16 Phalala Nommu

Importance of the 16 Phalala Vratam/Nommu: (Who and When)

Women in India mostly do all the vrat or pooja or nommulu mainly for 2 people, its either for her soubhagyam (husband) or for her kids welfare. 16 Phalala Nommu is for the latter i.e. for having kids (to-be mothers or newly married) / betterment or progress for her kids. In Telugu, phalam means “the result” so with the blessing of goddess it is believed that any women who does this nommu will get the positive results for any desire she has, specially related to her kids .

This Nommu is started by taking the sankalpam (intention to start and perform with heart and mind) and giving at least one fruit as vayanam that day. The sankalpam of this nommu can be taken on the day of rathasapthami or Maha Shivaratri. Please consult a purohit if these two days would not work. This nommu is expected to be completed within one year of taking the sankalpam.

In 16 Phalala Nommu, you need to distribute very fresh and nice 16 variety of fruits to 16 muthaiduvulu and a count of 16 fruits each. It is preferable to choose fruits which have white seeds and avoid black colored fruits or fruits with black/brown seeds. Please try to find fresh fruits that are not rotten.

List of fruits that Can be considered:

• Mango
• Orange
• Mausambi (Sweet Lemon)
• Guvava
• Banana
• Pomegranate
• Dosa Pandu
• Nimma Pandu (lemon)
• Grapes (with white seeds)
• Panasa pandu (Jackfruit)
• Cantaloupe
• Cococnut
• Dates
• Velaga Pandu
• Dhabbakaya
• Gummadi Pandu (Pumpkin/Squash) (consider this as the last fruit if possible)

Pooja Samagri required for the Pooja:

• Pasupu (Turmeric)
• Kumkum
• Flowers (Small Mala for Ammavaru and also loose flowers for the Pooja)
• Nalla Vakka or Vakkapadi
• Banana – 2  / bellam mukka
• Any 1 fruit of your choice (18 count)
• Tamalapakulu (3 for vayanam & 2 for god & 2 for pooja)
• Agarbatti
• Karpooram
• Samrani (not mandatory)
• Kobari Kayalu (coconuts ) – 1 (optional)
• Gandham (sandal powder)
• Akshantalu
• Change coin
• Panchapatra & udherinah (glass and spoon)
• Pooja Ghanta
• Arati plate
• Deepam ( Lit two Diya on either side of Ammavaru )
• A napkin for wiping your hands
• Also remember to note down the thidhi, gothram, year name beforehand from any Indian calendar.
• Ghee for deepam
• Nayivedhyam
• Plate

Note : We take 18 same fruits out of which 2 to be kept near gowri Devi and those 2 fruits should be consumed within the family rest 16 to be given to muthayiduvu in the Vayanam.

Pooja Place arrangements:

Just clean the Pooja place where you do your regular pooja and make Pasupu Gowri Amma. Its always good to keep all pooja samagri, Vayanam and Naivedhyam near the Pooja place so you need not get interrupted in between.

Pooja Vidhanam Overview:

• Ganapati Pooja
• Sankalpam (only the day you start the nommu)
• Gowri Ashtotaram
• Vrata Katha
• Shamapana Mantram
• Naivedhyam

Vayanam Details:

• 3 Tamalapakulu
• 16 fruits
• Pasupu Kumkum
• Vakkalu
• 4 bangles
• Coin
• A flower

Note:   Wash the fruits nicely and apply little passupu kumkum (this procedure differs for each family)

How to give vayanam :

• Sit in front of the muthayiduvu and apply kumkum on her forehead.
• Apply chandan to her.
• Apply pasupu to her legs.
• Offer her to take the pasupu (take some pasupu separately for this as this for her mangalasutralu.)
• Ask her to hold the akshintalu for blessing you and then give vayanam.
• While giving vayanam, cover the vayanam with the pallu of your saree and give it into the pallu of the muthayiduvu by saying:

• Now take her blessings

Note: You consider the Muthayiduvu as the form of Ammavaru so don’t hesitate to take blessings from the younger ones as well.

Udhyapana:

Usually, we do the udyapanam for the 16th fruit and consider choosing panasa /coconut/gummadi and try to give this vayanam to your Mom (girls’s mom) / adapadachu / elder most muthayiduvu / daughter (if she is married).

Now the only slight difference is the things kept in vayanam:

• Tamalapaku -3
• Fruit – 16
• Pasupu – kumkum
• Vakka
• 4 Bangles
• Coin
• Flowers
• Gold / silver / any metal gummadikaya (a very small version, easily available in the stores nowadays)
• Saree (optional)

Note : if the Muthayiduvu can come for lunch that would be great .

Vrat Katha:

Purvakalam lo oka oka Rajyam lo Rajugari Baarya, matri Baarya Padaharu Phalala nommu nochukunnaru. Raju baaryaku gunaheenulu, guddivaru, kuntivaaru kumarulu ga puttaru. Mantri baaryaku ratna manikyalu lani suguna guna sampanalu kaligaru. Induku raju baarya enthagaano chintinchindhi. Rajugari baarya mantri baaryanu kalusukuni ila adigindi : “emamma! nuvvu nenu kaliseh kada Padaharu phalala nommu nochukunamu. Mari naaku ituvanti biddalu, neeku atuvanti biddalu putataniki kaaranam emiti “.

Anduku mantrigari baarya baga aalochinchi Rani gariki ee vidham ga chepindhi ,” Maharani! Meeru vrata kaalam lo viniyoginche palamu oka roju mundhu gane samkurchukoni vaatini kotalo nilvachesaru. Vaatilo unna vankari pallu, muchuluna pallu, paadaina pallanu gurthinchaka, vatini veru cheyaka parentallaku panchi pettaru. Ala aashradha chesinanduvalla meeku kailgina pillalu kunti, guddi, guna heenulu aayaru. Meeru vicharuinchakunda ee padahaaru phalala nommu chala shakthivanthamaina nommu, Streela paalita penidhi, kanuka meeru marala padaharu phalala nomu ni noyandi. Chakkanainavi, subramainavi ga unna phalalanu samakurchkoni vaatini muthayduvulaku puvvulu, dakshina-taambulalu vaayanam ivandi.”.

Rani Mantri baarya chapina prakaramga manchi palanu samakurchukoni, entho bhakthi shradhalatho padaharu phalala nomu ni nochundi. Ala ee nommu vishesham valana, aame santhanam sarvaanga sundharamga maaradam jarigindhi. Anduku aah Rani enthagaano aanandinchindi.

(Thanks to “Sankara Devi Rajaswi Chiruvolu” for translation of Katha to english text.)

Udhyapana:

Pari-subhramaina padaharu rakkala pallannu enchukoni samakurchukovali. Oka pandunu, puvvulani dakshina-taambulam muthaiduvalaku ivvali. Tasdupaari santarpana cheyali.

Note:

• All the Special poojas are done after the completion of your regular Pooja.
• We should consider the Muthayiduvu as the form of Ammavaru so don’t hesitate to take blessings from the younger ones as well.
• Every family has their own set of rules for the Start of this Vratam/ fruit selection/ procedures the above information is more general and specific to what I learnt from my elders.

Stay Blessed !!!