On the Makar Sankranti day, Sree Padmanabha Swamy Temple in Trivandrum , Kerala, will celebrate the unique festival of Lakshadeepam – lighting of one lakh deepams or one hundred thousand lights. Laksha-deepam was last held on January 14, 2008 after a period of six years. Lakshadeepam marks the culmination of ‘murajapam.’ Murajapam is nearly two month long chanting of mantras for the welfare people and the land. The tradition of murajapam and lakshadeepam was started in 1750 AD by the then Travancore King primarily to mitigate the sins occurred during wars and annexations. Murajapam and Lakshadeepam are held once in six years. This year the Lakshadeepam day marks the end of ‘murajapam’ which began on November 20, 2007 . There is also a 19-day ‘kalabham’ ritual before the lighting on one hundred thousand diyas. Murasiveli procession, accompanied by the members of Tranvancore royal family, will be held on the same day. All these rituals are primarily intended for the welfare of

Sivavakkiyar, also known as Sivavakkiyam or Sivavakkiyar Siddhar, was indeed a remarkable figure in Tamil literature and spirituality during the 10th century. His name translates to "the mouthpiece of Shiva," reflecting his deep devotion to the Hindu deity Lord Shiva. Sivavakkiyar's poetry is celebrated for its profound mystical insights, spiritual wisdom, and social commentary. He composed his verses in Tamil, making his teachings accessible to the common people of the time. His works primarily revolve around the themes of self-realization, the impermanence of material existence, the pursuit of spiritual truth, and the path to liberation (moksha). One of the notable aspects of Sivavakkiyar's poetry is its simplicity and directness, which often resonates with readers across generations. He employed everyday language and imagery to convey profound philosophical concepts, making his teachings easily understandable and relatable. Sivavakkiyar's verses are not confine