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The Hindu
18-05-2025
- General
- The Hindu
When the full moon lit the girivalam path at Thirukazhukundram
The four hills of Thirukazhukundram, said to represent the four Vedas, were resounding with the chants of 'Namasivaya Vazhga' this month. The annual 10-day Chithirai Thiruvizha of the Vedagireeswarar Temple attracted tens of thousands of devotees from nearby villages. On Chithra Pournami, the full moon day, thousands of people took the girivalam, the circumambulation of the hills through the 4-km route. 'Though the full moon lit the path beautifully, we had arranged additional lighting. Anticipating the crowds, we had taken up the usual preparations for the festival since the girivalam is done at night. After several years, we got a new chariot for Chandikeswarar. It was gutted in 1986. A local resident, Anbu Chezhiyan, gave the money for the new one. Five chariots carrying the idols of Sri Ganesha, Murugan, Thripurasundari Amman, Bhaktavatsaleswarar, and Chandikeswarar were brought out on the seventh day,' says S. Puviarasan, the executive officer of the temple. K. Sivaraman, a devotee, says he has been attending the monthly girivalam at the temple since 2004. 'The crowds are very manageable since most of them are the local people. The police also ensure our safety. Arrangements, including water supply and prasadam distribution, are made by the temple authorities,' he says. Famous for vultures The hilltop temple of Vedagireeswarar can be accessed by climbing 565 steps. At the bottom, there is a temple for Bhaktavatsaleswarar and Thripurasundari Amman. This temple town is famous for the vultures that used to visit it daily. Legend has it that two rishis wanted to attain moksha and prayed to the Lord, who told them to lead lives of householders and continue their prayers. However, as they refused to do so, they were cursed to become vultures and visit Rameshwaram, Kasi, and Thirukazhukundram daily for four yugas. The vultures no longer visit Thirukazhukundram. The reason is not known. In the western suburbs, Thirumullaivoyal's Kodi Idai Nayaki sametha Maasilamaneeswarar Temple celebrated the Chitirai Sadhayam. On the day when the Sadhayam star is on the ascent, the sandalwood paste applied on the Lingam is removed and people can have darshan of the plain idol. Temple executive officer Prabhakar says the sandalwood paste is removed and distributed to devotees. 'Freshly ground sandalwood paste will be applied throughout the year. The idol has a cut like the one inflicted by a sword and that can be seen during the Sadhayam day,' he said. Unique characteristics According to temple expert R. Raghunathan, the temple, which is more than a thousand years old, has several unique characteristics, including an idol of Nandi that is turned away from the Shiva Lingam; two pillars made of Calotropis gigantea or erukkam. 'It is a paadal petra sthalam, meaning it has the honour of being sung by one of the four Tamil Saints. Sundarar has sung about it in a song — Paasu Padha Param Chudare. The temple's sthala vruksham, or the temple tree, is the Mullai creeper or the Arabian jasmine,' he says.
The Hindu
05-05-2025
- The Hindu
Madurai comes alive during Chithirai festival
Madurai, an ancient city, is known for temples, jasmine flowers, shops that open around the clock, three Tamil sangams, etc., but do you know that this city is also well known for one of the longest celebrated festivals - 'Chithirai Thiruvizha'? Some say that organised celebration may have begun 700 years ago. This 15-day festival takes place every year in May and it coincides with the vacation time thus making it more vibrant. This year, the Chithirai festival began on April 30th and will last for 15 days. A variety of events take place every day during this period. The procession of Goddess Meenakshi and Lord Sundareswarar through the Masi streets attracts crowds of all ages, especially children, who come dressed in beautiful attire to enjoy the festival. Many vendors station themselves along these streets to sell toys, candy, and balloons. The city glows with colourful lights, and as the sun dips, the streets around the Meenakshi Amman temple bustle with devotees. People from faraway places came along with their relatives, friends, and neighbours, to witness the procession of Goddess Meenakshi and Lord Sundareshwar. To ensure a pleasant experience for everyone, vehicles are prohibited from entering these areas during the procession. Regardless of the weather, people eagerly gather to enjoy the festival, which reflects their deep admiration for Goddess Meenakshi and also energises the festival. Many children can be seen dressed up as Lord Murugan, Lord Shiva, Lord Karuppasamy, and Goddess Meenakshi. Some babies dressed as deities and carried on their fathers' shoulders can be seen bobbing up and down in the sea of humanity enhancing the event's beauty. During the divine procession, traditional arts, such as karagattam, kollattam, silambattam and oyilattam, are performed. These performances express the people's interest and respect for their culture. The highlight of the procession is the clarion call made from an ancient musical instrument called the kombu, which evokes strong emotions among devotees. The blowing of the conch shell, considered an auspicious sound in temples, adds to the festival's sacred atmosphere. Festivals are incomplete without elephants. A caparisoned Parvati, the female elephant, at the Meenakshi Amman Temple, is part of the procession and delights the devotees with her presence. Sivanadiyargal, followers of Lord Shiva, lead the way singing the ancient Tamil poem called Thevaram, composed by Thirugnanasambandar, Thirunavukkarasar, and Sundarar, the three renowned Shaivaite saints. The procession culminates with Lord Sundareswarar and Goddess Meenakshi, who arrive in a palanquin and shower blessings on their devotees. Deiva Abirami
