Latest news with #Shaivaite
The Hindu
12-05-2025
- General
- The Hindu
More basic facilities planned at Srisailam temple
Srisailam temple management is taking steps to make the visit of devotees to the Shaivaite shrine a memorable and satisfactory one. As part of this, the management is gearing up to provide basic facilities on par with the increasing number of devotees to the temple. Sri Bhramaramba Mallikarjuna Swamy temple Executive Officer M. Srinivasa Rao has focussed on providing better accommodation to the visiting devotees, hassle-free darshan and quality food at the Annaprasada complex. The EO asked engineering wing officials to prepare plans for providing basic facilities keeping in view the future needs. Mr Srinivasa Rao asked officials to construct more number of toilets in the temple town and the toilets should be modern and maintained properly. With respect to Annaprasadam, the EO asked officials to prepare tasty food and use more quantity of vegetables in the menu. He wanted officials to create a pleasant atmosphere in the gardens in the town. The walkways shall be repaired whenever and wherever needed. Green cover Further, it was also decided to increase the tree cover in the gardens by planting various varieties of trees, medicinal and fruit-bearing plant. 'More number of plants bearing flowers which are used for the Goddess Bhramaramba and Lord Mallikajuna Swamy should be planted,'' he said. Mr. Srinivasa Rao also said more number of `Bilva' plants, the leaves of which are offered to Lord Mallikarjuna Swamy, should will also be planted. ``By the end of the coming rainy season, atleast 3,000 plants should be planted. The plantation should be taken up in a scientific manner. Trees that give shade, flowers, and ornamental plants shall be planted in a proper and suitable manner,'' he said. Of the plants that will be planted, 30 percent should be `Devata vrukshalu' like Peepal, Banyan, Shami, Tulasi, Champa, Kalpavruksha, and others. Trees that give shade should be planted at the open places and parking areas, he said and emphasised that more trees should be planted on both sides of the ring road. Further, it was decided to provide more facilities for the children to play in the gardens. Clean Goshala The EO said hygiene conditions should be maintained at the Goshala and steps should be taken to prevent spread of diseases amont the cows. All the medicines needed for the health of cows should also be made available, he said.
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
The Hindu
05-05-2025
- General
- The Hindu
Chithirai festival: The celebrations that began in Thennur
Chithirai festival is known not just for its grandeur but also for its history which connects people of various places and even other religions. Historians claim that the dramatic events that unfolded over the years make the event a 'people's, festival'. The focal point of the whole Chithirai festival which started from Thenur village in Madurai district, is one such event which changed the whole course of the festival for a noble cause – unifying people of different sects. Though the whole story is a legend with few related historical evidence, people with all their heart and soul celebrate the events. While the present rituals of the Chithirai festival are known to be modified by King Thirumalai Naicker for the welfare of the people, P. Arumugam, assistant professor of Tamil department and author of book 'Thenurum Azhagar Vizha Kattamaipum,' said according to available evidence like stone inscription found at Theppakulam which dates back to 1646, it could be found that the king moved his administration from Tiruchi to Madurai for bringing together the people belonging to Shaivaite and Vaishnavaite sects. 'The inscription records that the king used the sand from that area to build his fort in Madurai,' he added. Acting on his observation of the people and conflicts they were into, Thirumalai Naicker decided to use the festivals which happened at different Tamil months to unite the people. 'Going by the folklore, it can be learned that the king decided to shift the Chithirai festival, which was celebrated at Thenur, where Lord Kallazhagar ritually entered the Vaigai river, to a place near the Meenakshi Sundareswarar temple,' Mr. Arumugam narrated. Though the king was aware that the people of Thenur would not like to witness such a change in their tradition, he was desperate to bring about a peaceful change in the lifestyle of people, he said. Mr. Arumugam further elaborated that to convince the people of Thenur village, he brought about an important change to honour them through the course of the festival. 'After Lord Kallazhagar's entry into Vaigai river was shifted from a place near Viraganur where Thenur Mandapam was built, the King, broke the norm of receiving payment from the Mandagapadis and ordered the temple administration to pay the Thenur villagers instead,' he pointed. M.M. Maruthanayagam, karaikaarargal (Thenur village representative), said that they were told by their ancestors that the village was given about 22 gold coins by the temple after the tradition was changed. 'The 700-year-old tradition, over the years, has seen various changes in accordance with the changing global scenario,' he added. But, still, the villagers are honoured with ₹200 by the temple administration and the flag hoisting event for the festival would be conducted jointly by both the temple authorities and village representatives at Thenur Mandapam on the new moon day of the Chithirai month, he narrated. While in other mandagapadis, Lord Kallazhagar would stay for a few minutes and people would go around Lord Kallazhagar, at Thenur Mandapam alone, the Lord would halt for a whole day and go around the people for honouring them, Mr. Maruthanayagam said. 'There is a sense of pride in letting go a tradition for a noble cause', the village representative said and they were happy that such a change brought about unity in people who were divided by differences. Archaeologist C. Santhalingam says that what the folklore tells or what is written about the festival are heart-touching and celebrated by people across sections, in the end it remains a legend as no concrete evidence have been found.
Hindustan Times
27-04-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Senthil Balaji, Ponmudy step down as ministers, CM Stalin rejigs Tamil Nadu cabinet
Tamil Nadu electricity minister Senthil Balaji and minister of forests Ponmudy submitted their resignations to governor RN Ravi on Sunday, shortly after which chief minister MK Stalin reshuffled his cabinet. Senthil Balaji has been facing probe by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in an alleged cash-for-jobs case during his tenure as the state transport minister under the erstwhile ADMK government. Granted bail by the Supreme Court citing his fundamental right to personal liberty, Balaji was severely criticised by the apex court for assuming the post of a minister days after walking free from jail. The ED argued that him becoming a minister could leave him in a position to influence the witnesses in the case. Ponmudy has been facing heat from the opposition ADMK and the BJP for his remarks allegedly defaming Shaivaite and Vaishnavaite faiths, in particular women, during a public event. The minister had expressed regret for his comments, but the opposition had been demanding cheif minister MK Stalin to sack him from the state cabinet. His was also reprimanded by the Madras high court, which took suo motu cognisance of his comments and urged the police to register an FIR and probe the case. (This is a developing story. More details to follow shortly)
