Thiruvadhirai -Arudhra Darisanam

ARUDRA DARISANAM – THIRUVADHIRAI – MARGAZHI TAMIL MONTH

Arudra Darshan celebrations are about the ecstatic dance of Lord Shiva.  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.   It takes place on the Thiruvadhirai Nakshatra day in the month of Margazhi (Dhanur masya).   

At Chidambaram, the morning Maha-abhisheka starts at 3 am itself and lasts for 3 to 4 hours and wherein the Thiru Abharanas are adorned, that is the sacred Jewels. After Pancha Moorthi’s thiruveedhi ula, by noon, Lord Nataraja and Goddess Sivakami will bless the devotees with Arudhra Darisanam and enter Kanaka Sabhai. 

When Maha Vishnu was lying down on the great Serpent Adhi Sesha, he felt Mahaa Vishnu was quite heavy that time. He asked Maha Vishnu what was the reason. Maha Vishnu said that he was visualising and enjoying the Dance of Lord Shiva. This answer kindled the desire in Adhi Sesha to see the Great Dance of Lord Shiva.  He asked Maha Vishnu how his desire could be fulfilled. Mahaa Vishnu asked him to go to Chidambaram and do "tapas".  Adhi seesha came to Chidambaram and prayed the Lord for a long time.

There was another Muni and devotee of Lord Shiva in that place, called Viyaagra paadha. He prayed to God to get the clawed legs of tiger, so that he can pluck flowers early in the morning to offer to the God, before any bee touches the flower. He was also praying God to see His Great Dance for a long time.  Pleased with their prayer the God appeared on the Thiruvaadhirai day and danced in Chidambaram.

Appar wrote a separate pathigam for Tiruvadhirai in Thevaram:

முத்து விதான மணிப்பொற் கவரி முறையாலே
பக்தர்க ளோடு பாவையர் சூழப் பலிப்பின்னே
வித்தகக் கோல வெண்டலை மாலை விரதிகள்
அத்தனாரூ ராதிரை நாளா லதுவண்ணம்

துன்பம் நும்மைத் தொழாத நாள்கள் என்பாரும்
இன்பம் நும்மை யேத்து நாள்கள் என்பாரும்
நும்பின் எம்மை நுழையப் பணியே என்பாரும்
அன்பன் ஆரூர் ஆதிரை நாளால் அதுவண்ணம்.

THIRUVADHIRAI KALI

Why Kali for Thiruvadhirai?

A devotee named Sendanar  used to offer food to Lord daily and then distribute to devotees. He used to eat the left overs. On the Tiruvadirai day , due to bad weather he couldn't get any essential items for preparing proper food to offer to Lord Siva.  He had no other option but to mix water with rice flour and prepare a mashed paste. Lord Shiva understood his predicament. He wanted the people to know how sincere his devotee was to him. He disguised himself as a siva devotee and enjoyed what was given to him as food and as he stood for a while in the Nataraja Sanctrum, the Lord showered the Kali all over the premises , in recognition of  Sendanar’s  deep devotion. Since that day, Kali is the special offering to Lord Nataraja on Margazhi.

7 kari-kootu

The sweet dish of Kali is paired with Ezhu Kari kootu with seven vegetables.