Kedhara Gowri vradham or Kedara Gowri vratam is performed by married women. This nombu is performed on Deepavali Amavasya day. Without Caste
creed, rich - poor differences people observe this festival. In Some parts of
Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra this is the main vratam of framing
communities. They worship all the farming tools and cattle as Gomatha.
This
Kedhara vratam is observed for twenty one days
starting from shukla Paksha Ashtami i.e., eighth moon day
in its growing phase in the month of PurattAchi -mid September to mid October.
The final day of Deepavali also should be observed with great
devotion.
One
of my colleagues from RamaKrishna Math Ms. Aslesha perform this vratam. According to her Mudaliar and
Sub Castes – Sengunthar / Kaikolar, Kootam or of similar to Gothras – Virabhagu
(Viravahu) who has Kedara Gowri as their kula devi perform this vratram during
every Deepavali for 21 days (prior to Deepavali).
The
story behind this Deepavali Vratha goes like this:
Bhrungi Rishi was a great devotee of Lord
Shiva but one defect existed in the great seer. He never prayed to Devi and
completely ignored her! Even during the supplicative practice of
Pradakshina–circumambulation. He ignored Divine Mother. To teach a lesson to
this Sage, both Shiva and Parvathi merged into one and appeared as
Ardhanareeshwara before the Saint. The saint did not budge and assumed the form
of a Bee! (Bee is called Brhunga in Sanskrit and thus his name Bhrungi Rishi)
and then pierced the body of Ardhanareeshwara-Ardhanareeshwari and tried to do
circum-ambulate Shiva’s side alone. Amba or Mother Goddess is Bhraamari and the
sage plays with Bee role. When divine mother gets angry Shiva cannot do
anything, so Divine mother withdrew Shakthi from the “Bhruga” and when the
rishi assumed his form back, he could hardly stand on his legs!, this despite
intense and arduous tapas for Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva had to give him a stick to
make him stand up. Lord Shiva then pacified Shakthi and then made the Rishi
realize the folly of ignoring Divine Mother. Thus Shiva-Shakthi Aiykyata -union
was realized on Deepavali day by the Rishi and he performed the Kedara-gowri
Vratham.
Well,
about the significance of this vratam I am not very clear. However, in my friend's
place I see the Goddess deity in the form of Pounding stick and the
'Chaata'--winnowing the chaff is used for the vratam. This reminds me of the
essential household commodities used by us. Similarly, even during the wedding,
one can observe use of all these commodities ensuring the importance everyday
importance of the things around us.
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