Cultural confluense in music ,art and spirituality

There’s Something Special about South India

V. shanmuganathan


During this Winter Season, inspite of cold weather and chillness,
large religious gatherings are taking place spontaneously. On 23rd
December 2010 more than 5 lakh devotees were delighted by seeing the
Ananda Thandava Shri Nataraja in Chidambaram Temple, during Arudhra
Darshan. More than 7 lakh devotees had the darshan of Ranganatha Swamy
in Srirangam when Swarga Vasal (gateway to heaven) was opened on 17th
December 2010. on the day of Karthigai Deepam. 25 lakh hindus had the
darshan of Arunachaleshwar and made a parikrama of the mountain in
Thiruvannamalai.

A pursuit with great devotion

Karthigeya temple in Palani, attract many more lakhs of devotees with
kavadi on Thaipoosm day. There is no doubt that, Ayappa in sabarimalai
would be worshiped by more than 5 crores of people by the middle of
January 2011 during Makar Sankranthi. Here majority of devotees are
young and old men and men only. Very few women visits. Adi Parashakti
temple, in Melmaruvathur, near Chennai is altracting women devotees in
large numbers.

These are the huge religious gatherings of devotees praying the lord
for a boon that is beneficial to them. They gather with full of taith
and conviction. These annual fesitivals are central to the South
Indian religious traditions. These are some of the largest religious
gatherings found any where in the world.





Spirituality arouse interest

Apart from this, there are big congregations seeking spiritual
knowledge. Mata Amrutandamayee’s devotees are coming together in lakhs
to have the healing touch of Amma. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar Maharaj
devotees are meeting in large numbers to learn about the Art of
living. He is working for a stress free and violence free society.
Sadguru Jaggi Vasudev altracts large crowd. He presents powerful
methods of self transformation to people from all walks of life. Swamy
Paramarthananda, takes spiritual classes about scriptures and shastras
in a brilliant way. His teachings are very much inspiring touching
upon various aspects of life like Atman, self inquiry, right attitude
and right action.

These are the wonderful assembly of people who want to discover the
essence of their life. They try to understand the meaning of their
life. They realize the contribution of our forefathers and how values
were passed on generation after generation by personally practicing
the principles and ethics. Participants are taken to higher
consiousness through meditation prayer and contemplation. Their unique
experience makes them believe that spiritual practice is the
foundation of happiness.

Musical Tunes

During this coldest season of the year, after autumn and before
spring, melodious music and dance festival is taking place in Chennai.
It is a grand celebration of classical music and dance of south india.
This carnatic music festival is held during mid December to mid
January in the Capital city of Tamil Nadu. The festival is held at a
number of venues around the city by various sabhas or organisations.

Performance includes Vocal, instrumental music and Bharata Natyam
Dance - solo and group both by Junior and senior artists. Even
upcoming artists get a chance to perform along with well - established
artists. The music include songs in various south Indian languages
like Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam.

The music instuments like Flute, Veena (a large string instrument)
gottuvadyam (similar to veena, but without frets), Nadhaswaram (pipe)
Thavil (per cussion instrument) Mridangam (drum) and even Ghatam (mud
pot) This music season goes on till mid January when the scene shifts
to Thiruvaiyaru to celebrate the birth of one of the greatest carnatic
composeers, saint Thyagaraja. This annual festival nourishes the
classical tradition of music. It is an ancient and sophisticated art
stretching back over thousands of years, originated from the Temples
and performed by devine artists. The classical styles have been
associated with mythology, philosoply and spiritural thoughts of the
Hindu culture.

The Madras city comes alive with "Margazli festival of dance and
music" which has become an annual feature with thousands of artists
and lakhs of people who witness, see, hear, feel and enjoy the
spectacular cultural event.

Production of Films as an Art

The Tamil Film Industry has opend up a new page in the history of
Indian Cinema this year. According to reports in the media, a total
number of 150 films have been produced from chennai in the year 2010,
a number which was never before achieved in the history of Tamil
Cinema. Rajni Kanth, is really a super star. Recently he acted in a
science - fiction film involving a ‘Robot’. It was realeased in Tamil,
hindi and Telugu versions and ran very well in all the languages.
According to uncomfirmed reports, the cost of production of the
Rajni’s Robot was about Rs 180 crores and the overall collection was
more than Rs 800 crores. It is a himalayan achievement beating all the
old box office hits.

Aham Brahmasmi

The whole world knows that, superstar Rajnikanth often goes to
Himalayas and stays in a serene atmosphere. He associates himself with
sadhus, saints and sanyasis and meditates in the vicinity of river
ganga.

Tamil was always rich in literature and music. But its cinema was
mostly meant for entertainment. There were many who tried for a
change. Among the new generation of film makers, Bala leads a pack in
bringing a change in Tamil Cinema’s outlook and approach. He is trying
hard to give a new thought to Tamil Cinema. Recently, director Bala
made a film called, "Aham Brahmasmi", "Nan Kadavul" in tamil. This
creation has fetched him a national award for Best director.

Naan Kadavul, Aham Brahmasmin - is a film based upon a Tamil Novel
"Yelavathu ulagam" (7th world) written by Jayamohan who also penned
the dialogue for the film.

The movie ‘Pazhassi Raja was taken as an art film in Malayalam as well
as in Tamil. The story of ‘PAZHASSI RAJA’, one of our first freedom
fighters was popularly known as the lion of Kerala. The making of this
grand epic film is really an achievement. It educates the younger
generation visually about the freedom struggle.

Something great is yet to happen

Tamilnadu is peculiar in its own way. There were so many films with
rational ideas. Some of those films were antigod and anti hindu also.
But late M. G. Rama Chandran (M.G.R.) mentor of Jayalalitha changed
the trend. He openly associated himself with Devi Mookambiga mandhir
in Karnataka. Actor Vijayakanth appears with full Vibudhai on his
forehead. After receiving oscar award in America Music composer A.R.
Rahman declared that, "The credit is not for me. All glory are to God
himself" Thus the trends are changing. In general, people are working
hard. they are talented and creative. There are sincere efforts for
excellance. Still, there is a longing for something great.

4 attachments — Download all attachments View all images

music.jpg 6K View Download

29.jpg 7K View Download

sadhguru.jpg 3K View Download

thiruvannamalai.jpg 7K View Download

Rep

Madurai Meenakshi Amman

Unique Birthday Celebrations

• 10,000 mothers Deepa Poojas

• Worship of cows

• Whole Temple cleaning by 1000 volunteers.

• Annadanam

V. Shanmuganathan

On 23rd January 2011,

The Hindu temple protection committee celebrated the Birthday of Devi Meenakshi in Madurai. 10,000 women did deepa pooja with pure devotion cutting across all caste barriers. Spirit of unity was exhibited by their collective effort to celebrate the birth day celebrations. The devotees forum called bhaktar pevavai volunteers numbering 1000 people cleaned the temple with water and decorated it with Kolams. It is a massive work. Every Karyakartha involved himself in the work with devotion and dedication. The worshippers forum train the workers with a spiritual bent up of mind. True strength lies in submission which permits one to dedicate his life, through devotion, to something beyond himself.

Beautiful Towers

Meenakashi Amman Temple is one amongst the most important temples of our country. Temple structure sprawls in an area of 45 acres. The temple complex comprises of 12 superlative gopurams. These tall towers rise to the height of more than 50 meters. Apart from this, there are two golden towers for the main deities. These beautiful temple towers are elaborately sculptured, painted and decorated. There are 30 million colourful carvings and gypsum images around the temple. The tallest tower rises to the extent of 170 feet. The main sancturm sanctorium is believed to be more than 2500 years old.

Madurai Never sleeps

Tamil literature discribes about the Madurai, as the city of nectar. It is located on the banks of Vaigai River. It was the capital of Pandyan Rulers. It has been the center of learning and pilgrimage. It is the most active center of Tamilnadu during the day time as well as night time.

Thirugnana sambhandar, the famous saint of Shaiva siddhantha, mentioned this temple as early as the 7th century and described the lord as Aalavai Iraivan.

The collossal structure of the temple was constructed by Kulasekara Pandyan. It has a huge dimension of 254 by 237 meters. Having history of thousands of years, the present structure of the Temple got erected in the early 17th century.

From the debris

The Temple was ransacked by the muslim Invader Malik Kafur in the year 1310 A.D. and all the ancient elements were destroyed. The initiative to rebuild the temple was teken by first nayak king of Madurai. Then came the most valuable contributions of King Thirumalai Nayak. He constructed many mandapas and sthupas inside and outside the temple, including Vasantha Mandapam. Aayiram kaal Mandapan is a thousand pillared hall, which is prominent due to its class sculptures. The hall is truely marvellous and definitely worth seeing for its beautiful architecture.

Meenakshi Devi

Malayadwaja Pandya was the King of Madurai. He was childless for long and performed an ellborate yagna, sacrificial rites before a sacred fire, the Agni to get a child. To the wonder of all, a girl child emerged from the fire. Queen Kanchanamala was thrilled to see the baby and took the child and embraced It and put it on her lap. This has happend during the Tamil month of ‘Thai’ (January) on the day of Magha Nakshatra. The king, the queen and people were very happy. Birth day cleebrations were marked by deepa poojas and recitation of Nama Sangeerthanas. 108 cows were worshipped with neivedhyam, pooja and mangal arthi. All visitors were given good food.

Meenakshi Thiru Kalyanam

As per the faith of the devotees, Madurai is the same city where lord Sundareswar married goddess Meenakshi. The name Sundareswara means the Beautiful Shiva and Meenakshi means, the fish eyed goddess". Madurai temple is regarded as one of the most sacred places of Devi Parvati, other being Kamakshi of Kanchipuram and Kasi Visalakshi of varanasi.

The marriage ceremony is conducted with pomp and pageantry and in all its magnificence and splendour to the great delight of devotees. Mahavishnu as brother of Devi Meenakshi visited Madurai and formally gave the bride to shiva. Sri Brahma performed the vedic marriage rituals. This marriage scene is carved as a beautiful ‘Shilpa’ sculpture in one of the pllars. Mahavishnu comes across vaigai river from the nearby temple of Azhagarkovil. the fesitval that attracts the devotees most is the Meenakshi kalyanam popularly known as chithirai festival.

The sthalapakshi (Bird) is Parrot. People can see the parrot sitting on the shoulders of Meenakshi. Temple authorities maintains many parrots in and around the temple. This Kshethra is called as kadamba vana, the forest of the Kadamb trees.

Potramaraikulam (Golden Lotus tank)

In side the temple, Potramaraikulam is a consecrated pond where devotees take bath in the holy water, before entering the main strine. The term Potramaroikulam suggests the pond with a golden lotus. The area around this tank was the meeting place of the Tamil sangam, the ancient academy of poets. This acadamy judged the worth of any work of literature presented before it. The pond served as an evaluator for reviewing the worth of a new literature.

Velli Ambalam

There is a silver statue of Nataraja near sanctum sanctorium. It is called velli Ambalam or silver abode of shiva. Usually Nataraja performs dance by raising his left leg. A devotee was moved emotionally. He felt that, raising left lag may be painful to god and so he prayed to the lord, to change it to the right leg. Seeing his true devotion, Nataraja, changed the posture, and he satisfied the prayer of the devotee. Here Nataraja is seen with a difference.

Greatest gift

Thus, Meenakshi Temple at Madurai has got a great history. It is known for superb sculpture. Temple itself is the most spectacular display of architecture on earth. Meenakshi Amman Temple has been nominated for the new seven wonders of the world. Hundreds and thousands of devotees come every day to pay their obeisance to Goddess Meenakshi.

Once Max Muller said that, If I were asked under what sky the human mind has most fully developed some of ts choicest gifts, I should point to India. There is no doubt that Madurai Meenakshi Temple is the greatest gift of our forefathers to the present and future generation.