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Thiruvathira | |
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![]() Shiva as Nataraja and Parvati, Thousand-Pillared Hall, Meenakshi Temple, Madurai | |
Observed by | Hindus |
Type | Religious |
Significance | Celebrates the cosmic dance, Birthday, and Ardhanarishvara form of Lord Shiva |
Observances | Fasting, Abhisheka, puja, chariot procession, Thiruvasagam, Thiruvathirakali |
Date | Margali |
2023 date | 6 January (Friday); 27 December (Wednesday) [1] |
Frequency | Annual / Biannual |
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Hinduism |
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Shaivism |
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Thiruvathira or Thiruvathirai or Arudhra Darisanam is a Hindu festival celebrated in the Indian states of Kerala and Tamil Nadu. [2] [3] [4] Thiruvathirai (Arudhra) in Tamil means "sacred big wave". In Chidambaram [5] in Tamil Nadu, the Nataraja Temple's annual festival [6] is celebrated on this date. In the month of Makaram Thiruvathira Star is celebrated in Mathira Peedika Devi Temple, owned by Thiruvithamcore Devaswom Board, near Kadakkal in Kollam District of Kerala state.
Thiruvadirai – Arudra Darshan is celebrated in a grand manner in five sabhas of Nataraja, namely 1) Kanakasabha (Gold) – at Chidambaram (Tillai), 2) Velli Sabhai (Silver) at Madurai, 3) Ratnasabha (Ruby) at Tiruvalankadu, 4) Tamrasabha (Copper) at Tirunelveli, 5) Chitrasabha (Pictures) at Kutralam.
In Thillai Chidambaram 10 day Festival is held during Thiruvathirai. On the 9th day night (i.e., 10th day very early morning) Maha Abhishekam will be done to Nataraja and Goddess Sivakamasundari at Raja Sabhai at around 3 am. The MahaAbhishekam will be held for about 3–4 hours.
Then special Thiruvabaranam (Sacred Jewels) Alankaram, Rahasiya Pujai will be done to Nataraja. Pancha Murthi Thiruveethi Ula, will be held at around 12 pm Noon. Soon after Pancha Murthi Ula in the afternoon Nataraja and Shivakami will bless devotees with Aarudra Darisanam and enter Kanaka Sabhai (Golden Sabha). [7]
As the story goes Shesha, the divine bed serpent of Vishnu, or Patanjali, along with the flower devotee sage of Shiva, named Vyaghrapada, wanted to see the cosmic dance of Shiva, and thus performed severe penance for many days at Nataraja Temple, Chidambaram. Pleased by their devotion, ultimately, Shiva appeared before them to perform his dance of bliss or cosmic dance, as also granted the sage a boon to have tiger legs, so that he could pick flowers in the morning, to offer to Shiva, without being stung by the bees. [8]
It takes place on the full moon night in the Tamil month of Margali [9] [10] (December–January) and this is also the longest night in a year. [11] Literary and historical evidence in the form of stone inscriptions state that the festival has been celebrated on this day for more than 1500 years. Shiva is praised in Tamil by many names, one of them is Athiraiyan, from Thiruvathirai (Thiru + Athirai). [12] [13]
Tamil hymns of Manikkavasakar's Tiruvacakam (particularly the hymns Tiruvempavai and Tiruppallieluchi) are chanted in temples. On the very day of Thiruvathirai the idols of Nataraja (Shiva) and his consort Shivagami (Parvati) are taken out of the temple premises for a grand procession. It is one of the major events in almost all the Shiva temples in Tamil Nadu.
Sambandar sung in Tevaram during 7th-9th century, how Thiruvathirai celebrated at Kapaleeshwaram (present day Mylapore, Chennai). [14]
Appar wrote a separate pathigam (10 songs) in Tevaram, [15] in the name Thiruvathirai Pathigam which describes the importance and celebrations of Thiruvathirai.
In 4th Tirumurai he sang about the celebration in Tiruvarur [16] [17]
The cosmic dance of Shiva represents five activities – Creation, Protection, Destruction, Embodiment and Release. In essence, it represents the continuous cycle of creation and destruction. This cosmic dance [18] takes place in every particle and is the source of all energy. Arudra Darshan celebrates this ecstatic dance of Shiva. [19] [20]
It is essentially a Shaivite festival and celebrates the cosmic dance of Shiva, which is represented by the Nataraja form. [20] [21] [22] Arudhra (Thiruvathirai in Tamil) signifies the golden red flame and Shiva performs the dance in the form this red-flamed light. Shiva is supposed to be incarnated in the form of Nataraja during the Arudra Darshan day. [20]
Most of the temples [23] [24] [25] around the world with Nataraja and Shiva [26] as deity perform the Arudhra Darshan. Neivedhyam (food for God) made for Nataraja on that day is Thiruvathirai Kali. [27]
The festival is celebrated by Sri Lankan Tamils at Thinnapuram Sundareswarar Temple, it is called Elatu Chidambaram. [28] [29]
As there is no date for Arudra Darshan in 2022, it will be celebrated twice in 2023, which is a common occurrence for same. [30]
In Tamil Nadu, mainly in the Kongunadu region, the married women will fast during the day time. They will take food before sunrise and start their fasting (called Thiruvempavai Nonbu). They will break the fast after witnessing the moon rise. Nonbu (fasting) starts nine days before and ends on Thiruvathirai day [31] so totally they fast for ten days. [32]
There is special food called Thiruvadhirai kali made of Rice, Jaggery, Moong dhall, Coconut, Cardamom and Ghee with Thiruvathirai elu curry koottu , [33] which is made out of seven vegetables, that is cooked and served on this day. They choose from pumpkin, ash gourd, plantain, field beans, sweet potato, colocasia, potato, and eggplant.
The dancing form of Shiva is taken out on procession from all Shiva temples in Tamil Nadu. In Chidambaram, The night before the full moon, abhishekam , [34] or holy shower, to the Shiva is performed with the nine most precious gems ( navaratnam ), including diamonds, coral, pearls, jade and emerald, among others. On the day of full moon, the chariot procession takes place. The most important Arudhra Darshan festival takes place at the Chidambaram Shiva Temple in Tamil Nadu. The cosmic dance of Shiva is enacted on the day.
Thiruvathira is the nakshatra or "star" of Shiva as per the Malayalam calendar. It is believed[ by whom? ] that on this day, the Goddess Parvathi finally met Shiva after her long penance and Shiva took her as a saha-dharma chaarini (equal partner). Both Parvathi and Shiva present this ideal to devotees in the form of Ardhanarishvara (half male, half female form). [35] Another belief is that the festival commemorates the death of Kamadeva, the Hindu god of erotic desire. [36]
In Kerala, Thiruvathira is an important traditional festival along with the other popular festivals, Onam and Vishu. This has been celebrated by the Brahmin communities like Nambuthiri and Pisharody and Nair communities of Kerala from days of yore. It is largely a festival for women; unmarried women observe a partial fast on this day to get good husbands and married women take a fast from the preceding day (Makayiram nakshatra) and on the day of Thiruvathira for the well-being of their husband and family. The first Thiruvathira of a newly wedded woman is her poothiruvathira.
The fast essentially involves abstaining from rice-based food. The typical meal includes cooked broken wheat and Thiruvathira pulukku, a mix of tuber vegetables: colocasia, yam, Chinese potato, sweet potato with long beans and raw plantain fruit, cooked with a thick paste of freshly ground coconut. The dessert is called koova payasam, a sweet dish made of arrow root powder, jaggery and coconut milk.
Thiruvathirakali is a dance form performed by women on the day of Thiruvathira to the accompaniment of Thiruvathira paattu, folk songs telling tales of lovesick Parvati, her longing and penance for Shiva's affection and Shiva's might and power. [37] The sinuous movements executed by the group of dancers around a nilavilakku embody lasya or the amorous charm and grace of the feminine. The dance follows a circular, pirouetting pattern accompanied by clapping of the hands and singing. Today, Thiruvathirakali has become a popular dance form for all seasons. Thiruvathira kali is a typical dance form of Kerala. This is a female group dance made up of simple yet very attractive steps. In ancient times, women use to perform this dance in their homes during festivals and functions, giving it the Malayalam name aka Kaikottikali: aka-inside + kaikottikali-play clapping hands. Lore has it that Thiruvathira Kali is in memory of Shiva taking Parvati as his wife. A group of women dressed in typical Kerala style with mundu and neriyathu and the hair bun adorned with jasmine garlands perform this dance during festival seasons. Kaikottikkali spreads the message of joy and also illustrates the emotions of a married woman towards her beloved and of the unmarried woman longing for one. Thiruvathira is also known as the Kerala's own version of Karva Chauth. [38]
The record for the world's largest Thiruvathira belongs to Twenty20 Kizhakkambalam. The 16-minute performance, held on 1 May 2017, has been adjudged the largest Thiruvathira ever held with a total of 6,582 girls and women in the age group of 10-75 participating in it. Along with 2,500 woman and children from Kerala, a Russian woman and more than 4,500 woman from 20 other states too took part in the event. Women were trained by renowned teachers and practitioners of the dance form for the 16 minutes performance. The traditional "Kasavu Mundu and Neriyath" worn by the dancers were provided by Kitex Group. The event was organised by Twenty20Kizhakkambalam, the CSR wing of the Kitex Group, along with Chavara Cultural Centre and the Parvanendu School of Thiruvathira.
"The record for the world's largest Thiruvathira belongs to Twenty20 Kizhakkambalam," said Rishi Nath, adjudicator of Guinness World Record while handing over the certificate to Sabu M Jacob MD Kitex Apparel Park and Chief Co ordinator Twenty20.
The previous Guinness Record for largest Kaikottikkali dance performance set on 2 February 2015 with 5211 women led by Smt. Jitha Binoy under the banner "Thanima" of Irinjalakuda, Thrissur. [39] The previous Guinness record for largest Kaikottikkali dance was achieved on 9 November 2012 at Dombivli near Mumbai by the Mumbai Pooram foundation, a socio-cultural organisation. In the true Onam Spirit, 2639 women including Keralites, Maharashtrians, Gujarathis, Bengalees, Tamilians, Telugu, Kannadigas and others from all parts of the country representing all religions danced to the tunes of specially written songs. [40] On 14 December 2013, over 3000 women participated in a Thiruvathira Kali event held at Kochi and attempted to set a new world record. The event was organised in connection with the Thiruvathira festival which falls on 18 December 2013. [39] [41]
Nataraja, also known as Adalvallan, is a depiction of Shiva, one of the main deities in Hinduism, as the divine cosmic dancer. His dance is called the tandava. The pose and artwork are described in many Hindu texts such as the Tevaram and Thiruvasagam in Tamil and the Amshumadagama and Uttarakamika agama in Sanskrit and the Grantha texts. The dance murti featured in all major Hindu temples of Shaivism, and is a well-known sculptural symbol in India and popularly used as a symbol of Indian culture, as one of the finest illustrations of Hindu art. This form is also referred to as Kuththan, Sabesan, and Ambalavanan in various Tamil texts.
Chidambaram is a town and municipality in Cuddalore district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, on the banks of the Vellar River where it meets the Bay of Bengal. It is the headquarters of the Chidambaram taluk. The town is believed to be of significant antiquity and has been ruled, at different times, by the Pallavas until ninth century, Medieval Cholas, Later Cholas, Later Pandyas, Vijayanagara Empire, Thanjavur Nayakas, Marathas and the British. The town is known for the Thillai Nataraja Temple and Thillai Kali Temple, and the annual chariot festival held in the months of December–January and June to July. One of the Divya Desams Divya Sri Govindaraja Perumal Temple (Thiruchitrakoodam) is a part of Thillai Nataraja Temple complex. Thiruvetkalam Shiva Temple, Vadakiruppu, Thirunelvayil Shiva Temple, Sivapuri and Tirukkazhippalai Palvannanathar Temple are the other three ancient Shiva temples in the region.
Thillai Nataraja Temple, also referred as the Chidambaram Nataraja Temple, is a Hindu temple dedicated to Nataraja and Govindaraja, the form of Shiva as the lord of dance and Maha Vishnu as the Judge of the dance. This temple is located in Chidambaram, Tamil Nadu, India. The temple is glorified in the Naalayira Divya Prabandham, the early medieval Tamil canon of the Alvar saints from the 6th–9th centuries CE. It is one of the 108 Divya Desam dedicated to Vishnu, who is worshipped as Govindaraja Perumal and his consort Lakshmi as Pundarikavalli Thayar. This temple has ancient roots and a Shiva and Maha Vishnu shrine existed at the site when the town was known as Thillai. Chidambaram, the name of the city literally means "stage of consciousness". The temple architecture symbolizes the connection between the arts and spirituality, creative activity and the divine. The temple wall carvings display all the 108 karanas from the Natya Shastra by Bharata Muni, and these postures form a foundation of Bharatanatyam, an Indian classical dance.
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Tiruttalinathar temple is a Siva temple located in Thiruputhur near Karaikkudi. This temple is regarded as the 6th of the Tevara Stalams in the Pandya kingdom of Tamil Nadu. The temples Rameswaram and Tiruvadanai are the other Shivastalams nearby. It is one of the shrines of the 275 Paadal Petra Sthalams.
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Chidambaram taluk is a taluk of Cuddalore district of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. The headquarters of the taluk is the town of Chidambaram.Chidambaram is one of the many temple towns in the state which is named after the grooves, clusters or forests dominated by a particular variety of a tree or shrub and the same variety of tree or shrub sheltering the presiding deity. The town used to be called Thillai, following Thillaivanam, derived from the mangrove of Tillai trees that grow here and the nearby Pichavaram wetlands.
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Chidambaram. is a 1985 Malayalam film written, directed and produced by G. Aravindan. It is the film adaptation of a short story by C. V. Sreeraman. The film explores various aspects of relations between men and women through the lives of three people living in a cattle farm. Themes of guilt and redemption are also dealt with. Bharath Gopi, Smita Patil, Sreenivasan and Mohan Das play the lead roles. It won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film and five Kerala State Film Awards including Best Film and Best Direction.
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The Pancha Sabhai Sthalangal refers to the temples of Nataraja, a form of the Hindu god Shiva where he is regarded to have performed the cosmic dance called the Tandava. All these temples are located in Tamil Nadu, India. The five dance performances were the Kali Tandava at Ratna Sabha in Vada Aaranyeswarar Temple, Ananda Tandava at the Kanaka Sabha in Natarajar Temple, Sandhya Tandava at the Rajata Sabha in Meenakshi Amman Temple, Muni Tandava at the Tamra Sabha at Nellaiappar Temple, and Tripura Tandava at the Chitra Sabha in Kutralanathar Temple.
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