Karadayar nombu

I am not a great reader and definitely not a great writer. However, I have always had a great interest in learning new cultures be it within India or foreign. I am by all means intrigued with the similarities the Greek and Indian mythology have. The `I am the greatest` fight among the goddesses - Lakshmi, Saraswathi and Parvathi Vs Hera, Athena and Aphrodite, lust for another man's wife - Helen Vs Sita or Draupadi, invincible power with just one weakness area leading to downfall - Duryodhana's thigh Vs Achilless heel , warfares for hundreds of years with a woman being the root cause - Trojan war Vs Mahabharath and many many more..

But no culture except for us Indians have the custom of women folk praying for their husband's health and longevity.I am impressed with the selfless nature inculcated in Indian women since their childhood. While most things are a lot different now and career seems more important , some things and some thoughts never change..

What Karwa Chauth is for the Northies or Varalakshmi Vratham is for the Andhrites , yesterday was the Karadaya nombu - an exclusive function for Tamil Iyers celebrated by all the married women for the health and longevity of their husbands and unmarried for their future husbands.

While it might appear to be funny that we pray for our future husbands , I think its sweet. Because - a. we pray for some one we never heard of b. It doesn't hurt to pray c. The post puja prasad is delicious.

The legend goes that there once lived a beautiful and intelligent princess named Savithri who was to be married to Sathyavan. But alas, Sathyavan was destined to die within a year which would make Savithri a widow. She was warned by sage Narad of the consequences of if she married him. She ignored the warning and Sathyavan died on a fateful day. The story goes on with how undeterred she was to bring him back to life, the penances she does and how she convinces the Yama, the god of death to give him back to her.

Legend also has it that her chastity could melt a rock or solidify a liquid. One day just when the month of magham was changing to panguni , and all she had was oru pidi arisi maavu ( one fist full of rice flour ) and vellam ( jaggery). She made an adai ( patty) with those ingredients and butter to appease the Gods. The butter never melted to show her resolute and unshakable faith.

So to date, all the Tamil iyer women offer adai ( made out of jaggery and rice flour) topped with butter and with vethalai paaku and tie a yellow thread with arali poo and manjal on their necks and say the below prayer -

Urugaatha vennayum Oradayum notren ( I offer you one adai with butter that wouldnt melt )
Orukalum en kanavan piriyathirukkanam ( may my husband and I never be apart )

I remember my mother doing this since I was a child and making me do it as well.. never really understood the meaning but always loved this festival.