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Aadi Thiru Karthigai (August 8, 2015) – festival dedicated to Lord Muruga.

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Aadi Thiru Karthigai (August 8, 2015) – festival dedicated to Lord Muruga.

Aadi is the divine month when Gods and Goddesses decide to enhance the lives of their graceful creations-we, the humans.

The Tamil month of Aadi falls during the second half of the year known as Dakshinayanam when the Sun transits from the northern hemisphere to the Southern during July. The transition from the Southern to the Northern hemisphere in the month of January is known as Uthirayanam. From times immemorial, both these periods have been considered as auspicious for the worship of the Gods and Goddesses.

Aadi Krithigai and Thai Poosam are important festivals for Lord Subramaniya. For the Goddess Maariamman also the month of Aadi is very auspicious. Aadi Pooram and Aadi Peruku are very popular festivals in the rural areas of Tamilnadu.


Please visit any Sri Murugan Temple in your Area and pray to Lord Sri Muruga's Blessings


Significance of AADI KRITHIGAI FESTIVAL


PROSTRATIONS to Lord Subrahmanya, the Supreme, who is the ruler of this universe, who is the indweller of our hearts, who is the second son of Lord Shiva, who is the beloved of Valli and Devasena, who bestows boons easily on His devotees, who is an embodiment of power, wisdom, love and bliss. In Sanskrit `su’ means good natured or beautiful. `Brahmanya’ means one who has realized Brahman.


The Skanda Purana describes the legend associated with the avatar of Lord Subrahmanya.


Goddess Parvathi did penance and married Lord Shiva. The union of Shiva and Parvathi signifies the `Knowledge’ and `Grace’ coming together to deliver `Bliss’ in the form Subrahmanya. When all Devas pleaded with Lord Shiva to put an end to the cruel deeds of the demon Soorapadman, Lord Siva, with His Yogic vision felt the necessity of the birth of Lord Subrahmanya.

Lord Shiva took a form with six faces (i.e., Sathyojatham, Vamadevam, Thathpurusham, Eesanam, Aghoram and Atho). According to Skanda Purana, Lord Subrahmanya took birth from each of the third eye of the six faces of Lord Shiva as six flames.

Lord Shiva commanded Vaayu (God of wind) and Agni (God of fire) to carry the six fire sparks to the Ganges River. Later Ganga took them to Saravana pond in a reed forest where Karttikeya- `Saravanabhava’ ( Shara – Janma) was born.

The six fire sparks became six beautiful babies on six red lotus flowers. When Goddess Parvathi embraced them together, they merged to one form with six faces, twelve hands and was named Shanmuga. He was also named Karttikeya since six Karthiga nymphs took care of the Divine child.

In praise of the services rendered by the Kartika nymphs Shiva and Parvathi granted a boon that Krithika Nakshatra will be a significant day for worship of Lord Subrahmanya.

The Krithigai Nakshatra in the month of Aadi (fourth month in Souramana) assumes special importance because of the commencement of the southwardly movement of the Sun ( Dhakshinayana punyakalam). It is celebrated on Krithigai nakshatra day in Aadi month of Tamil calendar- Aashada month of Telugu calendar, derived from Sanskrit word – Aash-adi.


The six heads of Lord Subrahmanya represent the six Chakras. They also represent the five senses and the mind. They represent the six attributes of Bhagavan: Jnana (wisdom), Vairagya (dispassion), Bala (strength), Kirti (fame), Sree (wealth) and Aisvarya (divine powers).

They indicate that He is the source for the four Vedas, Vedangas; that He has controlled the five Jnana Indriyas and the mind. They signify that His head is turned everywhere (Viswathomukha); they indicate that He is omnipotent.The six faces indicate that His presence shines on the four sides and also above and below.


Valli, Devasena and the Vel mean respectively Ichcha Shakti, Kriya Shakti and Jnana Sakti, signifying Desire, Action, and Knowledge. The fact that desire and action forces are kept on either side of Him and that Jnana Shakti or the knowledge alone is kept with Him point out that Knowledge is the most important of them all and that it never gets separated from Him.


Shanmukha’s Vahana, the peacock, shows the shape of the Pranava letter OM. When the peacock has spread out its tail, it has the round shape of the Pranava. Within it is the Parabrahma Jyoti which is the form of Subrahmanya. The subordinated serpent kept in check under the peacock’s feet shows a complete overpowering of the Maya by the Pranava.


Significance of KAVADI


Sage Agasthya wanted to take two hills – Sivagiri and Sakthigiri – to his abode in the South and commissioned his disciple who was an ardent devotee of Lord Subrahmanya, to carry them from Mount Kailash range.


Idumban bore the two hills slung across his shoulders in the form of Kavadi , one on each side. When he reached Palani and felt fatigued, he placed the Kavadi down to take rest. When he resumed his journey, he found that he could not lift the Kavadi of both hills, as Lord Subrahmanya, had made it impossible for him to carry it. Upon the hilltop Idumban spotted a little boy wearing only kowpeenam and demanded that he vacate at once so that Idumban could proceed with his task. The boy at his abode in Palani, refused and in the fierce battle that followed Idumban was slain but was later restored to life by Lord Subrahmanya.


Idumban on realizing that the boy as none other than his Ishta Devata Sri Subrahmanya Swamy, prostrated and prayed to Him that whosoever carried on his shoulders the Kavadi signifying the two hills should be blessed by Lord Subrahmanya and he (i.e Idumban) should be given the privilege of standing at the entrance to the hill. Hence we have Idumban shrine half-way up the hill where every pilgrim is expected to offer obeisance to Idumban before entering the temple.


May Lord Sri Muruga Bless you all



http://www.dlshq.org/religions/shanmukha.htm
http://velkavadi.blogspot.in/2014/07/importance-of-adi-krithika-ashadam.html
http://hindupad.com/aadi-karthigai-festival-dedicated-to-lord-muruga/
http://vaartaahaa.blogspot.in/2012/08/aadi-krithigai-august-10-8-2012.html

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