It is dedicated to hindu god Lord
Shiva. Somavar takes its name from Soma or Chandra – the hindu moon god.
Fasting on the day is done by many to appease Lord Shiva and get prayers and
wishes fulfilled. It is also believed to help in attaining prosperity and
peaceful family life. Somvar Vrat begins from sunrise on Monday. Usually those
devotees observing the Vrat visit a Lord Shiva temple in the morning and the
evening. People also offers Pilva leaves while doing the pooja. The mantra that
is chanted is Om Namah Shivaya. Mondays in Karthigai Masam (November- December)
is also auspicious in Tamil Nadu.
History of Podhu Aavudayar Temple
This is a hindu temple and also called as Madhyapureeswara temple. It is in
Parakalakottai near pattukottai in the thanjavur district of Tamil Nadu, India.
The temple is dedicated to Shiva.
According to Hindu legend, once two sages Vankobar and Mahakobar
debated on virtues of brahmacharya and compared it with that of married life. Unable to decide between the
two, they prayed to Shiva to act as the judge. Shiva appeared to the sages at
Parakkalakkottai and gave his judgement. This 500 years old temple.
Temple Specialty:
During
Mondays in the month of Karthikai (November-December), devotees offer their
yields from the lands – paddy, pulses including the husk with gold coins
according to their status to the Lord. They offer even household articles,
clothes etc. A huge pandal (shamiana) is erected to gather the offerings.
There is no Vimana above the Lord as generally
seen in temples. As Lord Podhu Aavudayar is blessing the devotees in the
form of a tree, its branches and leaves are praised as the Vimana. In the
sanctum sanctorum, Mother Gajalakshmi has a place in front of the Lord with two
elephants on either side. Pujas are performed to both
simultaneously.
As Lord Shiva is the principal deity, there are
no shrines for Ambica, Lingodhbava,Muruga, Brahmma, Durga, Chandikeswara,
Bhairava and other deities. There are shrines for Lord Veera Sakthi
Vinayaka, Peddha Perumal (guardian deity) only outside the temple. Lord
Vinayaka is facing west. Deities Vankobar in fine attire and Mahakobar as
an ascetic are under a tamarind tree in idol form.
After the midnight puja on Mondays and opening of the temple for public
darshan, the first honor (Mudal Mariyadhai) goes to the eldest person of the
place with Shiva puja Prasad. The temple takes Re. 1/= from the
person. Then the abishek chandan with betel nuts are given to all
devotees by an employee of the temple. Then follows Annadhana- feeding
till dawn. I am dedicating this yummy ladoo for my most favorite Lord Podhu
Aavudayar.
Somvar Ladoo
In a pan, heat ghee. Add cashew
nuts and dry grape and fry this for few seconds and keep aside. In the same pan, add wheat flour
and roast it till it gets changed in color. And make sure this should not burn.Add cardamom seeds, jaggery and
keep cook in low flame for about 5 min. And switch off. Then transfer it into
big mixing bowl with fried nuts. Melt ghee and add it into mixing
bowl. When its warm, start making ladoos.
Greatness of Temple:
Lord
Shiva blesses the devotees in the form of a tree. He has a form (Rupa), He is
formless (Arupa) and form-formless (Linga). There is no Linga form in the
temple. While opening the temple, a part of the tree is dressed with sandal,
vastras as to a Shivalinga. The shrine is covered with a white curtain showing
only the Linga form. The feet of the Lord are installed in front of tree where
Lord granted darshan to sages.
The
timing of the temple is strange. On Mondays the temple is opened at 10.00 p.m.
night. Pujas and other procedures are followed till 11.00 p.m. Darshan is not
allowed during this time. It is again closed at 11.30 p.m. and reopened at
12.00 p.m. after pujas to Nandhi, Vinayaka, Peddha Perumal, Vankobar and
Mahakobar for public darshan. The temple is closed before dawn then. On Makar Sankranti -Thai Pongal day alone, the temple is opened at early
morning and kept open till 7.00 p.m.
The
rays of Sun fall on the Lord that day. No other Shiva related festival as
Tirukarthikai, Shivrathri, Annabishekam is celebrated in the temple. Lord
Dakshinamurthi is the Lord of Jupiter planet gracing on the goshta walls of
Shiva temples under a banyan tree. As Lord Shiva graces here in the form of a
Tree itself, the temple assumes Guru-Jupiter importance. The leaves of Arasa
Maram-Peepal tree is given as Prasad. It is believed that these leaves, if
preserved in houses will bring prosperity and ensure high farm yields if placed
in fields. Devotees pray the very doors of the temple and the tree as Lord
Shiva.
Those
facing delays in marriage and seeking child boon use to tie Mangalsutras and
cradles in the tree. There is also a strange practice among the women of the
place, offering Brooms (Vilakkumaru in Tamil) for hair growth. They make the
brooms from the coconut tree leaf stumps. As these thin sticks are long, women
believe that they will also have long hair. Successful devotees offer liberal
contributions to the temple. On Mondays in Karthikai-November-December, they
offer all farm produce as paddy, pulses, household items, clothes, cosmetic
items and gold coins and even the simplest husk. Large tents are built to
receive the contributions. Brooms make mountains.
Two
sages Vankobar and Mahakobar had a doubt – which is sacred, marital or ascetic
life. They went to Chidambaram and prayed to Lord Nataraja for enlightenment of
the subject. They were asked to come to this place where He would deliver His
judgment. They came here and sat under a tamarind tree. After pujas were over
in Chidambaram, Lord Shiva came here and stood under the banyan tree. He gave
the verdict that both paths of life are good if righteously followed. Lord then
merged in the tree. As He was impartial (Podhu) to both sages, He was named
Podhu Aavudayar and Madhyapureeswarar.
