Legends about Thiruvathirai / Arudhra Darisanam

Thiruvathira is one of the oldest festivals celebrated in South India, more commonly in the state of Tamil Nadu. It falls on 11-Jan-1017 / 2-Jan-2018. Despite being a popular festival, there is no vivid theory regarding the origin of this festival. Many myths are associated with the holy Thiruvadhira fast undertaken on this occasion.  Despite it, the origin of this festival remains unclear.

According to few legends, Thiruvadarai is considered the birthday of Lord Shiva. Some call it the day when Lord Shiva merged all nine divine powers within him, before initiating the divine function of creation. Few others believe that it is on the day of Thiruvadarai that Lord Shiva returned back to this world, ending the harsh austerities and tapas that he underwent after the death of Goddess Sati.

According to few myths, Goddess Parvathi is said to have performed rigorous penance to win the heart of Lord Siva. Having moved by her devotion and love, the lord is believed to have accepted her as his divine consort on the day of Thiruvathira. Thus few people celebrate it as the wedding day of God Shiva and Goddess Parvathi Devi.

Kamadeva, who according to Hindu mythology is considered the God of love, was reborn on this day, after being pardoned by Lord Shiva, on the request of Parvathi Devi and Rathi Devi. Kamadeva is believed to have been burnt by the destructive flames of the Lord’s third eye, turning him into mere ashes.

Another legend associated with this festival state Rukmini Devi underwent the sacred fast, on the advice of Sage Narada, in order to marry Lord Krishna.

Few also believe that in accordance to Narada’s advice, Gopikas from Vrindavanam undertook the sacred Karthiyayani fast during dhanurmasa, wishing to marry Lord Krishna. For this, they had created an idol of Goddess Karthiyayani and prayed her for a mandala( 48 days). The Gopikas are said to have observed a strict fast, by taking early morning baths in the river, chanting devotional poems and hymns praising the Lord. They worshipped Lord Krishna whole heartedly, offering flowers and naivedhyam to the deity who resulted in their spirits and souls being merged with the Lord, on the holy night of Thiruvathira. They are believed to have danced with Lord Krishna, on the banks of river Yamuna and had attained eternal bliss (salvation) on this day. These rituals later became the regular customs followed on the day of Thiruvathira.

Yet another interesting legend associated with this festival is that, Long ago, at the time of  Mahakalakalpa, a severe war is said to have broken between Lord Brahma and Lord Vishnu. Lord Shiva who was witnessing his war, is said to have taken an immobile form of the holy Shiva Linga. According to the advice of Lord Shiva, Brahma and Vishnu worshipped this Linga chanting the divine Omkara maantra and Panchakshari (OM NAMASHIVAYA). Lord Mahadeva is then believed to have emerged from the Linga and had showered his divine blessings on Lord Bhrama and Vishnu. From then on, it is widely believed that devotees worshipping Lord Shiva on Thiruvathira day receive immense blessings from him. Shivapurana states that the blessings got by a person praying Lord Shiva on this particular day is far more than that is collectively received by worshipping him for over a year.

Once lived a farmer named Nandanar from the dalit community who was an ardent devotee of Lord Shiva. He wished to get the holy darshan of the lord but had meticulous tasks on that day to finish, which were assigned by his land lord. The benevolent Lord himself is said to have completed all the tasks assigned to the farmer, on his behalf, instructing him to visit the temple for the ‘Arudra darshan’. There was yet another hindrance for the farmers in getting the darshan of the Lord. People from the dalit community were forbidden to enter the temple in those days. So Nandanar stood out side the temple, praying the Lord again to help him from this situation. In order to provide darshan the staunch Nandanar, the lord is said to have instructed the Nandi Dev to move aside, calling out the words “nandi nagharu”. Thus Nandanar got to attain moksha on getting the divine darshan of Lord Shiva. Even today, one can witness the sculpture of Nandi dev in thillai temple having his tongue up on his nose, exhibiting a shocking reaction on having heard the Lord calling him out to move. This is the main reason attributed to the much revered “Arudra darisanam” which is one among the prominent rituals of Hinduism.

Various myths have been associated towards the celebration of the thiruvadarai festival. Be it for any of the above reason, Thiruvathira surely stands as a sacred and revered day for the devotees of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathi, who seek their divine blessings by observing the sacred Thiruvathira vratham (fast). Women fast on this holy day in the belief that it ensures long life to their husbands, thereby bringing about immense happiness and prosperity to their family as a whole.