Aadi 18-aam Peruku - Celebrating water flow in the river Cauvery!

Aadi Peruku is a festival celebrated in the state of Tamizh Nadu on 18th day of the tamizh month Aadi (Sanskrit : Ashada) and Peruku means 'rising water flow' in the Cauvery river. Hence it is also known as "Aadi Padhinettam Peruku". Padhinettam in tamizh means 18th day.

Monsoon of the season brings more water in the river Cauvery thus making it overflow, bringing fertile agricultural opportunities along with it. This festival is celebrated as a thanks giving to mother nature (monsoon) as rivers as a water source is the lifeline of farmers. This tradition shows how our ancestors lived close to the nature, respecting, conserving and worshipping Nature and also offer thanks giving.

The "Dakshinayana Punya kalam" (The night of devas) starts when Sun starts travelling towards southern direction and the first month is Aadi. This is the month when farmers sow seeds in their fields. There is a saying in tamizh "Aadi Pattam Thedi vidhai". Thus the Farmers eagerly look forward to this season, hence they come to the river bank for pooja and celebration of this season on this auspicious day.

Image courtesy : Google search

Life's priority changed and farming got restricted to villages, corporates opened up careers in the city, people moved. Thus the City dwellers who don't want to give up that tradition, celebrate it at home  in their own way... at home, near river banks, near lake, near pond and on the beaches.

There are many Triveni Sangam in our country Bharath. In Tamil Nadu, the Triveni Sangam in Erode is important and is a confluence of 3 rivers, the Cauvery, Bhavani and Amudha. Of these three, the river Amudha is invisible and is believed to flow underground and join the other two rivers from below.  This Triveni Sangam us called as "Kooduthurai" (in Tamizh) (sangam), where the famous Sangameshwarar temple is located. Special poojas are conducted in the temple on 18th day of Aadi month (Tamil ashada month).

Rivers are celebrated as female deties - like a mother. So the word 'Amman'  is attached to the river goddess thus they are addressed as Gangai Amman, Cauvery Amman etc... This shows how our ancestors followed the Sanathana Dharma and gave a lady an important & respectable status ; Elevating her to a motherly goddess position.

This year Aadi Peruku falls on 03rd August 2018. Hence I decided to write a brief post on this festival.

People visits the River near them, makes variety rices takes it along with them. Do pooja and eat the rice there sitting together.

Every community and family has a way to celebrate it as per their edler's advice. I am sharing few common and simple things which can be followed in the busy life schedule.

If you are going to do a pooja, do it at the 'auspicious hour' [Nalla Neram] mentioned in the Panchang / calendar, for the day.

Place a small pot or bowl filled with water and place a flower on it. Place Haldi and Kumkum (manjal kungumam).

5 types of Variety rices are prepared to be offered as Neivedhyam along with Milk Kheer [Pal Payasam]. All of them or whatever possible can also be made and offered.  If no time, then offer a fruit or sugar candy or raisins.

1. Lemon Rice
2. Coconut Rice
3. Tamarind Rice
4. Curd Rice
5. Jaggery Rice (Sakkara pongal or Vella payasam)

Sloka :- whatever slokas you know can be offered. 

Thank the God that our land should be blessed with sufficient Rains, make the Land fertile, help Farmers raise healthy crops without loss and may the land and the people prosper.

Let us come close to Mother Nature and celebrate it in simple way at least at our home. If you cannot make variety rices, just offer Fruits and Flowers to the God.

Sharing with you some songs that comes to my mind when I think of river Cauvery. If you know Tamizh, you can enjoy the lyrics which especially for the first song.

The following song is about Aadi Peruku festival sung by P. Susheela for a Tamil film.

Another sweet film song based on raga Hamsadhwani and Mohana by Maestro Ilayaraja.....

May the rain god bless us with good rains so that rivers, land and people prosper!

Lokah Samasthah Sukinah Bhavanthu 🌸🙏🏻🌸