Do You Know why on #ArudhraDarisanam kali is made as Naivedyam/offering for Bhagwan Shiva.

It is related to incidents happened in the life of a devotee of Shiva -
Senthanar who lived in #Chidambaram.

Senthanar used to sell firewoods for his earnings.

Using the money earned by selling firewood,senthanar used to feed atleast one sivanadiyar once a day,before having his http://food.In  this situation,Bhagwan Shiva decided to test devotion of http://Senthanar.One  day it rained heavily &all the firewood he got wet.

As firewood was wet he couldn't http://sell.So  he didn't have much cash to buy rice for that day's meal.He managed to prepare Kali with some rice and jaggery.Waited for sivanadiyar,but time went on - Senthanar was worried as no sivanadiyar visited his place on that day.

So Thillai Natarajar came as a Sivanadiyar to Senthanar home.
Senthanar opened door& was overjoyed to know that Sivanadiyar had come &served him food(Kali).Sivanadiyar (Shiva)enjoyed while eating Kali amudu &asked Senthanar to parcel remaining Kali for his next meal.

In those times,it is customary for Chola raja Kandaratidhar to hear sound of Nataraja's salangai (ghungroo) daily Shiva Puja.But that night, Raja didn't hear Natarajar's salangai during the Shivapooja. Nataraja went to Senthanar's house to eat that time.Raja was so upset.

Raja went to sleep wondering if there was anything wrong with his Shiva pooja.Nataraja came in raja's dream & told about his visit to Senthanar home being the reason.Also told the raja tomorrow in car(Ther) festival,you will meet senthanar. Raja was amused by bhakti of Senthanar.

Next day morning,when Chidambaram Natarajar temple sanctum was opened,there was kali was scattered on floor.Raja was informed about this,he recollected the dream & understood that Natarajar had Kali at Senthanar's home.Raja ordered soliders to find the whereabouts of Senthanar.

Already senthanar came to see the car(Ther) festival of Natarajar.
Raja & others tried to pull the rope of Ther in which Natarajar murthi was there,but the Ther(Car) didn't move even a bit. At that time,they heard a divine voice (asariri) asking Senthanar to sing song on Shiva

Then Senthanar by the grace of Nataraja sang thiruppallandu and the chariot/Ther moved without anybody pulling it.Seeing this,Raja &people of Thillai fell at feet of Senthanar &worshiped him.Raja also told Senthanar that Natarajar had come in his dream & told about him.

It was Thiruvathirai day on which Natarajar went to Senthanar's home to eat Kali. So it came to be known as Thiruvathirai kali &it is offered as Naivedyam to Bhagwan Shiva on #Thiruvathirai day.

This shows how Bhagwan Shiva got pleased with bhakti of Senthanar to everyone.

- all photos in thread - credit to resp.owners

Source text - based on story of Senthanar from various blogs/news article

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Om Namah Shivaya

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