Dear Patrons,
We are into the month of Aippasi which is also known as Tula Maasam, as the Sun traverses in Tula Rasi in this month. Tula by its very definition signifies balance and the periods of day and night are equal (in India) during this month. Similarly there is also a balance with weather being moderate. Tula Snanam/sacred dip in river Cauvery during Aipassi is considered sacred as the belief is that Ganga River enters the Cauvery in this month to get rid of her accumulated sins through her devotees, cleanses and rejuvenates herself for the full month of Aippasi. The Cauvery water in Mayavaram in particular is said to be a place where purified Ganges is said to rest awhile and the Mayavaram holy snanam and darshanam at Mayuranathar temple is significant this month. Spiritual solace apart, river pilgrimage is considered curative by uplifting the mind and body and restoring stability.
Aippasi is also the month when the great Vaishnavite preceptors, Mudal AzhwArs: PoigaiAlwar, BoothAlwar, and PeiAlwar, were born in Kanchipuram, Mamallapuram and Thirumylai (Mylapore) respectively. They were not only contemporary AzhwArs, but also were born on three consecutive days in Aippasi month. Years later, in a chance / rather divine encounter, the three met in a small Thinnai (bench outside a house) in Thirukovilur while taking shelter from torrential rain. That meeting resulted in a spiritually charged moment along with great exchange of poetry — and the sacred Tamil work, Nalaayira Divyaprabhandam was born.
The two most important festivals this month are of course Deepavali and Skanda Shashti.
Deepavali signifies the removal of darkness both outside and within. This Deepavali may we all pray that the supreme light of lights enlighten our understanding and illuminate our lives with prosperity and peace.
Skanda shashti festival begins on the Prathamai following Deepavali and Maha Shashti is celebrated on the sixth day which is the Aippasi Shukla Shashti and is followed by Thirukkalyanam on the next day. Lord Murugan, the greatest of the warriors, vanquished the demons Tarakasura, Simhamukhan and Soorapadman, and restored peace and harmony in the world.
To emphasise the valour of Lord Murugan, Lord Krishna says in the Gita (Ch:10, v:24)
senAninAm aham skandah - amongst warrior chiefs I am Skanda.
Lord Murugan is the embodiment of power, wisdom, love, and bliss. He is also the indweller in all our hearts (Guhan) and bestows his benovolence on all who meditate upon him. This Skanda Shashti may we all meditate on the six syllables Saravana Bhava
As Saint Arunagirinatharr says in Thiruppugazh,
isai payil shadAksharam adhAlE - may we all meditate on the six syllables: sa-ra-va-na-bh-va, and pray
iha para saubAgyam aruLvAyE - that He grants us happiness both in the material (iha) and the spiritual world (para).
We wish all our patrons a festive Aippasi Masam, and a bright and prosperous Deepavali sparkling with joy!
Important days this month:
| Ekadasi |
1st and 15th Nov |
| Deepavali, Amavasai |
4th Nov |
| MahaShashti |
9th Nov |
Upcoming events
SIS Deepavali 2021 Celebrations
We are delighted to invite you all to this year's Deepavali celebrations to be held on Saturday, Nov 6th from 5PM onwards at Canons High School, Shaldon Rd, Edgware, HA8 6AN.
We look forward to seeing you all in person and celebrating together!
Hurry, book your tickets now!!
SIS November Satsang
In keeping with the continuing tradition of monthly Satsangs, November 2021 Satsang will be conducted online.
Date/Time: Sat, Nov 13th from 3:00 to 5:00 PM London
Zoom meeting details: Please join
by clicking this link: Nov 2021 Satsang
or,
by using Zoom meeting id: 841 9340 8871 and passcode 1234
Satsang will include reciting
- Vishnu Sahasranaman and Mahalakshmi Ashtakam
- Lalitha Sahasranaman
- Bhajans
- Hanuman Chalisa
- Short spiritual talk
Please attend with your family and importantly involve the next generation.
SIS Satsangs are generally held on the first Saturday every month. If you wish to conduct the Satsang at your home, please let us know by emailing sisnambalava@gmail.com.
AmazonSmile Initiative
We are glad to inform you that 'South Indian Society' is now an eligible charitable organization in AmazonSmile.
AmazonSmile is a wonderful initiative where Amazon donates to charities chosen by customers, everytime an eligible purchase is made and there is absolutely no additional cost to the customer. AmazonSmile is available at smile.amazon.co.uk on your web browser and can be activated in the Amazon Shopping App for iOS and Android phones. The prices, manner of shopping, account, etc., remain the same with the added bonus that AmazonSmile will donate a portion of the purchase price to the selected charity.
You can find more details about this initiative in this link, SIS - AmazonSmile.
We request you to select 'South Indian Society' as your favoured charity by clicking this link: https://smile.amazon.co.uk/ch/1053076-0.
SIS WhatsApp group
In addition to continuing with our email communication, we have a WhatsApp group as a broadcast only group to communicate information regarding SIS events and updates. If you would like to join, please open this email on your phone and click on SIS WhatsApp group invitation link. Alternatively, you may email sisnambalava@gmail.com with your mobile number and we will add you to the group.
The Website
We trust that the articles that we are publishing on the website
are interesting and useful. We are encouraged by the number of
hits that have gone up multi-fold. Please visit www.sisnambalava.org.uk,
read the articles and let us know your views. We are very keen
to receive your feedbacks and views and will be uploading more
interesting articles. We welcome articles written by our members
that are relevant to the objectives of SIS, ie., South Indian
arts, culture and vedic religion and these will be uploaded
after review by the editorial panel. Please feel free to ask for
detailed guidelines.
Your
Participation
South Indian Society as an organisation has come to shape with
lots of hard work and contribution from several veterans of our
community in this country over the years. We sincerely thank
each and every one who has contributed towards the growth of
this organisation. This organisation runs for YOU and without
YOUR involvement, contribution and participation it cannot
succeed.
SIS Trustees