Thaipusam

Thaipusam.

THAIPUSAM is on(Jan 23, 2008)( SOORSAMHARAM in Thiruchendur Temple

Coming Wednesday is Thaipusam, some people think it is the birthday of Lord Muruga that day Lord Muruga did Soorasamharam. Thaipusam lasts for three days .Lord Muruga, son of Lord Shiva and Parvati, is also known as Skanda ,karthikeya, Subrahamaniyan. defeated Tarakasuran and killed him with his vel. This is why most images of Lord Muruga have him carrying the powerful vel

Singapore, India and the Mauritius Islands all observe the festival, while in Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur. Thaipusam is also held in .People keep fasting and take kavadi and palkudams to the temple. We have to pray Lord Muruga and get His blessings

Adi Sankara’s Subramanya Bhujangam, which was composed in Thiruchendur. Here Sankara says:

"drishi skandamoorthih
shrutou skandakeerthih,
mukhe me pavitram sada tach- charitram
kare tasya krityam vapus tasya bhrutyam,
guhe santu leena mam shesha bhava"

(Always may I have before my eyes the murthi of Lord Skanda! Always let my ears hear only the praises of Lord Skanda! Always let my mouth sing the praise of Lord Skanda! Always let my hands be of service to the Lord! Always let my body be a servant to the Lord! Let my limbs, thoughts and actions be devoted to Skanda)_
Guhananya deivam na Jane na Jane
(I know of no God other than Guha)
Seeking the blessings of Lord Skanda,

Visit this site to get the sloka and its meanings.

http://www.chennaionline.com/festivalsnreligion/slogams/slogam43.asp

Sarkarai Pongal

Sarkarai Pongal

Ingredients


Rice..........1 cup
Green gram 1/3 cup
Jaggery...2cup
Ghee........3tbsp
Cardamom powder....1 tsp
Coconut flakes.............3tbsp
Cashew nuts.................6



Method

Roast the gram till it becomes brown without oil.Cook the rice and dal with double the water in pressure cooker.Heat apan with 1/2 cup of water till it becomes thick(like syrup). Add the cooked rice and dal.Mix it well. in a medium heat for few more minutes.Fry the coconut flakes and the cashew nuts with ghee add to the pongal.Sprinkle the cardamom powder.

Makra Sankranthi ,Thai Pongal

Makara Sankranthi,Thai Pongal

"Pongalo Pongal"

Sankranthi means a sacred change,the movement of Sun to Makara rasi(capricorn)it is a festival to celebrate the glory of Sun God.This is an important festival in India. In Tamil Nadu it is called Pongal.

Thai Pongal is a harvest festival,Pongal means boiling over.This is a thanksgiving festival to rain god Sun God and the farmers.Thai month is very auspicious month. (Thai poranthal Vazhi pirakum means this month comes everyone will have new opportunities.)This festival is celebrated for 4 days. this year it falls on 15 the January .we clean the house put rangoli all over the courtyard of the house.Buy new cloths. prepare pongal in Pongal panai Do puja and naivedyam pongal payasam with sugar cane and manchal kizhangu. Next day the kanu pongal and the next day mattu pongal.

People keep fast for 48 days from November 15 the onwards. They take irumudi kettu and go to Sabari malai to see Lord Ayyappan and Makara Jyothi..