SIS Margazhi 2021 Newsletter
18th December 2021

Dear Patrons,

We are into the month of Margazhi also known as Margasheersha or Dhanurmasam, which has acquired superior auspiciousness for devotional activities. In Bhagvadgeeta, Sri Krishna says: "maasanaam margasheershoahamritunaam kusumakarah" ("Among the months, I am Margasheersha!"). Lord Krishna, Himself steers the spiritual seeker during Margazhi, it is indeed a gift from the Supreme God. Considering the unique sacredness and spirituality attached to this month, functions like marriage, Upanayanam, Gruha-Pravesam etc are not conducted during the month, to ensure that divine worship can be given complete focus and attention without any distractions from other activities.

Margazhi, which precedes the Uttarayana is ushah-kaala (the short period just before dawn) for devas for whom a human year (samvatsara) constitutes one day. If the whole year is deemed to be just one day, margazhi month is the pre-dawn period of awakening, when one transits from the stillness and calm of the wintery night to a day of meaningful activities. It is believed that any prayers/spiritual offerings to the almighty performed during Brahma Muhuratam yields manifold benefits as timing is most conducive for the devotee to completely focus on God. The period just before dawn in this month is therefore very sacred and Namasankeertanam and offering Poojai are accorded great importance. It is common for all to visit the temples and go around the streets singing Andal’s Tiruppavai, Manickavasagar’s Thiruvempavai , Thirupalliyerchi, and other bhajans, the intention is to rouse the latent spiritual powers in every individual.

The month of Dhanurmasam is especially important for worshipping Mahavishnu and reciting Andal's Thiruppavai. In many temples including Tirupati, while usually, Lord Vishnu starts his day with Suprabhatam, during Margazhi, he is awakened with the reverberations of Tiruppavai pasurams. An interesting ritual in Tirupati devasthanam followed this month is that Ekantha Seva in the night is performed to the idol of Lord Krishna instead of Lord Venkateshwara, Sri Bhoga Srinivasa Murthi, the silver image of the main deity is usually seated in the Sayana Mantapam in a golden cot, however only in Margazhi, Shri Krishna takes his place and then is woken up at dawn to the dulcet tones of Thiruppavai recitations.

The most important annual festivals, Vaikunta Ekadasi for Perumal and Aarudra Darshanam for Shiva are observed in Dhanurmasam. This year alone Srirangam temple observed Vaikunta Ekadashi in Karthigai month itself as is a practice in the temple to do so once in 19 years as ordained by Manavala Mamunigal to accommodate the 'Thai' Brahmotsavam celebrations in Margazhi. Most other temples observe Vaikunta Ekadashi as usual in the month of Margazhi.

Gita Jayanti, or the birthday of the Bhagavad Gita, is celebrated on the eleventh day (Ekadashi) of the bright half of the month of Margaseersha. It was on this day that Sanjaya narrated to King Dhritarashtra the dialogue between Sri Krishna and Arjuna, and thus made the glorious teachings of the Lord available to the world, for all time.

Only two out of twenty-seven stars are honoured with title “Thiru”. They are ThiruvOnam, assigned to Lord Vishnu, and ThiruvAthirai assigned to Lord Shiva. On the ThiruvAthirai nakshatram in Margazhi, Lord Nataraja is celebrated with grand fervour. Nataraja is the Lord of the Cosmic Dance, the blissful Ananda Thandavam. It is said that it was from his dance that the science of language was born. The small drum (damroo) in His hand is the symbol of rhythm and sound. There is rhythm in the whole movement of the universe. The sound is the divine music that comes from the Supreme Deity and carries the revelations of the ultimate truth. Arudra Darisanam is celebrated in a grand manner in 5 Sabhas of Sri Natarajar namely - Kanakasabha (Gold) - at Chidambaram , Velli Sabhai (Silver) at Madurai, Ratnasabha (Ruby) at Tiruvalankadu, Tamrasabha (Copper) at Tirunelveli, Chitrasabha (Pictures) at Kutralam and in all other Shiva temples.

Pavai Nombu/Katyayani (Durga) vratam, is observed by women during Margazhi masam for family prosperity and by unmarried girls to be blessed with a good life partner in marriage. Goddess Parvati herself, when reborn as Himavan's daughter is believed to have observed this Vratam to obtain Lord Shiva as her consort. There is a legend that following Narada muni's advice, Rukmini performed Katyanani vratam worshipping Parvati and obtained Shri Krishna as her husband. Similarly, the Gopikas performed Katyayani vratam and obtained divine bliss and oneness with Lord Krishna. It is also said that Andal performed Pavai Nonbu to merge with Sri Ranganatha. Spiritually, this illustrates the desire of the jeevatma to merge with the paramatma and total submission to the Almighty.

On the last day of this month, on Bhogi, people discard all old things at home marking the beginning of a new era. Houses are cleaned, decorated with kolam, flowers, and mango leaves, in readiness to welcome Uttarayana.

We wish all our patrons a blissful Margazhi, and a Happy and Prosperous New Year 2022!

Important days this month:

Arudra Darshanam 20th Dec
Ekadasi 29th Dec
Amaavasai 2nd Jan
Vaikunta Ekadasi 13th Jan (Except in Srirangam)
Bhogi 13th Jan

Upcoming events

SIS January Satsang

In keeping with the continuing tradition of monthly Satsangs, January 2022 Satsang will be conducted online.

Date/Time: Sat, Jan 8th from 3:00 to 5:00 PM London

Zoom meeting details: Please join
by clicking this link: Jan 2022 Satsang
or,
by using Zoom meeting id: 841 9340 8871 and passcode 1234

Satsang will include reciting

  • Vishnu Sahasranaman and Mahalakshmi Ashtakam
  • Lalitha Sahasranaman
  • Bhajans
  • Hanuman Chalisa
  • Short spiritual talk

Please attend with your family and importantly involve the next generation.

SIS Satsangs are generally held on the first Saturday every month. If you wish to conduct the Satsang at your home, please let us know by emailing sisnambalava@gmail.com.

Our Sponsors

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AmazonSmile Initiative

We are glad to inform you that 'South Indian Society' is now an eligible charitable organization in AmazonSmile.

AmazonSmile is a wonderful initiative where Amazon donates to charities chosen by customers, everytime an eligible purchase is made and there is absolutely no additional cost to the customer. AmazonSmile is available at smile.amazon.co.uk on your web browser and can be activated in the Amazon Shopping App for iOS and Android phones. The prices, manner of shopping, account, etc., remain the same with the added bonus that AmazonSmile will donate a portion of the purchase price to the selected charity.

You can find more details about this initiative in this link, SIS - AmazonSmile.

We request you to select 'South Indian Society' as your favoured charity by clicking this link: https://smile.amazon.co.uk/ch/1053076-0.


SIS WhatsApp group

In addition to continuing with our email communication, we have a WhatsApp group as a broadcast only group to communicate information regarding SIS events and updates. If you would like to join, please open this email on your phone and click on SIS WhatsApp group invitation link. Alternatively, you may email sisnambalava@gmail.com with your mobile number and we will add you to the group.

The Website

We trust that the articles that we are publishing on the website are interesting and useful. We are encouraged by the number of hits that have gone up multi-fold. Please visit www.sisnambalava.org.uk, read the articles and let us know your views. We are very keen to receive your feedbacks and views and will be uploading more interesting articles. We welcome articles written by our members that are relevant to the objectives of SIS, ie., South Indian arts, culture and vedic religion and these will be uploaded after review by the editorial panel. Please feel free to ask for detailed guidelines.

Your Participation

South Indian Society as an organisation has come to shape with lots of hard work and contribution from several veterans of our community in this country over the years. We sincerely thank each and every one who has contributed towards the growth of this organisation. This organisation runs for YOU and without YOUR involvement, contribution and participation it cannot succeed.

SIS Trustees







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