop due to cultural decline....

Reason for applying Kumkumam on Forehead

 

The forehead, between the two eyebrows, is a spot that is considered as a major nerve point in human body since ancient times. The Tilak is believed to prevent the loss of “energy”, the red ‘kumkum’ between the eyebrows is said to retain energy in the human body and control the various levels of concentration. While applying kumkum the points on the mid-brow region and Adnya-chakra are automatically pressed. This also facilitates the blood supply to the face muscles.

Throwing coins in the River

The general reasoning given for this act is that it brings Good Luck. However, scientifically speaking, in the ancient times, most of the currency used was made of copper unlike the stainless steel coins of today. Copper is a vital metal very useful to the human body. Throwing coins in the river was one way our fore-fathers ensured we intake sufficient copper as part of the water as rivers were the only source of drinking water. Making it a custom ensured that all of us follow the practice.

Metti or the Toe Ring

Wearing toe rings is not just the significance of married women but there is science behind it. Normally toe rings are worn on the second toe. A particular nerve from the second toe connects the uterus and passes to heart. Wearing toe ring on this finger strengthens the uterus. It will keep it healthy by regulating the blood flow to it and menstrual cycle will be regularized. As Silver is a good conductor, it also absorbs polar energies from the earth and passes it to the body.

Namsakaram - Why should we do this Gesture?

In Hindu culture, people greet each other by joining their palms – termed as “Namaskar.” The general reason behind this tradition is that greeting by joining both the palms means respect. However, scientifically speaking, joining both hands ensures joining the tips of all the fingers together; which are denoted to the pressure points of eyes, ears, and mind. Pressing them together is said to activate the pressure points which helps us remember that person for a long time. And, no germs since we don’t make any physical contact!

The Divine Cow

Cows are known as the most pure animals in our religion. 

All the gods are believed to reside in the body of Kamadhenu — the divine cow. Her four legs are the scriptural Vedas; her horns are the triune gods Brahma (tip), Vishnu (middle) and Shiva (base); her eyes are the sun and moon gods, her shoulders the fire-god Agni and the wind-god Vayu and her legs the Himalayas. Kamadhenu is often depicted in this form in poster art.

The Arcot Mudaliar Wedding

 The wedding ceremonies among different Mudaliar communities are very elaborate. The following are the most important common rituals followed by them during the marriage.

Nichiyathartham or the Engagement:

Nichiyathartham will take places when the parents of the groom express their liking for the bride and convey their proposal for arranging of the marriage to the bride’s parents. The suggestion if agreed by the bride’s parents will lead to Nichiyathartham or signing of a memorandum by both the families. On the Nichiyathartham day grooms family as a custom will present the would be bride with jewels, sari, different fruits and dry fruits in 21 plates along with other items such as sugar cubes, flowers, fruits, turmeric, coconut and betel leaves and nut.

During the Nichyathartham Lagna Pathrikkai or the marriage contract form is read. It will mention the auspicious day and time fixed for marriage and both the parents will affix their signature as a sign of agreement.

Bride’s family will present the Pathrikkai along with gifts to the groom’s family and the occasion is known in Tamil as Thambulam Mattruthal. Elders from the family of bride will use the occasion to mention the gifts such as jewels, land or house property and vehicle if any that the bride will carry to the house of groom on completion of the marriage.

Signing of the contract will signify that the engagement is complete. Then both the sides will start the other marriage related works such as fixing a wedding hall, cooking arrangement and printing and distribution of invitation and others. A traditional mudaliar marriage will be performed for three days..

As per the established custom the groom’s family will buy the wedding and reception silk saris for the bride. The family of the bride will buy the wedding suit and other dresses for the groom. Some of the affluent families will also buy cloths and other articles that are to be presented to their relatives during the marriage. Most of the time, both the families, will make the purchases on reciprocally convenient dates well before the marriage day.

Pandakkal:

Pandakkal is an important wedding ritual after the Nichyathartham ceremony. Both the families will perform Pillayar Pujai (Ganapathi Pooja) to invoke the blessings of the elephant god for the long-lasting union of the couples. The brides as well as the groom’s family will put up a fabricated structure standing on four legs known as Kalyana Pandhal before their house to denote the beginning of the auspicious occasion.

Nine elderly married women will decorate the bamboo pillars with dots of turmeric (manjal) and vermilion (kumkum) in odd numbers. Also in nine separate vessels nine assorted varieties of pulses are kept soaked in water. The vessels are properly covered with husk for quick germination. The vessels are kept in upside down condition to enable the pulses to sprout after germination. After a few days the vessels are kept in turned up and right state to enable the sprouts to come over the surface and grow. The occasion is known in Tamil as Mozhakattuthal. The sprouts, which signify the beginning and growth of a new relationship between the families, will be carefully nurtured till the day of marriage.

Nalangu or Beautification of the bride:

Women from both the families will dominate the crowded Nalangu ritual. Over a wooden board a banana leaf is kept and uncooked rice is spread over it. The bride is asked to sit over the arrangement. Three small-sized stools placed close to the bride will have a) sandalwood paste, vermilion and rose-water, b) betel leaf, nut and flowers and c) Arthi – red colour water prepared using a mix of turmeric and lime. Each of the married women invited for the marriage from the bride and groom side will smear the sandalwood paste over the hands of the bride, place little vermilion on her forehead and sprinkle rose-water on her head and perform Arathi to signify her blessings to the bride.

Maapilai Azhaippu or the receiving of the Bridegroom:

During the Maapillai Azhaippu, the groom and his family are taken on a procession and the bride’s brother or uncle will garland them. The practice of taking the groom in a car, from the temple to the place of marriage, preceded by the playing Nadaswaram an Indian instrument and western band still prevails in small towns and villages. Gifts will also be carried by the uncle or brother of bride to the home of the groom before the marriage to invite him for the marriage. The women from the bride’s side will receive the groom with the traditional Arathi. A simple Nalangu is performed separately for both the groom as well as to the bride on their arriving to the place of marriage.

Mangala Snaanam:

A Pandaal or Pandakal using four bamboo sticks is erected before the wedding hall. It is beautified using banana tree stalks, tender coconut, mango leaves and flowers. On the day of wedding, the bride and groom will separately reach the pandaal or pandakal before sunrise.  Elders from both the families will apply sesame oil and green gram flour on their forehead and turmeric powder on their hands. The bride and groom will have Mangala Snaanam (oil bath) on this day, to welcome their marriage. The clothes worn by the bride and groom before taking the mangala snaanam are given to a washerman or washerwoman.

Arasan Kal or Installing of a bamboo stick before the marriage platform

The Arasan Kal ceremony is performed to offer prayer to the sacred Fig Tree (Arasu) and to respect the king as in olden days.  Five elderly married women who are living with their husbands (Sumangali) will conduct the ceremony.  After offering prayers to the Fig tree (Arasu) the women will cleanse an erected bamboo stick kept before the marriage pandhal with milk, smear the sandalwood paste over it and apply vermilion on it. They will also tie a silk scarf around it and finally perform Arathi. The bamboo stick represents the King (Arasan) who in the olden days used to grace the marriage occasion and bless the couple. The pooja is conducted to honour the king.

Paadapuja:

The groom will then wash the feet of his parents and request their blessings for a happy married life. His parent’s will in-turn blesses him.

Kasi Yatra:

According to Hindu sashthira an unmarried bachelor has option to choose either the married life (Grihasta) or the life of a Sanyasi renouncing the worldly pleasures. The groom will mockingly act that he prefers to become a Sanyasi and to leave for Kasi instead of the marriage hall. He will carry a handheld bamboo fan known as Visiri, an umbrella and slippers and pretend to move. Immediately the father of the bride will step in and persuade him explaining the benefits of married life and promise him that he will marry his daughter to him. In some of the families the brother of the bride will complete the persuading act and request the groom to marry his sister. The groom who will be reluctantly returning to the marriage hall is received by performing Arathi.

Mahalakshmi Puja and Pada Puja

The bride will perform Mahalakshmi Puja to the Mangalyam, supposedly to carry the form of Goddess Mahalakshmi, to receive her blessings. Then she will do Pada Puja to her parents seeking their blessings.

After performing the Mahalakshmi Puja the bride will wear the new cloths presented to her by the groom’s family and groom will wear the dress provided by bride’s family. Both the bride and the groom after wearing the garlands will enter the marriage altar (pandal) for continuing the marriage ceremony.

Ganapati Homam:

The priest chosen to carry out the marriage proceedings will perform Ganapathi Homam to invoke the blessings of God Ganapathi to help the couple in joining of their marriage life. He will also arrange to do Upanayanam ceremony for the groom and tie the sacred thread around the chest of the groom.

Manai Pongal

As per the tradition parents of the groom will cook rice in five or seven clay pots specially bought for the occasion when the groom and bride will be busy with their dressing. The parents will offer the cooked rice Pongal to all the deities who have made their symbolic presence at the marriage altar. The eldest sumangali women of the family will then greet the couple with garlands and take them to the altar.

Kanganam

The priest selected to perform the marriage ceremony will lit the sacred fire called homam as a witness for the marriage proceedings. The bride as asked by the priest will tie a sacred yellow thread known as Kanganam, attached to a piece of turmeric, around the wrist of groom, to signify the bestowing of right to him to touch her. After some time groom will tie the Kanganam on the wrist of the bride.

Kanikadhanam

The father of the bride will perform the ceremony among the chanting of Vedic verses thus agreeing to give his daughter in marriage to the groom. During the ceremony the parents of the bride will place the hand of the bride carrying a coconut in the hands of groom thus announcing symbolically that their daughter will become dependent of the groom.

Mangalya Dharanam

The tying of the Mangalyam thread around the neck of the bride by groom is the vital aspect of a marriage. The thread consists of 108 strings dipped in turmeric with a gold pendant resembling the tooth of a tiger placed in the middle of it.  During the olden days the tiger tooth shape of the mangalyam was actually made of tiger tooth taken from the tiger killed by the groom.

At the predefined and most auspicious time known as subha-muhurtham the groom will tie the first knot of the Mangalyam around the neck of the bride and his sister will complete it with two more knots. Such an arrangement symbolises that the bride becomes a part of the groom’s family. During the tying of the knot the traditional Nadhaswaram and melam combination known as mangala vadhyam is played. All the elders present at the dais will shower Akshadai a combination of rice and turmeric paste and flowers over the couple, bless them and offer prayers for their successful marriage life.

Pattam

After the Mangalya Dharanam, the couple will exchange their garlands three times. The exchanging of garlands signifies that they have become married couple. Uncles from the groom’s side and the bride’s side will tie a piece of gold over the groom and brides forehead to showcase their relationship. This ceremony is known as Pattam or wearing of pattam.

Laaja Homam:

Agni the god of fire is symbolically represented in the Homam conducted during the marriage. Immediately on completion of Mangalyatharanam the homam is performed using branch-lets of nine types of trees and ghee as fuel of sacrifice. The homam signifies that the Agni stands as witness for the marriage (Agni Saakshi).  The bride and groom will then offer their prayer by going around the sacred fire (Agni) three times. The brother of the bride will place the puffed rice in the hands of the couple and offer it to the sacred fired as sacrifice. After completing the homam the couples as directed by the priest will view the place in the sky where the star Arundhathi is supposed to be located. Arundhathi the mythical goddess is known for maintaining the moral virtue and chastity.

Sesha:

Sesha is arranged to receive the blessings of the elderly people who attend the marriage.  A piece of white cloth is kept in a spread condition before the bride and groom inside the Pandhal and uncooked raw rice is kept over it.  Each of the elderly members of the family will take a handful of the rice, bless the couple with the rice in their hands and drop it in front of the couple.

Sammandhi Mariyathai

To promote goodwill and friendly approach between them both the families will exchange gifts and new cloths among them after the wedding. In some of the families such exchanges take place before the marriage.

Grihapravesham:

On conclusion of all the marriage rites the bride and groom are taken to their new home where they will be starting their life as a couple after the marriage. Groom’s family will welcome the bride with traditional Arathi and a ceremonial lunch party will be given to all the members of the family invited for the occasion.

Reception

On the evening of the wedding day a reception is arranged and invitation is given to all the relatives and friends of both the families to bless the couple and attend a grand dinner.

The Origin of The Mudaliar Community

Mudaliar community is one among the oldest communities from South India. The word Mudaliar refers to the one who leads the other citizens.The caste names such as Sengunthars, Vellalars, Agamudayars Thondaimandala Saiva Vellalar, Arcot/Thuluva Vellalar, Thondaimandala Kondaikatti Vellalar, Kaikolar, Muthali/Mudali from Kerala, Hyderabad and Bangalore Mudaliars, Nanjil Mudaliars, Gatti Mudalis of Taramangalam and Sri Lankan Mudaliyars use the title Mudaliars.

In the beginning, they have chosen agriculture as their primary profession and now most of them have moved into their own businesses, government jobs, private sectors, research and politics. They also have travelled and settled into places all over India and in overseas countries. The community consists of vegetarians as well as non-vegetarians.

Agamudayar/Arcot/Thuluva Vellala

The Agam udayar actually belong to the Mukkulathor community, which also includes the Kallars and Maravars. These three communities together known as Mukkulathor generally use "Thevar" as their surname. But later the Agam udaiyars (the most upward community among the three) slowly migrated towards the northern part of Tamil Nadu, settled there, changed their caste name to Thuluva Vellala. So in reality Thuluva vellalar is just the renaming of Agam udayar and hence are classified as one by the Tamil Nadu government, India. So intermingling of on a large scale between two distinct communities is very unlikely and has no historical evidence. The Agam udaiyars changed their name to Thuluva Vellala. As early as 13th century, Agam udayars were using Mudaliar title. This inscription illustrates the accounts of the temple of Rajaraja-Isvaram-Udaiyar at Rajraja-Kulattur in Tiruvindalur-nadu, a subdivision of Rajraja-valanadu were audited by Kayiladamudaiyan alias Solakon-Pallavaraiyar, an agambadi-mudali of Solakon, between the 23rd and 25th [days of Adi]

What type of Kolam should we draw on the first day of Margazhi at home?

The design on 1st day of Margazhi must always be Maavilai( some thing like shape of leaves of mango tree)  Kolam.. Hindus believed that Maavilai incidates prosperity and allows festivals to be celebrated at home without any breaks or hindrances.

The significance of ghee lamp and lighting a lamp at home

The above picture is a single threaded mud lamp filled with ghee. Usually this sort of single flame ghee lamps are lighted in temple as an offering to Gods and also in their houses during certain festivals such as diwali and during krittika day. But most people dont know the scientific reason behind lamp lighting.

In India, lamps are lighted using various agents such as Ghee, Oil, Oil made of  9 great grains (navdhanya). Oil made of nine grains (navdhanya) when used for lighting a lamp creates an Aura in the place which protects the person against malefic planetary rays as well as negative energies. The smoke that comes from the lamp when inhaled channels ones energy centers and increases their bio magnetic field. That is the reason people used to light lamp in their house on early morning sunrise and during sunset.

When you light a lamp filled with oil made of sesame seeds, then it creates an energy field which protects you from saturn’s harmful rays and increases the iron content in your body. This lamp should be lighted at home only on saturdays and not on other days.

Ghee stands above the rest of other agents when it comes to offering supreme grace to a person. The combination of ghee and fire and resulting energy field that produces is of extremely high spiritual energy. It creates a spiritual yantra at a place it is lighted and acts as a great talisman.

When you light a single thread ghee lamp (first picture) in your house, then the house and its members are blessed with spiritual power, wisdom and peacefulness.

Whereas, five threaded ghee lamp (picture below) creates a special aura which is the aura of Kubera – the god of wealth, and makes that place is rich and abundant in wealth, luxury, fame and power. This is also a spiritual energy whichshould allow the lamp to light for atleast one hour and then you can put off the flame using a flower or soft thread. Flower is the best one to put off flame in lamp, one should never blow air and put off the flame as it will create great misfortune to that person.

When you blow air and put off a flame or fire, the prana from your mouth reacts with fire (Agni) tattva (element) thereby creating Abana Vayu or Abana Wind, this when enters your throat affects your thyroid gland which is responsible for 90 percent of illness in our body. So flame should be put off using a flower or a leaf that is fallen or soft object but not through blowing air from mouth or any way.

Before you put off the light using flower, say three times AUM Shanti or AMEN or Shalom, all means same. Say it by heart and not through vocal.

Make sure the ghee lamp faces east direction, which means it should be placed in west side of the room and sees the eastern face. It should never be facing south or west.

Lighting lamp is considered auspicious in all religions, but there is significant meaning in it and we should make use of it. People who want to improve financial status can light a five threaded ghee lamp at home daily and see the difference to themselves.

Instead of lighting ghee lamps at temple or church, light one at your home and make it auspicious. The saints said to light a lamp in the abode of God, and temple is not the only abode of God; your own house is abode of God, your body is abode of God; so light it for you. 

Arudra Darisanam

             Arudhra Special – December –January (Margazhi Month)

Thiruvathira or Thiruvathirai or Arudhra Darisanam  is a Hindu festival celebrated in the South India states of Kerela and Tamilnadu. Thiruvathirai(Arudhra) in Tamil means "sacred big wave", using which this universe was created by Lord Shiva about 132 trillion years ago. 

It takes place on the full moon in the tamil month of Margazhi (December–January) and this is also the longest night in a year . The cosmic dance of Lord Shiva represents five activities – Creation, Protection, Destruction, Embodiment and Release. In essence, it represents the continuous cycle of creation and destruction. This cosmic dance takes place in every particle and is the source of all energy. Arudra Darshan celebrates this ecstatic dance of Lord Shiva.^[17]

It is essentially a  Shaivite festival and celebrates the cosmic dance of Lord Shiva, which is represented by the Nataraja form Arudhra (Thiruvathirai in Tamil) signifies the golden red flame and Shiva performs the dance in the form this red-flamed light. Lord Shiva is supposed to be incarnated in the form of Lord Nataraja during the Arudra Darshan day

Most of the temples around the world with Lord Nataraja and Shiva^[ as deity perform the Arudhra Darshan. Neivedhyam (food for God) made for Lord Nataraja on that day is Thiruvathirai Kali.

There is special food called Thiruvadhirai kali made of Rice, Jaggery, Moong dhall, Coconut, Cardamom and Ghee with Thiruvathirai ezhu curry kootu which is made out of seven vegetables that is cooked and served on this day. They choose from Pooshanikai – pumpkin, Paranghikai – ash gourd, Vazhakkai - plantain, Pacha mochai field beans, Sarkaraivalli kizhangu – Sweet potatoe, Cheppan kizhangu - cloacassia, Urulai kizhangu - Potaoe, Katharikai- Brinjal  etc.

                                                                                                                           

ALL ABOUT THE COMMMON BIRD - Crows are Our Ancestors

According to hindu mythology , there is a belief that ancestors come in the form of crows.

They are known for their unity in sharing the food.The crows link the dead and the living people.Once the crow pecks your food and flies from right to left it means the ancestors have accepted your offering and is happy.But if no crow is spotted it  means our ancestors are not happy with us .

Feeding the crows is also a way of developing a relationship with the planet Saturn 

The Crows has ability to make tools and use it, raise their children in systematic manners and  live in social environment and mourn the death of their loved ones like humans. 

I read in a blog,  an author had written this . I was amazed with this piece of information that I came to know.

It said - "   My mother, before she passed away in March of 2002, had begun complaining that too many crows were sitting on our rooflines. She also had told me that when so many Crows gathered on our rooftop, according to Hindu mythologies, it is a sign of someone dying. I did not believe in her theory then but after she passed away, I begin to understand her theory. Watching last night episode - (A MURDER OF CROWS 2010 WNPT SHOW)was an eye opening enlightment to her theory. I was shocked and stunned to find out that Crows are the most intelligent animals in the world."

Over the years, women have resorted to new ways to entice crows. Long, long ago only cooked rice was offered. Later on, cooked dhal and a dash of ghee were added to the rice to pep up the flavour. A separate area, be it the garden/ terrace/ compound wall, is earmarked for the food to be placed for the crow. Women keep a strict watch for cats and chase them away as cats are considered inauspicious. I remember grandmothers hiding behind a tree with a stick and peeping to make sure the crow had the first bite and not the cat. Even the location where the food is kept was changed often to deceive the cat. These days however, crows do not appear as quickly as before. Fear of the lurking cat and the sound of vehicle horns scare them away or perhaps the modern crow is seeking a change in diet - rotis, phulkas and subzis or noodles and pizzas!!

Come January and it is festival time for crows. A lavish spread is laid out for the birds during Kanum Pongal festival. Women of the family place different kinds of coloured rice, cooked vegetables, banana and sweet pongal on a plantain leaf and invite the crows, which descend in hordes to share and enjoy the "Kaka pidi, Kanu pidi" feast. Women offer prayers in the hope that the brother-sister ties may remain forever strong like the family of crows.

Ever witnessed what happens when a crow dies? Scores of crows come flying in from all directions, crying out in shrill voices expressing their sorrow. To ensure that the dead crow is not separated from the clan, the crows themselves peck at the body and devour it.

With pollution on the rise, it is quite surprising that crows continue to haunt our cities though their numbers may have dwindled. "Without the call of the bird in the morning, the day does not seem quite right", says an NRI nostalgically.

The black coloured, much maligned bird is so much a part and parcel of the everyday scene. A group of crows flying home high up in the sky is a common sight at sunset.

Karthigai Maha Deepam

 Karthigai Deepam is a Tamil hindu, Festival of Lights.

The festival is observed in most Hindu homes and every temple of Tamilnadu and Kerela, and falls in the month of Karthigai (mid-November to mid-December) as per Tamil calender. This occurs on the day when the moon is in conjunction with the constellation Karthigai and pournami. This constellation appears as a group of six stars in the firmament in the shape of a pendant from the ear. In Kerala, this festival is known as Thrikkarthika.

In the Mudaliayar community, we make delicious neivedhyams. 

But in our house, in the morning we make the usual Karthigai padaiyal like Sambhar,rice and vadai and in the evening around 6pm or after watching the live telecast of Thiruvanamalai Deepam, we  light lamps outside our house on the first day of the festival. 

Rows of Agal vilakkus (Clay oil lamps) are lit in every house. Karthigai is essentially a festival of lamps. The lighted lamp is considered an auspicious symbol. It is believed to ward off evil forces and usher in prosperity and joy. While the lighted lamp is important for all Hindu rituals and festivals, it is indispensable for Karthigai.

Throughout the month of Karthigai, lamps, are lit and kept in the front of the house in the evening.  On the day of the Karthigai Deepam, people clean their houses and draw Kolams at the entrance. The lighting of the lamps is done at the sunset or at twilight. The lamps are kept ready the previous day to be lit the next day evening. They are all washed and kumkum is applied to them.  A cotton wick is placed in each of them. In the afternoon, some oil is poured into it so that the wicks soak well before lighting the lamps in the evening.  All the lamps are placed in the pooja altar and lighted.  Offerings to the Deity are placed before the Altar and Karpoora aarathi is done. Then the lamps are decoratively placed throughout the house on window sills, at the backyard, and especially on the Kolams drawn in the entrance. People also burst crackers and celebrate the festival. On this special Thirukkarthigai day, the temples are all lit up and special prayers are offered.

People of Tamil Nadu celebrate Karthigai for three days.  The first day of the Thiru Karthigai Deepam is called “Periya Karthigai”. On the second day also lamps are lit throughout the house.  The third day is called “Kuppai Karthigai”. On this day, lamps are lit in places like bathrooms, kitchen, inside/on the wall of the well (if you have one), motor room, places where you keep dustbins/wash utensils etc,. In the South of Tamilnadu and in Kerala, Hindus pray for the wellbeing of their brothers and they light an elephant lamp (Gajalakshmi Vilaku)  as a sign of prosperity and wealth

 I will light 12 lamps in a tray and recite the holy Sashti Kavasam in front of Lord Murugan in my Pooja room and also lit rows of clay lamps outside my house.
Karthigai festival is famous in Thiruvanamalaii, Tamilnadu, and Koneshwaram,Trincomalee,Srilanka
 On Karthigai day, a huge fire lamp is lit up on the hill(in both temples), visible for several kilometers around. The fire (deepam) is called Mahadeepam. Hindu devotees visit the place, to pray and make offerings to lord Shiva. There is an interesting story behind Karthigai Deepam in Thiruvannamalai. Here, a special torch is lighted on top of the hill and it is believed that Lord Shiva’s jyothi will be visible on this day.  On the pournami day in the evening, a huge vessel filled with ghee is lit on top of the hill. The lamp is about seven feet in height. Oil is not used. Around 3000Kg of ghee is used and the wick is a 1000m cotton cloth. When the lamp is lit everybody chants, Arogara, annamalaiyarukku arogara.

Another important thing done on this day in temples is burning Chokkapanai. After lighting the deepam in the temple, the priest comes out to the open space, there a dry papaya tree branch is covered by dry palm leaves. This is called chokkapanai. The priest shows karpoora arathi and lights this. The chokkapanai burns with a crackle, which emits a bright light. It is a smaller version of annamali deepam.

Another belief is that the fire is lit to remove all the unwanted garden waste and keep the streets and villages clean. Nowadays many people keep crackers inside the Chokka Panai to hear and watch it burst. 

In 2016, due to the MahaKumbha mela of Ujjain Simhastha, Karthikai Deepam will hold special significance, being celebrated on 12 December 2016, which being a Monday is symbolically attributed to Lord Shiva, of the twelve jyothirlingam.