''Pavai Nombu (Vratam)'' Undertaken In the Month of Margazhi - A ritualic Tradition At Vishnu Temples Of Tamil Nadu

Navrang India January 06, 2025

 

Goddess Andal temple, Srivilliputhur, TN.templesinindiainfo.com

The Vedas acclaim that yagna, performance of sacrificial rites, dhana and charity are a means to know the Brahman. Purification of hear and mind is important  with a view to adhering to the prescribed duties and rules of conduct that these entail. The Paavai Nombu that Andal undertakes with her companions is a unique yagna not only in terms of austere practices but also in its purpose, pointed out Sri P.T. Seshadri in a discourse.  It is solely for the welfare of the world and for attaining the Lord who is the highest  Purushartha .Unlike certain yagnas that are performed for specific material gains such as the Aswamedha for decisive and unmatched  victory or the Nikumbala for destruction of enemies or Puthra Kamesti Yagna for the birth of babies for childless couples. Pavai Nombu focusses on the Bhakti path to attain the ultimate goal.  Pavai Nombu in Tamil Nadu  begins  on 16th December 2024 and ends on 13th January 2025

Paavai,  a poetic tradition in ancient Tamil has been around for centuries since the Sangam age.  In this simple ritualistic tradition the woman  devotee  worships her ishta  Devata and  undertakes the Pavai Nombu with a view to attaining her ultimate goal.  Pavai Nombu is  nothing but a  vratam and strict austerities are observed for a specific purpose  by  devout young women who want a good husband. 

Pavai (meaning doll) nombu (meaning fasting) is mostly observed by young unmarried girls  throughout the month of Margazhi.  Women  wake  up before sunrise every morning and after bathing  pray before an image of a deity  to get blessings. Their mothers help them with the nuances of traditional worship. 

 Many of the  ideals such as  leading moral and ethical life, following the path of righteousness  in a selfless manner and practising ahimsa, etc.,  as suggested by Poetess  Andal  are essential principles  for  upholding the  true spirit of Pavai Nombu.

Paavai Nombu, Mgazhi month tamilhindu.com

Thiruppaavai, a sacred text   composed between the 5th and 7th centuries by poetess Andal, an adopted daughter of Vaishnava saint Periazhwar of Srivilliputhur, consists of 30 verses in chaste Tamil and each devotional hymn on each day of the Margazhi month is sung by the devotes. The mesmerising hymn starts with ''Margazhi thingal''. 

At her birth place Srivilliputhur in Virudhunagar district of Tamil Nadu,  the town wakes up to the soothing sounds of Thiruppavai bestowing  a sublime atmosphere throughout the day. Across this state  Andal is treated more than a saint and as a form of god herself and every Vishnu temple  has a shrine for goddess Andal Nachiyar. Among the 12 famous Vaishnava  Azhwar saints who composed songs on  MahaVishnu, Andal is the only woman Azhwar saint. Her  Thirupavai and Nachiar Tirumoxhi  are  recited by devotees during the Winter festival season of Margazi.

Across Tamil Nadu in all Vishnu temples Tirupavai is played through loud speakers and neighbors in and around the temples will normally get up around 4 to 4.30 am from the deep cold morning  slumber upon hearing  the resonating soul-stirring songs emanating from them   sanctifying the ambiance around there. 

Andal Nachiyaar as she is often referred to, is said to be an avatar of  Lakshmi ( Bhumi Devi -Earth).  Her overwhelming yearning for Sri Vishnu made her choose Bhakti Marg. During Margazhi she committed herself by preparing  flower garland for Perumal to be worn by him during Puja. For several years  she undertook this Kaingarya with devotion and commitments as a Yagna and  composed the Sacred Text Thirupavai.  After her long services with  austerities, she attained her ultimate goal. After avoiding earthly wedding she went to Srirangam temple with Periazhwar and finally merged  with the main deity Lord Ranganathar and became his consort.

Andal suggests if one's committed goal is to attain ''Narayana's Grace by way of upholding Pavai Nombu tradition,  then one’s way of life becomes a yagna.  In this wonderful world of creations that offer a plethora of pleasure that have temporary value . Nothing is more blissful than be blessed with an opportunity to get salvation and spend the pleasant days in the shadow of god's grace and compassion.

Salvation means you are away from the world of attractions, free from Samsara Bandam and sins and greed.  To be free from materialistic life, spiritual exploration and commitments are essential. Propitiating the Lord residing in Parkadal, and singing His glory will help us  get rid of  evil effects of one’s sins as easily as dirt. Through devotion and yagna one can train the Jeevatma to seek his infinite compassion and divine grace.