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Thaipusam is a Hindu festival dedicated to Lord Muruga, a deity commonly revered by the Tamil community.
Thaipusam is celebrated in the Tamil month of Thai, the tenth month in the Tamil Calendar. Thaipusam falls on a full moon day in the zodiac of Pusam, that is, Cancer.
Thaipusam is a day for Lord Murugan's devotees to fulfill their vows and repent or seek absolution. Vow is requesting something from Lord Muruga, for example entreating to pass exams, to have a successful business and so forth. If the devotees' entreats get fulfilled than they will hold certain acts to express their gratitude to Lord Muruga.
The acts are a sight to behold; women, men, adolescents and kids fulfill their vows in a myriad of ways.
Some carry silver pots filled with milk and walk barefooted to the temple before pouring the milk on Lord Muruga's idol in the temple.
Some men and women tonsure their heads in Lord Muruga's temples on Thaipusam. Babies too get their heads tonsured. This is another way to to fulfill the vows made to Lord Muruga.
For those who want to clear sins and seek absolution, they carry kavadis, either on their heads or their shoulders. A kavadi consists of an iron or wooden pole worn horizontally on the shoulders. It comes in many shapes and sizes.
Anyone may carry the kavadi
A typical kavadi of today is embellished with Lord Muruga's attributes - peacock feathers and imagery of Lord Muruga (peacock is Lord Muruga's vehicle) Anyone may carry kavadi and in Malaysia's state of Penang, Chinese carry the kavadi religiously. The weight and measurement of kavadi depends on one's affordability - in the Lord's eyes, all that matters is bhakti, (faith) not the size of the kavadi. Kavadi bearers are often accompanied by family members who assist the kavadi bearer and musical groups who beat urumi melam (Tamil cultural drums) to keep the kavadi bearers' in high spirits and they would dance deliriously to the upbeat rhythm. Breaks would be taken from time to time by the kavadi bearers in their journey uphill (all Murugan temples are built in hills or in front of hills) to the Lord Muruga's anthropomorphic form in the temple and get His blessings.
To understand the significance of kavadi, the story of Idumban must be narrated so here goes:
"Sage Agastya wanted to take two hills -- Sivagiri and Saktigiri -- to his abode in the South and commissioned his asuran disciple Idumban to carry them. Idumban was one of the very few asuran survivors of the suraasuran war between Murugan's forces and those of Surapadman. After surviving the war he had repented and became a devotee of Lord Murugan.
At this stage, Subrahmanya or Muruga had just been outwitted by His brother Ganesa in a contest for going around the world and He was still smarting over the matter. Ganapati had won the prized fruit of wisdom (the Jnana-pazham) by simply going around His parents. Long after this, Subrahmanya came seating on His peacock to find that the prize had already been given away. In anger, He vowed to leave His home and family and came down to Tiru Avinankudi at the Adivaaram (meaning 'foot of the Sivagiri Hill'). Siva pacified Him by saying that Subrahmanya Himself was the fruit (pazham) of all wisdom and knowledge. Hence the place was called Pazham-nee ('You are the fruit') or Palani. Later He withdrew to the hill and settled there as a recluse in peace and solitude.
Idumban bore the hills slung across his shoulders in the form of a kavadi, one on each side. When he reached Palani and felt fatigued, he placed the kavadi down to take rest.
When Idumban resumed his journey, he found that he could not lift the hill. Muruga had made it impossible for Idumban to carry it. Upon the hilltop the great asuran spotted a little boy wearing only kaupeenam and demanded that he vacate at once so Idumban could proceed with his task. The boy, who was yet in a fighting mood, refused. In the fierce battle which ensued, Idumban was slain but was later restored to life.
Idumban belatedly recognised the boy as none other than his ishta devata Murugan and prayed to Him that: 1) whosoever carried on his shoulders the kavadi, signifying the two hills and visited the temple on a vow should be blessed; and 2) he should be given the priviledge of standing sentinel at the entrance to the hill. Hence we have the Idumban shrine half-way up the hill where every pilgrim is expected to offer obeisance to Idumban before entering the temple of Dandayudhapani Swami. Since then, pilgrims to Palani bring their offerings on their shoulders in a kavadi. The custom has spread from Palani to all Muruga shrines.Sage Agastya wanted to take two hills -- Sivagiri and Saktigiri -- to his abode in the South and commissioned his asuran disciple Idumban to carry them. Idumban was one of the very few asuran survivors of the suraasuran war between Murugan's forces and those of Surapadman. After surviving the war he had repented and became a devotee of Lord Murugan.
At this stage, Subrahmanya or Muruga had just been outwitted by His brother Ganesa in a contest for going around the world and He was still smarting over the matter. Ganapati had won the prized fruit (the Jnana-pazham) by simply going around His parents. Long after this, Subrahmanya came seating on His peacock to find that the prize had already been given away. In anger, He vowed to leave His home and family and came down to Tiru Avinankudi at the Adivaaram (meaning 'foot of the Sivagiri Hill'). Siva pacified Him by saying that Subrahmanya Himself was the fruit (pazham) of all wisdom and knowledge. Hence the place was called Pazham-nee ('You are the fruit') or Palani. Later He withdrew to the hill and settled there as a recluse in peace and solitude.
Murugan, enraged after learning that His big brother Lord Ganesha won the fruit of wisdom with witty trickery.
Idumban bore the hills slung across his shoulders in the form of a kavadi, one on each side. When he reached Palani and felt fatigued, he placed the kavadi down to take rest.
When Idumban resumed his journey, he found that he could not lift the hill. Muruga had made it impossible for Idumban to carry it. Upon the hilltop the great asuran spotted a little boy wearing only kaupeenam (loincloth) and demanded that he vacate at once so Idumban could proceed with his task. The boy, who was yet in a fighting mood, refused. In the fierce battle which ensued, Idumban was slain but was later restored to life.
Idumban belatedly recognized the boy as none other than his ishta devata (favourite deity) Murugan and prayed to Him that:
1. Whosoever carried on his shoulders the kavadi, signifying the two hills and visited the temple on a vow should be blessed.
2. Idumban should be given the privilege of standing sentinel at the entrance to the hill. Hence we have the Idumban shrine half-way up the hill where every pilgrim is expected to offer obeisance to Idumban before entering the temple of Dandayudhapani Swami.
Idumban at the Palani hill; he is the first kavadi bearer.
Since then, pilgrims to Palani bring their offerings on their shoulders in a kavadi. The custom has spread from Palani to all Muruga shrines."
Muruga, in His aspect as Lord Dandayudhapani, (the name of Muruga clad only in loincloth) stands for tyaagam or renunciation. Eschewing all wordly possessions, the only apparel He has chosen to retain is a loincloth called kaupeenam. But His devotees never tire of offering Him costly garments and enriching His wardrobe with luxurious royal clothes which are used to adorn Him when His devotees yearn to see the Lord in the vesture of a King. For indeed, His state is that of a Swami or sovereign Lord.
Read Part 2 here: Thaipusam: How Hindus are getting it wrong (Part 2)
Read Part 2 here: Thaipusam: How Hindus are getting it wrong (Part 2)
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