Purattasi Month Prayer 2014 @ Sri Ramar Temple, Penang

Tamil month Purattasi begins today.Purattasi Masam, or Puratasi, is the sixth month in a Tamil calendar and is dedicated to Lord Venkateswara (Lord Vishnu). Saturdays in the Purattasi month are dedicated to Lord Shani and special prayers are offered for escaping from the bad effects of Sani in one’s horoscope. In 2014, Puratasi month starts on September 17 and ends on October 17.Legend has it that Lord Venkateswara appeared on earth in Purattasi Masam. Lord Vishnu devotees consider Puratasi as the ideal month for thanking Lord Vishnu for preserving the Universe. Lord Vishnu is believed to do the job of preservation in Sanatana Dharma (Hinduism Special prayers are offered at the Sri Ramar Temple,Penang  in Purattasi Month.Another legend suggests that Lord Saneswara (Shani) loses his powers in Puratasi month and so it is easy to escape his malefic influences. Devotees of Lord Venkateswara take only a meal on Puratasi Saturdays. Some devotees only eat vegetarian food during the month. On Saturdays, Naamum, the two feet symbol of Lord Vishnu’s feet, is drawn on the forehead by males and women opt for a red dot. Hymns dedicated to Lord Vishnu are chanted on Saturdays.Devotees offer Mavilakku to God.