Pavai Nombu during Margazhi Month

Pavai Nombu, also known as Margali Nonbu, is observed in Tamil Nadu during Margazhi masam or Margali month. It is said that Andal performed Pavai Nonbu to merge with Sri Ranganatha (Lord Vishnu). Pavai Nombu is performed by women for prosperity and to get good husbands. The history of Pavai Nonbu is more than 2000 years old and is mentioned in the early Tamil scriptures. In 2011, Margali month begins on December 16.

General belief is that the Pavai Nombu was observed for Katyayani (a form of Durga). It is said that Gopis first observed it to get Lord Krishna as their husband. Women and girls observing Pavai Nombu woke before sunrise bathed in the Kalindi River and made an image of Goddess Katyayani with the clay found on the river bank and offered prayers to the Goddess to get good husbands. It is believed that Andal performed the Pavai Nombu to merge with Sri Ranganatha.

Today, women and girls undertaking Pavai Nombu during Margali month take bath at dawn and visit temples and read a verse from Thiruppavai composed by Andal.


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Posted by Abhilash Rajendran on 15.12.08

1 comments:

Haresh Balasubramaniam said...

sri:

Dear Sir,

First let me thank you for the great service you are performing. You are correct with regards to the Pavai Nonbu being observed for good husbands. However in the context of Andal it is different.

The pavai nonbu observed as per the Thiruppavai verses illustrates the desire of the jeevatma to merge with the paramatma. All the austerities performed in this regard are part of the sharanagati performed by Andal to Lord Ranganatha.

There is no requirement for Andal to perform the Katyayani Vratam since Lord Krishna in the Gita has already assured Moksha to those who perform this sharanagati to him.

This same Krishna prior to his descent on earth had bestowed many boons to Katyayani or Durga (ref : Vishnu Puranam)making her become a very powerful deity of granting any desire.

This concept of liberation from the cycle of birth and death - Moksha and attainment of Paramapadam/ Vaikunta is illustrated by the marriage of Andal with Ranganatha - ususally performed on Bhogi Day.

Hope this clarifies the intent of the Thiruppavai verses in relation to Andal's nonbu.

Adiyen

Srimannarayana Dasan

December 18, 2008 at 8:47 AM

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