' Deergha Sumagali Bhava '
‘Deergha Sumangali Bhava’:-
- P.Natarajan.
‘Sumangali’ is a term well known for its auspiciousness, accorded to a married woman living with her husband, The qualifying adjective ‘deergha’, a word in Sanskrit, before Sumangali commonly refers to the entrenched nature of the longevity of her husband and being a sign of future success.
Sumangali pooja is performed strictly by women at home to pray for their spouse’s long life and a blissful married life.
- ‘Deergha Sumangali Bhava’ connotes that the wife would earn 5 ‘Thirumangalyam’ from her husband. Mangalya Dharanam refers to the ceremony of tying the knot (thali) by the husband during the following functions:-
- During the wedding
- At the time commemorating the 60th birthday
- During the celebration of 70th birthday called as ‘Bheema Ratha Shanthi’
- At the time of attaining the age of 80
- At the time of completing the age of 96 years of married life, otherwise known as ‘Kanaka Abhishekam’..
The Celebrations:-
(i) Many do not get the opportunity for conducting the rituals like Sashti Abdha poorthi, Bheemaratha Shanthi, Kanakabhishekam.
(Sri Kala Samhara Moorthy and Sri Balambal @ Thirukadaiyur Temple)
(ii) A blessed person alone who is credited with past punyas is likely to see the happenings of these marriage celebrations.
(iii) The mission behind these functions is to propitiate for increasing the life term of the couple
(iv) The rituals would please immensely all the Devas when Homams and Veda Parayanam take place.
(vi) The couple celebrating the Sashtiapthapoorthi is gladdened as the relatives and friends voice their heartfelt good wishes
(vii) There is a unique sense of belongingness that fills the hearts of the couple when their dear ones wish them wholeheartedly. The occasion fulfills the esteem need of the devout and endeering couple.
(2) The Earth is considered to be circular in nature consisting of 360 degrees and further made of 12 houses known as ‘Rasi’.
Time Cycle for completing one circular path around:-
- Sun takes 1 year
- Mars take 1.5 years
- Moon takes 1 month
- Budha (Mercury) takes 1 month
- Guru (Jupiter) takes 12 years
- Shukra(Venus) takes 1 year
- Shani(Saturn) takes 30 years
- Rahu( Neptune) takes 1.50 years
- Kethu (Uranus) takes 1.50 years
(3) The significant fact is that the next day after the completion of the 60th birthday reckoning from the date of birth would have the same composition of ‘grahas’ in line with what were at the time of birth including the name of the year, month and so on.
(4) That day is considered to be auspicious to celebrate the Sashtiapthapoorthi in the traditional manner imbibing the divine blessings. The pundits having expertise in renedreing Vedaparayanam would conduct the proceedings with devotion and religious fervor.
( Proceedings of the Religious Function )
(5) During the ceremonies 84 Kalasas (kumbha's) will be filled with pure water and mantras will be recited and homams performed.
(6) The water body in the Kalasas will attain a status of divine power by the reverberations created by the spell of Mantras.
(7) What takes place next would be to bathe the couple by pouring the holy waters in the Kalasas over their heads and quenching all parts of the physical body.
(8) The 84 Kalasas kept for the function denote the following:-
- The total of the Tamil Years add up to 60.
- The deities of these 60 years and the Heads of these deities namely:-
Agni, Sun, Moon Vayu, Varuna, Ashtadigpalas, Balambiga,
Amritaghateswarar and Navanayakas.
The 84 Kalasas is believed to represent the 84 deities as stated above. .
(9) Agni Deva is the presiding deity for the 15 Tamil Years from Prabava to Vishu, Sun God for 15 years from Chitrabhanu to Dhunmuki, Chandra
(Moon) for 15 years from Hevilambi to Virodhi
(10) When 60 years pass by, the individuals should be in a state to overcome the desires arising out of the five senses and cast away the feeling of the self or the inborn selfish nature
(11) Further the ownership feelings need to be get ridden. One need to overcome the possessive nature like ‘me’, ‘mine’ and the likes. A dispassionate self is ideal. It is also imperative that an atmosphere of oneness need to be generated with respect to people at large and no further distinction should prevail - ‘ सर्वे जना सुखिनो भवन्तु ‘ !
(12) The belief that ‘ all living beings belong to the same family " वसुधैव कुटुम्बकम् “ - should be uppermost in the mind and those who are able to attain this level of cognizance are considered fit to celebrate Bheemaratha Shanthi on attaining the age of 70. The renunciation state over desires or Kama is a prerequisite for conducting Bheemaratha Shanthi.
(13) As the age advances beyond 70, one should be able to see and believe that God resides in everybody.
(14) In addition to the above belief, one should be able to develop the habit of communicating with the Almighty residing in every life.
(15) He owns no difference to religion, cast or any racial distinctions.
(16 )Thus who are able to attain realization that divinity resides within everyone and further demonstrate that they see God Himself in all are eligible to celebrate Sadabhishekam on attaining the age of 80 years. Sadabhishekam is also known as Sahasra Chandra Darshana Shanthi.
(17) Well entrenched couple (dampathi) who are devoted to the Almighty and encourage such a feelings at all times and in all walks of life would have absolute contentment and bliss to celebrate ‘Kanakabhishegam’ on attaining the age of 96 when the woman becomes totally deserving to wear the ’ 5thThru Mangalya ‘ and blessed as :-
‘ DEERGA SUMANGALI BHAVA’
Shubam !!
pn
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