As a kid, Ayudha Puja was my favourite festival--and ditto for every single child of Kerala.
From the evening of Ashtami , the eight day till the morning of the Vijaya Dashami tenth day, we are forbidden from touching our books. One token book would be sent to the the local temple and the rest stacked up in the puja room of the house.
As a small kid, to impress my vernacular playing friends studying in Malayalam medium schools, I used to cover up the big fat Chambers English dictionary, and include it in my book stack .
And they would all cry WOW!
So many books !! ( and then they would look at me as if I was THE genius )
Every body including adults cannot touch their tools on the 9th day ( Maha navami ) Ayudha puja
It is kept for worship on the altar of the divine. If one can make a conscious effort to see the Divine in the tools and objects one uses each day, it will help one to see one's work as an offering to God.
This means on the 10th day there will be no newspaper in the morning. The diety is Saraswati, the Goddess of learning.
The 10th auspicious day is called Vijaya Dashimi. On the morning after a bath, the books or tools have to be taken out and used. Both my children at the age of three was initiated into the world of letters on this day morning--after the nine days if Navratri.
The children of 3 or 5 are taken to the temple ( or done in the house ) for the Vidyarambham ceremony, as a unique annual ritual. For this learning initiation the child is made to sit on the lap of the parents or grandparents in front of the picture or statue of Goddess Saraswati.
The mantra "Om Hari Shree Ganapathaye Namah"(ഓം ഹരി ശ്രീ ഗണപതയേ നമഃ) is written on the tongue of the child with a gold ring dipped in honey and vayampu.
Then the child is made to write the same thing in rice on a flat platter made of bell metal, with the right index finger ,uttering each syllable as it is written--prompted by the elder hand.
Most of the kindergarden schools start on Vijaya Dashami day in Kerala.
On the 8th , 9th and 10th days thousands throng in Kerala temples.
It was on this Vijaya Dashimi day the Pandava brothers ( Mahabharata ) found their weapons after one year incognito. Pandavas were defeated in a gambling game with Kauravas headed by Duryodhana. According to the challenge they were supposed to live in forest for 12 years and as incognito for one year.
During incognito they are were not allowed to carry weapons. For the safety of the weapons they dug a hole under the shami tree and put all the weapons in. When they were back after one year, they were filled with joy to see all the weapons safe at the same place. They celebrated the occasion by worshipping the weapons.
During incognito they are were not allowed to carry weapons. For the safety of the weapons they dug a hole under the shami tree and put all the weapons in. When they were back after one year, they were filled with joy to see all the weapons safe at the same place. They celebrated the occasion by worshipping the weapons.
In the rest of India, Goddess Durga ( destroyer of anarthas ) is worshipped on the first three days, Lakshmi ( goddess of wealth and prosperity ) on the last three days Saraswati ( goddess of learning and skill )
When my 16 year old son was told to break the puja and remove his
books, today early morning on Vijayadashimi day , to read a bit from
his books , I remember him whispering to my wife " Should I say
anything in plain language in my prayers ?".
Yes all this is part of our culture. We in Kerala -- nay-- India are proud of our rich culture.
Don't lose your ancient 11000 year old culture by identifying with the MTV trash.
CAPT AJIT VADAKAYIL
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Respected Sir , You have very well described the beautiful cultural system you all follows since millenniums ... I loved it , I wish our Ultimate BRAMHA blesses you and your family with more wisdom and knowledge . Pranaam , Jai Janani Maatrabhoomi 🙏🏾
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