Kani Konna – Kanaka-Dhaara

Kani Konna – Kanaka-Dhaara

The delicate golden-yellow cascade that covers the branches of the slender young tree is truly a delight to behold. Vishu is round the corner and my friends Parvathy and Ammu have been waiting for the Kani Konna trees to blossom. They have been planning the ritual of ‘Kani Kanal’, consisting of the golden Konna flowers, raw rice, golden cucumber, betel leaves, areca nuts, coins and gold jewels, a copy of ‘Narayaneeyam’, placed in the bell-metal uruli and viewed through the large mirror, the Nilavilakku is also ready along with a cute idol of Lord Krishna. In spite of many reassurances that I have seen the golden shower in bloom en route <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comffice:smarttags" /><st1:City><st1lace>Mysore</st1lace></st1:City> as well as here, in our very own Bengaluru, they are not convinced! ‘How can we celebrate Vishu without the auspicious regional flower of Kerala, the Vishukkani will be incomplete!’


The golden shower of the Cassia fistula brings another picture to my mind – the golden rain of the Amla fruits bestowed on the Brahmin lady by the Goddess Lakshmi, when Adi Sri Shankaracharya intercedes on her behalf and recites the Kanakadhara Stothram.

Goddess Lakshmi is usually depicted as a beautiful lady with a golden complexion, sitting or standing on a lotus and holding lotuses that symbolise beauty, purity and fertility. Her four hands represent the four tenets of Dharma, righteousness, <st1lace>Kama</st1lace>, desires, Artha, wealth and Moksha, liberation or release from Samsara, the cycle of Jananam, Maranam and Punarjananam. Gold coins fall in a never-ending cascade from Her Divine Hand. Lakshmi, from the Sanskrit ‘Lakshya’, ‘aim’ or ‘goal’, the Goddess of both material and spiritual wealth. The two elephants spraying water on Her signify that ceaseless effort with dharma and jnyana will lead to spiritual prosperity.

In addition to the twenty-two slokas of the Kanakadhara Stothram said to have been recited by Adi Sankaracarya, three slokas have been found in ancient palmyra leaves. Brahmasri Bhutapuri Subrahmanya Sarma has been instrumental in bringing them to one’s notice. I quote one slokam as it corroborates the Golden Shower…

Bilvatavi Madhya lasatsaroje
Sahasra patre sukhi sannivistam |
Astapadambhuruha panipadmam
Suvarna Varnam pranamami lakshmeem ||

Bilvatavi madhye = In the middle of bilva garden; Sahasra patre = with thousand petals; Lasat = emitting light; saroje = In the lotus; sukha sannivistam = Sitting happily; Astapadam bhuruha = The eight petalled golden lotus flower; panipadmam = lotus like hands, holding them; suvarna varnam = having golden hue colour; lakshmim = OH! Rama Devi (the wife of Visnu); pranamami = Salutations to you.

OH! Sri Maha Lakshmi who is adorning in the middle of the thousand petalled lotus in Bilva Vana, Holding Golden Lotuses in her hand, possessing golden hue colour. To her my Salutations.

Golden yellow has many other associations.
In Hinduism, yellow is the symbolic representation of the third Chakra, the Manipuraka (the Solar plexus) Chakra.

In Greek mythology, Jason and the Argonauts went forth to seek the Golden Fleece. King Midas, of the ‘Midas touch’ fame, realised that it was more a curse than a blessing, after he turned his beloved daughter to gold, until Dionysus came to his help and cured him!

Golden yellow represents the warmth of the sun, a colour that provides a bright and cheerful feeling as well as a somber, traditional, and religious aura. Golden yellow is the colour halfway between amber and red. Perhaps this is the reason why Goddess Lakshmi always wears a gold embroidered red saree.

The ancient Maya civilization associated golden yellow with the Southern direction.

Golden Yellow denotes ‘precious’ as the metal Gold or ‘ripe’ as the colour of the harvesting season, be it golden wheat, corn or paddy.

Fortunate are those couples who get to celebrate their ‘Golden Anniversary‘, people of my generation may remember movies that celebrated a Golden Jubilee!

I am sure we have many ILites from the <st1lace><st1laceName>Golden</st1laceName><st1laceType>State</st1laceType></st1lace> of <st1:State><st1lace>California</st1lace></st1:State> where the Golden Poppy is the official state flower!


Padma Srinivas

 

Dear Viji,

Thank you for doing the 'boni'!

I'm waiting eagerly for your additions/comments..

Wishing you and your family a Happy Vishu!

JAi Bhavani Maa!
LnBBHs,
Padma

 

Devs, ma belle Virtuose!

Merci! Merci beaucoup!

I'm sure all those who celebrate Vishu/Bihu/Baisakhi... will know the significance of the offerings to Maa Lakshmi for a wonderful new year!

Here too, we're getting everything ready for the Kani Kanal.

Happy Vishu to you and your family from all of us at home here!

LnBBHs,
Your RS

 

My Dear Mitra Sahodari Jaya,

Namosthu will be mutual and reciprocal here,
Humbly, as our two Atmas salute each other,
Ever long have i known you and in you a peer,
Tho 'tis but now we meet, by the Grace of our dear Mother!

All one has is what is bestowed by Her!
She is the Thought, the Word and the Deed,
When one accepts this Truth, always and forever,
Salvation awaits, from rebirths is one freed!

Your words have made me break out into verse, something that has been beyond my scope...

Jaya dear, your fbs and value-additions send me on a high, as always.

Jai Bhavani Maa!

LnBBHs,
Padma