Courtesy Sri.P.P. Ramachandran
Mumbai (Original Text) pprchandru@gmail.com
Neivedyam and Nolmbu Sloka by Dr.Prasad Vadhiyar, Trissur
Edited by A.R.RANGANATHAN
ALL YOU WANT TO KNOW ABOUT KARADAIYAN NORUMBU
Karadaiyan Nombu, or Savitri Nonbu Vritham, is an observance in which married woman prays for the well being and long life of her husband. Karadaiyan Nombu 2020 date is March 14 and time of breaking of fast and to wear Saradu is between 10:45 AM TO 11:30 AM. It is observed on the particular day when the transition between the Tamil months Maasi and Panguni takes place. Karadai is the name of a unique nivedya (holy dish) prepared on this day. Nombu means Vratam or upvasam (fast).
Karadaiyan Nombu is observed in remembrance of the Satyvan – Savitri legend. A princess, Savitri through her unparalleled devotion saved her husband, Satyvan, from the clutches of death. This legend is very popular in India and there are several other observances based on this legend like the Vat Savitri Puja.
Savitri Nonbu Vritham is observed at the exact time when Masi month ends and Panguni begins.
On the Vratam day married women fast and break the fast by eating the Karadai preparation with butter.
The preparation is known as Karadai nombu adai - the festival takes its name from the unique Kara Adai dish. It is believed that Savitri cooked such a dish and offered it to Lord Yama along with unmelted butter as a sort of thanksgiving for sparing her husband's life.
Another important ritual is the wearing of the Kaaradai nombu saradu, which is a yellow thread, around the neck.
The Story of Tamil Karadayan Nombu – Based on the legend of Satyavan Savitri
Karadayan Nombu or Vratam is an important fast observed by women. It is based on the legend of Satyavan and Savitri. Based on this myth each region in India observes an Upvaas in different time of the year. In Tamil Nadu, it is observed during the transition of Tamil Month Maasi and Panguni. The story of Satyavan and Savitri is a sub plot in the Mahabharata.
King Ashtapati had a beautiful and intelligent daughter named Savitri. The King gave her the permission to choose her husband. One day, Savitri met a young man in the forest who was carrying his blind parents in two baskets balanced on either side of a stick. The young man was Satyavan.
Impressed by Satyavan's devotion towards his blind parents, Savitri decides to marry him. On enquiry, the King found out from Sage Narada that Satyavan was the son of a deposed king and that he was destined to die in a year.
King first refused to the marriage but Savitri was adamant. Finally, the King relented and the marriage was conducted and the couple left for the forest.
They led a happy life and soon a year passed and Savitri realized that Satyavan would die any moment. So she kept fast and always followed him. She cooked a special adai and served it to her family and gave some as offering to the Gods.
Next day, she followed Satyavan to the forest. While cutting woods, he fell down and fainted. Soon, Savitri realized that Satyavan is dying. Suddenly she felt the presence of Yama, the god of death. She saw him carrying the soul of Satyavan and she followed Yama.
Yama first ignored Savitri thinking that she will soon return back to her husband's body. But she persisted and kept on following him. Yama tried few tricks to persuade her but nothing worked. Then Yama said that it is impossible for him to give back the dead as it is against the nature's law. Instead, he will give her three boons.
Savitri agreed with the first boon she asked for a son for her father. With the second boon she asked that her in-laws be reinstated in their kingdom with full glory.
Finally, for the third boon she asked 'I would like to have children.'
Yama immediately said 'granted.' But soon Yama realized that he had been tricked by Savitri.
Yama remained silent for a minute and then smiled and said 'I appreciate you persistence. But what I liked more was you readiness to marry a man whom you loved even though you knew that he would only live for a year. Go back to your husband he will soon wake up.'
Soon Savitri and Satyavan were reunited.
Recipe to Cook Savoury or Uppu Kara Adai Dish for Savitri Nombu
White Karadai or Savoury or Uppu Kara Adai is the dish prepared as an offering during Savitri Nonbu or Karadaiyan Nombhu. It is also the unique food eaten by married women to break the fast during Karadai Nombu. This Adai is a simple dish and it is believed that Savitri cooked the Karamani Adai in the forest while fasting (vratam) to save her husband's life from Yama, the god of death.
There are two varieties of Kara Adai – Sweet and Savoury. The savoury Ada is white in color and sweet one is brown in color. You can read about the preparation of Sweet Kara Adai here.
How to Cook Uppu Kara Adai?
Ingredients
Rice flour – 2 cups
Water four cups
¼ cup karamani or cowpeas (you can also substitute cowpea with Tuvar dal)
Coconut ½ cup grated or cut into small pieces (quantity depends on your taste)
Ginger
Green chillies (4 to 5) or depending on your taste
A pinch of asafoetida
1 tsp mustard seeds
Salt 1 to 1 1/2 (Depends on your taste)
Curry leaves
2 tsp Oil
1 broken red chilli (just for taste… you can also skip it)
Urad dal (optional)
Preparation
Roast the rice flour till it becomes off white to light brown color. The consistency should be like the rice powder used in drawing kolam. Keep the roasted rice flour aside.
Slightly roast the Karamani. This is to remove the raw taste of the cowpeas. After roasting, pressure-cook till soft and drain the excess water.
Add 2tsp oil or little oil to a medium to large cooking vessel. Put the mustard seeds, urad dal, ginger, green chillies and red chilli and make a sauté or give thadka.
Add water into the vessel having the sauté and boil. The ideal ratio of water to rice flour is 2:1.
Add the rice flour gradually, stir well to avoid lumps.
Now add the cooked Karamani, salt, coconut and asafetida and curry leaves.
Cook to a thick consistency or till it becomes like dough. (Cook in medium to small flame.)
Take the dough off the heat and allow it to cool.
When cooled, make a lemon sized ball from the dough and make patties in circular shape. And make a hole in the center. The patties can be made on hand, banana leaf or on butter paper. The size can be 3 inch in diameter and ½ inch thick.
Steam patties in an idly cooker for 8 to 10 minutes. Do not put the weight if you are using pressure cooker. The ideal time to remove is when the steam smells of cooked karadai.
Sweet Karadai/Vella Adai Recipe
Cooking time - under 20 mins
Yields - 12
Ingredients needed
Raw rice - 1 cup
Jaggery - 1 cup
Water - 1 1/2 cup
Coconut bits or grated coconut- 1/4 cup ( I used a mix of both)
Black eyed peas or karamani - 1 tbsp cooked
Cardamom powder - 1/4 tsp
Preparation
Pressure cook black eyes peas until soft but not mushy.
Roast raw rice until it changes to golden brown color.Grind it coarsely like rava.
Melt jaggery in 1 1/2 cup of water, filter it to remove impurities.
Method
Add grated coconut and karamani/cow peas, cardamom powder to the jaggery water.
Boil jaggery water, when it starts boiling, add a tsp of ghee.Then reduce the flame and add rice rava slowly stirring continuously.
Keep the flame in medium and cook well until it leaves the sides of the pan. Switch off the flame and allow it to cool.
Divide it equally, make balls, flatten it, put a hole in the center (as in the picture above) and steam the sweet adais in an idly cooker or steamer for 15 minutes.
Serve with butter.
NEIVEDYAM SLOKAM
URUGADA VENNAIYUM
ORADAIYUM NAAN THARUVEN
ORUKALUM ENKANAVAR
ENNAI PIRIYADIRUKAVENDUM
NOLMBU SLOKA
1.
OMKAARA POORVIKE DEVI
VEENA PUSTHAKA DHAARINE
VEDA MATHAR NAMASTHUBYAM
AVAIDHAVYAM PRAYASCHAME
2.
PRATHIVARTHE MAHABAAGHE
BHARTHUSCHA PRIYAVARDINEE
AVAIDHAVYAM CHA SOWBAAGYAM
DEHITVAM MAMA SUVRATHE
PUTHARAN POWTHRAMSCHA
SOWBHAAGYAM SOW
MANGALYAM CHA DHEHIME
3.
DOORAM GRUHNNAMI SUBHAGE
SAHAARIDRAM DHARAAMYHM
BHARTHU: AAYUSHYA SIDHYARTHAM
SUPREETHA BHAVA SARVADAA
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