Semiya Paayasam

It was MAHASHIVARATRI yesterday. This day brings back fond memories of my late maternal Grandma.

I have seen and learnt about this wonderful day from her, she was an ardent devotee and very sincere with everyday pooja rituals and fasting. Let me share with you whatever my Grandma taught me

How is MAHASHIVARATRI celebrated:

MahaShivaratri or the Night of Shiva is celebrated with great fervour to honour Lord Shiva. Shiva temples have ritual worship and abhisekham every few hours on this day where LORD Shiva in Lingam form is bathed with milk,honey,yogurt,sugar and water. It is pure bliss to watch these abhisekams.

Devotees observed a day and night fast. A few fast with consumption of milk and fruits while I remember my Grandmother used to fast even without drinking water. They do not sleep on the night of MahaShivaratri, instead they keep chanting “OM NAMAHA SHIVAYA” throughout the night and singing in praise of the LORD, only early in the morning they break their fast with the prasadam offered. Observance of this fast and keeping awake during the night is believed to liberate us from this sinful cycle of birth and death as mortals.

Legends behind the Celebration:

( source http://www.mahashivratri.org/)

According to one of the most popular legends, Shivaratri marks the wedding day of Lord Shiva and Parvati.

According to another version of the legend, Goddess Parvati performed tapas and prayers on the auspicious moonless night of Shivaratri to ward off any evil that may befall her husband. Since then, womenfolk began the custom of praying for the well being of their husbands and sons on Shivaratri day. Unmarried women pray for a husband like Shiva, who is considered to be the ideal husband.

The legend of Shiva Linga or Lingodbhavamurthy is deeply related to Mahashivaratri. The legend narrates the story of vain search by Brahma and Vishnu to discover the Aadi (beginning) and the Antha (end) of Lord Shiva. The legend thus proves the supremacy of Lord Mahadeva over other Hindu Gods and explains why the lingam is believed to be one of the most potent emblems in Hindu ideals. Since it was on the 14th day in the dark fortnight of the month of Phalguna that Shiva first manifested himself in the form of a Linga, the day is extremely auspicious and is celebrated as Mahashivaratri - the grand night of Shiva.

Ok now to my story.. My husband’s work has been crazy for a long time now. Yesterday he had to work late (he is the reason behind this posts delay ) , nothing surprising..hmm So I just had to make a simple offering to Lord Shiva – Semiya Payasam. For me Shiva is always the most forgiving and wonderful. Legends say he accepted even wild boar a hunter offered him with pure devotion , so I am sure he accepted my payasam too He sure was double pleased with the way my 21 month old did pooja to him and offered him the Paayasam .. so pure and so innocent …

Now to the recipe

SEMIYA PAYASAM

What’s needed :-

• A fistful of vermicelli
• 4 cups of milk
• Sugar to taste
• 1/2 tsp of Cardamom powder (I used 2 cardamom pods roughly smashed as I didn’t have the powder)
• 2 tbsp Ghee
• A fistful of cashewnuts n raisins

How To’s:-

1. Heat 1 tbsp of ghee in a thick bottomed pan. Fry cashews in the ghee to a golden color, remove.
2. Add the raisins fry them until they are fluffy, remove.
3. Add the remaining ghee and fry the vermicelli to a golden brown. Add ½ of milk and boil, stir occasionally so that the milk doesnt get burnt a the bottom.
4. When the vermicelli has absorbed all the milk, add some more milk and allow the vermicelli to cook well.
5. When the vermicelli is fully cooked , add the sugar and remaining milk. Boil for some more time until the payasam reaches the desired consistency(thich but not too thick )
6. Add the cardamom powder. Remove from heat. Garnish with fried cashew nuts and raisins

How Not to’s

1. Do not be generous with adding the vermicelli, lesser the better as it literally drink the milk as it cools. If you add a lot then you will have to be more generous in adding milk to make it thinner everytime.
2. Do not forget to stir frequently else milk might burn.
3. Do not add the sugar before the vermicelli is cooked well as sugar retard its cooking.

How simple is that ?

May LORD SHIVA bless all of us.

Cheers,

Koki