Karadaiyan Nombu

Karadaiyan Nombu is one of the major festivals celebrated across Tamil Nadu. This festival is also known as 'Savitri Vratham.' It is observed to mark the end of the Tamil month Masi and the beginning of the month Panguni, which falls in March according to the Indian calendar. On this day, married women observe a strict fast. The ritual of Karadaiyan Nombu is celebrated in memory of the popular story of Satyavan and Savitri. "Karadaiyan Nombu" refers to "Karadai," a special dish, and "Nombu," which means fast or penance.

Rituals performed during Karadaiyan Nombu in Tamil: -

On this Tamil festival, women tie a yellow thread around their necks, with a small flower attached to it. Various materials are prepared for the ritual, including a special dish made from rice flour, black-eyed peas, and jaggery, known as ‘Karadaiyan.’ On this day, women observing the fast perform the rituals according to traditional methods. A plate is prepared for the offering (naivedya), which includes two betel leaves, betel nuts, kumkum, turmeric, bananas, and a few coins. The ‘Karadaiyan’ dish is offered to Goddess Parvati and all the deities. Once the ritual concludes, the fast is broken, and the ‘Karadaiyan’ dish is eaten with unmelted butter.

The Story of Savitri and Satyavan: -

In the Skanda Purana, Lord Mahadev narrates the story of Savitri to Goddess Parvati. He says, "Parvati! In the land of Madra, there was a famous and righteous king named Ashwapati. He was dedicated to the welfare of all living beings, forgiving, truthful, and self-controlled. However, he had no children. Once, King Ashwapati undertook a pilgrimage to the region of Prabhas. While visiting the sacred sites in this area, he arrived at the location known as Savitri Sthala. There, he performed the Savitri Vrata ritual. As a result, Savitri Devi, the beloved consort of Lord Brahma and the embodiment of Bhur Bhuvah Svah, was extremely pleased with him and appeared before him. She held a kamandalu in her hand, and her face and eyes were radiant with joy."

Savitri said,- "O King, ask for a boon."

The king replied,- "Goddess, I am childless; please bless me with a child."

Savitri then said, "O King, you will be blessed with a daughter." Saying this, Goddess Savitri disappeared. Some time later, a divine-looking daughter was born to King Ashwapati. Since it was by the grace of Goddess Savitri through the worship of Savitri that the daughter was born, the Brahmins named her Savitri. The princess grew up like Goddess Lakshmi, and upon seeing her, people would say that a celestial maiden had descended to Earth.

One day, seeing his daughter, the king consulted his ministers and said, "Daughter, the time for your marriage has arrived, but no one has yet chosen you as their bride. When I reflect on this, I find no suitable match for you here. Therefore, it is necessary to make some effort so that I am not condemned by deities or others. I have heard in the scriptures that if a daughter reaches maturity before her marriage in her father's home, her father incurs the sin of Brahmahatya (killing a Brahmin). Hence, I am sending you on a pilgrimage with the elderly ministers. You may choose your husband yourself."

Obeying her father's command, Savitri set out on the pilgrimage. She visited the beautiful hermitages of royal sages, bowed at the feet of elderly maharishis, and after visiting all the ashrams and holy places, she returned home. Upon her return, Savitri saw the great sage Narada seated before her and, after offering her respects, she said to her father, "In the land of Sashwa Desh, there once ruled a righteous Kshatriya king named Dyumatsena. Due to fate, he became blind. His rival, a vassal named Rukmi, who harbored enmity towards him, seized this opportunity to take over his kingdom. King Dyumatsena, along with his wife and their young son, retreated to the forest. Their son grew up in the forest, and he is a person of great virtue. His name is Satyavan. It is Satyavan whom I desire as my husband, as he is the one who aligns with my heart."

Narada then spoke, "O King! Though Savitri is still young, she has chosen the virtuous Satyavan. His father speaks the truth, his mother is truthful, and he himself always speaks the truth. This is why the sages named him Satyavan. Satyavan has a great fondness for horses; he often makes clay horses and draws their images, which is why his other name is Chitrashwa. However, by choosing Satyavan, Savitri has embraced great hardship. Dyumatsena's son is comparable to the deities in his education, generosity, and virtues. He is as truthful as King Ushinara Shibi, as devoted to Brahmins as he is to truth, as generous as Yayati, as beautiful as the moon, as handsome as the Ashwini Kumaras, and exceptionally strong. But he has one flaw. One year from today, his life will come to an end, and he will depart from this world."

Hearing Narada's words, the king said to his daughter, "Daughter Savitri, go and choose another worthy husband. Satyavan will leave this world in just one year." Savitri replied, "Father, kings speak only once, wise men speak only one word, and the giving of a daughter in marriage happens only once. These three things occur just once. Whether Satyavan has a long life or a short one, whether he is virtuous or not, I have chosen him as my husband, and therefore, I will not choose another. First, a decision is made in the mind, then it is spoken, and finally, it is put into action. I have done the same. In this matter, my mind is my witness."

Narada then said, "O King, if this is Savitri's wish, then you too should accept this union and proceed with it without delay. There should be no obstacles in your daughter's marriage." With these words, Narada ascended to the heavens. The king, in an auspicious moment, arranged for the marriage rituals of his daughter to be performed by learned Brahmins well-versed in the Vedas. Savitri, having obtained the husband she desired, was very happy. While residing in the hermitage, some time passed for the three of them. However, Savitri was constantly worried. She could not forget the words spoken by Narada. She calculated in her mind and realized that four days from now, her husband was destined to die. After this realization, she began a Triratri Vrat (three-day fast). Upon completing it, Savitri took a bath, offered oblations to the deities and ancestors, and then bowed at the feet of her in-laws.

Afterward, Satyavan took an axe in hand and set off for the forest. Savitri followed him. Satyavan quickly gathered fruits, flowers, sacrificial wood, and Kusha grass, tying them into a bundle with dry wood. Then, leaning against a banyan tree branch, he said, "Dear one, I have a severe headache. I want to rest my head in your lap for a moment and sleep." Savitri replied, "O mighty one, please rest. After a short while, we shall return to the hermitage."

As soon as Satyavan lay down on the ground with his head in Savitri's lap, she saw a figure approaching. The figure had a dark and yellowish complexion, wore a crown on his head, and was adorned with yellow garments. He radiated a brilliance like that of the sun. Savitri bowed to him and asked in a gentle voice, "Who are you? Stay away; the power of my devotion to my husband will not allow me to falter in my dharma. Just as a blazing flame cannot be touched, neither can I be."

Yama replied, "O devoted wife, I am Yama, the one who controls all beings. Your husband's lifespan has come to an end. My messengers were unable to take him from your side, so I have come myself." As Yama said this, a small figure, the size of a thumb, emerged from Satyavan's body, bound in a noose. Savitri saw this and began to follow Yama. Due to the power of her devotion, she felt no exhaustion in doing so. Yama then said to her, "Savitri, you have come a long way; now return. No living being can travel this path." Savitri said, "Lord, I do not feel any effort or distress in walking. For a woman, there is no support other than her husband. After hearing many such righteous and sweet words, Yama, the son of the Sun, was very pleased with Savitri and said, 'Goddess, may you be blessed. Ask for any boon you desire.'

Savitri then humbly asked for five boons: 'May my revered father-in-law regain his sight, may he recover his lost kingdom, may my husband remain alive, and may the boon granted by Dharma Raja be fulfilled.' Having obtained these boons, Savitri was overjoyed to have her husband back. She then lived contentedly with him in the hermitage. The vow she performed on the full moon of the month of Jyestha ensured the protection of her fortune."

The significance of the Karadaiyan Nombu ritual: -

Pleased by Savitri's devotion, Goddess Parvati protected the life of Savitri's husband, Satyavan, and extended his lifespan. Since then, this festival has been celebrated in South India as Karadaiyan Nombu. According to religious beliefs, married women observe this fast to wish for a blissful marital life and a long life for their husbands, while praying to Goddess Parvati to fulfill their desires.

Related topics-

• Vat Savitri Vrat