10-12-2004, 07:46 PM
via email
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<b>Navarathri and Navagrahas</b>
Festivals are so much a part and parcel of Chennai life. It is as if
festivals are interwoven into the life of every Chennaite. It is an
exhilarating experience to be a part of every celebration that ensues
through the year. Navarathri is a charming link that forms a central part of
this festival chain. Nava means nine, so navarathri is essentially a
festival that stretches through nine nights. Mythology has it that this
festival marks the slaying of Ravana by Lord Rama and has come to be
observed as the victory of virtue and truth. Many others believe that
Navarathri celebrates the victory of Goddess Durga over the vile demon
Mahishasura. Whatever be the belief, the predominant thought is that
Navarathri is a festival that celebrates the triumph of good over evil.
Navarathri is also the time to appease the Navagrahas. Make sure you
continue reading to find out the nine new ways to placate the nine
planetary deities. Navagrahas are the nine planet deities who are said to
have a significant impact on the lives of human beings. It is a common
practice to appease these divine beings by offering grains and lentils.
So, during Navarathri sundal is offered each day in remembrance of these
brazen deities, in the hope that all good things will reign. Why not
follow the authentic-lentil line of attack and win over the hearts of the
Navagrahas?
1. Sunday - Sooriyan - Sun: Godumai (Wheat) is what pleases this
dazzling deity. It is not difficult to make wheat sundal, though the process
is labourious. Soak whole wheat the previous evening itself. In the
morning tie it in a cloth and allow it to stand till the evening.
Pressure-cook the wheat with tumeric powder and salt. Proceed, as you would
make any other sundal. If you find this task time consuming, you can try
making broken wheat payasam or broken wheat puttu.
2. Monday - Chandran - Moon: It is Arisi (Rice) that delights this
gorgeous diety. You can use rice or rice with the husk (Nel). You can make
rice puttu or rice payasam. Since it is impossible to make sundal with
rice, you will have to pacify Chandran with some mixed rice or sweet
meat made of rice!
3. Tuesday - Angarakan - Sevaai - Mars: Thuvarai (Thoovar Dhal) is what
gratifies this deity who brings triumph and success in all our
endeavours. You can make sundal with broken thuvaram parrupu or the whole
variety that is commonly found in supermarkets. Soak the thuvarai the
previous day and allow it to sprout. Pressure cook till it is done and
proceed to make sundal. Add green chillies and raw mangoes to give tang and
flavour to the dish.
4. Wednesday - Budhan - Mercury: Payar (Moong Dhal) is what interests
Budhan, the diety who makes every wish come true. Thus Wednesday is
considered auspicious to begin all good things. Payar comes with and
without husk, both broken and whole. Whatever variety you may use, be careful
not to overcook this lentil since it cooks very fast. If you are using
the whole variety with husk, you can soak it over night and allow it to
sprout before making sundal. Just before you serve the sundal try
squeezing a dash of lime for a novel taste. You can attempt making payar
sweet sundal also using jaggery and coconut.
5. Thursday - Guru - Jupiter: Everyone needs the blessings of Guru to
achieve success, so what better way to appease this diety other than
offering sundal made of kadalai (channa dhal). Both the black and white
varieties of kadalai can be used. Soak kadalai the previous day as it
takes quite sometime for it to cook. Try adding green mango and ground
chilli powder to add to the taste of this popular sundal.
6. Friday - Sukran - Venus: Mochai parrupu (white beans) is what
pleases this Guru of the Asuras. White mochai parrupu comes both as dry beans
and fresh beans, though the fresh variety is seasonal. If fresh bean
seeds are available use them. If you are planning to use the dry lentil,
make sure you soak them well before cooking. Add a dash of green
chillies, curry leaves, grated carrots and coconut to add colour and flavour
to the dish.
7. Saturday - Sani - Saturn: The tiny black Ellu seeds (Sesame seeds)
will surely win the heart of Sani, the most portent of the nine grahas.
It is assumed that anyone who does not fall in the good books of Sani
can never thrive and prosper. So make sure you mollify this diety this
navarathri. Try making ellu urundai! You could alternatively make ellu
powder that can be mixed with rice. You can make sweet ellu powder if
you are short of time. Dry roast ellu and make a coarse powder of it. Mix
it with jaggery, to make sweet ellu podi.
8. Eight day of Navarathri - Rahu: The eighth and ninth days of
navarathri are reserved for the snake deities Rahu and Ketu. Without the
approval of this couple our desires can never materialize. Kollu is what
Rahu likes. Try making Kollu sundal. Add masala powder (made of dry
roasted dhania seeds, red chillies and coconut) and lots of red chillies to
add punch to this dish. You can also make Appam and offer it with a
splattering of honey to please Rahu.
9. Ninth day of Navarathri - Ketu: Ullunthu ( Urad dhal ) is a sure way
to please Ketu. Use whole ullunthu to make sundal. Add ginger, green
chillies and ground masala powder to make this sundal tastier. You could
also make ullunthu vadai! Instead of eating sundal every day we can
have vadai for a change.
-----------------------
<b>Navarathri and Navagrahas</b>
Festivals are so much a part and parcel of Chennai life. It is as if
festivals are interwoven into the life of every Chennaite. It is an
exhilarating experience to be a part of every celebration that ensues
through the year. Navarathri is a charming link that forms a central part of
this festival chain. Nava means nine, so navarathri is essentially a
festival that stretches through nine nights. Mythology has it that this
festival marks the slaying of Ravana by Lord Rama and has come to be
observed as the victory of virtue and truth. Many others believe that
Navarathri celebrates the victory of Goddess Durga over the vile demon
Mahishasura. Whatever be the belief, the predominant thought is that
Navarathri is a festival that celebrates the triumph of good over evil.
Navarathri is also the time to appease the Navagrahas. Make sure you
continue reading to find out the nine new ways to placate the nine
planetary deities. Navagrahas are the nine planet deities who are said to
have a significant impact on the lives of human beings. It is a common
practice to appease these divine beings by offering grains and lentils.
So, during Navarathri sundal is offered each day in remembrance of these
brazen deities, in the hope that all good things will reign. Why not
follow the authentic-lentil line of attack and win over the hearts of the
Navagrahas?
1. Sunday - Sooriyan - Sun: Godumai (Wheat) is what pleases this
dazzling deity. It is not difficult to make wheat sundal, though the process
is labourious. Soak whole wheat the previous evening itself. In the
morning tie it in a cloth and allow it to stand till the evening.
Pressure-cook the wheat with tumeric powder and salt. Proceed, as you would
make any other sundal. If you find this task time consuming, you can try
making broken wheat payasam or broken wheat puttu.
2. Monday - Chandran - Moon: It is Arisi (Rice) that delights this
gorgeous diety. You can use rice or rice with the husk (Nel). You can make
rice puttu or rice payasam. Since it is impossible to make sundal with
rice, you will have to pacify Chandran with some mixed rice or sweet
meat made of rice!
3. Tuesday - Angarakan - Sevaai - Mars: Thuvarai (Thoovar Dhal) is what
gratifies this deity who brings triumph and success in all our
endeavours. You can make sundal with broken thuvaram parrupu or the whole
variety that is commonly found in supermarkets. Soak the thuvarai the
previous day and allow it to sprout. Pressure cook till it is done and
proceed to make sundal. Add green chillies and raw mangoes to give tang and
flavour to the dish.
4. Wednesday - Budhan - Mercury: Payar (Moong Dhal) is what interests
Budhan, the diety who makes every wish come true. Thus Wednesday is
considered auspicious to begin all good things. Payar comes with and
without husk, both broken and whole. Whatever variety you may use, be careful
not to overcook this lentil since it cooks very fast. If you are using
the whole variety with husk, you can soak it over night and allow it to
sprout before making sundal. Just before you serve the sundal try
squeezing a dash of lime for a novel taste. You can attempt making payar
sweet sundal also using jaggery and coconut.
5. Thursday - Guru - Jupiter: Everyone needs the blessings of Guru to
achieve success, so what better way to appease this diety other than
offering sundal made of kadalai (channa dhal). Both the black and white
varieties of kadalai can be used. Soak kadalai the previous day as it
takes quite sometime for it to cook. Try adding green mango and ground
chilli powder to add to the taste of this popular sundal.
6. Friday - Sukran - Venus: Mochai parrupu (white beans) is what
pleases this Guru of the Asuras. White mochai parrupu comes both as dry beans
and fresh beans, though the fresh variety is seasonal. If fresh bean
seeds are available use them. If you are planning to use the dry lentil,
make sure you soak them well before cooking. Add a dash of green
chillies, curry leaves, grated carrots and coconut to add colour and flavour
to the dish.
7. Saturday - Sani - Saturn: The tiny black Ellu seeds (Sesame seeds)
will surely win the heart of Sani, the most portent of the nine grahas.
It is assumed that anyone who does not fall in the good books of Sani
can never thrive and prosper. So make sure you mollify this diety this
navarathri. Try making ellu urundai! You could alternatively make ellu
powder that can be mixed with rice. You can make sweet ellu powder if
you are short of time. Dry roast ellu and make a coarse powder of it. Mix
it with jaggery, to make sweet ellu podi.
8. Eight day of Navarathri - Rahu: The eighth and ninth days of
navarathri are reserved for the snake deities Rahu and Ketu. Without the
approval of this couple our desires can never materialize. Kollu is what
Rahu likes. Try making Kollu sundal. Add masala powder (made of dry
roasted dhania seeds, red chillies and coconut) and lots of red chillies to
add punch to this dish. You can also make Appam and offer it with a
splattering of honey to please Rahu.
9. Ninth day of Navarathri - Ketu: Ullunthu ( Urad dhal ) is a sure way
to please Ketu. Use whole ullunthu to make sundal. Add ginger, green
chillies and ground masala powder to make this sundal tastier. You could
also make ullunthu vadai! Instead of eating sundal every day we can
have vadai for a change.