How To Make Thiruvathirai Kali

Significance in preparing Kali for Thiruvathirai:

Thiruvathirai Kali is a sacred offering prepared for Lord Nataraja on the auspicious Arudra Darshan day. This delicious dish is made with broken rice, jaggery, moong dal, cardamom, nuts, and coconut. 

There is an interesting story behind this Thiruvathirai Kali.Cendanar from the village Naukoor was a disciple of Pattinathu Adigal. He used to eat only after feeding some Shaiva devotees. Due to the constant bad weather, he could not get all the essentials for a proper meal. He had no option but to mix water with flour and prepare a mashed paste. Lord Shiva understood his situation and wanted the people to know how sincere his devotee was to him. Therefore, he disguised himself as a Shiva devotee and visited Cendanar’s hut. Shiva enjoyed what was given to him as food. The temple attendants saw the premises scattered with the mashed paste the following morning. Inquiries led to an understanding of Cendanar’s devout nature and he was thereafter bestowed with all due respect. This incident took place on a Margazhi Thiruvathirai day. This is why Thiruvathirai Kali is prepared as an important Prasad on this day.

How to Prepare Thiruvathirai Kali?

• Wash the raw rice in water and rinse it. Immediately after rinsing, fry it until the rice becomes golden brown 
• Grind the raw Rice along with cardamom in a mixer to a coarse powder
• Fry the moong dal till it turns golden brown
• Pour one cup of water to half-cook the dal. It will take approximately 5 minutes. 
• While the dal is getting cooked, prepare the jaggery juice in parallel. Heat another pan, add water and add grated jaggery. When the jaggery dissolves completely in water, strain it to remove dust and sand particles
• Keep the strained jaggery juice in a separate bowl
• Once the dal is almost cooked, pour two cups water, strained jaggery juice and a pinch of salt
• When the jaggery mixture begins to boil, add the powdered rice and stir well to avoid lumps
• Add grated coconut and ghee-fried cashews to the Kali
• Keep the flame low and allow it to cook in low flame for 5 minutes and then remove from flame
• The delicious Kali is ready for Neivedhyam (sacred offering) to Lord Nataraja.