Puttu Thiruvizha 2008

Puttu Thiruvizha (Festival) is the one among the 64 Thiruvilayadals of Lord Sundareswarar. It is celebrated at Puttu Thoppu in Madurai city every year in the Tamil month of "Avani". In this year, this festival will be going to celebrate on September 04, 2008. The Meenakshi Amman Temple will remain closed on this occasion, since the deities will be taken out for the festival.

Story behind the Puttu Thiruvizha

Puttu Thoppu is situated on the south bank of River Vaigai. It is believed that this is the place where Lord Shiva performed one of his Thiruvilayadals. The Lord gave salvation to Manickavasagar and Vanthiammai, an old lady here on the river banks. The Pandya King ordered every citizen of Madurai to build a massive bund at the banks of River Vaigai in order to protect his kingdom from the natural disasters like floods in Vaigai. The old lady Vanthiammai was ordered by the guards to carry baskets of soil for the work. But she was unable to carry out the command. So she planned to offer Puttu for those who help her. Nobody come up to help her. Suddenly, Lord Shiva appeared as a youngster and offered to work for her. Upon eating a fistful of the delicious puttu, he then slept off by the river bed while worked on. The king monitoring the progress of the work. At that time, the king watched the youngster (Lord Shiva) who slept off at the river bank. The King got angry and struck him with a cane. And a miracle is believed to have occurred. The blow on the lad landed on everyone's back including the ruler's. It is believed that Lord Shiva performed the Thiruvilayadal to give 'Mukthi (Moksha)' to the old woman.

Aavani Moola Festival

Every year, in the Tamil month "Avani", the Avani Moola Festival is being celebrated by the Meenakshi Amman Temple Devasthanam. This year, the festival will begin on Tuesday, 26th August, 2008. The special feature of this festival is that Lord Sundareswarar (Incarnation of God Shiva) going to start ruling the Madurai (also known as Kadambavanam) from this month onwards. Lord Sundareswarar Pattabhishegam will be on 8th September, 2008. Most of the people knows that Madurai is ruled by Goddess Meenakshi. Meenakshi ruled the Madurai only four tamil months (from chitirai to Aadi). Afterwards, Lord Sundareswarar starts ruling. Like this, God and Goddess alternatively ruling and protecting the Madurai and its people.

In this Month, Aavani Avittam is a famous programme for Hindus. This will happen every year in the Full Moon of the month of Avani. In this year, this festival is occured on Saturday, 16th August, 2008. During this day, all the Hindus wear a holy thread in their body and doing Chants, Mantras, Poojas and Aaradhanas to satisfy the deities. Also in this day, Lunar eclipse going to occur.


Festival Details:
1st Day - Karunkuruvikku Upadesam Seidha Leelai
2nd Day - Naaraikku Mukthi Kodutha Leelai
3rd Day - Manickam Vitra Leelai
4th Day - Dharumikku Porkizhi Alitha Leelai
5th Day - Ulavaa Kottai Aruliya Leelai
6th Day - Baananukku Angam Vettiya Leelai
7th Day - Valaiyal Vitra Leelai & Lord Sundareswarar Pattabishekam
8th Day - Nariyai Pariyaakiya Leelai
9th Day - Puttukku Mann Sumandha Leelai
10th Day - Viragu Vitra Leelai