Vijayadashami nal vaazuthukkal! With the blessings of Jagadguru Pujyasri Sri Sankara Vijayendra Saraswathi – Thiruvembavai class for adults will be taught by Thiru Radhakrishnan Madhu on Saturdays 5:30pm PST/7:30pm CST/8:30pm EST. This will be a 15-16 week session to help bhaktas prepare for the upcoming margazhi season parayanam.
Professor Thiru. Radhakrishnan Madhu Ph.D, M.A., B.Ed. has served as Tamil Pandit in Urumudhanalakshmi Vidyalaya in Trichy. He has completed his Ph.D research paper on Kamba Ramayanam. He is a renowned speaker on various topics in Tamil Nadu and has mentored many renowned speakers such as Thiru Cho. Satyaseelan, Thiru A. Arivozhi, Thiru Sukhi Sivam, Thiru Abdul Kadhar, Thiru Ilangai Jayaraj & others. He has authored many books, writes essays and is a columnist of many renowned publications. He has been awarded “Arulneri Navalar” by Dharma Adheenam and by many Tamil organizations on his work on the Kamba Ramayanam.
The pavai songs are part of an ancient tradition amongst unmarried young Hindu girls, where they light lamps in the early mornings of Margazhi, and sing songs in praise of Shiva. Manickavasagar composed the twenty songs called Thiruvembavai followed by ten songs called Thirupalliezhuchi. Similarly, Andal thaayaar composed thirty paasurams on Sri Krishna called Thiruppavai. Let us show our love for bhagawan by reciting and singing Thiruvembavai and Thiruppavai.
Click here to access the audio files for Thiruvembavai and Thiruppavai. NOTE: you can recite/sing in any tune, these sample audios are just suggestions.
Eligible Categories: PreK, Elementary, Middle School, High School & College, for ages 21 and under
Dressing up in traditional attire is mandatory for the submission to be eligible – paavadai/daavani/veshti, hair tied in single braid/ponytail and, tilakam for boys and girls
Competition Rounds: Round 1/Prelims and Round 2/Finals
Round 1: Participants may choose any four paasurams or paavais from the above syllabus for video submission
Round 2/Finals: Judges will quiz qualifying finalists on any of the assigned paasurams and pavais listed in the syllabus above.
Round 2 – Qualified finalists from Round 1 will present to judges live virtually
Nov 15th
Winners announced at a samashthi samarpanam virtual program in December
Date TBD
What Should Participants Focus On? Encourage kids to enjoy the learning and exploration of our puranas while they prepare. Judges will grade based on accuracy of Tamizh pronunciation, traditional attire, reciting/singing and proficiency. Bonus points will be awarded for choice of paasurams and paavais other than #1 and #3.
Join us daily from Feb 18th to Feb 24th, 5-6pm PST/7-8pm CST/8-9pm EST, to celebrate Maha Sivaratri Mahotsavam over zoom. Youth from around the USA will offer stotrams, bhajans, nrityam, sangitam, skits, stories of nayanmaar and present varalaru(itihaasam) of padal petra sthalams and other sivan kovils.
