Panguni Uthiram is celebrated with great fervour across Tamil Nadu. The festival falls in the Tamil month of Panguni in the conjunction of the Uthiram star and Pournami. In this month alone, Pournami coincides with the Uthiram star. It is important to understand the significance of this festival. This day is known for many celestial weddings, which is celebrated and re-enacted, even today in several temples inTamil Nadu.
Here is a brief background of one such wedding, wherein Lord Murugan marries Devayanai.
Lord Muruga & Panguni Uthiram
Lord Muruga seeks blessings of his parents to end the attrocities of Asuras. He departs in his chariot driven by Vayu bhagawan. On his way he encounters a mountain preventing the movement of his army. The wise sage Narada then gives a background about the mountain. He says that the mountain was once an Asura called Kiraunjan and due to ill deeds he was cursed by Sage Agasthya to turn into a mountain. Sage Agasthya had also cursed Kiraounjan that death would befall him through the hands of a son of Lord Shiva.
Despite being a mountain(a non moving object), Kiraunjan was harrassing the noble minded, through deceit.The wise sage Narada also mentions that, close to this mountain is a place called Mayapuripattinam which was being ruled by an elephant headed Asura called Tharakasuran and his group consisting of Soorapadman and Simhamukan. True to his nature Tharakasuran was harassing the noble minded in that area. Hearing this, Lord Muruga orders one of his commanders Veerabagu to take charge of half the army and enter into a combat with Tharakasuran and emerge victorious. A fierce battle ensued between the armies of Lord Muruga and Tharakasuran and saw valiant soldiers perish on both side. In the battle, Tharkasuran, through a powerful attack using a mace, killed Veerakesari, one of the lieutenants of Veerabagu. Seeing one of his lieutenants fall, Veerabagu attacked Tharakasuran fiercely, but the latter, with his trident (Trishul) pierced Veerabagu’s chest and injured him badly. With the commander out of action, Lord Muruga’s army become directionless and started running helter skelter. Veerabagu regained consciousness and attacked Tharakasuran again. Unable to face the attack by Veerabagu, this time, Tharakasuran through his demonic/mystic powers transformed himself into a mouse and escaped with his army. Tharakasuran (as a mouse) then hid himself insie the Kiraunjan mountain. Hearing this, Lord Muruga decides to enter the battleground himself. On seeing Lord Muruga as a small boy, the arrogant Tharakasuran pokes fun at Lord Muruga. Lord Muruga , thus enraged, attacks Tharakasuran with his ‘Vel’ and conquers Tharakasuran and also breaks the mountain into multiple pieces. As a gesture for relieving the Devas from the harassment of Asuras, Lord Indra gets his daughter Devayanai married to Lord Muruga on this day of Panguni Uthiram.
Hence this day of Tamil month Panguni (having star as Uthiram) is celebrated across temples in TN as a sign of victory of good (Lord Muruga) over evil forces (Soorapadman, Tharakasuran and other Asuras). Celestial weddings are conducted on this day to unify Hindu devotees cutting across caste and class to seek blessings from the Amighty.
Other significances of this day
It is believed that several other celestial weddings also happened on this day. To name a few, Lord Shiva married Goddess Parvati, Lord Ram married Sita. It is also believed that on this day is also Andal’s (Srivilliputtur) wedding took place.
Apart from celestial weddings, there are other important events which have taken place on Panguni Uthiram.
- Lord Ayyapa is said to have been born
- Karaikkal Ammaiyar (one of 63 Nayanmargals) is said to have attained liberation
Panguni Uthiram & Thirukazhukundram
Thirukazhukundram is a famous hill temple in Tamil Nadu sacred to Hindus. Here Lord Shiva is known as Vedagiriswarar and his consort is called Thiripurasundari. While Lord Shiva’’s abode is on a hill, the temple of the goddess is on the plains. The idol of the goddess is made of Ashta Gandha (eight difference types of perfumed substances). Inorder to preserve the idol, puja for the goddess is always at her feet. However there are 3 occassions (days) of the year when puja/abhishekam is for the entire idol. One such day is the day of Panguni Uthiram. Other days being Aadi Uthiram and Navami in Navaratri.
Relevance and faith even today
With Panguni Uthiram being considered an auspicious day for weddings, several Hindu Tamil families who are searching for brides or bridegrooms for their children observe a fast (viratham) on this day. They pray for finding a suitable and compatible life partner for their children who would further and preserve rich Hindu traditions and customs.
In all Hindu households in Tamil Nadu, on this day, a worship at the Murugan temple nearby is a custom, followed by offering Sakkarai Pongal as prasadam.
- – Balaji Murali
Vetri Vel !
References
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8NtFNa1EfbU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DyY8bXLBPDE
https://bharathgyanblog.wordpress.com/2020/04/06/divine-marriage-day-panguni-uthiram/
http://www.thirukalukundram.in/