Margazhi/Markali Masam... The month of music and bhakthi!

"brihat-sama tatha samnam
gayatri chandasam aham
masanam marga-sirso ’ham

rtunam kusumakarah"

- Sri Krsna in Bhagavad Gita (Chapter 10, Verse 35) 

Margazhi/Markali/Dhanur masa is the eight month in a traditional Hindu - Souramana Calendar, which usually begins in mid December and ends mid Jan.

The beauty, greatness and significance of this immensely spiritul month can be ascertained from the above shloka, wherein the Lord asserts, "Amongst all seasons, I am margasheersha..."

The onset of this month brings joy, excitement of a different nature! Thanks to me being a hard core Kannadiga who has her granny's place at Srirangam, Trichy, I have some insight about the seasonal fervour at both of these places.

In TN, Margazhi is very famous for kolams/rangolis. A Rangoli represents Auspiciousness, Beauty, Creativity, Geometry, Symmetry, Lakshya(objectivity) and Lakshana. This is also a tribute to Bhoomi Devi.

(Not very long ago!...) We can(could) find creative colourful Rangolis - Creative in terms of using a variety of flowers (Pumpkin flowers were very common), and other decorative items like deepa, salt, colourful stones. And all this was done before dawn... You should see the competition among neighbours as to who has the beautiful rangoli at their doorstep.. I haven't seen this trend at too many places in KA, although I wait for this month every year.. Love the insights mom gives every single day every year, (also pulling her leg as to who puts the bigger design and what should it be :D)! By this, I remember that I have to upload the pics of mom's rangolis and scan her rangoli book! Should probably do this n some time.

Coming back to Margazhi, Temples are opened in the early morning and special pujas are performed, people wake up early in the day, brave the biting cold (some enjoy too!) and rush to temples. As the Brahma muhurta (4 30 to 6) is considered the ideal time for performing pooje. And it is believed, any day which is begun on such an auspicious note will definitely turn out to be an auspicious day!

Some people might wonder about the fuzz about doing everything so early! In answer, I can probably summarize a story which my granny used to tell us when I was young.. For the devas, 1 human year ( 365 days ) is equal to a single day. So the Dhanur masa symbolizes resting period for the devas. Hence, everything is done early and we let the devas be in peace!

In addition there are scores of other festivals, Vaikunta Ekadashi, Arudra Darshanam, Hanumad Jayanti, Andal Thirukalyanam - to name a few, conducted during this period...

Andal.. How can one not mention her during Margazhi... For many the month itself is a synonym for Andal and her supreme Bhakti towards the lord. On all the thirty days of this month, Tiruppavai Pasurams will be rendered in the early morning in all temples and houses. And the birth place of this divine sanit-poetess Srivilliputtur will have an added charm during this month. (why not? She was ANDAL afterall :D)

For music lovers, (CM) the entire month offers all that a rasika can ask for (and more!?) Every sabha is lined up with performances by artists (young old - acomplished amateur), enabling a visual (and/or aural) treat for music rasikas.
Remember the song Chakkani Raja Margamu Yundaga.... (Meaning)
Chk this for one review durng this year's lecdem

But I honestly feel all these are ADD-ONS alone to the naturally beautiful and ever enticing margazhi month! Who would not love the nature in December-January. The thought of snowfall, cool breeze, the lovely sunrise-sunset, the dew drops, birds, the christmas cake(:O :D), santa claus, the auspicious new year coming in... Hmmmm.. Words dont suffice to explain nature's beauty...

Conclusion.... (After way too much piteelu)
"....You have good emotions and good feelings. You know when they come because they make you feel good. Excitement, joy, gratitude, love. imagine if we could feel that way everyday. when you celebrate good feelings , you'll draw to you more good feelings, and things that make you feel good..."

A New Year Dawns...

"Ring out the old, ring in the new,

Ring, happy bells, across the snow;

The year is going, let him go;

Ring out the false, ring in the true.

Ring out, wild bells, to the wild sky,

The flying cloud, the frosty light:

The year is dying in the night;

Ring out, wild bells, and let him die.

Ring out the grief that saps the mind,

For those that here we see no more;

Ring out the feud of rich and poor,

Ring in redress to all mankind.

Ring out false pride in place and blood,

The civic slander and the spite;

Ring in the love of truth and right,

Ring in the common love of good.

Ring out a slowly dying cause,

And ancient forms of party strife,

Ring in the nobler modes of life,

With sweet manners, and purer laws.

Ring out old shapes of foul disease;

Ring out the narrowing lust of gold;

Ring out the thousand wars of old,

Ring in the thousand years of peace.

Ring in the valiant man and free,

The larger heart, the kindlier hand;

Ring out the darkness of the land,

Ring in the Christ that is to be!" - Alfred Lord Tennyson

Time flies fast ( So fast that you hardly realise! ) .... 2011 is here, very hard to believe that a decade of the new century is over so soon (here comes that word again!)
A New Year with it brings so many fond memories, new wishes, new hopes, new joy, and new excitement!
Wish all these come true with the new year and always! :)

P.S: I have restarted blogging this decade! Hope to be successful this time!