Devasam

So finally I decided to get moving and writing up my thoughts and experiences onto this blog.. As I sit down to write this , the thought foremost in my mind is the devasam / remembrance date for the departed souls in our families.

It is customary for Tamil Brahmans to observe this date on the hindu calendar according to the death anniversary of the departed soul every year . It gets to be especially difficult to observe if you live far from your homeland.. This year we decided to observe this at the temple.. so 80% of the work was "outsourced" (interesting term in todays world :) ) to the temple authorities ..

Usually every year we perform the said function at home which entails the following .. the previous day
1.shopping for all the necessary groceries (after all everything revolves around food ..!!) including banana leaves to serve food on (as against the plates)
2.cleaning the items that are required for the ceremony including the panchpatiram (tumbler) and udrini (spoon), 2/3 tambalams (big brass /copper plates), 4/5 katoris (Brass or copper cups )
3.cleaning the venue of the devasam and the kitchen .
4.making the homam kundam ready
5. washing and drying the dhoti and 9yds sari blouse etc. for madi

The next morning i.e. on the day of the shraddham , after a head shower the first person to take the shower usually removes the madi clothes from the dryer/ clothesline while donning wet clothes himself/herself. They then change into the dry madi clothes.. and then part of their duty is to provides the others who shower with their respective madi clothes so they dont have to don the wet clothes. The men wear panchakacham while the women wear 9 yds in the traditional Iyer/ Iyengar style. The ladies of the house then get busy cutting vegetables and cooking for the devasam as per their family practice. Onions and/ or garlic are not used in the devasam cooking.

In our family we have a wide array of items that are cooked. Once my cooking is over I generally wait for the priest to direct me as to how and when to serve the food..

I always thought that the devasam procedure is pretty much the same irrespective of which ever vedam u follow (sama/ yajur/ rig /atharva vedam) but it turns out there are slight variations . For non believers I always say, since you r doing it for your loved ones that are no more.. either do it or go ahead and remember the departed souls by feeding some needy people on this day. As busy as life is these days, we never stop to think even for a minute about those that are the reason for our very existence. Am glad there is a day that forces us to stop and remember them even if thats just once a year..!!