Significance and Importance of Masi Makam...........About Masi Makam:.......And this year

Significance and Importance of Masi Makam...........About Masi Makam:.......And this year

Masi makam is on....... 8th March, 2020.

Masi Makam is an important festival in Tamil Nadu and Kerala. The festival falls in the Tamil Month of Masi (February – March). Makam is among the twenty-seven stars in the astrological system. Makam star in the Masi month usually falls on the full moon day and hence it is considered auspicious across South India, especially in Tamil Nadu, Puducherry (Pondicherry) and Kerala.

It is one of the most powerful Full Moon day of the year since the moon aligns with Magha. It is the birth Star of the Kings and Ancestors. This event occurs only once a year and signifies the descent of heavenly beings to the earth. Masi Makam offers abundance and prosperity associated with the Full Moon and the Magha star. It gives an opportunity to acquire power and energy. Masi Makam is the most appropriate time to get rid of ego.

Legend.......

There are numerous legends related to Masi Makam. Each temple has a tale for celebrating Masi Makam. Legend has it that Lord Shiva appeared as a child before King Vallala of Tiruvannamalai who was an ardent devotee. The king was childless. Lord Shiva promised to perform his last rituals. He died on Masi Makam day and as promised Lord Shiva performed his last rites. Lord Shiva blessed the king that whoever bathes in the sea during Masi Makam will get ‘salvation.’ It is believed that every year Lord visits the sea to perform the last rites of the King Vallala.

Lord Shiva.......

In ancient times, several sages were arrogant. They ignored the Gods as they gained knowledge. Their egos grew immensely. The sages were over confident that they can guide human beings. They no longer needed the blessings of the Gods. Angry Lord Shiva decided to teach a lesson to sages. He took the form of a beggar. The sages did not recognise him and assumed that he was a devil. The sages misused their power and mantras. They sent a mad elephant to attack Lord Shiva. As the elephant was about to attack Lord Shiva, he immediately disappeared. Goddess Parvati was worried that the entire world would come to an end with the disappearance of Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva killed the elephant and emerged by wearing the elephant's skin. It is known as "Gaja Samhara" Soon the sages realised their mistake and apologised to Lord Shiva.

Maha Makam is of great importance at the Adi Kumbeswaran temple in Kumbakonam. There is sacred tank called Maha Makam.

Rituals/ Celebrations:........

On this day the idols are taken to the seashore or ponds. Hence, the festival is also known as holy bath ceremony. Processions from different temples arrive at the sea with the idols of Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva. Idols of Shakti are also brought to the sea. Pujas and other rituals are performed at the sea shore. Thousands of devotees throng the sea shore to offer prayer. The temple Idols are given a bath in the sea, pond or lake as per traditional rituals. Idols of Gods and Goddess worshipped in the Temples are carried in a big procession. In some temples, Gaja-puja (elephant worship) and Ashwa pooja (horse) are performed. The devotees take a bath in the sea with the belief that the holy waters wash away all the sins. The festival of Masi Makam appears very colourful and divine.....................................AND..............................

Makam is a star that has great potential both in material and in spiritual realms. Masi Makam is great time to receive Blessings from enlightened souls and also from your owm ancestors.

Masi Makam......The day to magnify royalty consciousness....

The day marked by the brightest star in Leo constellation, Makam, in the Tamil month of Masi is when special cosmic energy fills the earth plane that enables you to increase your abundance and help elevate the souls of your ancestors. This once-in-a-year event can help you magnify your prosperity and royalty consciousness, as the star energy of the day carries the qualities of a King. Masi Makam day also supports you to seek the blessings of your ancestors, as the presiding deity of Magha star is Pitris (ancestors).

Scriptural Significance Of Masi Makam......

According to the scriptures, when Brahma (Creator Archetype) understood Shiva’s plan to recreate the universe after destruction, he asked about the methodology to recreate the world. Shiva asked Brahma to fill a Kumba (pot) with Amrit (elixir) and the source energy for creating the world and place it at the top of Mount Meru. Brahma requested Shiva to begin his creation activity from the place named Kumbakonam (sacred temple city in Southern India), where he found the pot, on a Makam star day in the Tamil month of Masi. Hence, Masi Makam is an ideal day to wash away your painful karma and curses and start anew to lead a healthy life with the blessings of your ancestors.

Blessings of Masi Makam .....

According to sacred texts, offering your sincere prayers with flowers and prasadam on the day of Masi Makam can bestow the following benefits to you:

1. Help receive the blessings of your ancestors.

2. Enjoy good health, wealth and knowledge.

3. Help get rid of curses caused by mistreating priests and learned Vedic scholars.

4. Cleanse negative energy and fill your life with positivity.

5. Grant happiness and peace of mind.

The holy river/sea water can wash away your sins and bad karma (According to the mythology, on this day, River Goddess Ganga purifies all water sources)

J.KANNAN, M.Com, FIATA

"WE DON'T THINK TO BREATHE

 WE BREATHE TO THINK"

Annapoorneswari of the Western Ghats.......“Sri Kshethra Horanadu”.

Annapoorneswari of the Western Ghats.......“Sri Kshethra Horanadu”.

Annapurne sadapurne shankar pran vallabhe

Gyan vairagya siddhyartham bhiksham dehim ch parvatim

Aham vaishvanaro bhukta praninam deham ashritam

Pran apan saman yuktam pachannam annam chaturvidham.

Meaning.....

Annapurna is the Goddess of food.She herself is the mother Parvati, wife of Lord Shiva.

According to Indian mythology she supplies food to humanity. In the above verse Lord Shiva is asking goddess Parvati to serve him foods that he can receive enough strength for achieving knowledge and final enlightenment. Shiva says, I will become one with fire of each organism and with the help of the three types of vayu will help in the digestion of 4 types of food…

“Vadani kaval gheta naam ghya shrihariche

Sahaj hawan hote naam gheta phukache

Jivan kari jivitva anna he purna brahma

Udarbharan nohe jaanije yadnyakarma”

Meaning....

While consuming food, one should remember God. The food should be eaten as one is offering samagri in hawan to God, that is neither too much nor too less and consumed with positive attitude. Optimum intake of food allows proper digestion.

On the banks of the River Bhadra, in the Western Ghats of Karnataka, there is the ancient temple of Horanadu Annapoorneshwari, which is located in the midst of thick forests and valleys in a remote part of Chikamagalur district, Karnataka. This temple is also known as “Sri Kshethra Horanadu”.

Being located 100 kms south-west of Chikmagalur, this temple attracts many visitors of all ages, religions, castes and genders, who come here to worship and are welcomed wholeheartedly. Since the reigning deity is Goddess Annapoorna or the Goddess of Plentiful food for all, devotees are given a three-course vegetarian meal.

The word Annapoorna is a made of two words Anna meaning grains or food and Poorna meaning perfect and complete. Hence, Annapoorna means complete or perfect food. Sri Annapoorneshwari is believed to be an incarnation of Goddess Parvati, wife of Lord Shiva.

Devi Annapoorna is lauded and appraised in several ancient texts like Rudrayamala, Annapurna malininaksatra malika, Sivarahasya and Annapurna Kavacha.

Goddess Annapoorneshwari can been seen here in a standing pose on a peetha. she is holding Shanku, Chakra, Sri Chakra and Devi Gayatri in her four hands. The idol is covered in gold from head to toe.

It is believed that how so ever visit Devi Annapurna, will never for without food in their lives.

To reach the main temple complex, worshipers have to climb a flight of steps. Beautiful carvings can be found on the ceilings of the temple.

Adi Sesha surrounds the main sanctum or the Garbhagriha of the temple and the Padma Peeta constitutes of Koorma, Ashtagaja and others.

Male devotes have to remove their shirts to enter into the central sanctum. It is believed that the sage Agastya in 8th century established the icon of the goddess here.

As per legend, the god Shiva and his wife Parvati – the presiding goddess of food as Annapoorna, had an argument. Shiva declared everything in the world including food to be maya (illusion). To prove food is not illusion, Parvati disappeared resulting in the nature to become still. Neither climate changed nor plants grew, causing drought in the world.

Taking pity on the world, Parvati appeared as Annapurna and distributed food to all.

According to another tale, Shiva beheaded the god Brahma. Brahma’s skull got stuck in Shiva’s hand. He was cursed that till the skull is not full of food or grains, it will stick to his hands. Shiva went everywhere and asked for food but the skull was never full. So he finally went to this temple and Annapoorna filled the skull with grains and reversed Shiva’s curse.

The temple premise was small and unknown to many till the fifth Dharmakartharu Sri D.B. Venkatasubba Jois repaired and revived the Temple following the principles of Astrology, Vastu Shilpa and Hindu Myhtology. Prathistapana of Devi Adishakthi and ‘punaprathistapana’ of Devi Annapoorneshwari was done in 1973 on the auspicious day of “Akshaya Tritya”.

Akshya Tritya is the main festival celebrated in this temple. This day is believed to be the birth date of Devi Annapoorna. This day marks as the beginning of Treta Yuga as well as the end of winters and start of summers.

The temple also celebrates 5-day long Rathotsaya during the month of February, 9-day long Navratri during September, Deepotsava and Havi with great enthusiasm.

Horanadu is well connected by roads various KSRTC & Private Buses ply daily to Horanadu from various places. Nearest Airport is Mangalore airport. Nearest Railway Station is Shimoga Railway Station. Kalasa is 7 Kms from Horanadu, Chikmagalur 100 Kms away, Sringeri 75 Kms away and Bangalore 330 kms.

This town also throws up opportunities for exploring nearby places like Sringeri, Kudremukh and its sanctuaries and Kalasa.

J.KANNAN, M.Com, FIATA

"WE DON'T THINK TO BREATHE

 WE BREATHE TO THINK"