The Anantha chaturdashi-vrata (Bhadrapada shukla Chaturdashi) is widely observed by many Hindu families in India. It is also called ‘Ananthapadmanabha-vrata’. Lord Vishnu appeared on this day as Padmanabha lying on the couch of Anantha Sesha (the thousand-hooded serpent). Anantha vrata is observed with the intention of fulfillment of worldly desires (‘kamya vrata’). This vrata is mainly observed for regaining lost prosperity.
The Anantha chaturdashi-vrata (Bhadrapada shukla Chaturdashi) is widely observed by many Hindu families in India. It is also called ‘Ananthapadmanabha-vrata’. Lord Vishnu appeared on this day as Padmanabha lying on the couch of Anantha Sesha (the thousand-hooded serpent). Anantha vrata is observed with the intention of fulfillment of worldly desires (‘kamya vrata’). This vrata is mainly observed for regaining lost prosperity.
The presiding Deity of Anantha vrata is Anantha, (Sri Vishnu). The Deities Yamuna and Shesha also accompany Sri Vishnu. Anantha Vrata, is dedicated to Lord Anantha Padmanabha Swamy. It is observed on the fourteenth day in Shukla Paksha during Bhadrapada month. Anantha means the infinite and endless. Anantha Padmanabha is Lord Vishnu reclining on the snake Anantha in Anantha Shayana posture. This posture of Lord Vishnu is thought to resemble his concern and thoughts about the Universe and its prosperity.
Srividya Shivakumar who shuttles between Coimbatore and Dharmapuri manages the JP Eurokids in Dharmapuri and her husband Shivakumar is involved in the management of Prabhakar Match Industries. Srividya was born and brought up in Coimbatore. She is daughter of Lakshmi and Ramdas (Founder - Karpagam Abharana Maligai).
The family has been celebrating the festival Ananta Vratam in a rather unique manner. Srividya has been celebrating this festival which is meant to bless people with prosperity and happy matrimony for the past 15 years. Her apartment on Avinashi Road was full of people and the smell of offerings was wafting through the space. Men, women and kids draped in the best of clothes and jewellery were enjoying the company of one another after savouring a good darshan of the deity Lord Anantapadmanabha.
Srividya had done her homework pretty well. The whole room was painstakingly decorated by her. Lord Anantapadmanabha could be seen in the company of everything that would endow joy and happiness. The Lord reclines on his couch Adisesha in the Ksheeerasagara (Milk Ocean). Srividya had replicated it tastefully. "Ananta Vratam is a pooja done by the couple. 14 is an auspicious number here and therefore we make and offer 14 of everything. The food offering has to be consumed by the family members themselves. Its a labour of love and devotion which gives the aspirant the drive to celebrate this wonderful festival. A lot of planning and work is required. We prepare the room, assemble the items, then create the set up, cook food, invite people, do the pooja and then take care of the guests. It offers us an oppourtunity to host people at home and its the chance for pleasant exchanges between the near and dear. Well, we try to do something new and interesting each time. The small purchases and the handwork that we do at the time of the festival gives us a good focus while also sharpening our skills. I am really happy to share this joy with everyone," smiled Srividya while offering some refreshments. Her husband Shivakumar is a keen partner in all her activities. The whole installation was a visual treat for the visitors. It was a fine demonstration of our culture and tradition.
Paravidya Pravina T.S.Raghavendran has written a book titled ' Ananta Vrata Katha Mahima ' and it talks about the story associated with this interesting festival. "Long ago and not many are aware how long ago, the Pandavas performed the Rajasuya Yagna and Yudhistra was declared as the King Emperor of Bharatavarsha. He lost his kingdom in the game of dice to his jealous cousin Duryodhana and had to spend 13 years in exile.
Yudhishtra or Dharmaraja wanted to know to get the grace of Lord Narayana first and then also regain his Empire which lost due to the deceit of Shakuni, the uncle of the Kauravas. Lord Krishna advices the Pandavas led by Dharmaraja to perform the Ananta Vratam in order to regain the lost fortune. He tells them that there is no greater method to seek victory. The Ananta Vratam is celebrated on Sukla Paksha Chaturdasi in the Bhadrapada month every year. One Sumantu lived during the Krita Yuga and he was blessed with a daughter, Sila by name after his marriage to Diksha. The girl was very pretty and grew up well in accordance to our ancient tradition. Unfortunately she lost her mother and had to suffer under her step mother Karkasa. Sumantu gave have her in marriage to Kaundinya. Post marriage, the couple were moving to their place and Sila saw some women doing a pooja with red cloth, red threads on the banks of River Yamuna. She understood that they were performing Ananta Vratam and on learning about the same she joined them. Sila did the pooja and the family received a lot of money and other forms of wealth. Her husband Kaundinya wanted to know the story behind the red thread. He heard her out but lost his temper. Kaundinya presumed that Sila was wearing it order to attract him therefore he snatched the thread and threw it into the burning fire. Sila ran behind it and retrieved the same. She protected the same by keeping it in a bowl of milk. The prosperity of Kaundinya got lost thereafter and the family had to face challenges of all kinds. He became sick and poor. Kaundinya requested his wife Sila to give a solution. She told him that it was due to the insult to the sacred thread. Kaundinya then felt that he had to get proper knowledge and it was more important than the attainment of wealth. He goes to a forest and has interesting experiences. He performs the Ananta Vratam festival thereafter for 14 years and is blessed with wealth, knowledge and bliss. At last the couple Kaundinya and Sila reached the heavens and attained the position of a star and Vasu. The Pandavas heard the story of Ananta Vratam on the advice of Lord Krishna and got back their kingdom in a righteous manner. Whoever hears the stories about this Ananta Vratam and whoever makes others know about this will be blessed with such virtues that it cannot be described in full even over a period of hundred years," stated the eminent scholar T.S.Raghavendran.
Srividya added to the wealth of information, "Lord Anantapadmanabha is celebrated at this time for the frequency is highest to receive his grace during this period. Ananta also means infinite. The red colour is important here for it denotes madi / madugu (equivalent to hygiene and cleanliness). We use the red thread belonging to the previous year.The red dharam (thread with fourteen knots) is worn by the couple and its a dhampathi (couple) Pooja. We smear the Kalasam with freshly ground sandalwood paste and use red sandal paste to write the words ' Shri Anantapadmanabhaswamy ' on the Kalasam (a pitcher like vessel). We wear the old dharam and prepare for the Pooja. The new dharam is placed near the Kalasam in order to get it sanctified. It is worn on the advice of the officiating priest. We preapare a 14 fist length vastram known as koti janjam for the deity. We place two Kalasams on rice and banana leaves, do Ganesha Pooja, Yamuna Pooja and then the Anantapadmanabha Pooja. We use red flowers, thulasi and ornaments. The coconuts to be placed on the Kalasam are smeared with turmeric paste and kumkumam is anointed on them. Red colour is really vibrant and it calms down a persons anger. There is a lot of positive energy with this colour. Red plantains are offered and we offer everything in 14 numbers be it the obattu, curd dosa, raisins, dates along with puliyogare and wheat rava payasam. 14 arecanuts, 14 betel leaves and panchakajayam with 14 rich ingredients is offered.
Nuts, dry fruits tempered with jaggery or sugar is used. Poppy seeds, elaichi, figs, melon seeds, pistachios are coarsely ground and then sautéed in ghee for the making of the same. The curd dosa will have 4 cups of rice, I cup of urad dhal. this rice flour is soaked in water for two hours and the urad dhal is soaked for one hour. Later the urad dhal is ground to a nice lathering consistency. Take the stagnant water in the soaked rice flour bhatter, add the urad dhal. Add salt and leave it to ferment overnight. The next day, add a ladle of curd and then make the dosa. Make red chutney as an add on for it is in accordance with theme colour. Lord Krishna tells the Pandavas to perform this Pooja in order to regain the lost Empire. Most importantly, the red sacred thread is prepared with 14 strands," added Srividya. A lovely picture of Lord Ananatpadmanabha and an eqully impressive icon of him in silver were adding to the beauty of the environment.
Lakshmikanthamma Pattabhirama Chettiar, the grand mother in law of Srividya was the one who had prompted everyone to record everything connected with this Pooja. Srividya has been celebrating the same along with her in laws Sasirekha and Prabhakar over the years in Dharmapuri. "The concept is not only marital bliss or prosperity but also the well being of everyone in the world. In our tradition we call it ' Loka Samastha Sukino Bhavantu '. The Anantadharam is very sacred for this pooja.
One seeks to attain the goals of life known as ' Purusharthas ' in our culture. They are Dharma (moral values), Artha (prosperity), Kama (desire) and Moksha (bliss). Sanatana Dharma known as the Hindu religion talks about the goals of life. The festival Ananta Vratam bestows endless joy, freedom from sorrow and increases the bond of love between the couple observing the Pooja. Everyone is born to live happily in the company of their boundaries and liberties. One should never try to disturb the joy of another or the freedom of the other person. We should contribute towards the joy and liberty of others," stated Srividya who is equipped with a note book prepared under the guidance of her grand mother in law Lakshmikanthamma. The pictures are usually shot by Sishir year on year.
Srividya spoke about the important temples of the reclining Lord Anantapadmanabha. Her first recall was the historical Anantapadmanabhaswamy in Thiruvanandapuram followed by the Anantagiri Temple in Hyderabad, Shrikshetrakuduppu near Mangalore, Srirangapatna Ranganatha Temple, Jaganmohana Ranganatha Temple in Sivasamudram, Sri Ranganathar Temple in Srirangam. Sri Vishnu Sooktam and Sri Vishnu Sahasranamam are recited at the time of this Pooja. This story would perhaps make one ponder about the wealth that can be received due to the grace of Lord Anantapadmanabhaswamy in Thiruvanandapuram. The Story of Diwakaramuni and Lord Anantapadmanabhaswamy has been well conveyed by T.S.Raghavendran in his book on Ananta Vratam.
"We get infinite joy which is traditionally known as Ananta Santosham on the observance of Ananta Vratam with the full family," proclaimed Srividya and Shivakumar.