Sunday, July 17, 2011: Ramayana Masam in Kerala is observed in the Malayalam month Karkidakam (July – August). On all days in the month, the Epic Ramayana is read in traditional Hindu houses, by Hindu organizations and in temples dedicated to Lord Vishnu. In 2011, the Ramayana Masam begins on July 17 and ends on August 16. The reading of the Ramayan begins on the first day of the month and is completely read by last day of the month.
The famous Malayalam Version of the Ramayana titled Adhyatma Ramayanam Kilippattu written by Thunchath Ezhuthachan is the one recited in the month. After lighting the evening lamp, people sit before nilavilakku (traditional Kerala lamp) and recite the Adhyatma Ramayanam. The reading of the epic is managed in such a way that the reading ends on the last day in the Karkidakam Month.
The Karkidakam month is the last month in the Malayalam calendar. The monsoon is at its peak in this month; and during olden days majority of the people in Kerala depended on agriculture. Due to heavy rain, the Karkidakam month is referred as ‘panja masam’ or the month of scarcity.
The Amavasi day in the Karkidakam month is dedicated to dead ancestors and Hindus perform special pujas at seashore and on riverbeds on this day. A pilgrimage to the four temples dedicated to Lord Ram and his brothers is undertaken in the Ramayana Masam. This is known as the Nalambalam Darshanam.
1 comment:
My dear Malayali friends,
All of us in Kerala make it a point to read The entire Ramayana written by one of the greatest Malayalam writers Thunjathu Ezhuthachan , completely due to the Malayalam month . Most of are blessed that we can read it in Malayalam and understand it too. Unfortunately the population of Malayalis who do not know how to read Malayalam is growing by leaps and bounds . Even among those who know how to read Malayalam, a population of Marunadan Malayalis who cannot understand and follow Ezhuthachan’s Adhhyathma Ramayanam is growing. It was as per the request of one such Malayali who wanted to read Ramayanam during the Ramayana month after understanding it completely , That I started transliterating(Type in English) and translating in to English, our great treasure , Ezhuthachan’s Adhyathma Ramayanam in the month of may 2012. In spite of my best efforts I could complete it only during the 2nd week of august 2012 and that too on the last day of the Ramayanam month of 2012. Almost one year is over. The next Ramayanam month is beginning on14th July 2013. My translation is available in
http://rajathathas.blogspot.in/2012/05/preface-to-adhyatma-ramayanam-of.html
and other posts in that blog. I Request all of you to inform your unfortunate friends who do not know how to read Malayalam and want to read the Adhyathma Ramayanam during the Ramayana month , this link. I am sure you would have done a great service to your friend, With best wishes, Ramachander
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