Significance of The religious month of Maarghazi .

"brhtsaam tathaa saamnaam gaayatree chandasaamaham
maasaanaam margasheersho-ahamritunaam kusumaakarah"

Lord Shri Krishna has described the month of Mrigashirsha as one of his manifestations.

The month of Dhanur Maasa or Maarghazi from Dec 16 derives from the star Mrigashirsha and considered as one of the most holiest auspicious months for performing religious services.
During this month the Sun transits through Sagittarius , the house of Jupiter and ends with Makara Sankranti.
The most auspicious hour called the Brahma Muhurtham one and half. hour before sunrise is best suited for worshiping Lord Vishnu and other Gods as it yields greater results.Highly beneficial to our health also.
Margazhi Month is also considered the dawn period of Devas. Uttarayana Punayakalam begins in mid January – the daytime of Devas. One year of ours is a day for the Devas. The night time of Devas begins during Dakshinayana Punyakalam.

Importance of Maarghazhi month

It has been scientifically proven that the ozone layer is closest to earth during the month of Maarghazhi which is good for health, breathing in the pure air in the early hours is exhilarating.

The Ekadasi falling during this period is considered highly auspicious.In South India Vaikunta Ekadasi which falls during this period attracts throngs of devotees.Sr Rangam the abode of Lord Vishnu attracts lakhs of devotes to witness the openeing of the Swarga Vaasal or the celestial gates..

Celebration during all the thirty days, Alwars Tirupavai Pasurams is rendered in the early morning in all temples and houses.
Alwars are 12 in Number and out of which one is Sri Andal, who is a woman.

These Alwars were born in various parts of our country but they were all united in a common subject, ie dedicating their lives and praising the Lord Vishnu.

Adhyayana Utsavam for 21 days (4000 Divya Prabhandam Pasurams is sung) at 108 Divya Desam including Sri Rangam and on the 10th day, Vaikunta Ekadasi is celebrated where all enters Vaikunta through Swargavasal (gates).
Fasting and contemplating on the name of God brings more benefit. So one should take full utilization of these fours months and devote their time in religious service to earn the blessings of God.
Thiruvadirai, the star of Lord Shiva falls during this time, cale dArudra Darisanam, celeberated with great pomp and religious fervor in Chidambaram.
Rendering of Tiruppavai and Tiruvembavai, religious discourses and music festivals are the major highlights during the period.
Hanuman Jayanthi also falls in this mnth, thus many religious activities are conducted durint the sacred religiuos periosd of Maarghazhi whic gives us opportunity to wake up early visit temples and breathe in the ozone too.
Chanting of the Tiruppavai of Andal is the most important event in the month. Tiruppavai consists of 30 verses and a verse is chanted on each day of Margali. Another major highlight in the month is the drawing of kolams (rangoli) daily in front of houses.
Lord Krishna has said in Bhagavat geetha that " In the 12 months, I am Margazhi". (Masanam Margaseersho Asmi) .

Dhanur masa-Marghazhi - is a Shoonya Masa. Because it is considered as inauspicious to do any good things other than religious activities This month month is allotted to Gods and for us it is a Soonya -meaning nothing.

The month is also known for music concerts and many religious actiuvities

The Tamil holy scriptures Thirupavai and Thiruvembavai are read in Lord Vishnu temples in ealrly hours. Attractive kolams/rangolis are drwan in early hours. Morning bhajans and ven pongals are other attractive happenings .

Margazhi, which precedes the Uttarayana is ushah-kaala (the short period just before dawn) for devas for whom a human year constitutes one day. The period just before dawn in this month is therefore very sacred and it is common for all to visit the temples and go around the streets singing Tiruppavai, Tiruvenbavai and other bhajans the intention is to rouse the latent spiritual powers in every one of us.

In other words, if the whole year is deemed to be just one day, margazhi month is the pre-dawn period of awakening, when we transit from the stillness and calm of the wintery night to a day of meaningful activities. It is the time for singing, before dawn every day of the month, the praise of God, at home, on the streets and in temples, be it Andal's Tiruppavai, or, Manickavachagar's Tiruvembaavai and Tiruppalliyeyuchi.

Koodaravalli - Margazhi 27th day...

Koodaraivalli is a function celebrated based on Andal's 27th pasuram "KOODARAI VELLUM SEER...". Every year, margazhi 27 is celebrated as "koodaravalli" hence. In this day, the andal with her friends have completed their fasting in this day and started enjoying themselves for the rest three days. The song "vaiyathu vazhveergal..." should be think of before entering into Koodarai vellum pasuram.

In the pasuram, "Vaiyathu vaazhvirgal", andal is telling us how to involve in the fasting and what are all the procedures. You should always chant the bhagavannama for the whole day of fasting, avoid ghee, milk, take bath early in brahmamuhurtha, dont decorate yourself, dont do avoided things (eating outside, speaking unnecessary words, etc.), help others, so on...

In the pasuram, "koodarai vellum" she is concluding the fasting.

koodaarai vellum seer gOvindhaa undhannai(p)
paadi(p) paRai kondu yaam peRum sammaanam
naadu pugazhum parisinaal nanRaaga(ch)
choodagamE thOL vaLaiyE thOdE sevip poovE
paadagamE enRanaiya palagalanum yaam aNivOm
aadai uduppOm adhan pinnE paaR chORu
mooda ney peydhu muzhangai vazhi vaara(k)
koodi irundhu kuLirndhElOr embaavaay

These girls are wearing so many ornaments and decorated themselves and went to temple. Their they sung the praise of narayana. They wore new garments. Eat well the milk-rice (Finishing their fasting by eating milk itself). How to prepare that milk-rice? Since all these days, they avoided milk and ghee, now they poured the ghee in amount so that it covered the rice itself. How to quantify that? It is very simple. When you take the rice in your hands, the ghee should flow free from that it should fall from your forearm.

The final punch is very important. "Koodi irundu kulirnadelo" Share and enjoy the same food with everyone present there.

In perumal temples, (I dont know whether they are preparing Paal soru) Sweet, ghee sakkara pongal will be prepared and in even houses, they prepare chakarapongal and offer it to god and then to other houses and then they eat. By keeping this fasting and ending this with cheerfulness, makes our enemies to drive away from us.

Andal is a psychiatrist, Dietician, beautician, what not I think. The enemies she is telling is the uncontrallble mind only. By doing fasting, then preparing delicious dish and then sharing the same with others make our mind cool and harmless. After a pakka dieting, if we loaded ourselves with ghee and milk, the proteins will get accumulated into appropriate places and necessary aminoacids will started secreting.

source..Chinthamani

Akkaravadisal is the most importanat prasadam prepared frequently this month withther types of prasadams, like ven pongal, pepper rice etc . the recipe can be found here from my youtube channel.

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