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:hello:can Spring Be Far Behind?:hello:

Discussion in 'Snippets of Life (Non-Fiction)' started by Thyagarajan, Apr 14, 2019.

  1. Thyagarajan

    Thyagarajan IL Hall of Fame

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    :hello:CAN SPRING BE FAR BEHIND?:hello:
    Madurai

    The two tier city of Tamil nadu is busiest ever as general election for Lok Sabha and festival combined given it A festive look FROM TODAY THE BEGINNING OF TAMIL NEW YEAR vikari.
    Some 4 to 5 lac devotees expected to gather around the famous temple for darshan and wedding of God and GODESS Meenakshi. More details in
    Meenakshi Vs. Ross Peter & Hid White Stallion
    All the best to all.
    Regards.
    God' s wedding took place several times in several places in the universe of which no capsule available. But devotees read in history and replicate in earth to get enthralled with the celebration.
     
    Last edited: Apr 14, 2019
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  2. Amulet

    Amulet IL Hall of Fame

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    Happy New Year.

    Spring ? In Madurai ?
    When foreign-settled Indians think about India-visits, there is usually no mention of the usual FOUR seasons. There is only summer and Monsoon. Most seasons are spring.

    In foreign places, the question in the OP, viz.."CAN SPRING BE FAR BEHIND?" with respect to the tropical Madurai jars the mind with the visions of a loose spring in a sofa that is released by the last leetul bit of perturbation by another one seating on it.
     
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  3. Thyagarajan

    Thyagarajan IL Hall of Fame

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    :hello: Thanks for the greet & sofa & spring & stranger sit by me softly no jarring!
    I read the comment long ago and remain toungetied this long. It is Holi ahyeeray!! In Chennai too.
    God chooses season for celebration for maximum audience or spectators.
     
  4. jayasala42

    jayasala42 IL Hall of Fame

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    Shri Thyagarajan's take on madurai temple utsavam leads my thoughts to all the kalyana utsavams in many temples.

    In the month Of Panguni-chithirai( Around march-Apr May)
    , almost all the Hindu temples would be celebrating Kalyana Utsavam in temples.No God or Goddess seems to have insisted on performance of their weddings every year.Then why so much of gala wedding arrangements?

    The wedding event of Gods or devatas is a unique religious
    tradition celebrated by Hindus. It is like different software programs running on different operating systems (OS) in a computer.
    operating systems represented by various schools of thought and
    the software programs being religious practices.

    The beauty of sanatana Dharma is that we have
    a functional computer, our religion that can work under different OS we get to use either by birth (family sampradaya) or choice (by means of initiation or Dhiksha).

    . When the Gods and Goddesses are personified and invoked in temples, homes, in individuals' psyche, in external objects, idols,paintings, pictures etc. then, it becomes the responsibility of the devotees to treat such Divine Entities or the devatas as though they are part of our lives, communities and families.

    Agama sastras and Dharma Sastras have outlined formats for daily pooja ,( Nitya pooja) and seasonal worship( utsavams), as we do have informal and formal dress for home/office, in addition to vratas and poojas at personal level.

    This model of celebrating the suggested life events of God as socio-religious events in various cultural formats by communities is unique to Hinduism. In a way, this cultural feature provides a subtle connectivity to the devotees with the devatas they worship.

    By celebrating these festivals,the devotion gets re affirmed and the human-divine bondage is strengthened.

    Marriage, as per Hindu Dharma is one of the sixteen sacraments ( samskaras)reckoned in Sanatana Dharama.

    The ideal of living as a house holder is exemplified by the
    ‘house holder’ deities involved in the Kalyana Utsavam.
    Dharmic ideals of gruhasta life style are conveyed to all, as a part of celebration of the wedding event .Hence, many of the rituals associated with a typical Hindu wedding like Kalyana shobha yatra (wedding procession), mangalya dharana (adorning mangalyam) are re enacted
    for the divine couple.

    Undertaking the celebration of such kalyana utsavam
    is stated to bring in great amount of (merit) punya
    to the individual families apart from other benefits to the
    community in general.

    It is common to see that now a days ,in Hindu weddings the procedural edicts of wedding samskara are not given due respect. The ritualistic sections are rushed through to give priority to the cultural and social events related to weddings.

    In the case of Devata kalyanam, these missteps are avoided. For example, as part of the ceremony, the details are revealed in the step where a narrative is made on how parents have to make an enquiry of qualities of bride and bride groom to make sure that there is some level of compatibility among the couple.The wedding covers the part of how the bride and groom sides of Srlnivasa and padmavathy get familiar with each other’s family lineage and personalities. The puranic texts associated with such episodes are recited in detail during the celebration of this Divine wedding.

    The periodic performance of the event has been recommended with the hope that the community members
    become aware of the values and standards of good
    married life through binding religious traditions. The emphasis on dharmic norms is likely to promote harmony amongst the couples and would-be couples avoiding emotional disruptions with unwanted consequences in their family lives.. This is also a way to grooming youngsters to recognize standards and values of Hindu marriage. For the participating parents in the community, the event is considered as a symbolic discharge of the Dharmic responsibility of engaging their wards in the gruhasta path.


    The format of Kalyana utsavam is grouped into three categories: - Vedic, puranic and agamic and local cultural formats.
    The Vedic Marriage format focuses on performing specific samskaras or rituals.
    The purana (itihasa, agama and purana) marriage format focuses on Dharma Anushtanas.
    The local cultural formats reflects the customs and practices of that region/congregation.

    Such versatility in the procedures motivates the devotees to participate in the celebrations and affirm their devotion.

    In the backdrop of yoga and tantra, kalyana utsavam is a symbolic unification of the Shiva-Shakti - the Male and Female principles of universe, for the welfare of the community.

    In terms of vedanta, the event is a symbolic representation of Supreme Divinity -Brahman- presenting itself and operating in the forms of this universe.

    The interconnectivity of spiritual,ritual, social, ceremonial and cultural facets of devotion is evident during the ceremony of a traditional kalyana utsavam as a community event. The significance and benefits of this event at all levels is presented to the community without reservations.

    Not to speak of the financial benefits accrued to labour class like fruit-flower vendors,cooks and other skilled workers connected with mega event lasting for a week or so in many temples

    Such utsavams are celebrated for the Loka Kshemam and Loka Kalyanam
    (world-wide well-being and welfare).
    Loka: Samasta; sukino Bhavanthu
    Jayasala 42
     
  5. Amulet

    Amulet IL Hall of Fame

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    :grimacing: haha... nice analogy.... especially when puja/archana have gone online, and work in google, whatsapp, facetime, streaming.


    @jayasala42, This is nice. However, people used to make such a mess of even a simple Shivaite-Vaishnavaite "mixed" marriage, although it was just fine with the devata's.
    And the in-laws of devatas never got into a fracasse about a coffee from the first decoction.
     
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  6. Thyagarajan

    Thyagarajan IL Hall of Fame

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    :hello:thanks for the exhaustive notes establishing the truth behind periodical festivals in hindu temples which has answers to questions asked or unasked by theists and or atheists.
    Regards.
    God blesses by speed post if devotees come as a huge group or gatheting.
     
    Last edited: Apr 15, 2019

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