Ernakulam Gramajana Samooham Government Press Road, Ernakulam-682011.Ph: 0484-2361295. Email: [email protected]. Web: www.samooham.com [email protected] Dated 16th of July 2012

Dakshinayana Punyakalam & Karkkidaka Samkranthi

Dakshinayana is the southern transit of the Sun. In Hinduism, a human year is equal to one day of Gods. There are two pakshas (fornight) in every month. Six months constitute an ayana and two ayanas a year. There are thus twelve months in every year. The names of the two ayanas are Uttarayana and Dakshinayana. Each Ayana has three seasons. One year for humans is equivalent to a time span of one day and one night for the gods. While humans pass through uttarayana, the gods pass through only one day. Similarly. when humans pass through dakshinayana, the gods pass through merely one night. . Dakshinayana lasts for six months or till Makara Sankranti. Uttarayana period starts with Makar Sankranti. Dakshinayana is also the southern transit of Sun and nights are longer during this period. For calendars followed in South India, Dakshinayana begins on July 16, 2012. In the month Karkkidakam and in Tamil Nadu, the month Aadi marks the beginning of Dakshinayana. This day is auspicious for doing theertha snana (holy dip) and for offering prayers at temples.

Karkidaka Masam, or Karkidakam Month, is the last month in the traditional Malayalam calendar followed in Kerala. The month is also known as the Masam since it is told that Valmiki completed his Ramayana during this month and the epic Ramayan is read in homes and temples. The monsoon rains are at its peak in Karkitakam month. In the year 2012 Karkidaka Masam begins on July 16 and ends on August 16. Karkidaka Vavu Bali a ritual dedicated to the ancestors and forefathers is performed on the Amavasi or no moon day in the Karkidaka Masam. Thousands of people visit the sea shores and riverbanks to perform the ritual.

Two decades ago, Karkidaka Masam used to be one of the difficult months due to heavy rains and floods. Majority of the people depended on agriculture and this month used to be the month of scarcity. With the farm fields flooded, there used to be no work and the economy used to come to a standstill. In some places, due to the rains, it was even hard to venture outside the house. To ward off nature’s fury people used to read the Ramayana in the month. New ventures and auspicious functions are not held during the month by Hindus. Another highlight of Karkidakam month is the specific Ayurvedic treatments followed by people. Some people drink Karkidaka Kanji, a gruel mixed with herbs and medicines during the month.

“Sree Rama Rama,Sree Ramachandra Jaya Sree Rama Rama Rama Sree Ramabhadra Jaya Sree Rama Rama Rama Sree Sithabhirama Jaya Sree Rama Rama Rama Lokabhirama Jaya Sree Rama Rama Rama Ravananthaka Jaya Sree Rama Mama Hridi Ramatham Rama Rama”

These verses will be reverberating along with the chilling torrential rain showers of south west monsoon, with extreme divinity and spiritual fervor, on every house of Kerala, from the commencement of the righteous month, Karkkidakam popularly known as Ramayana Masam (month). As the name specify, this holy month is destined for undertaking pious Vratham and recitation of Adhyathma Ramayanam Kilippattu: the epic life of Lord Sree Rama, which is the most virtuous and conversant contribution from Thunjathu Ramanujan Ezhuthachan, called as the Father of Malayalam Language. The Adhyatma Ramayanam Kilippatuu was uncomplicated and also simple to understand by the lay men. Nalambalam Darsanam - Nalambalam Yatra(Pilgrimage)

The Hindu religion focus on the healthy and lovable relations among the kith and kin of one’s own families. If the bondings connecting the members are brittle, the family can’t stand rigid for a long time. Ramayana tells us the righteous and reputable relations among the four brothers Sree Rama, Lakshmana, Bharatha and .The down to earth character of Lord Rama to leave the kingdom to his brother Bharatha, the dedicated effort of Lekshmana to follow the foot prints of Rama to forests, the unparalleled love and respect of Bharatha and Shatrughana to Rama is depicted in Ramayana. The Naalambala Darshanam during the month of Karkkidakam is a worth notable pilgrimage. Chaturmasyam In the 4 months of Aavani, Purattasi, Aippasi and Karthigai, it normally rains heavily in India. This helps in enormous procreation of many insects and other tiny living creatures in the soil during this rainy season. Because they are everywhere on the ground, they are harmed immensely by the people treading upon them and even gets killed. The sanyasis have undertaken an “ahimsa dharmam” towards all living beings, they avoid any harm to these insects and worms by stopping all sancharam in these months and by taking a vow to stay in their place of residence for this 4 month period. This vow is called Chaturmasya Sankalpam. There is a veda vakyam which says “paksha vai masa:” i.e. a paksha (15 days) can be considered as a month. Since it is very difficult nowadays for sanyasins to stay in a place for 4 months due to their sishyas wishes for their acharya to undertake tours constantly and reach out to them, the sankalpam is nowadays undertaken by sanyasins for 4 pakshams i.e. 2 calendar months instead of 4 calendar months. This vratham is generally started on the Pournami following Aani- Amavasyai and completed on the Pournami day following Aavani- Amavasyai. Merit Award As done in the previous years, Samooham joined hands with Kerala Brahmana Sabha in organizing a ceremony to honour students of our community who have come out with outstanding scores in the recently held public examination. The Merit Award function was held in our Samooham hall on Sunday, the 15th of July 2012. Mementoes and prizes were handed over to the following students who secured excellent marks in the 10th standard qualifying examination. 1. Padma.S. D/o. T.A.Subramanian, Tripunithura 2. AmbikaK. D/o. V.Krishnan, Panampilly Nagar, Kochi 3. Lalitha.G.Krishnan, D/o. C.R.Gopalakrishnan, Sadanam Road, Kochi 4. Krishnamoorthy.M., S/o. K. Muralidharan, Alapatt Road, Kochi 5. Subhasree.P.L., D/o. P.R.Lakshmanan, S.A.Road, Kochi We wish all the winners all the best in the higher studies.

Auspicious days in AADI (Karkkidakam) month

16-07-2012 Monday Dakshinayana Punyakalam-Kakitaka Ravi Samkramam- 4.26 pm. Tharpanam. Mahapradosham Daily Bhagavathi Seva commences at Samooha Madom. 18-07-2012 Wednesday Aadi Sarva Amavasya(Karkitaka Vavu) 22-07-2012 Sunday Naga Chathurthi 23-07-2012 Monday Garuda Panchami; Andal Thiru Aadi Pooram 24-07-2012 Tuesday Shashti Vratham. 27-07-2012 Friday Varalaksmi Vratham 29-07-2012 Sunday Sarva Ekadasi 30-07-2012 Monday Maha Pradosham 01-08-2012 Wednesday Yajur Upakarmam; Pournami 02-08-2012 Thrusday Rig Upakarmam, Gayathri Japam, Pathinettam Perukku 05-08-2012 Sunday Maha Sanhathurthi 09-08-2012 Thursday Janmashtami 10-08-2012 Friday Aadi Krithika 13-08-2012 Monday Sarva Ekadasi 15-08-2012 Wednesday Maha Pradosham Bhagavathy Seva

The managing committee of our Samooham has taken all out efforts for smooth conduct of the scheduled Bhagavathy Seva during Karkkidakam month, starting from 16th of July 2012. Maha Ganapathy Homam permormed this day morning has marked the beginning of the 32 days session. Brahmashree V.R.Narayana Vadhyar of Chakkamkulangara will be the chief priest in the absence of our Samooham Vadhyar for performing the Bhagavathy Seva for all the 32 days. The traditional Padmam will be drawn at the Sastha Nada of our Samooham using rice power and turmeric powder. Santhi Durga Parameswari will be worshipped together with avarana devathas, parivara devathas, ashta dala devathas, dik devathas and also Maha Ganapathi. This form of pooja has evolved from the Thanthrik vidhi of Kerala. Thrisathi Moolamanthra Japam, Lalitha Sahasranamavali archana, Ashtothara Archana will be performed during the pooja followed by Namaskarams to the Goddess pleading papa, bhaya, roga, apath elimination for the Yajaman.

Our forefathers while residing in the Agraharam type of living style, this pooja was performed in their houses during Karkidakam month. With our dissemination from such agraharam living style to cosmopolitan living in the cities, one has the option to depend the Samooham for offering the pooja. Like yester years, this year also many of our members have booked for the bhagavathy seva. Our new venture to accept booking through e-booking portal has evolved good response from members. We are happy that our efforts to serve the community at large is being received well which gives us the much needed encouragement in populating such new ideas and directives for the convenience of our members at large. Our prayers for one and all to live long happily.

Mrs. Mathangi Sathyamoorthy ...... Simply excellent !!!!! This was the comment we heard from many of those who witnessed the faboulous feast served by Mrs. Mathangi Sathyamoorthy and team. The fourth Saturday of June 2012 also witnessed a very good gathering well before the commencement of the programme. Needless to mention that Mrs. Mathangi was at her best. After the traditional varnam, The style and class exhibited on this day has been so good that even the singer got an excitement on her one of the classic performances during the recent past. The combination set to accompany her in the musical saga also seemed perfectly matching. Thiruvizha Viju.S.Anand on the violion, Palakkad Mahesh Kumar on the mridangam, Manjoor Unnikrishnan on the Ghatam and popular Thrikkakkara Y.N.Santharan on the Ganjira had a tough time competing each other in making the event so memorable. The Managing committee feel honoured to host such an event during the one year long programme commemorating the 140 years of service of our Samooham and thank one and all those who have helped us in making this a grand success.