Karadaiyan Nombu

Significance of Karadaiyan Nombu

Karadaiyan Nombu or Savitri Vratham is a popular fasting observed among the hindu culture. This fast observed by married women for the longevity and well-being of their beloved husband. It is believed that Savitri got her husband back on the first day of the Tamil month Panguni. This vratham is observed on an auspicious day at a particular time (i.e. transition of the tamil month Maasi to Panguni). It mostly falls in the month of March according to English/Gregorian Calendar. This year it was celebrated on March 14, 2018. On this day, women observe fast until the pooja is over and a “yellow thread” is tied around the neck by elderly women in the family to other women and young girls. Girls as young as one-year old start wearing the “Yellow Thread” around their neck praying for good husband.

Story of Satyavan – Savitri

Savitri is the daughter of the king of Madra Kingdom, Asvapati. King Asvapati prayed to the Sun God Savitr for a son for his lineage, but he was blessed with a beautiful daughter. Hence the king named his daughter Savitri in honor of the Sun God.

Savitri is so beautiful and pure, she intimidates all the men in the vicinity. When she reaches the age of marriage, she had the freedom to choose her husband on her own. She sets out on a pilgrimage for this purpose and finds Satyavan, the son of a blind king named Dyumatsena of Salwa Kingdom;

Savitri returns to find her father speaking with Sage Narada who announces that Savitri has made a bad choice: although perfect in every way, Satyavan is destined to die in one year from that day.

Savitri and Satyavan were married, and she goes to live in the forest. Immediately after the marriage, Savitri wears the clothing of a hermit and lives in perfect obedience and respect to her new parents-in-law and husband.

Three days before the foreseen death of Satyavan, Savitri takes a vow of fasting and vigil. The morning of Satyavan’s predicted death, Savitri accompanies her husband into the forest. Satyavan suddenly becomes weak and lays his head in Savitri’s lap. Yama himself, the god of Death, comes to claim the soul of Satyavan.

Savitri follows Yama as he carries the soul away. When he tries to convince her to turn back, she offers successive formulas of wisdom.

First, she praises obedience to Dharma, then friendship with the strict, then Yama himself for his just rule, then Yama as King of Dharma, and finally noble conduct with no expectation of return. Impressed at each speech, Yama praises both the content and style of her words and offers any boon, except the life of Satyavan.

1. She first asks for eyesight and restoration of the kingdom for her father-in-law
2. A hundred children for her father
3. A hundred children for herself and Satyavan.

For the last wish to come true, Satyavan has to be brought back alive from death. Impressed by Savitri’s dedication and purity, he offers one more time for her to choose any boon, but this time omits “except for the life of Satyavan”. Savitri instantly asks for Satyavan to return to life. Yama grants life to Satyavan and blesses Savitri’s life with eternal happiness.

Karadaiyan Nombu Procedure

On the day of fasting the following things need to be followed,

1. Women must take head bath and decorate their house with Kolam.
2. Nevidhyam for this festival is “Karadaiyan Nombu Adai”. It should be prepared on day of the fasting. This fasting is mostly broken in the noon or early evening. Betal leaves, Betal Nuts and Banana is also to be placed along with the nevidhyam items.
3. A “Yellow Thread” called “Nombu Charadu” is to be kept ready by tying small flower or a small piece of manjal(turmeric). This Charadu has to be made for all the sumangali women and young girls in the house and one thread for goddess Lakshmi. We should make even number of charade only.
4. The pooja is performed when the Tamil month Maasi ends and Panguni begins. While performing nevidhyam to goddess Lakshmi the following sloka is recited,

“Urugadha venneyum oru adaiyum naan tharuvaen
oru kaalum en kanavan ennai vithu piriyathu iruka vendum”

Meaning: I offer the unmelted butter and rice cake to you.
Please bless me that I live happily with my husband for a very long time.

5. Elderly women in the family offers the first charadu to goddess Lakshmi and then ties it for herself or her husband ties it. Then she ties the charadu for other women in the family and to young girls. While tying the charadu the following slokas is to be recited,

“Thoram gruhnami subage saharidram dharaamyaham
bhartuhu aayushya siddyartham supreetha bhava sarvadha”

Meaning: Devi, I’m tying this nombu charadu around my neck
for the longevity of my husband. Please bless me.

Offering Nevidhyam to Goddess Lakshmi

A special nevidhyam is prepared with rice flour, jaggery and Black eye peas called as “Karadaiyan Nombu Adai”. Two versions of adai are made one is savory and sweet. Spread it on the Banana leaf or plate along with butter and offer it to goddess Lakshmi. After tying the charadu women eat one adai and offer the other to her husband and distribute the rest to other family members.

Click here for Uppu Adai (Savory Adai) and Vella Adai (Sweet Adai)

Source of the contents from here.

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