1. When is Tiruvadarai celebrated?
Answer: The festival Thiruvadarai is celebrated on the day that the Arudra star occurs in the month of Margazhi (December-January). Hence it is also known as Arudhra Darshanam.It takes place on the full moon night in the month of Margazhi and this is also the longest night in a year.
2. What is the significance of Tiruvadarai?
Answer: Thiruvadarai(Arudhra) in Tamil means "sacred big wave", using which this universe was created by Lord Shiva about 132 trillion years ago. It is the day on which Lord Shiva as Nataraja is believed to have performed his cosmic dance. Arudra Darshan celebrates this ecstatic dance of Lord Shiva. Arudra signifies a golden red flame. Lord Shiva in the form of light performs this cosmic dance. The cosmic dance of Lord Shiva represents five activities – Creation, Protection, Destruction, Embodiment and Release. In essence, it represents the continuous cycle of creation and destruction. Tiruvadarai is essentially a Shaivite festival
3. In which temple does the grandest and most important Tiruvadarai celebration take place?
Answer: The grandest of all all Tiruvadarai festivities happens at the Natarajar temple at Chidambaram, where the Margazhi Bhramotsavam, or annual festival is celebrated for a period of 10 days. Hundreds of thousands congregate from far and wide to witness the climax of this festival on the day of Arudra Darisanam.The first day of festivities is marked by the hoisting of the temple flag, and a procession of the images of the Pancha Murthys (Somaskandar, Ambal, Vinayakar, Subramanyar and Chandikeswarar). The fifth day of the festival is considered to be of great significance and is referred to as the 'Teruvadaichaan tiruvizha'. The seventh day, is marked by a procession on the Golden Kailasam and the silver elephant mounts. The eighth day witnesses a procession of Bhikshatanar commemorating legends associated Shiva's and Vishnu's trip through Dhaarukaavanam in the guise of Bhikshaatanar and Mohini. It is only on the ninth day, that the image of Natarajar from the central shrine is taken out in procession in a grand chariot through the streets surrounding the temple. Tens of thousands of devotees drag the massive chariots through the Maada veedhis (processional streets), following which, the images of Natarajar and Sivakami are brought to the 1000 pillared hall of the vast temple. In the pre-dawn hours of the next day, under the full moon, an abhishekam is offered to the images of Natarajar and Sivakami in the 1000 pillared hall (the Raja Sabha), followed by a Royal Audience in the same venue, where thousands of devotees line up for a fleeting glimpse of Natarajar. The cosmic dance of Shiva is enacted later that afternoon, featuring the revered images of Nataraja and Sivakami decked in regal finery; the images are then taken back to the innermost sanctum.
Most of the temples around the world with Lord Nataraja as deity perform the Arudhra Darshan.
4. Traditionally, what prasadams are offered on this day to Lord Shiva in temples and households?
Answer: The sweet dish Kali is made today as prasadam. Additionally, a mixed vegetable sambhar/Koottu known as Thalagam is also prepared as a side-dish. For the Thalagam, a number of veggies are selected in odd numbers starting from 7, 9,13,15 etc traditionally. The veggies usually required are red pumpkin, ashgourd, sweet potato yam/chakkaravalli,
green plaintains(Vazhakkai). Don't use onion,drumsticks,radish or capsicum for an authentic taste.
green plaintains(Vazhakkai). Don't use onion,drumsticks,radish or capsicum for an authentic taste.
5. There is a story about how Kali came to be the neivedyam. Do you know what it is?
Answer: Sendanaar, a devout follower of the Lord, usually ate the leftover of what he offered to the lord and only after distributing to the other devotees.On Thiruvadirai day,he could only offer the simple kali preparation .When he felt bad that, that is all he could offer,Lord Nataraja showered him with kali to show him how pleased he was with Sendanaar's devotion.Ever since that miracle occurred, Kali is made as the main offering to Lord Nataraja on this day. Making,offering to Lord and eating this kali prasadam is likened to attaining bliss showered from Lord Nataraja.
6. What is the significance of Tiruvadarai in the town of Sirgazhi?
Answer: In Sirgazhi, this day is celebrated as the birth anniversary of Saint Thirugnanasambandar, commemorating the day when the saint as a baby was breastfed by Parvati.
7. What is the significance of Tiruvadarai in Thirupperundurai?
Answer: In Thirupperundurai, the day is observed as the birth anniversary of Saint Manickavasagar - the author of celebrated works such as Tiruvaachakam, Tiruvempaavai and Tiruppalliezhuchi. He was closely associated with the Chidambaram Natarajar temple, and is believed to have merged with Natarajar, in the central shrine there.
8. What is the significance of this festival in Kerala?
Answer: In Kerala, the festival is celebrated as the birthday of Lord Shiva. Thiruvathira is the nakshatra or "star" as per the Malayalam calendar of Lord Shiva. Another belief is that the festival commemorates the death of Kamadeva, the Hindu god of erotic desire. It is believed that on this day, the Goddess Parvathi finally met Lord Shiva after her long penance and Lord Shiva took her as a saha-dharma chaarini (equal partner). Both Parvathi and Shiva present this ideal to devotees in the form of Ardha-Nareeshawara (half male, half female form).In Kerala, Thiruvathira is an important traditional festival along with the other popular festivals, Onam and Vishu.
