Margazhi Musings

Today, begins the month of Margazhi, of the Hindu calendar. It is considered to be a sacred month for various reasons. It coincides with the "brahma muhartham" of the celestial gods. Lord vishnu, in Bhagwad gita has quoted "maasanam marghashirshoaham" (I represent the month of Marghasirsh or marghazhi).

Personally, I am nostalgic about margazhi. As children, we were asked to learn thiruppavai, a simple thirty verses ( a verse a day) in Tamil composed by Andal, an incarnation of Goddess Lakshmi.

The whole locality would wake up early and assemble at a particular place. It would include, adults and children. All of us go around the colony singing bhajans . We then come back to the community hall and there after reciting thiruppavai, all get prasadam ( food offered as gift of the God).

On the last day of the margazhi, a competition for thiruppavai recidtation is heldand the winner is given a silver coin. I still hold a few of these coins as my prized possessions.