Maa vilakku is made during special occasions such as Thai month,Aadi velli,Purattasi sani,Karthigai Deepam. Our family tradition is to offer Maa vilakku during all such occasions.This is one of my favorite since childhood days.Those days after pooja, I used to wait and watch when the ghee will get exhausted and eat this prasadam after distributing to everyone.
According to legends,Maavilakku was offered to Goddess Mariamman by her brother Lord Vishnu to appease her anger as God Mariamman wanted to manifest the world with pearls of small pox.It is believed that this lamp in fornt of Goddess Mariamman removes all kind of evils around the carrier of lamp.It protects from variuos disease like plague,chicken pox,small pox.Lamp in front of Lord Muruga or Lord Shiva will give wealth and we all will be blessed with boons we wish.
To speak scientifically Maavilakku is made of rice flour mixed with jaggery will cool the body temperature and removes vaatha and pittha doshas.Along with this when rice flour is burnt in ghee it will release vapours of propyl acid into the atmosphere that cause rain.So she is called as Maari the one who causes rainfall.Our traditions are well nurtured with scientific and medicinal values that benefits mankind.What ever we offer the deity is decided based on benevolence to mankind.Follow the traditions to lead a Happy life.
Preparation Time : 30 mins
Soaking Time : 2 hrs
Total Time : 2 hrs 30 mins
Ingredients :
Raw Rice-1 cup (100 gms)
Jaggery powder/Grated Jaggery-3/4 cup (75 gms)
Ghee -3 to 4 tsp
Cardamom powder-1/2 tsp
Wick-1
Instructions :
1.Take a mixing bowl.Add 1 cup (100 gms) of raw rice.Wash the rice and soak for 2 hours.
2.After 2 hours,drain the water from the bowl or transfer to collander.Spread the soaked and drained rice over newspaper or paper towels.Leave it for 20-30 mins and let it dry.
3.After 30 mins,check whether the rice is dry.The water should not stick to your fingers.If it is still wet, pat with paper towels and dry for few more minutes.
After drying,add the rice in mixie jar.Grind to fine powder.
4.Sieve rice powder so that no lumps are present.
5.Add 3/4 cup of grated jaggery or jaggery powder to the bowl with 1/2 tsp cardamom powder.Give a good mix.
6.Add 3-4 tsp ghee.Mix together to form like a dough.If it is dry add more ghee.From your hands heat, it will form a dough like structure.
7.Make a round shape of dough.
8.Take a clean plate/banana leaf and place it over the plate/leaf.Make a small cut or dent by pressing the dough in between with the help of your fingers.Then from the sides, press it with your palms to form a circular shape.
9.Apply Turmeric and Kungumam to the dough.Add wick and pour 2-3 tsp of ghee or oil.Dip the wick in ghee to lit it properly.Light the lamp, pray to God and serve the prasadam.
10.Once the ghee is exhausted or when the wick reaches the flour,remove the wick and serve the prasadam to everyone.Make sure to remove the kungumam part before serving.
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