Events

Koodarai Valli

Pooja: Koodarai Valli, Ekadasi

Date: Monday, 11 January 2010

Koodaarai vellum seer Govindaa

Undhannai paadi parai kondu yaam perum samm maanam

Naadu pugazhum parisinaal nanraaga

Choodagame thol valaiyay thoday sevip poovay

Paadagamay enranaiya pala galanum yaam anivom

Aadai uduppom adhan pinnay

Paal soru mooda nei peydhu muzhankai vazhi vaara

Koodi irundhu kulirntheylor empaavaai

Koodaraivalli Significance

Koodaraivalli is a function celebrated based on Andal's 27th pasuram "KOODARAI VELLUM SEER...". Every year, margazhi 27 is celebrated as "koodaravalli" hence. In this day, the andal with her friends have completed their fasting in this day and started enjoying themselves for the rest three days.

How to Fast & when to break in maargazhi .

In the pasuram, "Vaiyathu vaazhvirgal", andal is telling us how to involve in the fasting and what are all the procedures. You should always chant the bhagavannama for the whole day of fasting, avoid ghee, milk, take bath early in brahmamuhurtha, dont decorate yourself, dont do avoided things (eating outside, speaking unnecessary words, etc.), help others, so on...

Receipe for Koodarai Valli

Akkaravadisal

Ingredients:

Arusi (Rice)– 1 cup.

Paitham parupu – 1/2 cup

Paal – 4 cups,

Vellam - about 6 small blocks (I use the Ravi brand that sells jaggery in small peices).

Nei (Ghee) – about 1 karandi

Elakkai – no more than 3 peices

Handful of Mundiri parupu and Drakshai.

Method:

Melt vellam by dropping chunks into boiling water. Once the vellam is completely dissolved in the water, decant the liquid to remove floating impurities. Keep aside.

Combine rice, parupu and milk and pressure cook. Once done, add the clear vellam and nei to the mixture.

Roast mundiri and drakshai in ghee, and add to the mixture.

Offer to Perumal as prasadam.

sakkarai pongal

The sakkarai pongal usually is not prepared with milk. Only on koodaravalli we add milk as per Andal's pasuram. Also we try to eat with others (neighbours, close relatives etc. ,) because of the same reason  "koodi Erunthu kulirnthelor Embavai"

Andal

Peri Alwar found this baby in his backyard , when he was on his routine to his field to collect flowers and tulsi to make Garland for Vatapathra Shayi. He picked up this baby of great features and nursed her. Aandal grew up with Peri Alwar who was always engaged in religious activities. The child was ever curious to hear and learn hymns in praise of the Lord. Aandal started to help Peri Alwar in his activities to provide garlands of different varieties to the Lord both in the morning and evening.

Each day, before her father came to adorn the Lord with the flower garlands, she would don it on herself and   she would think that the Lord  will wear this very same garland. That day, Peri Alwar happened to come to the temple earlier than expected and he was shocked to see Kodai wearing fresh flowers meant for the Lord.

"Kodai, what have you done? How will the Lord forgive me now? These are flowers meant only for Him! Now, I shall have to go get some more flowers for Him...what have you done?"

Kodai could not understand why her father was so upset. She was sad to see her father adorn the Lord with flowers that she had not worn on herself.

That night, as Peri Alwar fell into a troubled sleep, the Lord appeared in his dream, "அவள் சூடிக் கொடுத்த சுடர்க் கொடி! அவள் ஆண்டாள்! அவள் என்னை ஆண்டாள்!"

Hearing the Lord declare that he considered the flowers worn by Andal and Andal herself more precious to him than anything else, Peri Alwar realized that his daughter is perhaps destined to be more than what he gave her credit for. From the next day, he let Andal wear the flowers and then he would offer them to the Lord.

As she grew up to be a beautiful young woman, her love for the Lord grew stronger until one day, she resolutely declared to her father that she would marry none other than the Lord himself.

"I belong with him!", she declared and Peri Alwar worried about his daughter. That night, the Lord appeared in his dream again and told him that his daughter was destined to be His bride.

The next day, Peri Alwar took Andal, in full bridal glory, to SriRanganathar at SriRangam. And Andal became one with the Lord that day (Koodaravalli).

She composed a song per day for a month. This is named as"" thirupaavai"". Thiru means sacred or great, paavai means vratha or vow. As she grew up in helping her foster father (Vishnuchittar) to make garlands for the Lord and see Him wearing them, initially she was immensely satisfied like her father. Gradually, she developed love for Him and wanted to marry Him. Scriptures had taught her that if she undertook KATHYAYINI Vratha, she may win His hand. Thirupaavai is a result of this vratha for a month and composing a hymn per day.