Thiruvadirai festival: Dec 27 th 2023

Thiruvadirai Thalagam is a traditional South Indian curry prepared during the Thiruvadirai festival, which is celebrated in Tamil Nadu. Thiruvadirai is a festival dedicated to Lord Shiva, and Thalagam is a mixed vegetable curry made with a variety of tubers, lentils, and spices. It is typically served with Kali (a sweet rice dish) during the festival.

What is Arudhra?

Arudra is the name of a star. There are 27 stars that are used by the Hindu calendar. Arudra is one of the stars. Arudra means a Golden Red flame.

Ardra Nakshatram, also known as Arudara or Thiruvathirai in South India, is the sixth Nakshatra among the 27 Nakshatras. The astrological prediction of Ardra Nakshatra as per Moon Sign is that of Mithuna Raasi or Gemini Zodiac. Mercury or Budha is the Lord of the birth star.

Arudra Darisanam , Thiruvadhirai is a very important Tmail festival dedicated to Lord Shiva and considered to be his birth day also as the star Arudra falls on this day and coincides with Pournami.

Thiruvathirai (Arudhra) in Tamil  means "sacred big wave", using which this universe was created by Lord Shiva about 132 trillion years ago. Chidambaram n Tamil Nadu, the Sri Natarajar temple's annual Festival, 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. Thiruvathira has a connection with lord moon.

Thiruvadirai - Arudra Darisanam is celebrated in a grand manner in 5 Sabhas of Sri Natarajar namely 1) Kanakasabha (Gold) - at Chidambaram (Thillai or Tillai), 2) Velli Sabhai (Silver) at Madurai, 3) Ratnasabha (Ruby) at Tiruvalankadu, 4) Tamrasabha (Copper) at Tirunelveli, 5) Chitrasabha (Pictures) at Kutralam.

The festival is widely celebrated in Kerala and Tamil Nadu as Birthday of Lord Shiva. In Ancient Tamil beliefs, it's on this day- Lord Shiva initiated the creation of Universe by his cosmic dance that initiated a huge astral wave in the universe, resulting in a giant explosion that created Earth and all other planetary objects (called Thiru Arudhra). Thus upon the creation of the earth, Lord Shiva attained a personified form as we see today, thereby associating as Birthday of the lord in mortal terms. Equally, this is much better explained in the mythological story when Lord Shiva attained the form of Giant pillar of Fire which has no starting or ending (Anandhi) to test the devotion of Lord Vishnu and Brahma.

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.
Benefits of Arudra Darisenam

Devotees on Arudra Darshanam would visit the temple of Lord Shiva and seek the blessings of Lord Nataraja. This would help them to overcome the difficulties in their lives.

On the Tiruvadirai day in margazhi , Lord Natraja comes out in procession to give darshan to his devotees.In Sanskrit ‘Arthirai’ is called ‘Ardhra’ and the Thiruvathirai anointing ceremony is called Ardhra Abisheka and the Thiruvathirai viewing as Ardhra Darshan. It is held as a great achievement to view the Nataraja's procession in Chidambaram.
In Chidambaram abhishekam for the Lord on tiruvadhirai day in Margazhi will be performed in a grand manner and the devotees will be given KALI as prasadham.Obtaining the prasadam , is attainment of bliss through the Lord.

Story behind why Kali is given as Prasadham :

A devotee named Sendanar had the habit of eating food after offering it to Lord and then distribute among other devotees . He would partake only the leftover food.t.On the day of Thiruvadirai, due to constant bad weather he couldn't get any essential items for preparing a proper meal and offering to God.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 Shiva devotee and enjoyed what was given to him as food. And as he stood for a while in the Nataraja Sanctorum,The Lord Showered the Kali all over the premises , in recognition of his deep devotion. Since that day of this miracle Kali is offered as prasadam to the Lord in the temple. .
Legend Behind Arudhra darisanam :

Once when Mahaa Vishnu was lying down on the great Serpent Adhi sesha, Adhi sesha felt Mahaa Vishnu was quite heavy that time. He asked Mahaa Vishnu what was the reason. Mahaa Vishnu said that he was remembering and enjoying the Dance of Lord Shiva. The answer developed the desire in Adhi seesha to see the Great Dance of Lord Shiva. He asked Mahaa Vishnu how his desire could be fulfilled. Mahaa Vishnu asked him to go to Chithamparam and do "tapas". Adhi seesha came to Chithamparam 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 paws 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 Chithamparam. The Nataraaja image of the Lord is prayed with great devotion this day. In Chithamparam and other temples it is celebrated as Arudraa dharshanam. In this festival abhisheeka (holy anointing) of Lord Nataraaja takes place early in the morning and then He comes around the town.

Famous Shiva shrines :
Next to Chidamabaram , the Shiva shrines at Perur, Kuttralam and Madurai are famous for this festival.

How to prepare Thiruvadirai kali and Thalagam

Ingredients for Thalagam

2 tbsp coconut oil

2 tsp black sesame seeds

1 tsp rice

4 tsp toor dal

6 red chilies

Pinch of asafoetida powder

4 tbsp grated coconut for garnishing

1/3 cup grated coconut for grinding with roasted ingredients

Few curry leaves

Salt

2 tsp jaggery powder

Pinch of turmeric powder

1 lime size Tamrind

4 cups of cubes vegetables like yam, raw plantain, potatoes, sweet potatoes, colacassia, yellow and white pump, broad beans, field beans.

Ingredients for tempering :

1 tsp mustard seeds

2-3 red chilies

few curry leaves

1 tsp coconut oil

Method:

• To prepare the thalagam, chop all vegetables into big chunks like cubes.

• Soak the ball of tamtind in warm water and extract tamrind juice .

• Take a heavy bottomed pan, add all veggies , add little water , pinch of turmeric powder, salt and asafoetida, allow to cook till almost half cooked .

• Add some curry leaves too , add the tamrind water when vegetables seem to be partly cooked .

• Take another pan and , add ingredients one by one for roasting .

• First pop the sesame seeds , transfer to a plate , add 1 tsp coconut oil , add the toor dal and rice , sautee till aromatic , transfer to a plate .

• Next add the red chilies , curry leaves , and oil roast till crisp , transfer to a plate .

• Lastly oil roast desiccated coconut or fresh grated coconut for grinding with roasted ingredients . Transfer to a plate .

• Next add 1 tsp coconut oil , add more grated coconut and roast till almost dark brown , without charring , and keep it aside, this will be added in the end to the prepared thalagam.

• Meanwhile grind the ingredients mentioned for roasting and grinding to a little coarse paste along with coconut .

• Add this paste to the thalagam , after the tamrind smell is gone .

• Add more water to dilute if needed, adjust salt if needed , lastly add 2 tsp jaggery powder , give a gentle mix to the thalagam as you dont want the vegetables to get mushy .

Ingredients for Kali

1/2 cup raw rice washed.and drained

2 tbsp moong dal washed and kept aside

3-4 tbsp ghee Ghee fried cashews

3 pods of cardamom

1/4 cup grated coconut

1.5 cups water

3/4 cup. Jaggery

Method :

• To prepare kali, wash and drain the rice in a colander, dry roast the rice till golden brown without burning the rice , transfer to a plate to cool .

• Next wash and soak the moong dal ion a cup, keep aside till needed .

• Grind the roasted rice along with 3 pods of cardamom and to a rava like like consistency .

• Take a heavy bottomed pan, add 1.5 cups water ,

• Add jaggery powder , allow to melt, add grated coconut ,

• Add 2 tbsp ghee, add the soaked moong dal, allow the water to boil well .

• Add the ground rice powder to the mixture , stir well to break up lumps if any, cover and cook on a low flame till done .

• The kali gets cooked perfectly without having to pressure cook.

• Remove the kali at the desired consistency , we like to keep it on the softer side as the kali dries out when cooled .