Dear Patrons,
We take this opportunity, to first of all, wish everyone a healthy, happy and peaceful year 2022!
We all have just celebrated Pongal / Makara Sankranthi and offered our special thanks to Nature and the Sun God for sustaining us. Worshipping Sun is the most important aspect of celebrating Pongal. Surya Bhagawan is revered as the self effulgent Pratayaksha Brahman that perpetually blesses one and all with energy required for sustenance. Lord Surya is also worshipped on Ratha Sapthami which is celebrated on the Shukla Paksha Saptami day this month. It is believed that Lord Surya turns his Ratha (Chariot) drawn by seven horses towards the north-easterly direction on this day. The symbolic significance accorded to this is that the seven horses reigned to the Ratha represent the seven colours of the spectrum of light. The seven horses also represent the seven days of the week starting with Sunday (Bhanuvasarah). The chariot has 12 wheels, which represents the 12 Raasis with each Raasi representing 30 degrees of the Zodiac (representing 360 degrees) constituting a full year (Samvatsara). The Ratha Saptami festival seeks the continuity of benevolent cosmic spread of energy and light from the Sun God.
The month of 'Thai' marks the beginning of the Uttarayana period. While the six month period of Dakshinayana is a time dedicated to Adhyayana - intense learning of Vedas, the six months of Uttarayana are considered as a period for Dharana - reflection and enlightenment and learning other branches like Shastras. Just as one enjoys the abundance in the form of harvest as a reward for the hard work of the previous months, spiritually it is the time to reflect upon and apply the knowledge that one has assimilated during the Adhyayana period.
Uttarayana is also referred to as Devayana - the daytime for Gods, and is considered the most auspicious period for conducting celebrations like marriages, Upanayanam, Gruhapravesham, etc. Of course, everyone is familiar with the old adage 'Thai Pirandhal Vazhi Pirakkum' meaning "the commencement of Thai paves the way for new opportunities".
Lord Murugan is worshipped with great fervour on Thai poosam. It is believed to be the day on which Goddess Parvati presented the all powerful divine ‘Vel’ to Lord Murugan. This is beautifully described by saint Arunagirinathar in his Thiruppugazh 'kombanaiyAr'
எம் புதல்வா வாழி வாழி
யேனும்படி வீறான வேல் தர
என்றும் உளானே மநோகர வயலூரா
(Oh great Lord, Goddess Parvathi bestowed upon You the powerful spear with the blessing 'Long live, oh my Son, Long live')
The above verse brings before one's eyes, the divine image wherein, the all-pervasive Goddess Parvathi with her heart overflowing with love for her son Murugan bestows the mighty Vel along with her blessings for his victory and long life.
Wielding this powerful Vel, Lord Murugan vanquished the demon army led by the three demons, Surapadman, Singamugan, and Tarakasura, emerged victorious in the celestial war and restored their rightful kingdom to Indra and devas. The Vel represents not only the power to destroy negative forces but also the power to protect righteousness and radiates the light of knowledge.
May we all say 'Vetri Vel Muruganukku Haro Hara' and pray to AmbaL and Murugan that the divine Vel protect us from all negativities and bestow well-being and success.
We wish all our patrons a year overflowing with abundance, good health and prosperity!
Important days this month:
| Thai Poosam |
18th Jan |
| Ekadasi |
28th Jan, 12th Feb |
| Amaavasai |
31st Jan |
| Ratha Saptami |
7th Feb |
Upcoming events
SIS February Satsang
In keeping with the continuing tradition of monthly Satsangs, February 2022 Satsang will be conducted online.
Date/Time: Sat, Feb 5th from 3:00 to 5:00 PM London
Zoom meeting details: Please join
by clicking this link: Feb 2022 Satsang
or,
by using Zoom meeting id: 849 1371 7848 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.
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