| Thai Pusam at Palani
by V.S. Krishnan Wherever a Muruga temple is located; whether in India, USA, Singapore, Malaysia or Sri Lanka, Thai Pusam is celebrated there with gaiety, enthusiasm and devotion. But at Muruga temples in Palani, Thai Pusam is an especially grand and spectacular event.
 Every day, Palani wears a festive look. Every day, Palani is flooded with devotees, eager to have a glimpse of their most beloved Lord Muruga. Every day, people congregate here in large numbers to experience the bliss of being with Palani Andavar. But when Thai Pusam comes, the divine aura that pervades Palani atmosphere defies description. On Thai Pusam day, Palani looks enchanting. One sees a sea of humanity here, eager to immerse themselves in Muruga experience. Everywhere, one hears the names of the Lord. As the mantra, "Hara Haro Hara" reverberates, the whole atmosphere is charged with the air of divinity. For everyone assembled here, no other thought occupies the mind except that of Muruga.
 When Thai Pusam comes near, we only think of Palani. Thai Pusam has become synonymous with Palani, the abode of Muruga. With the advent of Thai Pusam, a steady stream of devotees starts flowing towards Palani. They come from different regions, from far and near to converge at Palani. They may have differences like caste and class but while heading towards Palani, they are all united in their devotion towards Muruga. There may be young ones, old ones, women and men, rich and poor but all of them have one aim; to reach the Lotus Feet of Muruga, the Lord of infinite grace. They may be engaged in different occupations but they all consider worshipping Dandayudhapani as their primary occupation.
 The word 'Thai Pusam' is the combination of two words Thai which refers to the Tamil month and Pusam which refuers to the star (nakshatram). The day of Pusam star in the month of Thai is considered very auspicious. The very purpose of Muruga manifesting in earth is to destroy the evil forces represented by Sooran and establish Dharma. On Thai Pusam day, Mother Parvati gives Muruga the all-powerful Vel (the spear). It is this image; Muruga holding the powerful Vel, sitting majestically on his transport, peacock, that we see in the Lord's third abode, Tiruavinangudi in Palani.
The Vel that Parvati gives to Muruga is such a powerful weapon that it excels the power of Siva's Trishul, Vishnu's Chakra and Indira's Vajrayudha. With the lance presented by Parvati, Muruga attains victory over evil forces represented by Soorapadman. Therefore, Thai Pusam is celebrated as a mark of victory of good over evil.  The lance (Vel) is not a mere weapon. The Vel goes by different name; Jnana Vel, the Vel that gives knowledge (jnana), Sakti Vel, the Vel that gives power and energy, Vetri Vel, the Vel that brings success. The Vel (lance) therefore has not only the power to destroy but also the power to create, protect, succeed and enlighten. It radiates the light of knowledge and so it is called Kadir Vel.
The formation of the Vel indicates that it is the source of all knowledge. The lower part that runs deeper and lengthy indicates that true knowledge should be deep and not peripheral. The wider portion at the top represents the vastness of knowledge. Finally, the pointed edge of the Vel indicates that knowledge should be sharp. Arunagirinathar has composed many songs like Vel Virutham on the significance of Vel. According to Arunagirinathar, Vel has the power to ward off the consequences arising out of karma (vinai theerkum kadir vel). 
Just as Tiru Avinangudi temple, the temple atop the Palani hill is also considered very sacred and important. Saint Bhogar, a siddhar, is credited with the creation of the idol of Palani Dandayudhapani. Many years later, perhaps between the 7th and 11th centuries C.E., Cheraman Perumal, a ruler of Kerala, the contemporary of Saint Sundarar, built the temple around the shrine. Later, the Nayaks and Pandya kings developed this temple.
Thai Pusam is the most important event in the hill temple of Palani. Elaborate arrangements are made well in advance. Thai Pusam festivities start ten days in advance and culminate on Poosam day. On the Poosam day, Palani becomes heaven on earth. The pilgrims visiting the Palani Hill for Thai Pusam have defined what true devotion is. They do not just pack their luggage, take a train or bus, and reach Palani. Most of them make preparations well in advance. A true devotee who seeks the blessings of Palani Andavar makes sure that he is pure in mind and body. He goes beyond the influence of senses. His attention is always centered on God. Another unique feature that distinguishes a Muruga devotee is the vibhuti (sacred ashes) smeared over his forehead and body. Vibhuti signifies pure devotion. It is made by burning dried cow-dung and is associated with Lord Siva who appears clad in vibhuti always. Vibhuti gives us the grim reminder that what we consider as precious would turn into ashes. 
In his Subramanya Bhujangam, Adi Sankara says: "Apply vibhuti and free your body from all diseases." Siva Purana speaks highly of the value of vibhuti. In his Arumugam Arumugam song, Arunagirinathar says that one who applies vibhuti is worthy of reverence. In another song rendered at Kasi, Arunagirinathar says, "As we worship you with our body smeared with vibhuti, oh Muruga, grace us the knowledge to reach your Lotus Feet" (tiru neeri poosi meipadha mana sevadi kana vaitharul jnana makiya bodhakathinaiyeyumararul purivaye …..dharanikkadhi)
The devotees visiting Palani at Thai Pusam observe strict discipline and celibacy. They start fasting 41 days in advance. Just before Thai Pusam, they start their marathon journey barefoot only, chanting the mantra, 'Hara Haro! Hara Hara!' Though transport facilities are available, many pilgrims come to Palani by trekking difficult terrains and walking long distance. Most of them carry the kavadi on their shoulders. 
Some devotees adopt the extreme ritual of piercing Vel through their cheeks. I think Hinduism does not approve any practice which causes wound and pain on the body. It is enough if we show devotion by means of bhajan, service and surrender. Some devotees shave off their head as a mark of sacrifice. Though the devotees in general, undergo many sufferings, during the journey to temple, one cannot see any sign of tiredness or stress on their face.
Some devotees generally stay in the Kozhummam Iyyerval Chatram, popularly known as Iyyerwal Chatram, and perform Kavadi Puja and bhajans there. Ultimately, when they reach the top of the hill, their excitement reaches the crescendo and they dance in ecstasy. As you arrive at Palani on the occasion of Thai Pusam, what attracts you most is Kavadi. Wherever you see, you find Kavadi. Kavadi is an arch-like wooden canopy, beautifully decorated and carried on the shoulders. According to legend, Saint Agastyar, an ardent devotee of Lord Siva, had asked his disciple, Idumbasuran to bring the two hillocks, Sivagiri and Saktigiri from Mount Kailasa to the South for his worship. Idumban connected the two hillocks with the help of a wooden piece in the centre and tied the loose ends with snakes and proceeded towards South. On reaching South, he placed them at a spot for taking rest. Later, when he tried to lift it, he could not. He then saw a youth wearing a piece of loincloth and holding a staff (danda) atop the hill. He asked the lad to move away. But the child, claiming right over the hill, refused to oblige. Soon Idumban realised that the boy was none other than Lord Muruga and paid obeisance to Him. Lord Muruga showered His blessings and proclaimed that anyone coming to his abode with similar arch-like objects would be graced by the Lord. The Kavadi form of worship became the usual practice. Many artists swing and dance by balancing the Kavadi over their head. It is a marvelous sight even children and women carrying Kavadi on their shoulders walking towards the top of the hill with extreme devotion. The number of Kavadis reaching the Palani hill on the occasion of Thai Pusam is estimated at around fifty thousand. Having taken the arduous journey to Palani and having trekked the hill, when at last the devotees return to the ground, they are very tired, exhausted and hungry. Where would they go for lunch? Who will feed them? Having come to seek the blessings of Muruga, can they go back hungry? "No," said some of the devotees from Kerala who had come to Palani during Thai Pusam. These devotees who came as a group from Kerala felt that they should do something to satisfy the hunger of pilgrims. Thaadi Mani Iyer, who was doing hotel business at Koduvayur near Palakkad, and his friends collected some money and arranged meals for a few. That was the beginning of a new scheme of annadanam (mass feeding). Initially, while staying at a chatram (choultry), they procured the materials necessary, prepared food and served few people only. Gradually, the Annadanam scheme developed. Sri Nelluva Narayana Iyer, Sri Anamala Ramachandra Iyer, Sri Palani Muttiah and many others lent their solid support. Contributions started pouring in. This happened nearly a century ago. Soon, the annadanam movement gained momentum. The organizers thought that there is nothing greater than serving the devotees of Lord Muruga. They believed that doing service and feeding the hungry devotees is equal to worshipping Muruga. Serving the Muruga devotees is serving Muruga. Soon an institution was established at Kozhikode called the Tiru Palani Thai Pusam Annadana Sangham. As the number of mouths to be fed increased, the donations which came in the form of money and materials also increased. In order to regularize the transaction, the Tiru Palani Thai Pusam Annadana Sangham was registered and proper accounts maintained. The silent service which the Sangham has been doing for years has been appreciated by many. This year, 2015, the Sangham will be celebrating the 85th anniversary of annadanam service with justifiable pride.  To the ever-increasing number of devotees who climb the hill to worship Muruga, the Lord showers his bountiful blessings. "Palani Dandayudhapani is the Lord of abundant grace, the ultimate refuge for the people caught in the illusions of life. He is Kali Yuga Varada, the Lord who protects the devotees in this age of Kali Yuga. He is the Lord who leads the people from darkness to light", said Sri V.S. Lakshminarayanan, an active member of Tirupalani Thai Pusam Annadana Sangham who does textile business at Thrissur.
Palani temple finds mention in many religious texts and literature. Many saints have highlighted the glory of Palani Andavar in their songs. Saint Arunagirinathar has composed over 90 songs about Palani Andavar and about Bala Murugan at Tiru Avinangudi, at the base of the hill. Some of the notable songs are Arumugam Arumugam, Ulaga Pasu Pasa, etc. An important ritual done to the Dandapani idol is abhishekam or anointment. Though abhishekam is done with various items like pure water, sandalwood paste, vibhuti (sacred ash), milk, etc., the most prominent abhishekam is done with panchamritam; a sacred paste made with jaggery, ripe hill plantain, dates, etc. The word amritam in Sanskrit means immortality. Every devotee returning from Palani carries the panchamritam as the prasadam. Needless to mention, the devotee returning from Palani after worshipping Dandayudhapani feels liberated from the ocean of Samsara and finds unity with Muruga. What is the message that we get from Palani Andavar? Muruga's father, Siva is the source of all knowledge. Muruga's mother, Parvati, is the embodiment of power (sakti). Having inherited the combined qualities of his parents, knowledge and power, Muruga has become the Lord Supreme, unequalled and unparalleled. Yet, Lord Muruga has renounced everything, went atop the hill and stands with bare loincloth. He stands there as an andi (penniless mendicant). The message he gives is very loud and clear; stop coveting wealth, stop going after material pursuits, stop acquiring possessions and properties and adopt simplicity and humbleness. Let us distance ourselves from this world of illusion and try to reach Muruga, the eternal reality.
Thai Pusam  | | The Hindu festival of Thaipusam commemorates the day when Goddess Pavarti gave her son Lord Muruga an invincible lance with which he destroyed evil demons. It is celebrated by some two million ethnic Indians in Malaysia and Singapore. When prayers are answered, devotees fulfill vows by piercing parts of their body before carrying a kavadi along a four kilometre route. Here, a Hindu devotee makes his way towards the Batu Caves to perform religious rites before sunrise on the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur on February 7, 2012. |  | | Hindu devotees carry milk pots on their heads take part in a procession during the Thaipusam festival at Batu Caves in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Feb. 7, 2012. The festival is rooted in Hindu legend and was brought from southern India by 19th century immigrants who came to the Malaysian peninsula to work in rubber estates and government offices. |  | | A Hindu devotee carries the Kavadi with metal prongs piercing his skin as he leaves the temple while taking part in a traditional ceremony during the annual Hindu festival of Thaipusam in Singapore on February 7, 2012. |  | | A devotee walks down the street during the Thaipusam procession at Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple on February 7, 2012 in Singapore. Thaipusam is a Hindu festival celebrated on the full moon in the Tamil month of Thai. Devotees pray and make vows, when the prayers are answered they fulfill the vows by piercing parts of their body such as their cheeks, tongues, and backs before carrying a kavadi along a four kilometre route. |  | | Hindu devotees make their way towards the Batu Caves to perform their religious rites before sunrise during the Thaipusam Festival on the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur. |  | | A devotee has his body pierced with hooks before taking part in the Thaipusam procession at Sri Srinivasa Perumal. |  | | A Hindu devotee gets his cheek pierced with a metal rod during the Thai Pusam festival at Batu Caves in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. |  | | A Hindu devotee with hooks embedded into his back takes part in a procession during the Thaipusam festival at Batu Caves in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Feb. 7, 2012. The festival is rooted in Hindu legend and was brought from southern India by 19th century immigrants who came to the Malaysian peninsula to work in rubber estates and government offices. |  | | A Hindu devotee carries a Kavadi offering cage while taking part in a procession during the Thaipusam festival at Batu Caves in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Feb. 7, 2012. The festival is rooted in Hindu legend and was brought from southern India by 19th century immigrants who came to the Malaysian peninsula to work in rubber estates and government offices. | While many of us associate Thaipusam with crowds at temples and the awe-inspiring sight of kavadi bearers, how many of us actually understand the significance of the occasion? Thaipusam comes from an amalgam of the words "Thai" – referring to the Tamil month of Thai (January – February) – and Pusam – the brightest star during this period. Falling between 15 January and 15 February every year, Thaipusam is a celebration of Lord Murugan A devotee bearing a kavadi – the symbol of humility and devotion Soorapadman believed himself invincible since he could not be killed by anything other than a being who was a manifestation of Lord Shiva, one of the most important Hindu deities. Unluckily for him, Lord Murugan was one such being and he used his spear or vel, which was given to him by Lord Shiva's consort, Parvati, to defeat Soorapadman. So it is that during Thaipusam, the people thank Lord Murugan for granting their wishes and defeating the "daily demons" that plague their lives, be it illnesses, career blocks or infertility. Believers not only thank him, they also ask forgiveness for trangressions made, as well as pray for blessings. The rituals of Thaipusam usually begin much earlier before the big day itself. Some devotees fast for more than a month before the occasion while others shave their heads as an act of gratitude, repentance or as a poignant plea to have prayers answered. On the eve of Thaipusam, the image of Lord Murugan is transported from one temple to another, accompanied and waited on by devotees bearing offerings to the deity. Milk, a symbol of purity and virtue, as well as flowers and fruits are common Thaipusam offerings. Kavadis, literally "sacrifice at every step", can be seen attached to devotees via hooks and thin spears that pierce their backs, cheeks and mouths. This can be quite a sight for onlookers who no doubt wonder how these kavadi bearers withstand the pain, but devotees will tell you that their fervent faith in their Lord Murugan's protection spares them from pain and prevents them from shedding blood. Bearing a kavadi is an act of devotion and humility. Additionally, coconuts are smashed to signify the breaking of the ego and the emergence of a purer self. In Batu Caves – one of the focal points of Thaipusam celebration in Malaysia – the procession accompanying the silver chariot bearing Lord Murugan's idol, starts from Sri Mahamariamman, in the centre of Kuala Lumpur, to the temples of Batu Caves. The procession usually starts before midnight on the eve of Thaipusam and is a 15 kilometre journey that can easily take 8 hours. Devotees wait for hours just to catch a glimpse of Lord Murugan on his chariot and extend their offerings while hundreds of thousands more join the procession to the temples. The number of people at Batu Caves during Thaipusam can range from 700,000 right up to 1.5 million. At Batu Caves, devotees faithfully carry their offerings and kavadi bearers staunchly shoulder their burdens up 272 steps to the temple. Celebrations also take place in other parts of the country. Other principal places of celebration include the Waterfall Temple in Penang and Kallumalai Temple in Ipoh, Perak.  A procession accompanying the chariot bearing the Hindu deity as it makes its way to the temple during Thai Pusam Thai Pusam, to any one who is lucky to witness the festivities, is both a vivid celebration of colours and a fascinating display of faith. Yet, this is not the only Hindu festival that is worth bearing witness to. Other holy days, important to Hindu belief and culture, are just as interesting and engrossing. Deepavali, literally meaning "rows of lamps", for example, is a celebration of light triumphing over dark. On this day in the Tamil month of Aippasi (October – November), one legend has it that the Lord Krishna defeated the demon king Naraka. Hindus celebrate the occasion by anointing themselves in oil and partaking in a ritual bath early in the morning on Deepavali day. Then new clothes are worn and prayers are performed. Deepavali is quite possibly the best known Hindu festival in Malaysia. Other festivals besides Thaipusam and Deepavali are: Thai-ponggal Celebrated for four days, beginning from the first day of the Tamil month of Thai, Ponggal means the "boiling over" of rice and is a thanksgiving to the elements that have contributed to a good harvest – mainly the sun and the cattle. On this day, the cattle gets a well-deserved day of rest, a good wash and their sheds similarly get a thorough cleaning. They are also decorated with garlands and fed with ponggal – sweet rice. The Sun God is thanked as well with both prayers and sweet rice. But the gratitude isn't only limited to the Sun God and the cattle; on the third day of celebration, visits are made to family and friends, employers customarily present gifts to their employees and single women present offerings to their home deities, praying for a worthy husband. Siva Ratri Taking place on the 13th night of the Tamil month of Masi (February – March), this is a festival of fasting and prayers. It is also known as Shiva's Night. Panguni Utthiram This festival falls on the same day as that of Lord Shiva's union with Parvathi and the birth of Lord Murugan from sparks emanating from Lord Shiva's eyes. Falling on the day of the full moon in the Tamil month of Panguni (March – April), the festival is celebrated much like Thaipusam in Murugan temples. Tamil New Year Here new year refers to the first day of the Tamil month of Chittirai (April – May). It is on this day that the sun enters the first sign of the Hindu zodiac – Aries. During the Tamil New Year (also known as the Hindu New Year), the house is thoroughly cleaned and decorated. This includes the prayer room which will be adorned with gold jewellery, rice, silk cloths and other favourable objects. Those who take part in the celebrations wear new clothes, eat a vegetarian meal and go to the temple to perform prayers. Nava Ratri Literally meaning "Nine Nights", this festival is celebrated in the Tamil month of Puraddasi (September – October). The celebrations are in honour of the goddess Shakti, who is the "Great Divine Mother" in Hindu belief. On this day, a kolu – a dais with nine steps – is filled with the images of Hindu deities and saints while the "Great Divine Mother" is invited to take her place on a kumbham – a beautifully decorated, water-filled pot that is covered with husked coconut as well as mango leaves and placed on banana leaf that also has rice on it. Offerings in the form of nine types of grains are placed at the kumpan as well.
More about Thai Poosam festival:
| 
Entradas
No hay comentarios :
Publicar un comentario