Thread by @sk_diary1

ArudraDarisanam/Thiruvathrai-an important hindu festival celebrated mostly in TamilNadu & Kerala.Shiva as Nataraja performed Ananda Thandav for Vyaghrapada&Patanjali Rishi

Do you know why Kali is made as Naivedyam/offering for Bhagwan Shiva on Thiruvathrai..see Story #Thread 👇

It is related to incidents happened in the life of a devotee of Bhagwan Shiva - Senthanar who lived in Chidambaram. He used to sell firewoods for his earnings.Using the money earned by selling firewood,he used to feed atleast one sivanadiyar once a day,before having his food.

Bhagwan Shiva decided to test devotion of Senthanar.One day it rained heavily &all the firewood he got wet.As firewood was wet he couldn't sell.So he didn't have much cash to buy rice for that day's meal.He managed to prepare Kali with

some rice and jaggery.He waited for sivanadiyar,but time went on - Senthanar was worried as no sivanadiyar visited his place on that day.So Thillai Natarajar came as a Sivanadiyar to Senthanar home.Senthanar opened door & was overwhelmed to see a sivanadiyar

He served Kali to Sivanadiyar. Sivanadiyar (Shiva)enjoyed while eating Kali amudum &asked Senthanar to parcel the remaining Kali for his next meal.

In those times,it is customary for Chola Raja Kandaratidhar to hear
to hear sound of Nataraja's salangai (ghungroo) during daily

Shiva Puja.But that night, Raja didn't hear Natarajar's salangai during the Shiva pooja. At that time actually ,Nataraja went to Senthanar's house to eat Kali.Raja was so upset.Raja went to sleep wondering if there was anything wrong with his Shiva pooja. Nataraja came in raja's

dream & told about his visit to Senthanar home being the reason.Also told raja that tomorrow in car(Ther) festival he will meet senthanar. Raja was amused by bhakti of Senthanar.
Next day,when Chidambaram Natarajar Kovil sannidhi was opened there was kali was scattered on floor.

Raja was informed about this,he recollected the dream & understood that Natarajar had Kali at Senthanar's home.Raja ordered soliders to find the whereabouts of Senthanar.
Already Senthanar came to see car(Ther) festival of Natarajar.
Raja &others tried to pull the rope of Ther

in which Natarajar murthi was there,but the Ther(Car) didn't move even a bit. At that time,they heard a divine voice (asariri) asking Senthanar to sing song on Bhagwan Shiva.Then Senthanar by the grace of Nataraja sang thiruppallandu-chariot/Ther moved without anybody pulling it.

Seeing this miracle,Raja &people of Thillai fell at feet of Senthanar &worshiped him.Raja also told Senthanar that Natarajar had come in his dream & told about him.It was Thiruvathirai day on which Natarajar went to Senthanar's home to eat Kali.

So it came to be known as Thiruvathirai kali &it is offered as Naivedyam to Bhagwan Shiva on #Thiruvathirai day.

This shows how Bhagwan Shiva got pleased with bhakti of Senthanar and showed to everyone.

#ArudraDarisanam

📸 - all images in thread - credit to resp.owners

Source text - based on story of Senthanar from various blogs/news article

#HarHarMahadevॐ

#omnamahshivay
#ArudraDarisanam

Thanks for reading 🙏