Thiruvadurai

VOLUME 1 • ISSUE 5 • DECEMBER 2013

Tambrahm Marriages

C Rajagopalachari Sudha RaghunathanPyallore Gramam Rock of Gibraltar Our Musical Heritage

Editorial 1 Young TamBrahm Achievers 11 TamBrahm Extinction by 2035 AD? Padmashri Kalaimamani Sudha Raghunathan

Lead Story 3 TamBrahm Kaliedoscope 13 Thiruvadurai Noorni Village: Original Home of Sastha Preethi

TamBrahms who have done us Proud 6 Sastrigal Uvacha 15 Bharat Ratna Chakravarti Rajagopalachari Tambrahm Marriage Rituals

Your Space, Your Pen 8 Ordinary Tambrahms, Extraordinary People 18 Eat Healthy, Eat with your Hands Rock of Gibraltar: Kollengode R. Viswanathan Dozen Siblings Football their 95 yr old mother around Our Cultural Heritage 19 Around our Agraharams 10 SaReGaMaPa: Our Musical Tradition - Part 1 Kodunthirapully Be Warned! Tambrahms to become extinct by 2035 AD?

A m o n g t h e s e v e r a l "madrasis." The biggest compliment you can pay a wedding invitations I have Tambrahm boy or girl is to tell him or her, "hey you EDITORIAL received in the last don't appear to be a Madrasi". fortnight, are two from Iyer friends of long standing. For In fact I have heard some mamis addressing their their daughters' wedding. children in pidgin Madrasi Hindi "yey, too madrasi You may ask me, well, what nahi dikhti hai" (you don't look like a madrasi). is so unusual about it? A large number of kids, particularly girls, carry this Yes, it is unusual. That's why I am writing this. Both negative feeling of the community too far. They the girls are marrying non-Brahmins. One is marrying disown every bit of their heritage and end up marrying a Gujarati Patel; the other one is marrying a all kinds of people. Malayalee theeya. It is not that bad if they marry Hindus from other But these aren't the only marriages I plan to attend or communities. But it is sad that a large number of them have attended. In the past 12 months I have attended end up becoming a Mahalakshmi D''souza or a close to 19 marriages where Iyer and Iyengar Saraswati Fernandes. I don't know why our girls have girls/boys have tied the knot with men/women of this great affinity for Christians. And boys who end up other castes, other regions and other religions. But in marrying Kattlikk (Catholic) girls end up becoming this list, it is Iyer girls who predominate. Christians, with Balus becoming Pauls and Subramaniams becoming Sebastians. Who is to blame for this trend? The Tambrahm boys and girls? Or their parents who have not inculcated in Forget the parents. What about the various their children a pride and a sense of belonging to the Samajams that throw gargantuan gastronomical community, groomed them into forging the conviction orgies in the name of Ramanavamis and sastaa that Tambrahms have 's richest social, spiritual, preethis? The mosquito sized guys controlling these cultural heritage that many non others envy, and Sabhas and Samajams have not only elephant sized reared the children into strong conviction about the egos: their ignorance, lack of pride in and belonging uniqueness of being a Tambrahm and bred a strong to the community is also elephant sized. loyalty to the community? Apart from carrying on the agraharam style petty Sadly, most of the Tambrahms who moved to the politicking, nit picking and gossiping, these worthies, metros of the country themselves did not have the most of them in their late sixties and seventies, have right attitude and orientation for this. In fact, in ninety aged in years. Not in knowledge or wisdom or social nine out of hundred instances, these myopic consciousness. All they do is to cling to their chairs Tambrahms went through life suffering under an through hook or crook, live off the temple kitchens acute complex of inferiority. A majority of them even and boss around like tin pot dictators, and discuss went to the extent of trying to hide their Tambrahm- whether they should have chakkai poduttuval for the ness by picking up and handing over to their children, next major event in November and where to import the gutterish pidgin Hindi. As if being a Tambrahm the delicacy (not in season). was a matter of shame. And what they concealed only proved their "madrasiishness," thanks to the heavy Have the worthies ever bothered to think about the Tamil accent. This only provided fodder to the cheap fate of the community? Have they ever bothered to Bollywood humour mill, a la Mehmood, Dhumal and start outreach programmes for our youth, seminars Mukri via their Madrasi/Swami acts. and classes to tutor our youth in our customs, our rich

culture, or way of life, create in them a sense of pride Their children are too ashamed to speak to one and belonging to the community? another in Tamil, lest they be recognized as

PAGE 01 VOLUME 1 • ISSUE 5 • DECEMBER 2013 Perish the thought!!! With their minds fully occupied in satiating their gargantuan appetites through orgies of gluttony, and in satiating their elephant sized egos, these community flies who buzz around the gratification that the samajams offer, just haven't the capacity to even think of these things. As I have written elsewhere, our population is just around 7,00,000. And it is dwindling. And will dwindle further.

Let us realize that when we give away a girl from our community, we are giving away not just the body of the girl, or her soul. We are giving away thousands of years of culture, tradition and values. And not only that, we are stymieing the passing on of these values to our future generations. It is only through a mother that these values are handed over to the children from one generation to the next.

Even though it is too late, I will say, Wake Up Tambrahms. Do some damage control. And you Samajam worthies, get out of your posts and hand over the Samajams to people who have the welfare of the community at heart

Samajams are not eating joints.

They are instruments of social activism. And how much and how long can you and the community keep eating? Till doomsday? Well doomsday is near Simple Kolam Designs enough. But you worthies, don't hasten it! At least for the sake of your chakkai poduttuvals.

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PAGE 02 VOLUME 1 • ISSUE 5 • DECEMBER 2013 Thiruvadharai - Arudra Darasanam

L o r d K r i s h n a i n t h e In the month of Marghazhi, on the day when the Bhagavat Gita says, " Tiruvadirai star and the New Moon coincide, we LEAD STORY Among the months I am celebrate the ecstatic dance of Shiva. margazhi.” The month of margazhi brings to mind On the Tiruvadirai day in margazhi, Lord Natraja chilly mornings, cool noons comes out in procession to give darshan to his and cold evenings. The month also brings to mind the devotees. In Sanskrit ‘Arthirai’ is called ‘Ardhra’ and bhajana goshtis moving around the agraharam the Thiruvathirai anointing ceremony is called Ardhra streets singing devotional songs and . Songs Abisheka and the Thiruvathirai viewing as Ardhra from the thiruppavai, stanzas from Jaya Deva's Darshanam. It is held as a great achievement to view ashtapati resonate in the misty morning air. the Nataraja's procession in Chidambaram.

And it is in this sacred month, that we celebrate In Chidambaram, abhishekam for the Lord on Thiurvadarai or Arudra Darashanam. Divine the Tiruvadhirai day in Margazhi is performed in a grand festival definitely is. But along with divinity, one manner and the devotees are given kalli as celebrates life through cultural and culinary delights. prasadham. Obtaining the prasadam, is attainment of Who can forget the kaikottikali of or the bliss through the Lord. delicious kalli? Story behind why Kali is given as Prasadham : ARUDARA DARISANAM is a festival, celebrated on A devotee named Sendanar had the habit of eating the day of Tiruvadirai star in Margazhi month. It is food after offering it to the Lord and then distributing it essentially a Shaivite festival and celebrates the among other devotees. He would eat only the Cosmic dance of Lord Shiva. leftovers. On the tiruvadirai day, due to constant bad weather, he couldn't get any essential items for Arudra star is one of two stars that have the prefix preparing a proper meal. He had no other option but "THIRU". Another star is Onam star - "Thiruonam" to mix water with rice flour and prepare a mashed favoured for Shiva and Mahavishnu repectively. paste. Lord Shiva understood his predicament. He disguised himself as a Siva devotee and enjoyed Arudra denotes a Red Flame. Lord Shiva has also a what was given to him as food. And as he stood for a name called "Semporjyoti" or "Golden Red Flame". It while in the Nataraja Sanctum, the Lord Showered is in the form of light in which the lord performs his the Kali all over the premises , in recognition of his function of five activities which are Creation, deep devotion. Since the day the miracle happened Protection, Destruction, Embodiment and Release. Kali is the special offering to Lord Nataraja on Nataraja is the manifestation of Lord Shiva as a Light. Margazhi.

PAGE 03 VOLUME 1 • ISSUE 5 • DECEMBER 2013 Legend Behind Arudhra Darisanam dyotika by Aghora Sivacharya. This text is most popular in Tamilnadu and is followed by a large Once when Mahaa was lying down on the number of temples. It is also dated in the later Chola great Serpent Adhi sesha, Adhi sesha felt Mahaa period in 1158 CE. The author gives the saka era of Vishnu was quite heavy that time. He asked Mahaa the composition of the text and furnishes good Vishnu what was the reason. Mahaa Vishnu said that examples of festivals prevalent in later Chola period he was remembering and enjoying the Dance of Lord when the images of Siva Nataraja were very popular. Shiva. The answer developed the desire in Adhi The association of black-paste with Nataraja in this Sesha to see the Great Dance of Lord Shiva. He festival assumes significance. The black-paste asked Mahaa Vishnu how his desire could be fulfilled. festival and the festival of Cosmic dancer are part of Mahaa Vishnu asked him to go to Chidambaram and and identical with one and the same festival, do "tapas". Adhi seesha came to Chidambaram and according to the text. prayed to the Lord for a long time. During the Aarudhra / Thiruvadhirai festival, in the There was another muni and devotee of Lord Shiva in house holds, people clean and decorate their that place, called Viyaagra Paadha. He prayed to houses. They draw big ‘kolams’ before the entrance God to get the legs of tiger, so that he can pluck of their house and tie festoons. They also perform flowers early in the morning to offer to the God, before pooja to Lord Shiva. They offer a kind of sweet any bee touches the flower. He was also praying God pudding called ‘Thiruvathirai kali’ and multi to see His Great Dance for a long time. Pleased with dish/savoury (Ezhukari kootu) to Lord Shiva. The their prayer the God appeared on the Thiruvaadhirai members of the house also recite devotional holy day and danced in Chidambaram. The Nataraaja hymns from “Thevaram”, “Thiruvasagam” and image of the Lord is prayed to with great devotion this “Thiruvempaavai”. The guests are offered basmam, day. In Chidambaram and other temples it is kumkum, turmeric, betel leaves (tamboolam) etc. Kali celebrated as Arudraa dharshanam. In this festival, with Ezhukari is served to one and all. abhisheeka (holy anointing) of Lord Nataraaja takes place early in the morning and then He comes around Thiruvadarai Prasadam - Kali-Koottu the town. Sources : www.templenet.com , www.shaivam.org Thiruvadhirai Kali and Ezhukari Koottu is a classical How is Thrivadarai celebrated? combination made for the Thiruvadhirai Festival. Thiruvadhirai Kali is basically rice powder cooked One gets up early in the morning on this Thiruvadhirai with Jaggery. Ezhukari Koottu or kuzhambu is day and salutes the Dancing Lord. Again after taking prepared with seven different . bath the devotee goes to the abode of Lord Shiva and worships the southern face of Shiva Linga throught Ingredients for kali abhishekam and offerings, lights up the ghee lamps Raw rice, jaggery, , cardamom, cashews, to illuminate the abode. A devotee also fasts for the and ghee. whole day. Procedure Observance of Thiruvadhira Nonbu is kept by the women folk of Kerala on this auspicious day, with the ?Roast rice until red. prayer to get good husband. They discard rice meals ?Wash rice and grind into a coarse meal, like rava. and consume only plantains, fruits and tender ?Roast cashews in a tsp of ghee until golden brown. coconut. Puthenthiruvathira or Poothiruvathira is the ?Set aside. In a pan, heat water and dissolve first Thiruvathira of a girl after her marriage and it is jiggery. celebrated on a grand scale with much pomp and ?Once dissolved, add coconut, ground rice powder grandeur. During this festival, a dance form called and a tsp of ghee. Thiruvathirakali is performed. ?Mix well and transfer to another vessel. Pressure cook this for 2 whistles. The Festival of Black-paste: Krshna-gandha- ?When done, cool and fluff. utsava ?Mix roasted cashew nuts and ground elaichi / The procedure to be adopted in conducting the Black- cardamom. paste festival is found in the text, Kriya-krama-

PAGE 04 VOLUME 1 • ISSUE 5 • DECEMBER 2013 Ingredients for Ezhukari kootu or kuzhambu VARAMALAI

Seven or more variety of sweet root vegetables (like Groom seeks Bride sweet potato, potato, red pumpkin, white pumpkin, plantain, peas, lima beans, green beans, runner Ramanathan beans, cluster beans etc.) paste, Turmeric powder, Asafetida, Toor , Channa dal, Mustard 31.01.1979 Palakkad 12.30 PM seeds, seeds, leaves, chilies, oil, salt. Poororuttathi 3rd padam Kumbham Bharadwaja Gothram Procedure 165 cms / 5.5 B Com., MBA Finanace ?Pressure cook dal with a pinch of turmeric powder. ?In a big pot, mix vegetables, tamarind paste, Working for Deloitte US at Atlanta Georgia turmeric powder, salt with enough water and boil interested please contact with horoscope until the vegetables have cooked and tamarind father venkiteswaran P.M. does not smell raw. 022-28014242 ?Combine the ground paste and cooked dal and [email protected] bring it to a boil. Allow this to boil on a low flame for 5 minutes. ?Adjust seasoning as required. In a small pan, het ------oil, splutter mustard seeds and add some curry leaves. Add this to kootu along with cilantro and asafetida. Bride Seeks Groom

Srividya.G

DOB : 26/7/1983 Birth star : Avittam Gothram : Uthithya Sub-caste:Vadamal iyer Native:Tanjore Residing place:Bangalore Qualification: BE in IT Height:5'7 Job:Software Engineer in MNC,Bangalore Salary : 5.5 lakhs per annum Martial Status:divorce

Expectation : Vadamal Iyer boy min graduate, unmarried/divorce without issues, age diff 2 to 6 yrs Serve kali with ezhukari koottu to one and all to preferably employed in Bangalore celebrate this great joy of seeing the dance of Lord Shiva on Thiruvadhirai festival. Interested parents pl contact:9448447114 or reply with photo,biodata and horoscope to Email id : Courtesy: M R Ravi Vaidyanaat Agama Academy [email protected]

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PAGE 05 VOLUME 1 • ISSUE 5 • DECEMBER 2013 Bharat Ratna Chakravarty Rajagopalachari (CR)

India;s wisest Man political party, not even the Congress, is TamBrahms :Richard Casey, Governor bothered about him. who have of Bengal from 1944 to 1 9 4 6 , r e g a r d e d CR leading Vedaranyam Salt Satyagrha done us proud. Pic Source: Rajagopalachari as the wisest man in India. The best possible tribute to Rajagopalachari was from Mahatma Gandhi who referred to him as the "keeper of my conscience".

The history of modern India, if written by non partisan, non chauvinist historians, would place Chakaravarty Rajagopalachari on the same pedestal as Gandhiji, Sardar Patel and Subhash Bose. He was a giant towering tall among Chakravarti Rajagopalachari (10 December 1878 – the giants of INDIA'S FREEDOM MOVEMENT. 25 December 1972) was born to Chakravarti However, chauvinistic historians, have denied this Venkatarya Iyengar, munsiff of Thorapalli Village and Tambahm son of Tamil Nadu his due place in history. Singaramma on 10 December 1878, into a devout Just like other great men and women like Veera Iyengar family of Thorapalli in the Madras Vanchi Iyer, Captain Laxmi Swaminathan of the INA Presidency. fame, Satyamoorthy, etc. Most school students He had his early educatin at Hosur R.V. Government studying history these days have not even heard of Boys Hr Secondary School. He passed his this great patriot. matriculation examinations in 1891 and graduated in Even his home state of Tamil Nadu has not bothered arts from Central College, Bangalore, in 1894. to give this man any noticeable recognition in his own Rajagopalachari also studied law at the Presidency state. While numerous airports, roads, dams and College, Madras, from where he graduated in 1897. sports complexes have been named after much He was a lawyer, independence activist, politician, lesser men, Rajaji has no such honor conferred upon writer and statesman. Rajagopalachari was the last him. While Narendra Modi and the right parties are Governor-General of India. He also served as leader striving hard to get recognition for Sardar Patel, no of the Indian National Congress, Premier of the , Governor of West Bengal, Minister for Home Affairs of the Indian Union and Chief Minister of Madras state.

Rajagopalachari founded the Swatantra Party and was one of the first recipients of India's highest civilian award, the Bharat Ratna. He vehemently opposed the use of nuclear weapons and was a proponent of world peace and disarmament. During his lifetime, he also acquired the nickname 'Mango of Salem'. Gandhi and CR

PAGE 06 VOLUME 1 • ISSUE 5 • DECEMBER 2013 In 1946, Rajagopalachari was appointed Minister of the IndianY ourNati oSpace,nal Con Ygrouress Pensplit in 1923, Industry, Supply, Education and Finance in the Rajagopalachari was a member of the Civil Interim Government of India, and then as the Disobedience Enquiry Committee. He was also Governor of West Bengal from 1947 to 1948, involved in the Vaikom Satyagraha movement Governor-General of India from 1948 to 1950, Union against untouchability during 1924–25. Home Minister from 1951 to 1952 and as Chief Minister of Madras state from 1952 to 1954. In 1959, In the early 1930s, Rajagopalachari emerged as one he resigned from the Indian National Congress and of the major leaders of the Tamil Nadu Congress. founded the Swatantra Party, which stood against the When Gandhi organised the Dandi march in 1930, Congress in the 1962, 1967 and 1972 elections. Rajagopalachari broke the salt laws at Vedaranyam, Rajagopalachari was instrumental in setting up a near Nagapattinam, along with Indian independence united Anti-Congress front in Madras state under C. activist Sardar Vedaratnam and was afterwards N. Annadurai, which swept the 1967 elections. imprisoned by the British. He was subsequently elected President of the Tamil Nadu Congress A Writer-Scholar Committee. Following enactment of the Government of India Act in 1935, Rajagopalachari was Rajagopalachari was an accomplished writer who instrumental in getting the Indian National Congress made lasting contributions to Indian English literature to participate in the 1937 general elections. and is also credited with composition of the song Kurai Onrum Illai set to . He pioneered Pioneer of Social Reform temperance and temple entry movements in India and advocated Dalit upliftment. He has been Rajagopalachari issued the Temple Entry criticised for introducing the compulsory study of Authorization and Indemnity Act 1939, under which Hindi and the controversial Madras Scheme of restrictions were removed on Dalits and Shanars Elementary Education in Madras State. Critics have entering Hindu temples. In the same year, the often attributed his pre-eminence in politics to his Meenakshi temple at Madurai also opened to the standing as a favourite of both Mahatma Gandhi and Dalits and Shanars. Rajagopalachari also issued the Jawaharlal Nehru. Rajagopalachari was described Agricultural Debt Relief Act in March 1938 to ease the by Gandhi as the "keeper of my conscience". burden of debt on the province's peasant population.

After Mahatma Gandhi joined the Indian By the end of 1951, the differences between Nehru independence movement in 1919, Rajagopalachari and Rajagopalachari came to the fore. While Nehru became one of his followers. He participated in the perceived Hindu Mahasabha to be the greatest threat Non-Cooperation movement and gave up his law to the nascent republic, Rajagopalachari held the practice. In 1921, he was elected to the Congress opinion that Communists posed the greatest danger. Working Committee and served as the General Secretary of the party before making his first major He also adamantly opposed Nehru's decision to breakthrough as a leader during the 1922 Indian commute the death sentences passed on those National Congress session at Gay, where he strongly involved in the Telengana uprising and his strong pro- opposed collaboration with the colonial Soviet leanings. Tired of being persistently over-ruled administration and participation in the diarchial b y N e h r u w i t h r e g a r d t o c r i t i c a l legislatures established by the GoI Act 1919. decisions,[Rajagopalachari submitted his resignation on the "grounds of ill-health" and returned While Gandhi was in prison, Rajagopalachari led the to Madras. group of "No-Changers", individuals against contesting elections for the Imperial Legislative Much before the Kalainjars and Kalaivanars, the self Council and other provincial legislative councils, in styled champions of Tamil, arrived on the scene opposition to the "Pro-changers" who advocated Rajagopalachari, an ardent Tamil lover, started the council entry.When the motion was put to the vote, Tamil Scientific Terms Society in 1916, a group that the "No-changers" won by 1,748 to 890 votes coined new words in Tamil for terms connected to resulting in the resignation of important Congress botany, chemistry, physics, astronomy and leaders including Pandit Motilal Nehru and C. R. Das, mathematics. At about the same time, he called for the President of the Indian National Congress. When Tamil to be introduced as the medium of instruction in schools

PAGE 07 VOLUME 1 • ISSUE 5 • DECEMBER 2013 Eat Healthy, Eat with Your Hand

A snobbish British politician Govindah prabhate karadarsanam” o n c e t o l d S i r C . P. Your space, Ramaswamy Iyer, "Oh, you (On the tip of your fingers is Goddess Lakshmi, on the Your pen I n d i a n s h a v e s u c h base of your fingers is Goddess Saraswati; in the unhygienic practices. You middle of your fingers is Lord Govinda), which we put your hand into your recite whilst looking at our palms. Thus, this shloka mouth while eating." Sir C.P. suggests that all the divinity lies in human effort. replied in his characteristic witty fashion. "Yes sir, we do eat with our hand, our own hand. And our hand Our hands and feet are said to be the conduits of the goes into our mouth. But think about what you do five elements. The Ayurvedic texts teach that each when you shovel food into your mouth with a food. finger is an extension of one of the five elements. The Just imagine how many mouths it must have entered thumb is agni (fire) (you might have seen children before entering yours." - Mentor, Tambrapatrika sucking their thumb, this is nature's way of aiding the digestion in children at an age when they are unable Eating food with the hands in today's Western society to do an physical activity to aid the digestion), the can sometimes be perceived as being unhygienic, forefinger is vayu (air), the middle finger is akash bad mannered and primitive. However within Indian (ether - the tiny intercellular spaces in the human culture there is an old saying that, body), the ring finger is prithvi (earth) and the little finger is jal (water). ” Eating food with your hands feeds not only the body but also the mind and the spirit”. Each finger aids in the transformation of food, before it passes on to internal digestion. Gathering the In the Big Brother series some years back, an English fingertips as they touch the food stimulates the five participant complained about an Indian participants elements and invites Agni to bring forth the digestive use of her hands during food preparations and her juices. As well as improving digestion the person eating habits, “They eat with their hands in India, becomes more conscious of the tastes, textures and don't they? Or is that China? You don't know where smells of the foods they are eating, which all adds to those hands have been.” Within many Indian the pleasure of eating. households nowadays, the practice of eating food with the hands has been replaced with the use of You may have noticed that elders in the family hardly cutlery. ever use utensils to measure all the different type of masala, and would instead prefer to use their hands Have you ever thought of why previous generations to measure the quantity instead. in India ate with the hands? There is a reason for their this. The practice of eating with the hands originated As each handful is tailored to provide a suitable within Ayurvedic teachings. The Vedic people knew amount for the own body. Overall there are 6 main the power held in the hand. documented forms that the hands take when obtaining a measurement a certain type of food The ancient native tradition of eating food with the ranging from solid food to seeds, and flour. hands is derived from the mudra practice, which is prevalent in many aspects within Hinduism. Mudras This is a prime example of how many things within are used during mediation and are very prominent Hindu culture may seem weird and unusual at first within the many classical forms of dance, such as glance, but once a closer look is taken it is surprising, Bharatnatyam but a vast amount of knowledge is revealed.

The hands are considered the most precious organ of - Seshadri Srinivasan action. This is linked to the Vedic prayer of “Karagre vasate Laksmih karamule Sarasvati Karamadhye tu

PAGE 08 VOLUME 1 • ISSUE 5 • DECEMBER 2013 Dozen Siblings Football their 95 yr old mother around

The idea behind writing this stood by her during her not so good times. piece is not to share Your space, gossip, but to focus on the Till one day, her children sold off the agraharam Your pen plight of an ever increasing house to the local Brahmana Samooham, rendering number of our senior her homeless. But the kind Brahmana Samooham citizens. allowed her to stay in what was once her marital home. Sixties led to seventies, and seventies to the This is a true life drama that is unraveling. The eighties and the nineties. Thanks to the support and location is a tiny little village in Northern Palakkad. sympathy from the neighbors, she lived peacefully. The actors are a frail, old ninety-five year old woman and her 12 children, six sons and six daughters and That was till six months ago. Age had taken a very their spouses. And their children. All of them healthy, heavy toll on her. She was in no position to live all wealthy,,,but wise???? Definitely heartless, callous alone. But her children, the 12 siblings, would have and extremely selfish. Names have been kept under nothing to do with her, Her condition worsened. wraps. Also the name of the village. Finally, the local Brahmana samooham intervened. She gave birth to 12 children, six sons and six They got in touch with her 12 offspring. After much daughters. Underwent a mother's physical pain while reluctance, a few of her sons, arrived at the delivering them. She showered them with love, care, agraharam; responding to summons from the village and affection. She fed them, washed and cleaned elders of course. After a long and heated, them, tended them when they were sick, through acrimonious, hate filled meeting, the village elders bouts of fever, measles, chickenpox, injuries and forced upon the reluctant siblings a condition. other myriad ailments that mark childhood. Praying for them, spending sleepless nights nursing them. What was this condition? Each of the siblings would She wept when they wept, She celebrated their care for their mother in their homes for two months. successes. She stood with her husband to find So this 95 year old lady, is presently undergoing the spouses for them. She organized their marriages, ordeal of shifting residence very two months. Meantime, some of her children have moved to far And then, one after another, the grandkids started away metros. arriving. The grandmother celebrated every arrival, looked after every grand child, organized and Presently, her grocer son in the agraharam is celebrated all the religious rituals from kaapu and beginning to breathe a sigh of relief, because the old tottil to naamakarnam, and aandunaraivyu, from lady's stay with him is coming to an end. Only the poonool for the boys to the coming of age ceremony question of who will bear her travel expenses needs for the girls...and eventually their marriages. to be sorted out.

Her twelve children prospered. Many went away to His brother who lives a 24 four hour journey away is nearby towns and cities. A few of them remained in reluctant to shell out her train fare. The last I hear d is the same or nearby areas, one of them running a that this issue to has been settled. And lady is on a grocery store in the same village. They are all; train to her new home, 24 hours away. For just leading very comfortable, prosperous lives . But the another two months. plight of the poor old lady is miserable. Pappu Sadasivam, Palakkad Her nest in the agraharam, her home, emptied over four decades ago. None of her children wanted her with them. But she battled on bravely, all alone. Her discipline, her self confidence, her morale, sustained her. And of course, the neighbors in the agraharam

PAGE 09 VOLUME 1 • ISSUE 5 • DECEMBER 2013 Kodunthirapully - A gramam that excels in the Sama Veda By Mr. KS. Narayanaswamy

Kodunthirapully Agraharam is a small beautiful Around Our landscape about 3 kms. Agraharams west of Palakkad town limit. The Agraharam consists of 100 uniform row houses exclusively occupied by ‘Jaimini Samavedi Thalavakara Guru’ sakha Tamil Brahmins. The Agraharam derives its hoary past from Srirangam. The presiding deity Bhoodevi Sridevi Sametha Sri Adhikesavaperumal is closely linked with Sri Ranganathaswamy of Srirangam Temple.

It is believed that Lord Sri Dharmasastha, whose temple is located to the West, as Aswaruda has come visited this Gramam to record the rarest Veda and its over to this place to satisfy pious pleadings and unique feature. desire of very aged old Brahmin devotee adorned on Temples his ‘Koda’ i.e. an umbrella, from ‘Nerumkaitha Kotta’ 1) Bhoodevi Sreedevi Sametha Adhikesavaperumal nearby ‘Kadalundinagaram’. The Agraharam derived Temple Upadevatha: - Garuda Bhagavan, Aadhi its name ‘Kodayil Aenthi Arulia Palli’, later in due Ganapathy. 2) Poorna Pushkalambal Sametha course changed as Kodunthirapully. . Dharmasastha Temple Upadevatha: - Anjaneeyar Swamy 3) Nagathar Kovil The Talavakara Sakha of the Sama Veda is still current in some parts of Tamilnadu. Talava, a word Festivals which occurs in the Veda, means music and Apart from other usual Agraharam festivals such as musician. They have it thus at Kidamangalam, Sasthapreethi, Uthsavam, Mandala Varam etc., the llayattangudi, Sesamulail, Sendalai, Nangur, etc. in most important festival of the temple is Navarathri Tanjore district. In Trichi district, Talavakaras are festival, which is conducted for nine days. This found in Papakurichi, Uttamasili and Anbil; In festival is celebrated mainly at Bhoodevi Sreedevi Tirunelveli Dt., at Alvar Tirunagari, Tentirupperai Sametha Adhikesavaperumal Temple. In this festival, (Tenkalai Vaisnavas) and Watrap; and at Karamanai each day is managed by a group of houses, and the and Tiruvettar near Trivandrum, and at culmination, Durgashtami & Mahanavami is Ahaliyapandiyapuram, Nagarkoyil and Sucindram conducted in typical Kerala style and customs. a l s o . I n P a l g h a t , K o d u n t h i r a p u l l y a n d Anjumurtimangalam near Alattur are noted for their Oustanding Kodunthartapullyites Jaiminiya Samagas. There were many scholars, Vedic and Sanskrit belonging to this humble village. They include Pandit Unique Recitation of the Sama Veda Narayanasasthrigal, Principal of Sanskrit College The very rare Jaiminiya Sama Veda tradition is still Pattambi, Bhagavathothama Sapthaha-shiromani preserved properly at Kodunthirapully. The chanting Sri. Sasthrigal whose works were style of the Jaimineya Sama Veda at Kodunthirapully appreciated in writings of Sri Krishnapremi swamigal, Village is unique and no where in India you would find Narayana Bhattacharya, Shiromani Ramaswamy or locate such a mode of Vedic recitation. The Vedic Sasthrigal, Venkiteswara Jolsyer, Narayana Jolsyer, recitation is more rhythmical than musical and very Jaimini Samavedic scholars Sri. Sreenivasa Iyer & large intervals are used while recitation. The breath Sri.Sahsranama Iyer, Mridanga Vidhwan control displayed in such recitation is quite Swaminatha Iyer & Sri. Mahadeva Iyer Rao Bahadur . astounding. Many tourists, scholars and research Late Sri. Ramakrishna Bhattacharya played a very students from both India and abroad including James significant role in enhancing the sanctity of the temple Howard, Indologist Burnell, Staal, Parpola etc., have by his Vedic erudition.

PAGE 10 VOLUME 1 • ISSUE 5 • DECEMBER 2013 Padmashri Kalaimamani

Sudha Raghunathan was She proved her prowess both in academics and in Young born in a Tamil Brahmin music and now, stood at a juncture where two roads Tambrahm family in Bangalore, diverged - there was 'something' that was needed to Achievers . In 1977, her push her onto the road less traveled by. f a m i l y m o v e d t o .She studied at Enter Padmavibushan Sangeetha Kalanidhi Dr. M.L. E t h i r a j C o l l e g e , a n d Vasanthakumari, hailed by many as a musical obtained a postgraduate degree in Economics genius, a doyen of Carnatic music. In 1977, Sudha won a Central Government Training scholarship that gave her the Sudha Raghunathan received her opportunity to come under initial training in Carnatic music the wings of this great master from her mother V. Choodamani. of a great parampara. And From the age of three, she began to there from no turning back. learn bhajans. Her tutelage Sudha had the golden continued under B. V. Lakshman. In opportunity to provide vocal 1977, she received an Indian support to MLV for about a Government scholarship to study decade. music under a doyenne of Carnatic music, Dr. M.L Vasantha Kumari, Young Of MLV, (as she was whose student she remained for TamBrahm Achievers affectionately called by all) thirteen years. Sudha often said 'Music was only one of the few things she Early years of her training under taught me. She taught me how to live life to its fullest.' Vasanthakumari involved considerable amounts of Sudha, with a touch of nostalgia, vividly recalls how listening to the teacher and other practitioners in while singing an Ashtapathi in ragamalika, there order to absorb their style and oeuvre. Part of her would come a sangathi in Yaman Kalyani at a higher duties involved accompaniment on the octave. Spontaneously, MLV would stop and allow during concerts, and occasionally singing the higher Sudha to take over. 'She was such a generous registers. person on stage, in some sense it also reflected how she was in life as well.' Following her Guru's demise, Sudha RagunathanSudha has a golden touch in her Sudha has been considered as MLV's vaarisu. voice which enthralls her listeners from all over the globe. There is a tantalizing mystery behind that Sudha is a top ranking artiste for Prasar Bharati, cherubic smile. Her deep relish for tradition and Chennai and performs at important events of All India mystical old-world charm is supremely addictive. Radio and Doordarshan.

Her foundation in the world of music was laid at a very Music had now taken centre stage but for Sudha it young age and it was her mother Smt. Choodamani would not be at the cost of her academics. She holds who groomed her, before the onus to nurture her an M.A. in Economics. Being such a vivacious, music fell upon Vidwan Sri. B.V. Lakshman. versatile and highly talented individual, it's no surprise that Sudha won the award- Outstanding Sudha initially wanted to become a doctor, but the Student of Ethiraj College, for three years in thought of performing dissections so repelled her that succession- an achievement which for a long time she gave up the idea. 'It wasn't that I was a bad remained unmatched. She was the Treasurer and student. My dissections were always neat and my later the Vice President of the Students Union and diagrams were perfect, but I always found myself won the prestigious 'Service to the College' medal. fainting at the sight of blood!'

PAGE 11 VOLUME 1 • ISSUE 5 • DECEMBER 2013 Sudha's rise to prominence has not been an easy Even today, Sudha has to work tremendously hard to task.' Being a recognized musician requires keep up the reputation that she has built. And now, tremendous amount of hard work. One good with a husband, and two children, there never seems performance alone is not enough and there is a lot of to be enough time. 'It's Stress with a capital 'S', she practice one has to go through. It usually takes an sighs'. 'I wouldn't have come this far if it wasn't for my artist around seven to ten years to become well family; they've co-operated tremendously.’ known and the financial returns might be mediocre….one has to be determined enough to Music has given Sudha plenty in life and she plans to stick through it all.’ give back to it some in her own special way. Apart from teaching or starting a music school, Sudha plans Sudha carved a niche for herself in the Carnatic to release a series of cassettes and CDs in School of singing, thanks to her voice that packed collaboration with other senior artistes that bring out 'swara' and 'shakti'. Her distinctly stunning vocal style the therapeutic effect of Carnatic music. and effortless singing made her the most sought after artiste for several prestigious concerts. As the She is also the Managing Trustee of 'Samudhaaya brightest singing star on the horizon, her voice Foundation', started in 1999, with a 'cause' in mind. mesmerized 'rasikas' across the country and beyond To play her role in giving back to society what she has the Indian shores. gained - immense love, recognition, appreciation and standing in the hearts of the people who enjoy and Sudha is a top ranking artiste of the All India Radio appreciate her music and always come back for and Doordharshan, besides being the artiste in more! demand by leading recording companies like AVM, INRECO, VANI and AMUTHAM. With her crystal R.L. Stevenson said 'The heights by great men clear and almost divine voice, Sudha reached out to reached and kept were not attained by sudden flight, the discerning music lovers across the world, but they, while their companions slept were toiling widening musical communications across the upwards in the night.' Sudha's life has been no cultural borders. different and with every mountain that she has scaled, she has always set her sights on higher Today, Sudha Ragunathan is known for her beautiful peaks. vocal tapestries, soaring solos and unusual timbres. Her creative expression in Carnatic music has no par. Sudha has received a myriad awards, too numerous And, her music is known to flow straight from the to enumerate here. Nevertheless, we shall be heart, dripping with classical divinity. disservice to this outstanding lady if we did not mention a few of them, Her authentic renditions of 'krithis' and refined elaborations of '', the elan with which she Sudha Ragunathan was conferred The Rajiv Gandhi breezes through the 'kalpana swaras', her command Moopanar Award along with nine others, for over the octaves and her supremely confident stage eminence in the field of music, in Chennai on August presence combined with unstated humility has given 23, 2007.Union Minister of State for Statistics Sri.G K her an enviable pre-eminence in the world of Carnatic Vasan conferred the awards.Cardiologist Dr. music. Call it her 'Guru Dakshina' to her mentor, Cherian, Actor Ms.Manorama, Sri. Pa Vijay, Dr.M.L.Vasantha Kumari. Educationist & Principal Ms.Annamma Philip, Maestro Sri. The enthralling, enchanting voice of Sudha and her K.Sivaraman, Orator Ms.Barathi Baskar, Film entrancing harmonies have graced several Director Sri. Rajkiran, Educationist & Hindustan 'kutcheries' and celebrations. She was the voice at Aeronautical College Principal Varghese and Social the first live broadcast of the National Program Series Worker and Woman Leader Ms.S. Fathima Muzaffer of concerts hosted at Chennai. Sudha also has the were other recipients of the Award. unique honor of rendering 'Vande Mataram' at the Central Hall of Parliament, New Delhi on 27th The Government of India announced the Padma Sri January 2000 to mark the completion of 50 years of award to be given to Sudha Ragunathan in the field of the free Indian Republic. Carnatic music for 2004, on January 26th 2004. She received the Padma Sri from the president of India, A.P.J.Abdul Kalam on 30th June 2004.

PAGE 12 VOLUME 1 • ISSUE 5 • DECEMBER 2013 Nurani Village, Original home of Sasta Preeti

Nurani Village will In Nurani Sasthapreethi is not a one or two day’s celebrate Sasta function. The festival starts from the commencement Tambrahm of Mandalam mostly on 16th November (vrichikam or Kaleidoscope Preeti on January 3 Karthikai 1st)every year. lMandala Abhishekam, and 4, 2014 Sastha Patu and Kanakku (Nivedanam) lasts for 42 days.

During mandalam, every morning Mahanyasam and Rudra abhishekam by chanting Sree Rudram 11 times at Sastha Sannidhi and abhishekam to Mahavishnu by chanting Purusha Suktha 16 tismes is performed throughout mandalam. Daily at Vishnu Sannidhi.

Upanishad Parayanam is performed. After Sayam Sandhya Deeparadhana, Yajur Veda Krama Parayanam and Vaara Japam is conducted. Vaidhikas are served a sumptuous meal. At night, after Aradhana Pooja, Nurani Sastha songs in traditional style are sung. Daily poojas conducted are Vigneswara Pooja, Sankalpam, Maahanyasan, R u d r a J a p a m , K u m b a a b h i s h e k a m & Deeparadhana. It is believed that Nurani, the famous agraharam in Palakkad Town in Kerala is the origin of Sastha cult. All over Kerala for Sasthapreethi festivals “Nurani ON SASTHAPREETHI DAY Chellapillai song” is common. Nurani Sasthapreethi is the most auspicious festival among all the 18 Usha Pooja, Upanishad parayanam, Prathyaksha agraharams at Palakkad. Ayyappa Pooja is Ganapathy Homam, Poornabhishekam to Sastha conducted in every nook and corner of the country and Maha Vishnu and Maha Deeparadhana is during Mandalam to Kaliyuga varadhan Sri Dharma performed. On this day also, Lord Ayyappa is taken Sastha. This festival is celebrated in Nurani Village on procession (Ezhunallippu) with caparisoned for more than 300 years. elephants accompanied by Sastha Pattu and in the morning through the streets of About 180 years ago members of Choodamani family village and also Ganapathy Temple and Shiva met with early death at the age of 35 to 40 leaving Temple. their dependants destitute. A great man who visited the village advised the family to conduct Vaaram and After return of the procession, Maha Deeparadhana give meals to the vaideekas at night. This was is performed at about 1.30 / 2.00 pm after the return of followed by the family with utmost devotion and what the procession. During Deeparadhana time, a wonder! Garudan is seen flying high in the sky around the vicinity of the temple. It is said that the same The next generation members were blessed with Garudan accompanying the Thiruvabharanam from long life crossing 80 or 90 years. Now Vaaram is Pandalam to Sabarimalai is seen at Nurani village at conducted during Mandalam and mandala vaaram the same time of Neivedyam and Deeparadhana. (chanting of Yajur Veda Kramam by turn peculiar to Nurani) is conducted for 44 days with the same It is also said that the Garudan goes to Sabarimalai fervour and dedication for the well being and after Nurani festival. longevity of all the villagers.

PAGE 13 VOLUME 1 • ISSUE 5 • DECEMBER 2013 Ayyappa Season begins in the Capital Maharudram in , Chennai

Sri Sankatahara Ganapthy temple in vasundhara At Nanganallur, we have formed a group named enclave, east Delhi had planned various bhajans, at Kubera Ganapathy Veda Vidyaarthi Sabha, in the its temple complex, on the occasion of Mandalam, name of the Swamy's temple situated in Civil Aviation which began on 16 November. All the programme Colony, Nanganallur, Chennai 61. started from 6.30pm onwards. By the blessing of my Guru and Maha Periyavaa, I am The Mandalam begins with Ayyappa Bhajans on teaching sookthams, Rudram, Chamakam and 16th November by Hamsadhwani Bhajana Group Mahanyaasam with Upanishad to at least 40 (coordinated by DSS); november 17, 2013 - bhajans members at my resident situated in Civil Aviation by ladies from Dilshad Garden; november 18 - Colony, Nanganallur. I am also a Vidyaarthi. We bhajans by Kumbakonam Ananthanarayana planned to conduct Maha Rudram every year from Bhagawathar and group; november 21, to coincide the year 2010. This is our fourth year celebration. with sri sankatahara chaturthi celebrations, bhajans We are conducting for the welfare of the Universe and by Manjappara Mohan & Party; on 22 november : living things on earth. This is only a service packed Ayyappa Bhajans by Srikant & Party from Dubai; and programme. on november 23 : Sri Vishnu Sahasranama Rendition by Rao & Group . The couple perform ing the pooja are very old ( Husband 95 years and wife 89 years) and we Highlight of the event was that on all days during the selected them for Thampathi Pooja. evening, there was special aarathi to lord sri saastha, and decorated not only with special alankaram, but This year Maha Rudram was held on 1st December also the 'eighteen steps' are lamped and decorated. 2013 with two day's programme. on 30-11-13, we did The bhajans started at 6.30pm, which was followed Maha Ganapathy Homam at Kubera Ganapathy by maha deeparadhana and distribution of laghu temple at 5.45 a.m. at evening 4 pm we conduct bakshanam. The temple authorities had made Vishnu Sahasra Nama Parayanam at and 6.30 we elaborate arrangements to receive more than three arranged the pravachanam by TAFE Ganesan hundred 'ayyappa bakthas', from various parts of regarding the title "Maha Rudramum and Maha Delhi, and neighbouring areas of NOIDA, and Periyavaalum". On the 2nd day (1-12-13) we Ghaziabad. conduct Maha Rudram in the morning with Gho Pooja. Nearabout 160 ridwiks were take part to chant Sri Sankatahara Ganapathy temple, built on the land Sri Rudram,. We fecilitate them all. at 4.30pm we allotted by DDA, is located in East Delhi, and close to arranged a Veena Recital of Smt. Durga and the border of NOIDA. deciples. at 6.30 Sampradaaya was conducted by Shri Bhavani sankar and group, who The idol of Lord Sri Sankatahara Ganapathy, carved are residing in nanganallur itself. with that we in a single granite stone, is the tallest and heaviest in conclude the programme. whole of northern India.

Other idols installed includes, sri lakshmi hayagreevar, sri saastha, sri maha vishnu, sri valli devasena sametha lord subramanyar, goddess durgai, sri , and navagrahas.

The maha kumbabishekam of the temple, was performed by thirty two pundits, who came from Tamil Nadu, was held on 29th August, 2010. This kumbabishekam function was attended by Hon'ble Chief Minister of Delhi : Smt Sheela Dikshit, Hon'ble Chairman of BJP Parliamentary party : Shri LK Advani, besides several VVIPs, which was witnessed by over two thousand devotees.

PAGE 14 VOLUME 1 • ISSUE 5 • DECEMBER 2013 Tambrahm Marriage Rituals Continued from previous issue...

Kannika Dhanam waist. Thanksgiving Vedic hymns follow, to the celestial caretakers of her childhood, the deities of Shastrigal The bride sits on the lap of Soma, Gandharva and Agni. Having attained nubility, Uvaacha her father. Her hands are the girl is now free to be given over to the care of the lifted upward and placed on human—her man. the upward turned hands of the groom. Auspicious The bridegroom returns his assurance to the bride’s items like a coconut, betel leaves, and nuts are father saying three times that he shall remain forever placed on the hands of the bride. her companion in joy and sorrow, in this life and life On the bride’s head, a ring made of Darbha of Kusa after. grass is placed. And over it is placed a yoke. The gold Mangal Sutra or Thali is placed on the aperture of the Kankana Dhaaranam

The bride ties a string fastened to a piece of turmeric around the wrist of the bridegroom to bind themselves by a religious vow. It is only after tying the kankanam that the bridegroom gets the right to touch the bride. A little later, the bridegroom ties a kankanam to the bride’s wrist.

Mangalyadharanam

The tying of the Mangal Sutra or Thali takes place at exactly the pre-determined auspicious hour. The bride is seated over a yoke, and water is poured though the aperture. sheaf of grain-layden The symbolism of the yoke is drawn out of ancient hay looking eastward rural life where the only mode of transport for on the lap of her father households was the bullock cart. It is supposed to while the bridegroom signify that just as a bullock cart cannot run with just faces westward. The one bull; the marriage needs both the bride and bridegroom puts the gold Mangal Sutra around the groom. Both of them have to face their neck of the bride. responsibilities together. As he does so the Nadaswaram is played loud and The Vedic concept underlying this ritual is figuratively fast so as to muffle any inauspicious sounds at the that in her infancy Soma givers her coolness of the critical hour. moon. In the next stage of life the Gandharvas gave her playfulness and beauty. And when she becomes This is called “Getti Melam”. At the same time as the a maiden Agni gave her passions. Mangal Sutra a turmeric thread is also put around the bride’s neck. To this three knots are tied. The first knot A new sari, exclusive for the occasion, called the is tied by the bridegroom. koorai is chosen. The colour of the koorai is ‘Arraku’ i.e. red, the colour associated with Shakti. This sari is The other two knots are tied by the groom’s sister to draped around the bride by the sister of the make the bride a part of their family. The three knots bridegroom, signifying her welcome to the bride. A symbolize Brahma, Vishnu and Rudhra. belt made of reed grass is then tied around the bride’s

PAGE 15 VOLUME 1 • ISSUE 5 • DECEMBER 2013 Sapthapadi S o u r c e T h e Hindumythology

The bride and groom take seven steps around the sacred fire. The groom walks with the bride to the right side of the sacred fire while holding his wife's right hand. He stops, bends down Treading on the Grindstone and holds the right toe of his wife with his right hand Pic source: amarramesh.com and helps her take seven steps around the fire. At the Holding the bride’s left toe the bridegroom helps her beginning of each step, he recites a Vedic mantra to tread on a grindstone kept on the right side of a fire. seeking the blessings of Maha Vishnu. As these This ritual is symbolic of the solid rock foundation for seven mantras are being chanted, he asks Maha the union. Vishnu to follow in the footsteps of his wife and bless Arundhathi and Dhruva Star her with food, strength, piety, progeny, wealth, comfort and health. Once the Sapthapadi is completed, the groom gently places the bride's foot on a grinding stone near the Pala Dhanam fire and slips silver rings or “Mettis” on her toes. The Gifts are exchanged between the families of the bride couple is then shown the Dhruva Nakshatra or Pole and groom. No gift shall be taken without a return Star, the one who attained immortality through single- gesture, which merits the gift received. Pala Dhanam minded devotion and perseverance and also the as ordained by the scriptures is thus an action “Arundhathi Nakshatra”, as the ideal wife - the signifying mutual arrangements between the embodiment of charity and virtue. This is symbolic of families, to be based on the principle of equality and the fact that such virtues are to be emulated respect for each other irrespective of one’s economic throughout marital life. stature in life. Laaja Homam The return gesture by the family of the groom could This comprises the bride’s own offering into the never equal to the gift of the bride given to the groom. sacrificial fire. As an expression of sibling support to Hence, the same coin given to the groom’s family is her marriage her brother helps her. He gives her a returned to the bride’s family an acknowledgment of handful of puffed rice grains which she hands to the the priceless gift received. bridegroom, to this, the groom adds a drop of ghee Pradhana Homam and feeds it to the fire on her behalf and recites five Vedic mantras. A crucial part of the wedding is the homage paid by the couple to Agni, the God of Fire. They couple goes After each mantra, the parched rice is thrown into the around the fire, and feed it with ghee and twigs of nine sacred fire as an offering to Agni. Through this food types of holy trees as sacrificial fuel. The fumes that offering, the bride seeks a long life for her husband arise possess medicinal, curative and cleansing and for propagation of her family. Participation of the effects on the bodies of the couple. Agni, the bride’s brother indicates the continuance of links mightiest power in the cosmos, the sacred purifier, between the two families even after marriage. The and the all-round benefactor is deemed as a witness couple circles the fire three times. The feeding of to the sacred marriage. Hence the term ‘Agni puffed rice to the fire is also repeated thrice. Saakshi’ or witness by fire.

PAGE 16 VOLUME 1 • ISSUE 5 • DECEMBER 2013 Nalangu Sesha Homam source tinytidbitsblogspot,com Fire oblation with the residual ghee, a little of which is sprinkled on the bride’s head four times. The leftover ghee is considered sacred, the whole of which was offered to Agni. ‘Sesha’ means leftover. The idea of sprinkling this residual ghee on the bride’s head signifies strength to be drawn from the four Vedas; which is left over from one Yuga or era to another. This is a blessing for healthy offspring. The groom ties a thread around the bride's hip. This ceremony used to be performed just before the nuptials in the earlier days but these days it is a part of the marriage ceremony itself. The Nalangu starts with the bride and bridegroom Thamboola Charvanam being seated opposite each other. They apply turmeric on each other’s feet. The bride also takes The bride’s brother gives the ceremonial first betel to yellow rice and waves it around her husband’s head the couple to chew. Betel leaf is supposed to have and throws it away. This is repeated three times and aphrodisiacal properties and to be eaten only after the same is done by the husband. This is believed to marriage. Other gifts are also given to bless the ward off evil eyes. couple with long lives and children.

This is followed by wedding games that bring in a Mangala Arathi light-hearted element into the wedding day and relieve the stress. Traditional games include the A solution of lime and turmeric powder is prepared on newly-weds putting their hands into a small bowl to a plate, circled around before the couple and thrown find a small object with the person finding the object away to ward off evil. This is also done a number of first the winner. Another game consists of breaking times during the wedding ceremony. papadams (pappads) over each other's heads. They also roll a coconut towards each other like a ball. Shanthi Muhurtham During this time, women sing songs, making fun of the bride, the groom and the in-laws. The consummation of the marriage at night fixed for an auspicious time for a happy, ever-lasting married Jayadhi Homam life that is full of understanding and care. Two souls united in a sacred act of fulfillment, to bring forth This is performed to propitiate the Gandharvas and progeny as nature's best creation. other deities. The Gandharvas are the soft natured . celestial beings generally associated with the finer sentiments of life, that are so necessary for a fulfilling TCome,eam T ambrapatrikaparticipate!!! married life. The benefits of doing this are that they increase knowledge and Brahminical “sathvic” Tambrapatrika is curated by Shri. qualities. This is followed by another three prayers Laxminarayan Sarma. called “Vyahrithi homam”, “Swishtakrith homam” and Content is sourced by a capable team “Prajapathi homam”. Once this is done, the fire from of TamBrahms from across the world, the homam is preserved in a new mud pot and is focused on community development taken by the bride to her husband’s home. and welfare. Team Tambrapatrika is committed to the cause of building Pravesa Homam bonds within the TamBrahm community through various initiatives. This is done to solemnize the bride’s entry into the husband’s home. The sacrificial fire is brought along Tambrapatrika is one such initiative that aims to keep alive by the bride signifying that through her, new lives traditions, culture and knowledge of community by would be brought forth into this world; same as the sourcing and sharing content focused on TamBrahms and fact that fire brings forth new fires. its peoples.

PAGE 17 VOLUME 1 • ISSUE 5 • DECEMBER 2013 "Rock of Gibraltar" Kollengode Ramanathan Viswanathan

This is a new feature that we have introduced in this issue to write about the lives of ordinary Ordinary Tambrhams who are an extraordinary source of inspiration to their own and extended, Tambrahms, famioiesd, to their neigbors, to their friends and colleagues and to the goegraphic area they live thin. These are down to earth simple, unassuming, people, men and womn of great character. Extrordinary Persons who walk the talk, lead by example and are are towers of srength to all those they come Persons in touch with. If any reader knows of any such person, PLEASE WRITE ABOUT HIM AND WE WILL GLADLY PUBLISH THE SAME. Mentor-Tambrapatrika

Much, much before the onset of the Playing for his team against a vastly cricket craze, hockey was emperor and superior India Culture League team football was king. India dominated world which had some very redoubtable hockey, were actually Emperors of footballers of the time, he earned the hockey. Football was a close second. title of Rock of Gibraltar for the dogged, India dominated Asian football. And the stubborn defence he put up. The kingdom of football was ruled mainly by redoubtable A.F.S. Talyakhan, then Keralites, Bengalis and a few Goans. Sports Editor of the Free Press Journal, Standing tall among this royalty was who personally reported the match, Kollengode Ramanathan Viswanathan. headlined his story ICL TIDAL WAVE The Mumbai newspapers and football CRASHES USELESS AGAINST ROCK fans loved this man. They had christened OF GIBRALTAR VISWANATHAN him the Rock of Gibraltar Though eligible for national selection A tall, wiry strapping lad of seventeen, along with Olympian Narayan, Neville Viswanathan arrived in Mumbai in the D'Souza, P.K. Banejee and others, summer of 1944. Forced by circumstances such as Viswanathan confined himself to play for local teams the need to support a widowed mother and seven because of family commitments. siblings he cut short his illustrious academic and sporting career, and joined the Income Tax Rock of Gibraltar Viswanathan , all of 84, still stands Department. But football was his first love, though not tough, unbent and tall. He has been a stickler for the only love. He loved his family. punctuality, discipline, honesty and integrity throughout his life. It is said that neighbors adjust their Networking with other Malayalee football legends wall clocks against this near-nonagenarian's routine. like Pavithran, Madhavan, Chellappan, Rappai, Up at the crack of dawn, the Rock sets out on his brisk Raghavan, Ramu, Balan Nambiar and several three kilometre walk. This is followed by a modest others, he soon became a famous face at the Mecca nourishment, poring through the newspapers of the of Mumbai football, the Cooperage. He was a day and updating himself with what's happening in favourite with the huge crowds that gathered every the four corners of the world. An early lunch and some Saturday afternoon at the Cooperage to watch the more reading and television viewing sees him various Bombay teams vying for honours in the through till five 'o clock. Some more light refreshment various football tournaments like the Rovers Cup, the and this nonaenarian is once again hits the trail Callan Cup, the Harwood League etc.. meeting up and chatting with friends in the park. He has an infectious sense of humour, not very loud, but At an impressive over six ft. plus and athletic, very subtle and refined. Like all cultured, Viswanathan was a full back. Viswanathan was a sophisticated Tambrahms he is a master of the formidable full back whom even the likes of Olympian understatement. Neville D'Souza (the man who scored the winning goal in the bronze medal winning match at the Age has given Viswanathan the go by, perhaps not Melbourne Olympics) found it impossible to get past daring to crash against this Formidable Indomitable Viswanathan. Rock.

PAGE 18 VOLUME 1 • ISSUE 5 • DECEMBER 2013 SARE GA MA PA - Our Musical Tradition (Part 1)

The greatness of any these factors. Through this, we hope, our youth will civilized society or ethnic not get attracted to the youth of other communities, Our Cultural group is measured by the and thereby stem the threat of the community's Heritage sophistication, refinement extinction through marital mingling with other and quality of its music, communities. l i t e r a t u r e a n d t h e performing arts. Towards this end, we have planned a slew of en- culturization projects to bring home to the community Thanks to the Macaulayan contamination of our its greatness in every field of human endeavour. We society, a large number of us are short sighted, if not have already made a beginning by writing about the blind to our great tradition of music. We know more community's young achievers, its outstanding men about western stuff than about our own heritage. A and women, the beauty, the dignity, the color and few of us must have heard of Schubert and Handel, above all, the scientific, spiritual and historical a large number of us know about the latest trends in significance of its festivals, rites and rituals. We are Western music and Hindi and Tamil pop music. But covering the roots we originated from, viz our honestly, how many know about our greatest agraharams. Also included are thoughts penned by contribution to th world, Carnatic music. How many our erudite community memebrs. us know what a is, what a tala is, what a kruti is, who are the divinities of our music, who are the great We have taken the next tentative step to bring to the exponents? How many of us know abut the history community all that is great about its musical and origin of our music? traditions. Why? Because music has a very important place in our lives. If rice and and vadai and payasam are deliccacies for the palate, music is food for the soul.

So we have researched extensively through various sources for this feature, We have also been guided by experts in the subject. Yet, there may be a few factual errors. If you find any, kindly don't hesitate to bring such errors to our attention. Your will be helping us and theeaders to take that one step towards a ore accurate and correct understanding of the subject. Curator, Tambrapatrika

The Basics Carnatic music (Sanskrit: Karnā?aka sa? gita Tamil: pannicai) is a system of music commonly associated with the southern part of the Indian subcontinent, with its area roughly confined to four modern states of India: , Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu. It is one of two main sub-genres of Indian MS Subbulakshmi, courtesy the Hindu classical music that evolved from ancient Hindu One of the objectives of Tambrapatrika is to create traditions; the other sub-genre being Hindustani among the Tambrahm community, a sense of pride music, which emerged as a distinct form because of and belonging, an identification that will enable us to Persian and Islamic influences in North India. The really understand our community's culture, how it is main emphasis in Carnatic music is on vocal music; on par with if not greater than other cultures and there most compositions are written to be sung, and even by create unbreakable community bonds based on when played on instruments, they are meant to be

PAGE 19 VOLUME 1 • ISSUE 5 • DECEMBER 2013 performed in gayaki (singing) style. accompaniment (usually a mridangam), and a tambura, which acts as a drone throughout the performance. Other typical instruments used in performances may include the , , , flute, veena, and chitraveena. The most outstanding performances, and the greatest concentration of Carnatic musicians, are found in the city of ChennaiVarious festivals are held throughout India and abroad which mainly consist of Carnatic music performances, like the Madras Music Season, which has been considered as one of the world's largest cultural events

Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavatar, pic. source: chembai.com Origins, sources and history Saraswati, the Hindu goddess of all knowledge, Although there are stylistic differences, the basic music, arts and science, with her instrument, the elements of sruti (the relative musical pitch), swara veena. (the musical sound of a single note), raga (the mode or melodic formulæ), and tala (the rhythmic cycles) Like all art forms in Indian culture, Indian classical form the foundation of improvisation and composition music is believed to be a divine art form which in both Carnatic and Hindustani music. Although originated from the Devas and Devis (Hindu Gods improvisation plays an important role, Carnatic music and Goddesses and is venerated as symbolic of nada is mainly sung through compositions, especially the brahman. (or kirtanam) – a form developed between the Ancient treatises also describe the connection of the 14th and 20th centuries by composers such as origin of the swaras, or notes, to the sounds of Purandara Dasa and the Trinity of Carnatic music. animals and birds and man's effort to simulate these Carnatic music is also usually taught and learnt sounds through a keen sense of observation and through compositions. perception. The Sama Veda, which is believed to have laid the foundation for , consists of hymns from the Rigveda, set to musical tunes which would be sung using three to seven musical notes during Vedic yajnas.[5] The Yajur- Veda, which mainly consists of sacrificial formulae, mentions the veena as an accompaniment to vocal recitations.References to Indian classical music are made in many ancient texts, including epics like the and Mahabharata.

The Yajnavalkya Smriti mentions vi?avadana tattvajña? srutijativisarada? talajñascaprayasena mok?amarga? niyacchati ("The one who is well versed in veena, one who has the knowledge of srutis and one who is adept in tala, attains salvation without doubt").

Carnatic music is based as it is today on musical The Veena.Pic Hum300.tolearn,in concepts (including swara, raga, and tala) that were described in detail in several ancient works, particularly the Silappadhikaram by Ilango Adigal, Carnatic music is usually performed by a small and Bharata's Natya Shastra. ensemble of musicians, consisting of a principal performer (usually a vocalist), a melodic accompaniment (usually a violin), a rhythm To be continued...

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