NURANISASTHAPREETHI-FORWARD Respected friends,
Today Sabarimamali Dharmasasthatemple has opened for Mandalam Pooja. I was curious toknow how the famous Nuranisasthapreethi has started since the origin of Palghat Brahmins is from Mayavaram. Southern Kerala, whicharea I belong to, most Brahmins are settled long back, coming from Tirunelveliside. During sasthapreethi, sastha varavu in our samoohams starts with- Vararitho, ayyan vararitho, Bhoothathanmuthalana bhoothangal kootiyae, Pulikal kuttikalai pidithhuvilayadiyae, Vararitho, THENKULATHUR ayyanvararitho… Having worked inTirunelveli I knew Ayyan is the most respective word in that area. Very late Iread Thenkulathur is a villagenear Ambasamudram in Tirunelveli district. The following iswhat I read is from Keralatourisam about Palghat and Noornisasthapreethi. This article gave me a clear picture how the famousNurani sasthapreethi started. Hope the reading will be generally interesting toall. Gopalakrishnan 13-11-2024 Nurani is a renowned village in Palakkad district of Kerala Stateand is famous for its culture and religious fervor. According to legends, thisarea belonged to Kurur Mana and Neelakanta Nambooridipad was the head. He as a harden Bhaktha of LordDharma Sastha was a regular visitor of Aryankavu for Darshan of Lord.Due to old age, he could not visit Aryankavu and was lamenting. As per theadvice of Ayyappa (who came in his dream), he built a temple in his courtyard,installed the above idols seated on the elephant, worshipped them and gotsolace. About five centuries agoBrahmins – mostly Scholars,Pandits,Vaidikas, Priests and Cooks – from Thiruvannamalai in North Arcot district and otherparts of Tamilnadu came here in search of pastures new and established theirdwelling in the present Agraharam (village). These Brahminsengaged the Aadhivasi, who were inhabitants of a nearby colony, forcultivation. Once when the Aadhivasis were working to clear bushes in a hillock,they heard the sound of bells and experienced a fragrance and strangephenomena. On hearing this, the Brahmins ordered further excavation and, totheir astonishment, found threecylindrical vigrahas, a small granite elephant another flat vigraha buriedunder the hillock. On conductingAshtamangalya deva prasna by eminent Astrologer and Pandits, it was found thatThe cylindrical Vigrahas are of Hariharaputhra (Sastha ), Poorna and pushkala(the two consorts of Hariharaputhra) and the flat one of Ilaya Bhagavathy(Malikapurathamma). On hearing this,the Brahmins rejoiced and decided that the idols should be installed in asuitable temple and daily poojas should be conducted as prescribed by AgamaSastras for the prosperity of the village. They built thetemple at the North Western end, facing the entrance of the village andinstalled the three cylindrical vigrahas with the granite elephantAs SivaDhrishti (sight of Siva) is said to be Ugra (harsh), to protect the residentsof the street facing the Siva temple, a Bala Maha Ganapathy temple was erected directlyfacing the Siva Temple. A Rajagopuram constructed by the present generation infront of Ganapathy Temple is an added attraction. Certain family members andindividuals were kind enough to sponsor major combination for the constructionof all three temples of the village. Daily Thrikala Poojas are being conducted in all thetemples, as prescribed byAgama Sastras. As the idols were found by Aadhivasis during the excavation,they were also given a share by installing the flat vigraha (Malikapurathamma) in their colony, whomthey worship in their own style. Soon after the Sasthapreethi functions,villagers visit here with Narthakas and exchange view each other. EVENTS/PROGRAMS Mandala Abhishekam Sastha Pattu Kanakku (Nivedyam) Mahanyasam Rudra abhishekam Upanishad Parayanam Yajur Veda Krama Parayanam SandhyaDeeparadhana Vaara Japam Vigneswara Pooja Kumba abhishekam Aradhana Pooja Changalavatta Nattai Thodayamangalam DESCRIPTION (Howfestival is celebrated) Nurani Sasthapreethiis the most auspicious festival among all the 18 agraharams at Palakkad. Ayyappa Pooja is conducted in every nook and corner ofthe country during Mandalam to Kaliyuga varadhan Sri Dharma Sastha. This festivalis celebrated at Nurani Village for more than 300 years now. NuraniSasthapreethi festival starts from the commencement of Mandalam mostly on 16thNovember (vrichikam or Karthikai 1st) every year. Mandala Abhishekam, SasthPattu and Kanakku (Nivedyam) lasts for 42 days. During mandalam, every morningMahanyasam and Rudra abhishekam by chanting Sree Rudram 11 times at Sastha Sannidhiand abhishekam to Mahavishnu by chanting Purusha Suktha 16 times is performedthroughout mandalam. Daily at Vishnu Sannidhi, Upanishad Parayanam isperformed. After Sayam Sandhya Deeparadhana, Yajur Veda Krama Parayanam andVaara Japam is conducted. Vaidhikas areserved a sumptuous meal. Daily poojasconducted are Vigneswara Pooja, Sankalpam, Maahanyasan, Rudra Japam, Kumbaabhishekam and Deeparadhana. Atnight, after Aradhana Pooja, Nurani Sastha songs in traditional style are sung.At night around 9 p.m. all devotees assemble in the temple for Ardhayama Poojaand sing Bhajans in conventional style peculiar to Nurani. Changalavatta (oillamp) is lighted after breaking coconut in the Sastha Sannidhi and threepradhakshinams with the accompaniment of Nadaswaram, all devotees sit in twoopposite lines facing each other at Sastha Sannidhi. Destined Bhagavatharwith the permission of the elders commences the song as per the Paddathi givingimportance to Sastha songs. Nattai,Thodayamangalam, viruthams,keerthanams and deeparadhana is performed. After deeparadhanaand distribution of Prasadam concluding poojas and songs continue. Mantrapushpam,Swarna Pushpam, Chaturveda Parayanam and Ashirvadam,one stanza fromSiva Ashtakam, Ashtapadi and keerthanam followed by Thevaramm, virutham,Pathyam, venpa, Kalithurai, Nalanku, kummi, Choomikai, Onjal, Nadai chutthalVazhthu follow. Preceeding Wednesday before Sasthapreethi, Sastha savarnaSahasranama Archana to Sastha and on Thursday 1008 Sanku Pooja and Abhishekamto Lord Maha Vishnu are performed. Further Poorna Dravya abhishekam to Sasthaand Kalabhabhishekam to Vishnu are also performed. On the firstauspicious Saturday after Mandalam, Sastha Preethi is scheduled on a day in which Oil Bath canbe taken (except on the following this : Sukla Shasti, Ekadashi, Amavasya,Pournami) and Thulasi Amman Pooja (BrindaLakshmi Pooja) is conducted on theprevious day i.e. Friday. On theSasthapreethi day Usha Pooja, Upanishad parayanam, Prathyaksha Ganapathy Homam,Poornabhishekam to Sastha and Maha Vishnu and Maha Deeparadhana is performed.On this day also, Lord Ayyappa is taken on procession (Ezhunallippu) with caparisonedelephants accompanied by Sastha Pattu and Nadaswaram in the morning through thestreets of village and also Ganapathy Temple and Shiva Temple. After return of the procession,Maha Deeparadhana is performedat about 1.30 / 2.00 pm after the return of the procession. During Deeparadhana time, Garudan isseen flying high in the sky around the vicinity of the temple. It is said that the same Garudanaccompanying the Thiruvabharanam from Pandalam to Sabarimalai is seen at Nurani village at the same time of Neivedyamand Deeparadhana. It is also said that the Garudan goes to Sabarimalaiafter Nurani festival. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Thatha_Patty" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/thatha_patty/188182534.1899925.1731653794769%40mail.yahoo.com.
