There is something nice about celebrating New years and new beginnings and today as well as yesterday represent the new year for many Indian communities! The Malayalam New year day is Vishu. The very thought of Vishu conjures up for me beautiful images of the “Vishu Kani” – the first images we see as soon as we wake up. It is intended that all such good things seen brings a person good luck. After all, well begun, it is said, is half done!!
The objects kept for Vishu kani are all arranged the night before (when we were kids, it would be done quietly by our parents after we had gone to sleep and it always used to awe me how so many different objects have been so beautifully arranged at the altar). There is an array of fruits – jackfruit, pineapple, grapes, apples, oranges and so on, vegetables of all kinds, the yellow flower called the konna poo, jasmine, betel leaves, rice, grains, cash notes and gold and silver coins (usually afterwards, my mother also used to quiz us to see how well we have observed everything that was displayed!!). There is a large mirror that is also placed in the altar that reflects all these objects.
The morning of Vishu, we used to be quietly woken up and told not to open our eyes – not yet. There used to be excitement, anticipation and giggling as we used to stumble our way down the flight of stairs, reaching out with one hand to the unknown while the other was firmly gripped on to by my father. The smells of Vishu first used reach to me and as I reached the altar, I would also hear the instructions of all the people who had already reached there and seen the kani.
As I opened my eyes, the fantastic visual treat of the Lord, the smells of the fruits and the incense sticks and the spectacular sight of his various aspects of creation have always been awe inspiring.
The mirror increases the beauty of the Vishukkani by not only giving a reflection of everything and hence a larger than life vision, but also serves as a reminder that the Lord is present very much within each and every one of us, while often, we are chasing HIM everywhere else.
It is a powerful message and to me symbolic of the Vishwaroopa Darshan of the lord as we see His magnificence, the splendor / opulence of his Vibhutis and at the same time, the powerful message that He is within us – the divine secret as it were!! No wonder, many people also keep the Bhagavad Gita in the Vishu Kani! It is amazing how our customs and rituals hold such deeply significant meaning and how years can pass but the magic that they create in our minds stay with us for ever!
Please do share with us and our readers your own thoughts as we launch on another year with hope, anticipation and optimism that this would be a fantastic year and would bring good health and cheer to one and all.
Happy Vishu celebrations to all .It is the time to rejuvenate as the spring is around, so are the plentiful of flowers, fruits and food grains which are created by nature to support the life on this planet and therefore the time to remember the Lord and the Lord happily accepts it saying
‘ patram pushpam falam toyam yo me bhaktya prayacchati
tadaham bhaktyupahrutamashnami prayatatmanah ”
Bhagavad Gita Chapter 9 Verse 26.
Meaning- Whoever offers Me with love a leaf, a flower, a fruit or even water, I appear in person before that selflesss devotee of sinless mind, and delightfully partake of that article offered by him with love.
Hari Om
Dear Sowmyaji
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Dumane