Chithirai Thiruvizha

Chithirai Thiruvizha is a renowned  annual temple festival which is celebrated in temple town of Madurai, Tamil Nadu. This festival falls on the tamil month of  Chithirai (mid April to mid May) and hence got the name “Chithirai Thiruvizha”.  It is one of the longest celebrations of the world and lasts for about a month. The first 15 days of the festival is celebrated for goddess Meenakshi, while the subsequent fortnight is celebrated for Lord Alagar (a form of lord Mahavishnu).

History of Chithirai Thiruvizha

Meenakshi is the daughter of King Malayathuvaja Pandian (King of Pandya’) and queen Kanchanamalai. The couple were childless for many years and hence worshipped the god by performing poojas and offering sweets. During the yagna that was performed as part of the worship,  a little girl is said to have came out of the fire. She was none other than the benevolent goddess Parvathi Devi who had I ncarnated as Meenakshi. Meenakshi grew up to be a brave girl who was given rigorous training in all spheres of warfare. She is b believed to have conquered the entire world with her extraordinary war skills. At last, she set out to Mount Kailash (Kailayam) to conquer it, but is said to have met Lord Shiva there and fell in love with him instantly. Lord Shiva promised Meenakshi that he would come to Madurai to marry her. The mighty  Lord kept up his promise and thus married Meenakshi. Hence, goddess Meenakshi along with her consort Lord Shiva are the primary deities of this Chithirai festival celebrations.

The second fortnight of this dedicated to Lord Alagar and is called the “Alagar Thiruvizha”, which is celebrated mainly by the Vaishnavites.

Mandoorka rishi was bathing in the holy waters of the Alagar hills when the powerful sage Durvasar Maharishi is said to have come to the spot. Mandoorka Rishi did not notice the great sage, but sage Duruvasa took it as a personal insult. The angry Durvasar cursed Mandoorkar to turn into a frog. Mandoorka Rishi pleaded Dhuruvasar to being him back to his normal human form. Sage Durvasar accepted his apology and instructed him to seek the blessing of Lord Alagar, who graces in the banks of the River Vaigai. By doing so, he said that Mandoorka can get his wish fulfilled. Hence Mandoorka traveled towards the river Vaigai, displaying his complete devotion to Lord Alagar.

Legend of Chithirai Thiruvizha

The following is the popular tale that is associated with the history of Chithirai Thiruvizha.

The wedding of Meenakshi (Goddess Parvathi) with Lord Shiva was to happen in Madurai, for which Lord Alagar (Lord Vishnu), the elder brother of Meenakshi, was invited. He is said to have commenced the 20 km journey from his abode at Alagar Hills towards Madurai, where the wedding was to take place. Alagar decided to travel in disguised as a robber, in order to protect himself and his belongings. Since he was disguised as a robber, he had to hide frequently to avoid getting arrested by soldiers. The dense forest of Alagar Hills further delayed his journey towards Madurai. While he was crossing the river Vaigai, he is said to have learned that his sister’s wedding had already got over. Azhagar was disappointed and very much angered that the wedding of his sister took place in his absence. In order to pacify him, Goddess Meenakshi and Lord Shiva is said to have come to the Vaigai river. Lord Azhagar is believed to have presented the gifts that he had brought with him to the newly wed couple, in a particular Mandapam located in the middle of Vaigai river and returned back to Alagar Hill without entering the city of Madurai.

There is a list of events happening during the Chithirai Thirvizha.