Significance of the Tamil Month ' Aippasi '

Significance of the Tamil Month ‘ Aippasi ‘

       -  P.Natarajan, camp: Denver, CO.

Aippasi is known as ‘Tula’ month. This year the month begins on Saturday the 18th October and lasts upto Sunday, the 16th November 2014.

‘Tula Snanam’ (bath during this month) is considered sacred in river Cauvery and it is believed Ganga River enters  the Cauvery River in this month to get rid of her accumulated sin through  her devotees - one can imagine the purifying power of the river Cauvery. First day of Tula is considered as Vishu Punyakalam’ and ‘Pitru-tarpanam’ is observed.

The Sun traverses in Tula Rasi in this month - hence the name for the month.

Aippasi month brings the festival of lights - Deepavali. Family members join together to celebrate Diwali.. The children who are studying outside, newly married couples - all make a beeline to their home of origin and thus Diwali brings joy to the family unit. Naraka Chaturthi Snanam which is also known as Ganga-Snanam is taken before the Sun rise. It is believed that River Ganga flows  into all water sources including the taps in our homes on that  day. The vessel containing Ganga Water is decorated with turmeric, kumkum paste and flowers before heating up. Goddess Lakshmi resides in the gingelly oil which is used for the bath. The festival is in sequence to the boon obtained by Narakasura when he was vanquished by Lord Krishna. The day is celebrated as Diwali.

The people of Ayodhya welcomed the return of Sri Rama after  killing  Ravana by lighting oil lamps in their homes.

( Return of Sri Rama to Ayodhya after Ravanavadam in Pushpaka Vimana.)

This event is also commemorated as festival of lights or Deepavali.

( Great Welcome to Sri Rama in Ayodhya )

We have seen two asuras namely Narakasura and Ravana were killed in Tula Month.  Tula month boasts of one more asura who was killed by Lord Subramanya. The day is observed as Skanda Sashti which is sukla sashti - the sixth day after Diwali when Surapadman was vanquished on the 6th day of the war, There is more significance of observing ‘Sashti-viratham’. The Sashti viratham is  observed on sukla sashti day of every month for one full year starting from Skanda sashti for begetting progeny. Skanda in Sanskrit  means spilling or skirting and stands as another name for Lord Subramanya or Murugan or Karthikeya. The place of worship of killing Soorapadman is ‘Thiruchendur’ in South of Tamilnadu - where the Temple is situated on the shores of Bay of Bengal in a scenic background. Tula Snanam in the ocean (Samudra Snanam) is also considered most sacred.

The Astrological significance of Shashti Vrutham for begetting a child:- The day being Skanda Sashti, Chandra (Matrukaraka ) is placed in the House of Guru who is ‘putrakaraka’ - that is in Dhanur Rasi or in the next one Makara Rasi (first part). Chandra, besides being blessed by Surya.

(Thiruchendur temple on the shore of Bay of Bengal )

traverses in Surya’s Nakshatra namely in ‘Uthiradam’. The devotee obtains ‘Guru Palan’ which fosters a child in the family. The Tamil Proverb “ Chittayil Irundal thane Kappayil Varum” - Chittayil relates to Sashtiyil and Kappayil relates to uterus or womb where the newborn grows. Thiruchendur Kshetra is regarded as a place of Guru  who destroys the ‘dosha’ and blesses  with a progeny.

( Thiruchendur Murugan - Muruganukku Arohara )

In the month of Aippasi, on fullmoon day ‘Anna-abhishekam’ is performed to Lord Shiva. Pitru Karakan Surya who is shadowed in the period of Tula, and when Chandra being matrukaraka shines brightly on the fullmoon day, anna-abhishekam to lord Shiva is  considered as very auspicious. This brings out how mother takes care of the family when the man or father’s position is  weak.  

Kedar Gouri vratham is performed on Amavasya day in Aippasi. Parvati Devi  completes Kedar Gouri vrutham and unites with Lord Shiva and takes her place at the left half of Shiva (Ardhanareeswara). Shiva and Shakti - Sivasakthi is the force which is responsible for all movements and for the  existence of the Universe and the world to function.

(A seated Ardhanarishvara with both vahanas)

Ardhanarishvara is a composite androgynous form of Shiva and his consort Parvathi. Ardhanarishvara represents the synthesis of masculine and feminine energies of the Universe.

Similarly the Head of the house  should give equal rights to his better half for running the affairs of the household.

The business community performs Lakshmi-Kubera worship on this day which coincides with Diwali. Surya, the Lord of Prosperity and Chandra, the Lord of Profession jointly traverse in Tula Rasi and usher growth to business and bestow more and appreciable gains to business community.  They open new Accounts on this day after performing Lakshmi- Kubera worship. Goddess Lakshmi blesses with Aiswarya of all kinds.( Ashta Aishwaryas).

The Sun also worships Lord Narayana in a deep penance to save the people from floods and famine. “ Aippasiyil Adai  Mazhai” is a Tamil Maxim meaning that the month of Aippasi brings heavy rains causing floods. Famine follows as a result.

The great saints born in Aippasi month include ‘Poosalar Nayanar’ (26th October); Kadavar Cone Nayanar (5th November), and Thirumoolar ( 5th November) who sang‘Thirumanthiram’ consisting of 3000 songs.

Tula  also refers to physical balance and the periods of day and night are equal during this  month.

Let us also pray for equality amidst us and for removal of hunger and famine and usher  in prosperity and peace.

“ The whole world is one drama. God is the Script writer “  -  Paramacharya

“ If we regard everything pertaining to us , and everything we do, as an offering to god, we will give that mental equanimity necessary to remain unaffected.” -  -

-Paramacharya

Wishing A Happy Deepavali to everyone !

pns