Golu theme "Eesanin Tiruvilayaadal"

Last year (2015) my Golu theme was "Eesanin Tiruvilayaadal"....These pictures are very special as it was the last time traces of the entire Golu set..which later got washed away in the Chennai Floods...

Lord Shiva Artist: Indrajala Moturi

Eesanin Tiruvilayaadal

From Lord Shiva's most serene meditative posture in the Himalayas to his most beautiful dance forms in the silver, gold, bronze and ruby hall...his form of supreme saint Dakshinamurthy, his compassion for his devotees - Markandeya...him drinking the poison during the churning of the ocean...his stories of tiruvilayadal with Nakeeran and Hemanatha Bhagavathar.

Most beautiful marriage of Lord Shiva and Parvathi

Locations of Jyothir Lingams in India

The Traditional 5 Padi Golu

Inviting Godess to bless our home...

Traditional 7th month Baby Shower (Valakppu) Ceremony

Decorate your home during Navrathri Golu

Navrathri is all about welcoming Knowledge, Wealth and Power into our homes..don't just focus on decorating the Golu area...with simple ideas decorate other areas of your home too...

Here are a few pics of how we decorate our home during Navrathri Golu...

Golu theme: "It Happened Along The Kaveri In Myth, Legend & Life"

This Golu theme was about the River Kaveri...the mythology of the origin of the river and her glorious journey thereafter.

The Story of River Kaveri

The 5 step Golu padi has the traditional Golu with Godess Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswathi on the first step, then the Ashta Lakshmis' on the 2nd followed by the Dasawataram on the 3rd. The 4th step has the Jyothir Lingams and a short story of Lord Shiva protecting his devotee Markandeya from Lord Yahma. On the 5th step are seated the greatest pholosophers and musicians of carnatic music.

Kaveri is one of the 7 sacred rivers of Sapta Sindhus of the Hindu scriptures. In south India, she is considered to be even holier than the Ganga! As with all rivers in India, she is considered to be a goddess and her origin at Talakaveri has an interesting story behind it...

When the great ocean was churned by the devas and the asuras in order to obtain amrita, the elixir of life, Lord Vishnu turned into Mohini, a non-pareil of infinite charm and appeal, to distract the asuras and restore the elixir to the devas. Goddess lakshmi also sent along Lopamudre, an apsara to assist Mohini. After the elixir was successfully restored to the devas Lopamudre was brought up by Brahma as his daughter.

King Kavera gave up his kingdom and came to Brahmagiri Hills to lead a life of a hermit. Kavera was lonely and prayed to Lord Brahma who blessed him with Lopamudre for a daughter. Lopamudre was renamed Kaveri after the sage.

Kaveri was very keen that her father should have every happiness and prosperity in life and a blessed land full of good and happy people. So she went to the Brahmagiri too and prayed to Lord Brahma that she might turn into a river and flow through the country, pouring her blessings on the people and turning the land green and fertile. She also prayed that her waters might be so holy that all those who took a dip in it might be absolved of all their sins. Brahma granted her both the boons readily and Kaveri was really happy.

Sage Agastya happened to see Kaveri when she was deep in meditation on the Brahmagiri. He fell in love with her and asked her to marry him. Although her heart was set on turning into a river of blessings, Kaveri could not refuse Agastya. But she made him promise that if ever she left her alone too long she would have the right to forsake him and go her way.

Meanwhile a demon, named Shoorapadma, fought with Lord Indra and  prevented the rain from reaching the earth causing a terrible drought.

The drought sticken people went to Mt. Kailash seeking help. Lord Ganesha and Lord Karthikeya agreed to help them out.

One day, Sage Agastya had to travel and Kaveri was unable to accompany him... Since he could not leave Kaveri alone in the ashram, he turned her into water and put her in his kamandala, the utensil for carrying holy water.

Sage Agasthya stopped near Brahmagiri hills to meditate and placed the kamandala beside him. Lord Ganesha seizing the opportunity, took the form of a crow and overturned the kamadala. The water was released and Kaveri became a river. She helped the suffering people by providing them with water.

There is an interesting addendum to this story, mentioned in some legends. As soon as Ganesha in his form of a crow toppled the kamandalu, he changed into the form of a little boy. Agasthya, seeing the boy, thought it was a prank, and began chasing him. He chased the child for a long distance, and finally Ganesha allowed himself to be caught. The sage in his anger, chastised the little boy by smacking him on the head. It was only then that Ganesha revealed himself to the sage, who at once realized his error and apologized. It is believed that the place where this incident took place is Tiruchi, and the Ucchi Pillayar temple here is related to this legend.


The Kaveri is the largest river in southern India and arises in the mountainous region of Coorg in the Western Ghats. On their eastern slope, the river rapidly descends to the Deccan Plateau which occupies much of the central and southern part of India. The plateau slopes south-east through the state of Karnataka. The river then plunges in a spectacular fall from the two thousand feet high plateau near Sivasamudrum, 40 miles southeast of Mysuru, and roars through a boulder strewn gorge before quieting into a murmuring and muttering stream of rapids and pools flanked by wooded hills of the Dhanagur State Forest in which elephant, deer, boar and leopard roam. It broadens into a placid stream, crosses into the State of Tamil Nadu and spreads into a wide delta covering the southeastern corner of India before merging on the Coromandel Coast with the Bay of Bengal.Kaveri also flows through The Grand Anicut (Kallani Dam, Tamilnadu) believed to be The World’s First Dam about 2000 years old constructed by Chola King Karikal Valavan.

Let us follow it and experience some spectacular moments of River Kaveri along the way...

The Kabini

(Tirumakudalu Narasipura, Karnataka)

Kodagu Tribal Village

(Coorg, Karnataka)

The Krishna Raja Sagar Dam

(Mandya District, Karnataka)

Brindavan Gardens(Mandya District, Karnataka)

The Mettur Dam

(Salem, Tamilndau)

The Kaveri Delta - Tanjavur

River Kaveri was also called ‘Ponni’ (Golden River) by the Cholas

(The Rice Bowl of Tamilnadu)

Ranganatha Temple

(Srirangam, Trichy, Tamilnadu)

Srirangam, Trichy, Tamilnadu

Srirangam, Trichy, Tamilnadu

River Kaveri joins Bay of Bengal

Kaveripoompatinam, Capital of Cholas
(Poompuhar, Tamilnadu)

"It Happened Along The Kaveri In Myth, Legend & Life"

Golu Theme: Annapoorneshwari: The Goddess of Nourishment

My Golu theme was Annapoorneshwari: The Goddess of Nourishment.

They say, 'anna dhaanam' is the most shresta dhaanam, which means offering food to the hungry is considered the greatest service. It is the only form of service where the receiver is completely satisfied and says, "that's enough, I'm full, thank you". All other forms of service and offering leaves the receiver wanting more.It is  also a beautiful uniformity that every religion around the world incorporates anna dhaanam as a part of their tradition.

The Golu has been set to highlight the fact that Goddess Annapoorani has been so generous and showered us with bountifulness of food, water and grand nature. As water and blessings flow down from Goddess Annapoorani from heavens to earth enriching all life forms on earth...

Tips:
1. Use wet mud as base and sprinkle dry beach sand over it to highlight pathways etc. You will also need bricks as fencing or barricades to hold the mud and sand.(Remember mud attracts a lot of red ants, so along the borders use some lakshman rekha or ant powder.).
2. You could plant nava dhanyam (9 grains) or just mustard 2-3 days earlier to grow lush green fields. I prefer mustard seeds. Mustard seeds need to be first soaked in water over night, and then sowed in a base filled with soil. Once they grow a few inches tall transplant the entire bed with the base soil into your golu.
3. To show water flow you could use a simple fish tank water pump mechanism.Or to mae it simple just use blue glazed sheet.
4. While creating a village...it always helps to keep a theme and build as if you were designing a real village...a residential area with wells and ponds, fields, market place near the temple street a wedding scene in the temple etc.
Try it...It is actually a lot of fun!

Golu Rules! (Golu Samprathayam)

Over the years I've learn't a lot of Samprathayam (or procedures) to be followed while keeping a Bommai Golu. Thought I'd share a few pointers.


Every Bommai Golu must have the following:

1. The Golu Padi

The Golu dolls are kept on steps called the Golu Padi. Traditionally 9 steps are kept...the significance of 9 are many: in honor of 9 nights of the festival or the 9 planets (nava grahas) or the 9 forms of devotion (nava vida bhakti) or the one I personally believe in is the 9 steps to attain Moksha (liberation from the cycle of birth - death - rebirth). However one could also choose to keep less than 9 steps. The steps should always be an odd number 3,5 or 7 steps and should not exceed 9 steps. The steps are covered with a cloth before the dolls are placed. Most people use a white cloth...I use a white cloth first and then drape a saree over it to add color.

2. Golu Padi reeti (or the rules to be followed while keeping the golu dolls)

• Counting from the top, the first 3 steps are usually occupied by Gods.  I personally follow the
  
  following order: the first step is for dolls of Supreme Gods: Goddess Lakshmi, Saraswati and Durga or Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva. 
• The Ashta Lakshmi's occupy the 2nd step. The order of keeping the 8 Lakshmi's is: Adhi lakshmi, Dhanya Lakshmi (grains: symbolizing food), Dhairya lakshmi (bravery), Gaja lakshmi (for the animals), Santhana lakhmi (for progeny), Vijaya lakshmi (for victory), Vidhya lakhmi (for knowledge) and Dhaya lakhmi (for compassion).
• On the 3rd step we have Dasavataram (the 10 avatars of Lord Vishnu). The order is: Matsya (Fish), Kurma (Tortoise), Varaha (Bore), Narasimha (Half lion half man), Vamana (with an umbrella), Parasurama (with axe), Balrama ( with plough), Sriram (with bow), Sri Krishna (with flute) and Kalki.
• The 4th step is reserved for the siddhars, saints and enlightened souls: like Alvars, Nayanmars, Shankarachariya...
• 5th Step is for those who have contributed to the society...like the freedom fighters, philosophers, philanthropists, composers etc:  Vivekananda, Chinmayananda, Muthuswami Dikshitar, Shaama Shaastri, Thyagaraja, Mahatma Gandhi...to name a few
• 6th step is where mere mortals are placed...most people will set the village scene, farming scene,
  
  wedding scene, temple scene etc in this step...In honor of the traders community, every Golu has a Chettiar and his wife along with bowls of salt, sugar, lentils and rice. They are also placed in this step. 
• The last 3 steps are for animals, bird and crawling insects in that order.
• It is believed that every soul has to pass thro' these 9 steps to attain Mukthi from the cycle of rebirth.

The Kalasam
A kalasam is a representation of creation. A way of invoking The Goddess - Devi. Thro' the 9 days archanai (offering flowers) is performed in front of the kalasam.

First rice is mixed with manjal (turmuric powder) and kungumum (vermillion powder) and placed on a base plate. A pot (made of mud, brass, copper or silver) forms the base of the kalasam. The pot is filled with water. (5 or 7) Mango leaves and a coconut are placed at the mouth of the pot. The coconut is also smeared with manjal. Once the kalasam is placed, it should not be moved for 9 nights, hence care should be taken to ensure that the water doesn't go stale or the mango leaves don't dry up. (Tip: Add camphor and elaichi to the water). The Goddess' face is then tied on the coconut. A new red blouse piece is placed on the head of the coconut and the entire kalasam is decorated with flowers and jewellery.The method os setting the kalasam differs from region and also family traditions followed. I've explained what we have been practicing in house for the last 4 generations.
                                           This is how the kalasam looks in our bommai golu

4. The Marapachi Bommai (Wooden Couple Dolls)
A male and a female form are chiseled out of special medicinal wood, decorated like a bride and a groom and presented to every girl at the time of her marriage. A tradition, that, perhaps began during the era of child marriages, what better gift to give a 10 year old bride...dolls. Over the years these dolls have become family heirlooms. Every Bommai Gollu reserves a special place for the marapachi dolls handed down over generations.

5. Kolam and Prasadam
Rangoli or kolam is usually put at the doorstep of the house and in front of the kalasam. The kolam is made of rice powder which attracts and feeds ants. Every day fresh prasadam is made and offered to the goddess. The prasadam is usually a different kind of sundal each day. Apart from the sundal prasadam, fresh flowers, water and fruits are also offered.

6. Kutu Velaku
A pair of kutu velakus' or a diyas are placed on either side of the kalasam.

All about the Nine Nights! Nava-Ratri

Navaratri is the festival of nine nights: Nava: means nine while ratri means nights). The first three nights are dedicated to Goddess Durga (Goddess of Power), the next 3 to Goddess Lakshmi (Goddess of Wealth) and the last 3 to Goddess Saraswati (Goddess of Knowledge).

In Tamilnadu Navrathri is celebrated by keeping a doll show (Bommai golu) at home and inviting neighbours, friends and relatives over. When guests come to see the Bommai golu, they are received with jasmin flowers, glass bangles, cooked sundal (usually chick peas), kungumam (vermillion powder) and a small gift in a bag.
I personally prefer giving small plants, that would enhance peoples garden. 

In my house, we also offer the guests something to drink like buttermilk, panakam (jaggery drink) or aam panna (mango drink). We even invite bhajan and chanting groups to come and perform, during the 9 days...to add to the festivity and spiritual entertainment.


The 9th day is Saraswati Pooja. On this day students place their books in front of the golu kalasam while artist place their instruments (Veena, Violen, Flute or even Ghunguroo/Salangai) and worship Godess Saraswati to receive her blessings in their quest for knowledge in their chosen field.

The 9th day is also celebrated as Ayuda Pooja: a day to worship all the weapons on 'implements'. Traditionally on this day all the objects used in ones profession (for eg: farmers: plough, cart etc, other professionals: computers, vehicles etc) are cleaned and adorned flowers. Manjal and Kumkum are sprayed as a mark of auspiciousness.

The 10th day is Vijay Dasami. This is usually considered a very auspicious day to begin learning anything new. Most students who want to commence learning a new art form start their first class on this day. Students also pay their respects to their teachers on this day.