Why Aadi is special?
Answers
Aadi is a month of fervour and observances of pujas to Gods related to Water-forces and Natural forces where prayers and pujas are offered to propitiate the powerful goddesses and seek their protection from the inauspicious aspects that are often associated with this month. No weddings or other similar functions are celebrated during Aadi as it is considered inauspicious.
Starting this month the effect of summer is reduced and the rains start (hopefully). It is during this time that the monsoon peaks on the West coast and the rivers of Tamil Nadu, shrunken in the summer heat, should get replenished, often to near full levels.
Usually the Tamil months are named based on the nakshatra that prevails during the full moon day or Pournami. In Chithirai month, full moon day happens during Chithirai nakshathiram, in Vaikasi month during Visaka Nakshathiram and similarly in Aadi full moon day happens during Aashada Nakshathiram and thus this month got the name Aash Aadi(in north) / Aadi(in the south).
Legend has it that Vishnu Chitha (called as Periazhwar) among the Vaishnavites was a sincere devotee of Lord Aranganatha of Srivilliputhur. He was childless for a very long time. His prayers were answered and on Aadi Pooram day, when he was collecting flowers for his puja in his garden, he found a girl child. The child was named Kothai who grew up as a great devotee of the Lord of Srivilliputhur. Everyday, Vishnu Chitha would make a garland of Thulsi leaves to offer to the deity at the temple.
Kothai used to wear that before offering to the Lord. One day, her father chanced to see her wearing this garland and so he replaced with another one. However, the Lord refused to accept the new one and said that He would only wear the garland worn by Kothai. Vishnu Chitha realized that his daughter is Goddess Mahalakshmi herself. Andal then came to be known as Choodi Kodutha Sudarkodi.
The Tamil month Aadi is the fourth month of the Tamil Calendar and begins on July 16th, 2012. The start of this month is the Dakshinayana punyakalam or the night time of Devas.
Aadi is a month of fervour and observances in Godess related to Water-forces and Natural forces (e.g. Maria Amman temples, Mundakanni amman temples etc.) where prayers and pujas are offered to propitiate the powerful goddesses and seek their protection from the inauspicious aspects that are often associated with the month. The month of Aadi is considered very auspicious to connect oneself to this Divine power. No weddings or other similar functions are celebrated during Aadi as is considered inauspicious.
Also, starting this month the heat of the sun reduces and the rains start. It is during this time that the monsoon peaks on the west coast and the rivers of Tamil Nadu, shrunken in the summer heat, get replenished, often to near full levels. Usually the tamil months are named based on the nakshatra that prevails during the full moon day or Pournami. In Chithirai month, full moon day happens during chithirai nakshathiram, in Vaikasi month during Visaka Nakshathiram and similarly in Aadi full moon day happens during Aashada Nakshathiram and thus this month got the name Aash Aadi(in north) / Aadi(in the south).
Aadi auspicious days are
Aadi Sundays, Aadi Tuesdays (Aadi Chevvai) and Aadi Fridays ( Aadi Velli) are auspicious.
The Aadi Velli and Aadi Chevvai are of great significance to women as numerous rituals are performed. Women of the neighborhood and friends meet on the Fridays and do pujas and exchange Thamboolam.
Varalakshmi Puja an important ritual dedicated to Goddess Lakshmi is performed on a Friday in the month of Aadi.