Karthigai Deepam and Kolam dec 12 2008

These are the pictures of karthigai deepam celebrated at my place.Worshipping the divine in the form of light is an amazing concept. The hymn "Lead Kindly light " comes to my mind

Lead, Kindly Light
"Lead, Kindly Light, amidst th'encircling gloom,
Lead Thou me on!The night is dark, and I am far from home,Lead Thou me on!Keep Thou my feet; I do not ask to seeThe distant scene; one step enough for me."

This festival is special for Lord Shiva and Lord Muruga. The house is cleaned thoroughly during karthigai.I think this is a form of spring cleaning. Clearing up old energy and making way for new. I enjoyed lighting up the earthen lamps.

10 Dec 2008 Goddess MaaKali Temple Visit

Peepal tree at the temple

On Lord Shiva's special day (a day most suited for propitiating him-pradosham), I visited a temple dedicated to the Goddess MaaKali, it also houses a spatika(quartz) Lingam.This is located in Anna Nagar 4th Main road chennai. Every temple houses a Sthala Vriksham(a temple tree). Being a tree hugger I just love the concept of temple tree! "Hindus associate the tree with the three gods Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. Vishnu being reputed to have been born under a Peepul, which is therefore Vishnu himself in the form of a tree."Women tie a yellow thread around the bark of the tree for their wishes to be fulfilled.The message of conservation has beautifully been woven in to this milieu.This temple also houses a Peepal tree(Sacred Fig)( Ficus religiosa).It is called Arasa Maram in tamil.Women generally go around the tree to worship it. Again it proves to be very beneficial because of the copious supply of oxygen.It is such a mood uplifter and a good form of exercise.What a beautiful metaphor. Buddha also attained enlightenment under the peepal tree.