So far, as far
as other blogs in this series of blogs, we have been discussing as to the काल आलोकन नवरात्राणि पूजायाः (kāla ālokana navarātrāṇi pūjāyāḥ –
temporal aspect of nine-nights worship), we shall
now take a quick look at its देश आलोकन (deśa
ālokana – spatial aspect). Please
remember that in Hinduism, there are three major ritual traditions viz.
वेद संप्रदाय (veda saṃpradāya – vedic tradition) focusing on उपासन देवतानाम् (upāsana devatānām – worship of deities) that are
formally invoked through यज्ञिय होमाः (yajñiya homāḥ - sacrificial oblations) based on
formal rules prescribed in the sacred वेद शास्त्र (veda śāstra – vedic
scripture)
आगम संप्रदाय (āgama saṃpradāya) focusing on अर्चन देवतानाम् (arcana devatānām – praising of deities) that
are formally consecrated as the अर्चावतार
विग्रहाणाम् सार्वजनिक देवालयेषु (arcāvatāra vigrahāṇām sārvajanika
devālayeṣu – iconographic incarnation of idols in public temples) based
on formal rules prescribed in the sacred आगम शास्त्र (āgama śāstra). These
are specially designed for collective worship for the wider community of
devotees in the society.
तन्त्र संप्रदाय (tantra saṃpradāya) focusing on पूजा देवतानाम् (pūjā
devatānām – worship of deities) that are formally consecrated
as the अर्चावतार प्रतिमाम् वैयक्तिक गृहेषु (arcāvatāra
pratimām vaiyaktika gṛheṣu – iconographic incarnation of
images/pictures in private homes) based on formal rules prescribed in
the sacred तन्त्र शास्त्र (tantra śāstra). These are
specially designed for individual worship for the specific family members.
Thus while प्रतिष्ठा देवतानाम वैयक्तिक गृहेषु (pratiṣṭhā devatānāma vaiyaktika gṛheṣu – consecration of
deities in private homes) is usually confined to प्रतिमाः (pratimāḥ - pictures) since
there are very very strict rules of conduct and ritual protocols to be religiously
complied with by the family members when it comes to formal विग्रह प्रतिष्टा (vigraha pratiṣṭā – idol consecration), that become
practically difficult for many साधारन गृहस्थाः (sādhārana gṛhasthāḥ - ordinary
householders) to adhere with.
நவராத்திரி பொம்மை கொலு (navarātiri
bommai kolu) is an honourable exception, wherein these rules are slightly
relaxed (as the event is time-capsuled for a very short period), for the
benefit of these साधारन गृहस्थाः (sādhārana gṛhasthāḥ - ordinary
householders). That way, we are blessed during this season.
Traditionally,
during this period it is customary among some families across India to
celebrate what is called as பொம்மை கொலு (bommai kolu – doll festival) wherein
dolls of various deities are consecrated in a series of steps and worshipped.
Historically, this practice can be traced to नवदुर्ग उपासन (navadurga upāsana – contemplation of nine Durgas) practiced
in the शाक्त मत संप्रदाय (śākta mata saṃpradāya – shakti theological tradition) wherein
the dolls were predominantly confined to different forms of the goddess श्री दुर्गा देवी (śrī durgā devī). However, subsequently, over the
years it was extended to include other देवताः (devatāḥ
- deities) cutting across the शन्मत संप्रदाय (śanmata
saṃpradāya – six religious’ traditions). Ideally
each பொம்மை (bommai– doll) is
religiously consecrated (spiritualized) according the rules prescribed in the तन्त्र शास्त्र (tantra śāstra).
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