A visit to the #Omkareshwar temple in #MadhyaPradesh on #ShravanSomvar #Templetales

The Omkareshwar Jyotirlinga is located around 80 Kms from Indore in the Khandwa district of Madhya Pradesh on the banks of the sacred Narmada. We had started out early and the drive from Indore was wonderful as we breezed past green fields and colourful villages. Along the way we saw many groups of devotees carrying kavads and walking barefoot towards the temple. The driver told us that this was very common during the month of Shravan. The devotees would fill their jars with water from the sacred Narmada and carry it to the temple for performing abhishek to Lord Shiva at Omkareswar as well as Mahakaleshwar at Ujjain.

A view of the Omkareshwar Temple

Kavadias on the way to Omkareshwar

 

There was a traffic jam at a certain point and noticing an open wayside café, we got down to have coffee.  We then proceeded to Omkareshwar. It was a Shravan Somvar and there was a fair like atmosphere all around.  The shimmering blue waters of the Narmada, dotted with colourful boats waiting to ferry devotees to the temple was a welcoming sight. 

Colourful boats dotting the Narmada River

We chose to however use the Jhula Phul, a beautiful hanging bridge, about 272 feet long, built over the Narmada connecting the mainland to the island. 

The Jhula Phul

The shape of the Mandhata Island resembles the sacred Hindu symbol ‘OM’. The Omkareshwar Jyotirling temple, one of the most sacred pilgrimage sites in India, is located atop this island. As we walk towards the temple, we find stalls on both sides of the lane selling any kind of puja items. We climb a flight of steps on the ghats to reach the temple. The base floor of the temple which houses the sacred Jyotirling immersed in water. There is a silver image of Goddess Parvati behind the Shivaling. We were allowed to perform abhishek for the Jyotirling with water and milk and offer Vilwa leaves to the Lord.

Inside the temple

A priest doubled up as a guide and led us to the Sabha Mandap standing on 60 pillars with artistic carvings.  He also told us that the temple is called the Omkar Mandhata temple as it was the Ikshvaku Maharaja Mandhata’s devotion that brought Lord Shiva to this place. The temple itself is a five storied structure with a shrine to Mahakaleshwar on the first floor and shrines to Siddhanath, Gupteshwar and Dhwajeshwar on the subsequent floors.  The priest told us that main pujas and abhishek with milk, curd and water are performed three times in a day at Omkareshwar. The first one is performed by the temple trust early in the morning. The second puja is performed by the priest of the Scindias, and the third in the evening by the priest of the Holkar State. Again there is a belief that Lord Shiva rests at Omkareshwar every night. So the Shayan Aarti at 8.30 pm in the night is worth watching. A bed is laid out for Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati and a game of Chaupad is placed for them to play. This Aarti is open to the public.   

There is an open corridor with a view of the joyous and youthful flowing Narmada, where the priest guided us to perform the puja and abhishek to Mahadev with a small Shivaling and water from the Narmada. This was indeed spiritually satiating.  

Performing Puja in the temple premises

Though the temple was extremely crowded due to it being Shravan Somvar, we got very good darshan, albeit after a wait of almost an hour. Photography is not allowed inside the temple sanctum. But anywhere else one can take photographs.

The priest guide then led us to the Mamleshwar temple on the opposite bank. We now chose to have a boat ferry us across the river. This was another wonderful experience. 

On the boat ride across the Narmada River

The Mamleshwar temple’s original name is Amareshwar and there is equal significance accorded to it. In fact many people say that both Omkareshwar and Mamleshwar are Jyotirlings and so devotees make it a point to visit both. This temple complex has an ancient look and is protected by the ASI. The carved sculptures on the stone walls are aesthetically beautiful and the Nandi Mandap is exquisite. We were told that the Lingarchana at Mamleshwar is worth seeing as a thousand Banalingas are placed in concentric circles around the main Shivalinga. They are then worshipped. But unfortunately we could not see this puja as it was already over by the time we visited the temple.

As in many pilgrimage destinations there is a parikrama path which can be done on foot or by boat if the water level in the river is good. 

Stalls set up on the banks for Shravan

The Omkareshwar Parikrama passes through several temples including the Kedareshwar temple, Markanda Ashram with a huge image of Sri Krishna, the Gauri Somnath temple, Khedapati Hanuman and Patali Hanuman temples, Siddhanath temple and a giant statue of Lord Shiva.

Another place to visit, if you have time, is the Mandhata palace, where the views from the Jharokhas or hanging windows of the temple and the river are mesmerizing to say the least.

#ShravanSomvar #Omkareshwar #Mamleshwar #MadhyaPradeshTourism #IncredibleIndia #Temple #Pilgrimage #Jyotirling  

#AadiPooram and #Srivilliputhur #templestories 8 and the #story of #Andal

We set off from Madurai to the Srivilliputhur Andal temple in Virudhunagar district.  The temple is located at a distance of around 80 Kms from Madurai and takes about one and half to two hours to reach. The sight of the extremely beautiful temple tower (gopuram) signaled that we had arrived at our destination. Interestingly, this 192 feet tall, 11 tiered imposing Raja Gopuram is featured on the emblem of Tamil Nadu indicative of the importance accorded to the temple as one of the 101 Divya Desams dedicated to Lord Mahavishnu.

Raja Gopuram

The temple has been in existence since ages and is also associated with the incarnation of Goddess Mahalakshmi as Andal (also known as Kothai or Godha). So it is a two in one temple complex with shrines to Vatapatrasayana Perumal and Andal separately.

The original deity is Lord Vatapatrasayana Perumal. We enter a huge hall and have to climb a flight of steps to reach the main sanctum sanctorum. 

On the way to the sanctum sanctorum

There are three doorways through which one can have the divine darshan of the Lord in a reclining posture on the Adishesha with his consorts, Sridevi and Bhoodevi. Sage Brighu is standing near the Lord while Sage Markandeya is praying with folded hands reverently at his feet. 

Perumal Sannidhi

There are also images of Narada, Panchamurthis, Sanatkumara, Surya and Chandra, apart from Villi and Puttan.

Way to Andal Sanctum

There is a garden in the middle where Andal is said to have appeared as an infant near a Tulsi plant and was found by Periazhwar. This is called Andal avatharitha Nandavanam. The temple tank in called Mukkulam and is believed to have the holy waters of Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswathi.

The entrance to the Andal temple has a huge Mandapam.

Entrance to Nandavanam where Andal made her first appearance

 The deity of the Goddess is breathtakingly beautiful.  There is a Kalyana Mandapam and Madhavi Pandhal  a little further away. 

Andal Sannidhi

The story of Andal is an exceptional example of devotion.  

The great devotee, Periazhwar, had no children. Once on the day of Aadi Pooram, he found an infant girl child near the holy Tulsi plant in the temple. With the permission of the Lord, he adopted the girl child and named her Kothai/ Godha meaning a garland of flowers. He brought her up with love and affection. Periazhwar used to pluck flowers and tulsi leaves from the garden and weave a garland for Lord Vatapatrasayee with his own hands. He would then present it to the Lord. Kothai used to observe this and help him. One day when Periazhwar left her for a few minutes before leaving for the temple, she had a strange desire to wear the garland. She wore it and then removed it before her father came back. Without knowing that Kothai had worn the garland, Periazhwar offered it to the priest for Lord Mahavishnu.  Kothai started wearing the garland and admired herself every day after that before her father took it to the temple. But one day the priest happened to see a strand of hair in the garland. He was furious. He refused to offer it to the deity. Periazhwar was stunned and sad at the turn of events. He kept a secret watch over the garland and found to his dismay that it was his daughter, Andal, who was wearing the garland before he took it to the temple. He was very angry with her and discarded the garland. He then made another garland to be offered to the Lord. That night he had a dream when Mahavishnu said that he would accept only the garland worn by Andal. This happened when the child was just five years old. 

Andal grew up and her father wanted to search for a suitable bridegroom for her. But Andal’s mind was fixed on her Shri Krishna. Her devotion to the Lord was unshakable. Then it was that the Lord appeared once again in Periazhwar’s dream and bade him bring Andal dressed as a bride to Srirangam. It is believed that, when Andal was taken in wedding procession and reached Srirangam, she just entered the sanctum and merged with the Lord.  

The festivals celebrated at this temple are Aadi Pooram, GodhaRangamannarThirukalyanam, Vasanta utsavam, Brahmotsavam etc.

#Andal #AadiPooram #festival #Srivilliputhur #temple #GodhaRangamannar 

#Aadi month, #BhagavathiSevai and delicious #NeiPayasam

During the Aadi masam, it is common for people to perform Bhagavathi Sevai puja at their homes to worship the Goddess mother. The priest (Vadhyar) draws the Padmam himself and decorates it with yellow turmeric powder and red Kumkumam. The vilakkus (either two or three as per the tradition of each house) are then decorated with flower garlands, chandanam(sandal paste) and kumkumam. They are filled with ghee and lit. The puja starts with the invocation of Lord Ganesh. This is followed by invocation of Goddess Parashakthi. Lalitha Sahasranamam, Lalitha Thrisithi Mantram, Durga Sooktham, and some chapters from the Devi Mahatmyam (Durga Sapta Shathi) are chanted, while offering various types of flowers to the Goddess.  The atmosphere is divine and one can actually feel the presence of the Devi when the puja is performed with sincerity and devotion. 

There are two neivedyams offered during this puja, the delicious Nei Payasam and Ulundu Vadai. The neivedhyam is then offered as prasadam to all those who are attending the puja.

Here is the recipe for the Nei Payasam

Ingredients

Raw Rice – 250 gms.

Jaggery - 1 Kg.

Ghee – ½ Kg

Cardamom – 6-8 crushed to powder

Fresh coconut – finely sliced ½ cup

Method of Preparation

First sauté the thinly sliced coconut pieces in ghee till they turn slightly brown. Keep aside.

Wash the rice well and cook.

Powder the jaggery/vellam/gud (you can use powdered vellam available in grocery stores). Take the jaggery in water just enough to dissolve in a thick bottomed vessel or Kadhai.

Boil it till all the jaggery melts and dissolves into syrup. Strain for impurities.

Add the cooked rice to the jaggery syrup and stir continuously while adding ghee little by little. You have to ensure that no lumps are formed. The mixture will thicken as you keep stirring. It will slowly start leaving the sides of the vessel. Add the powdered cardamom and the coconut slices.

The delicious Nei payasam for neivedyam is ready.

(For a variation you can sauté some cashew and raisins in ghee along with the coconut slices. It tastes really good.)  

#Aadi #Bhagavathi_Sevai #Nei_Payasam #recipe

#AadiPandigai/ #AadiPirappu – #cultural and #religious #significance of the #AadiMasam in #TamilNadu #Festival 8

Everywhere in TamilNadu, there are posters and announcements of Aadi thallupadi. These indicate heavy discounts for shoppers through the month on almost all items including clothes, jewellery, electronic items and consumer goods. But though the month is a shopper’s delight, it is not the only thing which makes the month of Aadi significant. There are cultural and religious intonations galore, what with a plethora of festivals included in the religious itinerary for the month.

AadiPirappu (16^th July 2020) marks the beginning of the Dakshinayana punyakalam (the night of the Devas) which lasts till the end of the month of Margazhi. Beautiful Kolams are drawn in front of the house and entrances are decorated with maavelai thoranam. A visit to a nearby temple is followed by a feast which includes delicious payasam and vadai.   Aadi Pandigai is of special significance to newly married couples. They are invited to the bride’s home to partake in an elaborate luncheon and are presented with new clothes and other gifts.

Aadimasam is said to be dedicated to the worship of the Goddess Amman. Devotees perform the sacred Bhagavathi Sevai puja either in their homes or in the temples. Tuesdays and Fridays of the month, (Aadi Chevvai and Aadi Velli) are extremely significant for worship. Devi Mahatmyam, Devi Bhagavatam and Lalitha Sahasranamam are recited with great devotion and fervor. Aadi Pooram (24^th July 2020) is celebrated as the birthday of the Goddess. The famous temples of Madurai Meenakshi Amman, Kanchi Kamakshi Amman, the Aadhiparashakthi Amman temple at Melmaruvathur and Srivilliputhur Andal are full of festivities, as are all other temples in the State dedicated to the Goddess. The celestial union of Mahavishnu as Ranganatha Swami and Goddess Andal (who is believed to be the incarnation of Goddess Mahalakshmi) is celebrated on Aadi Pooram day. In addition, Varalakshmi Vratham (31^st July 2020) is performed to invoke the blessings of Goddess Mahalakshmi.

 The eighteenth day of the month is Padinettam Perukku (2^nd August 2020), the festival, celebrated to honour and thank Mother Nature for her benevolence.   People gather to worship on the banks of the sacred river Cauvery and then have a variety of rice preparations.

 Aadi Krithigai is dedicated to the worship of Lord Murugan. Coincidently, Aadi Krithigai is falling on 16^th July 2020, the same day as Aadi pirappu. Not only that, 16^th July 2020 is also Ekadashi, making it such a spiritually significant day.

Amavasya is Aadi month is special too, as people pay obeisance to departed ancestors at sacred places like the Agnitheertham at Rameshwaram and the confluence of the seas at Kanyakumari.

Aadimasam is significant for devotion, worship and spiritual programs. However, it is considered inauspicious to conduct weddings or have new beginnings during this month.

#AadiPandigai #AadiPirappu #AadiMasam  #TamilNadu #MaduraiMeenakshi #AndalThirukalyanam  #AadiKrithigai #AadiAmavasya

#Writing #Books for #children is not as easy as you think

Writing for children is an extremely challenging job, as you have to be an educator as well as an entertainer rolled into one. You have to be simple yet you should not seem to be talking down to them. 

So it makes sense to ask yourself a basic question.

Are you writing a children’s book because you love children and really want to write for them?

If so, do give it a go. But if you are in it for financial returns, be prepared for probable disappointment. There are a few exceptions like Roald Dahl, Ruskin Bond, Enid Blyton and J.K Rowling of course, but not many writers have made great money by writing children’s books.

There is a general feeling that writing a childrens’ book is simple. But no! Just banish that thought. Writing for children is not as easy as you think. In fact, I would say that writing for children is tougher than producing material for adults. However, the personal satisfaction that it affords the writer outweighs the financial negatives and is definitely worth the effort.

 Here are a few things to keep in mind, though, when you start your writing journey.

·         Children are innocent but smart. They see through deception very easily. So be honest with yourself. Think about what you enjoyed as a kid and not about some new sensational game that is the rage now, but about which you know nothing.

·         People generally tend to think that writing for children is a breeze as compared to other forms of writing. But be assured, that is not so. Writing for children requires skill as they have a very short attention span and a built-in boredom factor, and editors all over the world are aware of it. To wean them away from the distraction of visual media is almost impossible. So, your writing has to be captivating enough to capture their attention with the first few words. Otherwise they will just close the book. Even if you manage to make them read, the main challenge lies in retaining that attention till the last word.

·         If you are writing for a younger age group, make sure to include colorful illustrations, as pictures bring the characters to life for them and make them quickly comprehend what they read.

·         Children are imaginative. So give rein to their imagination by including characters who are powerful and daring enough to try something new. If the character makes mistakes and then emerges victorious, all the more better it would be, as kids are able to relate themselves with them. Especially with characters of their own age, they love it.

·         Never underestimate children. Yes. You have to keep your sentences short and simple. But a new word here and there is perfectly all right as that is how they increase their vocabulary. I have come across many kids who keep a pocket sized dictionary, which they would immediately refer to, in case they come across a new word. Most of the time, though, they are able to comprehend the meaning of a new word in the context of the sentence where it is used.

·         Read books of successful authors who write for children. The key to their success mainly lies in their story telling skills. They pack their stories with action, mystery, adventure or magic. This makes it fast paced and involuntarily holds the attention of the young reader.

·         And finally don’t be disappointed if you receive rejections. Rejections are common in the publishing world. Even J.K Rowling’s first book in the Harry Potter series was rejected a number of times before it was picked up by Bloomsbury and the rest, as everyone knows, is publishing history.  A rejection, therefore, does not necessarily mean that your writing is bad. It may be that you have approached the wrong publisher at the wrong time. Try another one.

So if you love children and believe in your writing, keep at it and you will find success tapping at your doorway.

#children, #books_for_children #childrensbooks #writing #success #rejection #storytelling