Some adorn Thuiruthuzai on their ears, what is the reason behind it? If so, should it be adorned inside or outside the earlobe?
Vidwan’s reply:
Scriptures have stated Thiruthuzai must be worn on the ears. As per the line ‘karnamulE tu tam trutvA’, flowers should be worn on the hair and Thiruthuzai on the ear lobes. As it is karnamulE it appears it can be placed on the outside of the upper ear lobe. Adiyen had seen our elders placing it on the inside and not on the outside; as per our sampradaym, we must place it on the inside of our ear lobes.
Why is it said that conch sound must not be heard in southern India temples? Are there any references in Agama texts regarding this?
Vidwan’s reply:
The sound of the conch is special. There is no stipulation that conch should not be sounded in south Indian temples. Even today it is a practice to sound conch at certain temples such as those in Kerala. Conch is sounded either when Perumal goes out in procession or when the doors of the temple are opened.
The statements of Thiruppavai – “tangaL tirukkOvil sangiDuvAn pOtandAr”, “veLLai viLi saning pEraravam kETTilaiyO”, also mean the sound of the conch. Two meanings are attributed to “sangiDuvAn”, one which means conch. As per “puLLaraiyan kOyil veLLai viLisangin pEraravam kETTilaiyO”, there is no harm in sounding the conch at temples.
But the reason why conch is not sounded at certain temples is due to the respect of those temples does not allow it. At temples where this is prohibited, we should not do as we please. Each temple follows its tradition and practices. At temples where conch is sounded, it is done so only through designated individuals. We must follow the tradition and practices of each temple.
One year has not yet been completed after the death of an unmarried person. That rituals such as masyam are performed by accepting kaippul from the mother of the deceased. Before the first year is up, can a Gaya shraddha be performed for that person? Mother is not going to Gaya; can the Gaya shraddha be performed through another relative who is travelling to Gaya?
Vidwan’s reply:
It is a general practice not to perform Gaya shraddha before the Aabdikam (first-year ceremony). Only after the completion of Aabdikam can the Gaya shraddha be performed. After one year, Gaya shraddha can be performed through a relative.
As part of the performance of Gaya shraddha, we stop partaking certain vegetables, fruits, etc. If the vegetables and fruits that were renounced are included in prasadams given at temples or Mutt, can we partake that prasadam? Or must we not accept them? If we had unknowingly partaken such a prasadam, is there any atonement?
Vidwan’s reply:
The vegetables and fruits that we had renounced during the Gaya shraddha, must not be partaken even if they are given as prasadam. There is no specific atonement for partaking the renounced substances as a prasadam. Having realized that we have partaken renounced substance, we must mentally seek forgiveness and be mindful not to repeat it.
When is Hanumad Jayanthi celebrated? Are there any details on which date or day it is celebrated? Different places celebrate this on different days and months, which leads to confusion on what is the correct time.
Vidwan’s reply:
As mentioned in the query, many differing details exist on Hanumad Jayanthi. Similarly on Garuda Jayanthi as well – some say it is in the month of Adi and others say it is during the months of Tai and Maci. Follow the practices of the respective places where they are celebrated. We can also follow the practices of many places where it is celebrated based on the Srivaishnava tradition. As our ancestors have not maintained a particular day in their practice, we are unable to be certain. We can certainly have faith and follow the details based on the panchangam or particular practice.
In our tradition, we do not fast or perform special Tiruvaradhanam for Hanumad Jayanthi or Garuda Jayanthi. But there is no harm in performing a special Tiruvaradhanam. Fasting is not specified. Follow the practices and tradition of the respective places.
While observing Thiruvona vratam, can we partake temple prasadam like salted curd rice and puliyodharai?
Vidwan’s reply:
It is not a practice by those who observe Thiruvona vratam to partake temple prasadm if salt is added.
Kindly explain the stipulation that prohibits the recitation of Naalaayira Divya Prabandham during the months of Margazhi and Tai after Sri Nammazhvar has started from his place of birth:
Vidwan’s reply:
Two reasons can be ascribed to why Prabandham is not recited at home during the anadhyayana kalam.
At a time in the past, Kaliyan established adhyayana utsavam by ceremoniously bringing Nammazhavar from Azhvartirunagari to Tiruvarangam to recite Azhvar’s Srisuktis in front of Emperuman. This practice is followed to this day. It is an exalted experience to recite Azhvar’s Srisuktis in front of Emperuman during adhyayana utsavam; it appears that to ensure that everyone participates with a single-mindedness to enjoy this experience as a goshti, they might have prohibited the recitation at homes.
In addition to the temples, it seems that elders have conducted adhyayana utsavam at homes where idols were consecrated.
Another reason is, that Divya Prabandham cannot be recited during anadhyayana kalam, it seems this period is an appropriate period to learn and recite the Srisuktis of our Purvacharyas.
Queries related to madi vastram:
Is a wet vastram considered a madi vastram? Or must it be dried completely? If the vastram has not dried completely, can we wear it after shaking the vastram 7 times?
Must the madi vastram be removed from the clothesline with a wooden or bamboo stick or can we remove it with bare hands? Can we hang the clothes dry on a plastic clothesline?
While removing the vastram with a stick if it falls accidentally, is it considered to be impure?
If a vastram that is hung out to dry in sun light over two days (hung out to dry during today’s day time and removed after next day’s sunrise), is it considered a madi vastram? Can we wear that to perform Tiruvaradhanam?
We perform morning sandhyavandanam and Tiruvaradhanam wearing a madi vastram; while going to work, we wear a different set of clothes; after we return home from work, can we wear the same madi vastram that was worn in the morning for evening sandhyavandanam after taking bath?
Vidwan’s reply:
Wet clothes are considered madi for certain apara karyams only. One has to wear wet clothes while performing those apara rituals. Generally, a cloth that is dried well is considered madi; some use it during emergency times by shaking the damp cloth seven times and then wearing it.
Madi vastram has to be removed from the clothesline by using a wooden stick, clothes should not be hung on a plastic string; bamboo string is prescribed. When the bamboo string is not available, hanging the clothes up is a must, some level of leniency can be allowed for use of plastic string.
While removing the clothes from the clothesline, if the clothes happen to fall at a place where it is clean, the clothes can be used.
Generally, it is not preferable to wear clothes that have been dried in the sun for two continuous days. It is the prescribed austerity to wear clothes that have been sun-dried for one day. Our elders dry their clothes after sunset during shraddham as it is a norm to wear clothes that have seen a day’s sun only. It is prescribed to wear clothes that have been dried only once every day; if not, it is permissible too.
It is not prescribed to wear the same vastram that was used for morning rituals again for evening austerities as the vastram is considered used.
How the anga-vastram should be worn during partaking parasadam?
Vidwan’s reply:
One must wear the anga-vastram on the waist while partaking food/prasadam.
