ஆருத்ரா தர்சனம் – आर्द्रा दर्शनं – തിരുവാതിര

Friends,
AARDRAA DARSHANAM falls in the month of MARGAZHI (மார்கழி) corresponding to Malayalam Month of DHANU (ധനു) when the star is आर्द्रा, തിരുവാതിര,திருவாதிரை. While we Tamil Brahmins of Kerala and Tamil Nadu and other places celebrate this day as the birth day of LORD SHIVA, in Kerala especially Nair Community people celebrate this day as the Day of KAMA DAHANA. (Kama according to Hindus is the Lord of LOVE. He has many names like ANANGA, MANMATHA, KANDARPA, MADANA etc and KAMA DEVA’s name can be seen in RIG VEDA ALSO. In VISHNU PURANA KAMADEVA is referred to as MAHA VISHNU ,and he is also referred to as KRISHNA, SHIVA and AGNI.)
During this day ladies and gents take bath early morning, and go to Lord Shiva’s temple and pray Him for our welfare by offering Coconut, Fruits, betel leaves Piperaceae family) and nuts and flowers. This day is very auspicious and celebrated in all LORD SHIVA TEMPLES especially in Tamil Nadu. In Chithambaram Lord THIRUMOOLANAATHAR TEMPLE WHERE UMAYAMBIKAI THE WIFE OF THE LORD HAS ALSO A PLACE is known as NATARAJAR popularly and also known as AKASA STHALAM (ആകാശസ്ഥലം, ஆகாயதலம்) since Lord Shiva In the சிற்றம்பலம் there is a small entrance on the right side of the Sannidhi. There is a small screen here which is removed only to perform the Arathi is shown and also to special Bhakthas . However, there is no form seen there. Only a gold leaf garland ( made of VILVA PATHRA ) can be seen there. It means that the Lord is in the form of space. How can you capture a Lord spread over the space (He is in all whether having life or lifeless but He has no GUNA, He cannot be seen. This is the only to worship the Lord in the form of space. Among the Panchaboodha holy places, Chidambaram represents space. Hence Chidambaram is known as Akasha Sthala. Friends, you might wonder why I am writing about this place in detail. It is because I happened to be here on a HOLY TRIP, and I was lucky to see the CHIDAMBARA RAHASYAM.

“The cosmic dance of Lord Shiva represents five activities – Creation, Protection, Destruction, Embodiment and Release. In essence, it represents the continuous cycle of creation and destruction. This cosmic dance takes place in every particle and is the source of all energy. Arudra Darshan celebrates this ecstatic dance of Lord Shiva.

It takes place on the full moon night in the month of Margazhi and this is also the longest night in a year. The festival is mainly observed in the Tamil speaking world.

The most important Arudhra Darshan festival takes place at the Chidambaram Shiva Temple in Tamil Nadu. The cosmic dance of Lord Shiva is enacted on the day. Most of the temples around the world with Lord Nataraja as deity perform the Arudhra Darshan.”


തിരുവാതിര (ஆருத்ரா) IN KERALA
The Namboothiri Brahmins and Nairs of Kerala also celebrate THIRUVATHIRA as Tamil Brahmins but it is meant to celebrate the killing of KAMA DEVA (CUPID) by Lord SHIVA using his 3rd eye and burning him. KAMA DEVA thereafter could not be visible but his spirit remains.
In fact this is being celebrated by the women folk of Nambuthiris and Nairs’. When I was a child of about 6 to 8 years old this festival used to be celebrated for about a week by the women. They used to go to the river or POND which they call as “ കുളം “ early morning. Young women throng and plunge into the water in good numbers and there after sing about KAMA DEVA and the elderly lady among them produces a peculiar voice which others imitate. This goes on till dawn from about 4.30 AM. Then they dress up and go for OONJAL AATTAM (ഊഞ്ഞാലാട്ടം).Whie some people make the SWING on tree branches in their houses, some make with bamboos which are available in plenty in KERALA. We children irrespective of caste used to enjoy this scene.
On the Actual Thiruvathira Day here used to be a grand breakfast and dinner. In most houses the Nairs and Namboothiris make കൂവ കൂഴ് (arrow root hot paste mixed with jaggery) and Kaachil Poduthuval eat it. We Tamil Brahmins make களி by mixing rice fried and powdered as rava and jiggery and after making it like UPPUMAVU and KAVATHTHU(KAACHCHIL) PODUTHUVAL (பெரும்வள்ளி கிழங்கு) either Red or White with BROAD BEANS ,அவரைக்காய், അമരക്ക, ಚಪ್ಪರದ್ವರೆ. Some make this by combining other vegetables also.
The Namboothiri women and Nairs after breakfast or some after lunch get engaged in THIRUVATHIRA KALI or KAI KOTTI KALI (തിരുവാതിര കളി (കൈകൊട്ടികളി). They in group Sing songs like പഞ്ചബാണന്‍; സുന്ദരിമാര്‍; ബന്ധുരാംഗിമാരെ etc. (Pancha Baanan,Sundarimar, Bandhuraamgimaare Etc.)_ etc.This dance ,in fact belongs to LASYA family taught to BAANAASURA’S daughter USHA, by Goddess Parvathi , who was married to Aniruddha one grandson of Lord Krishna and who propagated it in VRINDAAVANA. It is really a pleasure to hear them singing and dancing. When Lord Shiva began his THANDAVA NRITHA, which was performed by him in angry mood, to pacify Him His consort PARVATHY danced in LASYA BHAVA by which he was pacified.
I do not know whether it is practised now in towns. However it is still in vogue in some villages of KERALA.
Now there is one Common factor in Thiruvathira and Thiruvonam. While Ardra Nakshathra denotes a festival of Lord Shiva, Thiruvonam is about Lord Vishnu’s Avathar of VAMANA who sent with his three steps the RAKSHASA KING MAHABALI the grandson of Prahlaada. In fact THIRU is added to ONAM and AATHIRA (ഓണം , ആതിര) only to denote that they are the days of both the Lords.
Regards and Namaskarams,
P.R.RADHAKRISHNAN