the Solar months and Ritus according to Indian Traditons

the Solar months and Ritus according to Indian Traditons
--------------------
Vasantham ( R..Ritu)
Chaitram Vaishakham ( S.. name of the month in Sanskrit)
Chitrai Vaikashi ( T... name of the month in Tamil)
Medam Edavom.. (M .. name of the month in malayalam0
Greeshmam (R)
Jyeshtam Aashaadam (S)
Aani Aadi (T)
Mithunam Karkidakam (M)
Varsham (R)
Shraavanam Bhaadrapadam (S)
Aavani Purattashi (T)
Chingam Kanni (M)
Sharat (R)
Aashvinam Kaarthika (S)
Aippashi Kaarthikai (T)
Thulaam Vrishchikam (M)
Shishiram (R)
Maarghasheersham Pushyam (S)
Maarkhazhi Thai (T)
Dhanu Makaram (M)
Hemantham (R)
Maakham Phaalgunam (S)
Maashi Panguni (T)
Kumbham Meenam (M)

Sekharipuram Agraharam Festival Calender 2015-16

Sekharipuram Agraharam Festival Calender       2015-16

you may also find the following links useful

Ganapathy temple  Sankatahara Chaturthi Schedule


http://kanfusion.blogspot.in/2015/05/sekharipuram-mahaganapathy-temple.html


sekaripuram lore link


http://kanfusion.blogspot.in/2011/07/swekharipuram-lores.html



SOME SNAPS link
http://kanfusion.blogspot.in/2013/05/sekharipuram-diaspora.html

http://sekharipuramharitham.blogspot.in/

http://srinathgovardhanam.blogspot.in/

ugadi wishes

I wish all my brothers and sisters and friends a Happy Ugadi... let  an new era arise  in all our lives by the grace of Lord Krishna

kva

panguni uthram and kodungallur bharani

The two festivals are near. 
To feel Pankuni Uthram , one must really be present at palani and kodumudi near erode to see the devotion of the bhakthas who just fill pitchers of kaveri theertham sanctified at the siva temple at kodumudi by placing a special leaf in the water and proceed to Palani by foot carrying the theertham as kavadi or otherwise and reach the zenith of their spiritual achievement when this theertham is poured on the holy head of dandapani.  In one of the driest seasons in this geographical terrain the water, no, the life giving theertham of Kaveri flows down the palani malai and just runs all through the streets. For the padayatrikas there is no caste, creed or consideration of financial ups and down. This phenomenal festival goes on and on through ages. There is no scarcity for anything. No padayatrika will feel staravation or deprivation.  Everyone one sees is only dandayuthapani incarnate.

For Kodungallur Bharani, devotees, most of them poor, start their journey by walk from far off places in Kerala and outside shaking a curved sword with chalangai tingling, clad in red clothes, visiting every house on the way announcing that they are going to kodungallur for bharani and collecting contributions to be dedicated to the mother.. the men and women who go as komarams are practically letter less, but they know they are one with Kodungallooramma.  They reach Kodungallur by bharani day  in Meenam and as they approach, they forget themselves.  The Devi is just their mother, many have anger toward the mom because she has not looked after them well in the way they expected. But it is their mother and so they present their views in the most abusive language. It is their privilege to shout at their mother.  But the mother could understand it because they are all her children.  If they are drunk, she knows it is out of frustration and partly out of the embarrassment to approach the great mother in their lowly status in life.  For the Lokamatha, the ignorant drunkard who addressed her with love in the most abusive language and the Vedic pundit who praises her with vedic sookthas are all her own Children.
This rush of innocent devotees for Bharani has continued through ages and ages.

Unadulterated bhakthi is the only common factor found in these two festivals.

Visesha divasangal (2)

Visesha divasangal   14-03-10  to 14-04-10

14-03-10           Sunday          Meenaravai Sankaramanam at 09.33 PM  KARADAYAN NOMBU**

15-03-10           Monday         Meena masam begins.  Sarva Amavasya (somavara          Amavasya)

16-03-10           Tuesday         Ugadi    Telugu new years day

19-03-10            Friday            Shukla Chathurthi Vratham

20-03-10            Saturday        Meena Bharani; Kodungallur Bharani, Saarkara Barani

21-03-10            Sunday           Shashti Vratham

26-03-10            Friday             Sarva Ekadasi

27-03-10            Saturday        Mahapradosham

29-03-10            Monday         Pournami   Pankuni Uthram

 02-04-10           FRI                 Sankatahara chathurthi

 08-04-10           Thu                 Saravana Vratham

10-04-10          Sat                  Sarva Ekadasi

11-04-10           Sun                 Mahapradosham

  14-04-10            wed               Vikruthi Samvatsara aarambam  Mesha Ravi Sankramanam

                                                  At 5-30 AM   VISHUKKANI    SANKRAMA TARPANAM

                                                                   MEDAM MASAM BEGINS.

                                                                   

*On Sravana or Thiruvonam nakshatra special abhishekam and pujas are held for Lord Vishnu in all temples. It is the nakshtra of Lord Venkateswara in Tirumala, Tirupati. Devotees fast on this aupicious day.

On Sravana Purnima, Srinivasa Kalyanam is held on all Tirumala Venkateshwara temples. In Oppilliappan temple special deepam is lit and special pujas are held. The Onam festival, celeberated in Kerala, comes in this nakshatra. 2010 dates of Sravana Vratham is given below.
16 January 2010 -- Saturday - Sravana Vratham
13 February 2010 -- Saturday - Sravana Viratham
12 March 2010 -- Friday --- Sravana Dwadashi - Sravana Viradham
08 April 2010 -- Thursday - Sravana Vratham
5 May 2010 -- Wednesday - Sravana Vratham
2 June 2010 -- Wednesday - Sravana Viratham
29 June 2010 -- Tuesday - Sravana Viradam
26 July 2010 -- Monday - Sravana Vratham
23 August 2010 -- Monday - Sravana Viratham
19 Sepetember 2010 -- Sunday - Sravana Vratham
16 October 2010 -- Saturday - Sravana Vratham
13 November 2010 -- Saturday - Sravana Vratham
10 December 2010 -- Friday - Sravana Vratham

PANKUNI UTHRAM

This is an important day, the birthday of Lord Aiyappa.  Parvathi Kalyanam and many other celestial marriages are stated to have been celebrated on this day.  In Palani, people from the banks of river Kaveri  at Kodumudi bring water pitchers tied in the shape of Kavadi and offer the theertham as abhishemkam to Dandayuthapani.

On Chathurthi days coming after amavasya or Shukla Chathurthi, Vratam with mild or no rice food is observed in honour of Mahaganapathi and in the evening before concluding the Vratam, Arghyam is given.

  

On Chathurthi days coming after Pouranmi, Sankatahara Chathurthi is celebrated.  In Ganesha temples in the evening abhishekam is offered and Sumptuous quantity of Paal Payasam ( porridge or rice and milk) is offered as naivedyam.  Lord Ganesha is happy about this day so much that he will relieve the people who offer pooja of all unhappiness and shower wealth and well being on them.

On Shashti days coming after amavasya or Shukla Shashti, Vratam, with practicall no food during the day is observed in honour of Lord Subramania and in the evening Arghyam is offered to the God.

On Ekadasi days, both after amavasya and pournami, mild vrtatam is observed in honor of Lord Mahvishnu and the Paarana of consuming of thulasi theertham is done on the next day (dwadasi morning)

On both Mahapradosham days vrata is observed in honour of Lord Siva.  Especially after about 4PM in the evening till 7 pm rudrabishekam, dhara, etc are conducted in all Siva temples where people attend in large numbers.  No food, even water should be taken during pradosham. One need not visit any other temple other than Siva temple during Pradosham because all deities are supposed to assemble at Siva Temple to see the Dance of Shiva during that time

When Pradosha falls on a Saturday, it is sanipradosha and considered very auspicious.

On amavasya days  Brahmins who have lost their fathers have to offer Tarpanam to pitrs of  their fathers side as well as mothers side.

 Kodungallur Bharani on 20-03-10    Devotees from all over Kerala and some from other parts of India, arrive at the Devi Temple Kodungallur, near Trichur,  wearing red or ochre dresses , both males and female, carrying a curved sword each (to which bells are attached), wearing chilanka etc, devotees singing sometimes even obscene songs about the Amma.

On Vishu day we exhibit the Kani and give vishu kaineettam to everybody.

visesha divasangal

                  Visesha divasangal   15-02-10  to 31-03-10

18-02-10       Thursday          Shukla Chathurthi Vratham

20-02-10        Saturday         Saturday  Shukla Shathi Vratham

24-02-10         Wednesday    Smaartha Ekadasi

25-02-10          Thursday        Vaishnava Ekadasi

26-02-10          Friday             Mahapradosham

27-02-10           Saturday        Holi

28-02-10          Sunday            Masi Makham Pournami   Attukal Pongala  in Trivandrum

03-03-10          Wednesday   Sanakatahara Chathurthi

11-03-10           Thursday       Sarva Ekadasi

12-03-10           Friday             Sravana Vratham *

13-03-10           Saturday        Mahapradosham     (Sani Pradosham is very auspicious)

14-03-10           Sunday          Meenaravai Sankaramanam at 09.33 PM  KARADAYAN NOMBU**

15-03-10           Monday         Meena masam begins.  Sarva Amavasya (somavara Amavasya)

16-03-10           Tuesday         Ugadi    Telugu new years day

19-03-10            Friday            Shukla Chathurthi Vratham

21-03-10            Sunday           Shashti Vratham

26-03-10            Friday             Sarva Ekadasi

27-03-10            Saturday        Mahapradosham

29-03-10            Monday         Pournami   Pankuni Uthram

                                                                   

*On Sravana or Thiruvonam nakshatra special abhishekam and pujas are held for Lord Vishnu in all temples. It is the nakshtra of Lord Venkateswara in Tirumala, Tirupati. Devotees fast on this aupicious day.

On Sravana Purnima, Srinivasa Kalyanam is held on all Tirumala Venkateshwara temples. In Oppilliappan temple special deepam is lit and special pujas are held. The Onam festival, celeberated in Kerala, comes in this nakshatra. 2010 dates of Sravana Vratham is given below.
16 January 2010 -- Saturday - Sravana Vratham
13 February 2010 -- Saturday - Sravana Viratham
12 March 2010 -- Friday --- Sravana Dwadashi - Sravana Viradham
08 April 2010 -- Thursday - Sravana Vratham
5 May 2010 -- Wednesday - Sravana Vratham
2 June 2010 -- Wednesday - Sravana Viratham
29 June 2010 -- Tuesday - Sravana Viradam
26 July 2010 -- Monday - Sravana Vratham
23 August 2010 -- Monday - Sravana Viratham
19 Sepetember 2010 -- Sunday - Sravana Vratham
16 October 2010 -- Saturday - Sravana Vratham
13 November 2010 -- Saturday - Sravana Vratham
10 December 2010 -- Friday - Sravana Vratham

The Story of Tamil Karadayan Nombu – Based on the legend of Satyavan Savitri

Karadayan Nombu or Vratam is an important fast observed by Tamil women. It is based on the legend of Satyavan and Savitri. Based on this myth each region in India observes an Upvaas in different time of the year. In Tamil Nadu, it is observed during the transition of Tamil Month Maasi and Panguni. The story of Satyavan and Savitri is a sub plot in the Mahabharata.

King Ashtapati had a beautiful and intelligent daughter named Savitri. The King gave her the permission to choose her husband. One day, Savitri met a young man in the forest who was carrying his blind parents in two baskets balanced on either side of a stick. The young man was Satyavan.

Impressed by Satyavan’s devotion towards his blind parents, Savitri decides to marry him. On enquiry, the King found out from Sage Narada that Satyavan was the son of a deposed king and that he was destined to die in a year.

King first refused to the marriage but Savitri was adamant. Finally, the King relented and the marriage was conducted and the couple left for the forest.

They led a happy life and soon a year passed and Savitri realized that Satyavan would die any moment. So she kept fast and always followed him. She cooked a special adai and served it to her family and gave some as offering to the Gods.

Next day, she followed Satyavan to the forest. While cutting woods, he fell down and fainted. Soon, Savitri realized that Satyavan is dying. Suddenly she felt the presence of Yama, the god of death. She saw him carrying the soul of Satyavan and she followed Yama.

Yama first ignored Savitri thinking that she will soon return back to her husband’s body. But she persisted and kept on following him. Yama tried few tricks to persuade her but nothing worked. Then Yama said that it is impossible for him to give back the dead as it is against the nature’s law. Instead, he will give her three boons.

Savitri agreed with the first boon she asked for a son for her father. With the second boon she asked that her in-laws be reinstated in their kingdom with full glory.

Finally, for the third boon she asked ‘I would like to have children.’

Yama immediately said ‘granted.’ But soon Yama realized that he had been tricked by Savitri.

Yama remained silent for a minute and then smiled and said ‘I appreciate you persistence. But what I liked more was you readiness to marry a man whom you loved even though you knew that he would only live for a year. Go back to your husband he will soon wake up.’

Soon Savitri and Satyavan were reunited.

 

To commemorate the great event  women are celebrating the nombu.   The delicacy of the function in Nolumbu adai.  All women including Kanyakas and married women wear the charade on the  muhurtam of the birth of  Meena masam.  One charadu is tied to Thulasi at home also.

PANKUNI UTHRAM

This is an important day, the birthday of Lord Aiyappa.  Parvathi Kalyanam and many other celestial marriages are stated to have been celebrated on this day.  In Palani, people from the banks of river Kaveri  at Kodumudi bring water pitchers tied in the shape of Kavadi and offer the theertham as abhishemkam to Dandayuthapani.

On Chathurthi days coming after amavasya or Shukla Chathurthi, Vratam with mild or no rice food is observed in honour of Mahaganapathi and in the evening before concluding the Vratam, Arghyam is given.

  

On Chathurthi days coming after Pouranmi, Sankatahara Chathurthi is celebrated.  In Ganesha temples in the evening abhishekam is offered and Sumptuous quantity of Paal Payasam ( porridge or rice and milk) is offered as naivedyam.  Lord Ganesha is happy about this day so much that he will relieve the people who offer pooja of all unhappiness and shower wealth and well being on them.

On Shashti days coming after amavasya or Shukla Shashti, Vratam, with practicall no food during the day is observed in honour of Lord Subramania and in the evening Arghyam is offered to the God.

On Ekadasi days, both after amavasya and pournami, mild vrtatam is observed in honor of Lord Mahvishnu and the Paarana of consuming of thulasi theertham is done on the next day (dwadasi morning)

On both Mahapradosham days vrata is observed in honour of Lord Siva.  Especially after about 4PM in the evening till 7 pm rudrabishekam, dhara, etc are conducted in all Siva temples where people attend in large numbers.  No food, even water should be taken during pradosham. One need not visit any other temple other than Siva temple during Pradosham because all deities are supposed to assemble at Siva Temple to see the Dance of Shiva during that time

When Pradosha falls on a Saturday, it is sanipradosha and considered very auspicious.

On amavasya days  Brahmins who have lost their fathers have to offer Tarpanam to pitrs of  their fathers side as well as mothers side.