Thiruvathira Njattuvela begins at 0943 AM today

Thiruvathira Njattuvela, the most famous of all Njattuvelas, begins today.

Amongst all solar transits, Thiruvathira is most favoured, as it gives equal proportion of rains and sunny days. The ancients used to preserve the water during this solar transit of 14 days. This water was used to prepare medicinal concoctions. It was believed that it was Ambrosia that rained during Thiruvathira.

The India Meteorological Dept says that Monsoon is 28% more than normal in the South and it is less than 8% in the North and East. Only after observation of the Monsoon in the East and North, will they declare it as a good monsoon.

The ancients believed that anything sown during this Sun's transit of Alpha Orionis ( Aridra ) will fructify.

There is an interesting story about this phase. The King gave pepper seeds to the East India Company. One of his ministers said " If we give them the seeds, they will stop buying from us ". To which the King replied " They can take away pepper seeds, but not Thiruvathira " !

I was woken up at 0100 AM today by the sound of lightning. It was raining heavily at that time.

In Malayalam, there are many sayings about this golden phase. " Thirumuthiyathe peythu nirayum Thiruvathira" ( It will be raining golden water all the time ) and " Kairviral vare odichu nattal mulakkum" ( Even the fingers cut and sown will fructify ).

This is the maximum rain yielding Njattuvela. The ancients believed that the rainwater of Thiruvathira can cure diseases and this water was used to make marunnu kanji or medicinal rice soup ! They believed that rains used to pour according to the raga " Thiru Thiru Thakritheya " !

Kerala farmers love this solar transit because rains will not be there all the time but with sunny interludes, in balanced proportion of 50:50. Unlike the devastating Makiryam and Pooyam Njattuvelas, which are characterised by fierce downpours.

We do not know what Physical Science says about these transits. But to Keralites, weather cycles are inextricably linked to the Sun's transits !