Part 5.5 - Margashirsha Ghritakambala offering

[Full title: Naimittika-Puja—Seasonal (monthly) and special Festivals (5) Margashirsha Ghritakambala offering]

A special worship conducted in Siva temples of Tamil nadu in the month of Magha that is February and March goes by the name ghrita-kambala (Ghee blanket). This means offering of Blanket of butter to the lord Siva in the month of Margasirsa 328 which is the month of January - February, 325 Kamikagama (Uttara), 14.6 326 Ibid., 14.7 327 328 Ibid., 9.1 Ibid., 14.8 b-11 - 141

full moon of Asvina that is September-October, Kartikka that is October-November and Pusya that is December-January as per the English calendar, birthday of Patron. In the month of Margasirsa, on the star of arudra, the fourteenth dark fortnight, acarya should 329 do ablution with 1000 prastha or half of it or 100. In this month, blanket dipped in ghee should be worshipped. Ghee prepared from cow's milk is mixed with sandal paste, agallochum, and camphor and turmeric powder rolled. 330 The cow should be clean, neat without any disease. 331 Varuna's mula mantra should be recited and clarified butter, saffron, Turmeric powder, camphor all these should be made into ball and kept in a golden plate. Reciting the mantras, incense should be offered and worshipped. Special worship should be offered with panchagavya and pancamrutha ablution and then on the Sthandila ghee should be offered. On the Sthandila Sivagni should be maintained and worshipped with mantras. 332 Palasa samittu, ghee, cooked rice, sesamum, flaked rice; with all these 108 times ahuti homa should be performed. As done in the pavitrotsava, the ghee should be sprinkled. The Sthandila should be covered with cloth and clarified butter should be kept. In the morning or afternoon, the lord should be worshipped with ablution and decorated and reciting Siva mantra, procession should be made around the temple and the Linga and the pitha should be anointed with the clarified butter and at the end with sandal paste. The lord should be offered naivedya ambrosias and tambula that is betel leaf with nuts. In that day evening or next day, the blanket should be removed and the lord should be worshipped as before. Then acarya should be worshipped and should be offered money, clothes etc according to the Patron's wish. This festival pacifies everything. This can be performed with or without amkurarpana." 333 Ajitagama (Kriya), 33.3 R.Nagaswamy, Facet of South Indian Art and Architecture, vol. 1, p.90 Kamikagama (Uttara) 10.2 b-3 Ibid., 10.4-6 As per Ajitagama, worship should be done and then blanket of butter should be covered.; Kamikagama (Uttara) 10.7-11 a Kamikagama (Uttara) 10.11 b-13 a 142

One more festival make in the month of Magha is referred to by the Saiva saint Sambandar in his Tevaram hymns of mylapore (Masi-Katal-attu) that oceanic bath in the 335 month. It is performed even today in the Thiruppathiri-puliyoor (now Cuddalore) 337