Hi,
My name is Sujatha Guruvayurappan. I live in the USA
Yesterday(Dec 21st) was Winter Solstice. According to Wikipedia, winter solstice is
the reversal of the gradual lengthening of nights and shortening of days. To put
it in my words, from tomorrow the sun rises little late than the previous
day also sets late than the previous day. So what is this have to do with Thiruppavai?
Winter Solstice has nothing do with Thiruppavai, I think it has something do with
litting lamps in Karthigai/Margazhi months.
Since night sets in too early before Winter Solstice(which is Karthiga month), people must
have started litting lamps in the evenings to bring some light into the dark. After
Winter Solstice(Margazhi)sun rises late everyday. So to bring some light into the dark mornings,
people might have started litting lamps in the morning in Margazhi.
Look at the sunset and sunrise time of Chennai and Washington D.C.
Chennai's sunset time:
Dec 21st Dec 22nd Dec 23rd Dec 24th Dec 25th
| Sunset: 5:48 pm | 5:49 pm | 5:49 pm | 5:50 pm | 5:50 pm |
Washigton DC sunset time
| Sunset: 4:49 pm | 4:50 pm | 4:50 pm | 4:51 pm | 4:52 pm |
Chennai sunrise time:
| Sunrise: 6:26 am | 6:27 am | 6:27 am | 6:28 am | 6:28 am |
Washington DC sunrise time:
| Sunrise: 7:23 am | 7:24 am | 7:24 am | 7:25 am | 7:25 am |
All over the world Karthigai month is too dark in the evenings and Margazhi month is too dark in the mornings.
So this is my assumption of litting lamps at our entrance. Am I correct or not?????
This is called "utharaayanam" in our Sampradhayam meaning the Sun has started moving North to bring more light and support crop growth. It is a sign of good days ahead.
ReplyDeleteAlso since it is dark , and many will be performing Bhajanais ( group song ) on their way towards the temples , these lit lamps on the doorsteps of every house will give them adequate light while they walk and also perhaps keep away insects.
ReplyDeleteVRV