Blogs — Margazhi

Andal (also called Goda or Kothai) is a celebrated Tamil Alvar saint, renowned as the only female poet-saint in the Sri Vaishnava tradition. In tradition, she is regarded as an incarnation of Bhumi (the Earth Goddess) and Lakshmi (Vishnu’s consort). From her earliest days, Andal’s life was infused with love and devotion. Raised by the great devotee Periyalvar in Srivilliputtur, she grew up absorbed in Vishnu devotion, and her story exemplifies pure, unwavering bhakti (devotion) to the Lord. Andal’s life is a testament to the power of love and devotion – her journey from an ordinary village girl to a divine bride is a timeless...

Margazhi (Margashirsha) – the Tamil month from mid-December to mid-January – is celebrated as supremely sacred. Lord Krishna himself declares in the Bhagavad Gita, “Among all the months, I am Margashirsha (Margazhi).” In Tamil Nadu, this is a month of rising early, drawing kolams (rangoli), and chanting devotional hymns. While it is famed for Vaishnava observances like Vaikuntha Ekadashi, Shaivites also revere it, especially the night of Thiruvathirai. This night is Arudra Darisanam, when Shiva, in his form as Nataraja (the Lord of Dance), is worshipped.  The Significance of Arudra Darisanam  Arudra Darisanam (also called Thiruvathirai) falls on the full-moon night of Margazhi when the star Thiruvathirai (Ardra) is ascendant. On this night, Tamil...

A month wrapped in winter’s gentle chill, when the air resonates with sacred hymns and devotional music from every home at dawn — that’s the divine beginning of Margazhi, also known as Agrahayana or Margashirsha. Falling between mid-December and mid-January, this ninth month of the Hindu calendar is dedicated to Lord Vishnu and holds immense spiritual significance. It is believed that during Margazhi, the universe overflows with divine energy, making it the perfect time for devotion, meditation, and spiritual awakening. This year, the Tamil month of Margazhi begins on Tuesday, December 16, and ends on Wednesday, January 14.  Why is...

In the rich and expansive world of Hindu mythology, Vaikunta stands out as a realm of unparalleled divinity and spiritual fulfillment—the eternal and celestial abode of Lord Vishnu, the preserver and protector of the universe. A key figure in the Hindu trinity, alongside Brahma, the creator, and Shiva, the destroyer, Vishnu embodies cosmic harmony, compassion, and order. His serene image—reclining gracefully on the thousand-headed serpent Shesha, with the radiant Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth, at his feet—paints a picture of peace and divine grace.  Vaikuntha, often described in Hindu scriptures, is a transcendent world where sorrow, suffering, and the cycle...