The
Most Important Custom
The
most potent propitiatory rite that a devotee of Lord Muruga
undertakes to perform is what is known as the "Kavadi".
The benefits that the devotee gains from offering a Kavadi
to the Lord are a million fold greater than the little pain
that he inflicts upon himself.
Generally,
people take a vow to offer the Lord a Kavadi for the sake
of tiding over a great calamity. Though this might on the
face of it appear mercenary, a moment's reflection will
reveal that it contains in it the seed for the supreme love
for God. The worldly object is achieved, no doubt, and the
devotee takes the Kavadi; but after the ceremony he gets
so God-intoxicated that his inner spiritual chamber is opened.
This is also a method that ultimately leads to the supreme
state of devotion.
The
Kavadi
The
'Kavadi' varies in shape and size from the simple shape
of a street hawker's storehouse (a wooden stick with two
baskets at each end, slung across the shoulder) to the costly
palanquin structure, profusely flower- bedecked and decoratively
interwoven with peacock feathers. In all cases the Kavadi
has a good many brass bells adorning it and announcing it
as the Kavadi-bearer draws it along. As, very often, the
Kavadi bearer observes silence; the bells are the only eloquent
signs of a Kavadi procession.
The
two baskets hanging at either end of the Kavadi will contain
rice, milk or other articles that the devotee has vowed
to offer to Lord Muruga. The more devout among them, and
especially those who do it as a 'Sadhana' (meditation),
collect these articles by begging. They travel on foot from
village to village, and beg from door to door. The villagers
offer their articles directly into the basket of the Kavadi.
The
Kavadi-bearer continues begging until the baskets are full
or the avowed quantity is reached, and then offers the Kavadi
to the Lord. Some keen devotees undertake to walk barefooted
from home to one of the shrines of Lord Muruga, bearing
the Kavadi all the way, and collecting materials for the
offering. He has to walk a hundred miles sometimes! The
people who place the articles in the baskets also receive
the Lord's blessings.
The Kavadi-Bearer
The
Kavadi-bearer is required to observe various rules between
the time he takes up the Kavadi and the day of the offering.
He has to perform elaborate ceremonies at the time of assuming
the Kavadi and at the time of ffering it to the Lord. He
also puts on the dress of a 'Pandaram', a Shaivite mendicant.
It consists of a saffron-coloured cloth, a scarlet conical
cap, and a cane silver-capped at both ends. Lord Shiva,
the Supreme Pandaram, Himself loves to wear this dress.
The Pandaram lives on alms only. The Kavadi-bearer's bare
chest is covered with several 'Rudraksha Malas' (rosaries).
The
Kavadi-bearer observes celibacy. He takes only pure, Satwic
food; he abstains from all sorts of intoxicating drinks
and drugs, He continuously thinks of God. Many of the Kavadi-bearers,
especially those who do it as a spiritual Sadhana, impose
various sorts of self-torture upon themselves.
Some
pass a sharp little spear through their tongue, which is
made to protrude out of the mouth. Others may pass a spear
through the cheeks. This sort of piercing is done on other
parts of the body also. The bearer does not shave; he grows
a long beard. He eats only once a day. The spear pierced
through his tongue or cheeks reminds him constantly of Lord
Muruga. It also prevents him from speaking. It gives him
great power of endurance.
The
Kavadi-bearer is in a high state of religious fervour. He
dances in ecstasy. His very appearance is awe-inspiring;
there is divine radiance on his face. Devotees often experience
the state of feeling complete union with the Lord. Sometimes
the Deity enters their body and possesses them for some
time.
Agni Kavadi
This
is the most difficult Kavadi-offering. With the Kavadi hanging
on his shoulders, the devotee walks through a pit of burning
coals. The devotees all around the pit sing hymns in praise
of the Lord. The beating of the drums and the burning of
the incense make the entire atmosphere awe-inspiring. The
real devotee gets into a state of ecstasy and easily walks
over the fire.
Celebrations
The
Kavadi festival is celebrated at all shrines of Lord Muruga.
Dancing in a hypnotic trance to the rhythm of drums, devotees
of Muruga carry the Kavadi all the way up the Palani hills
to fulfill their vow. Ettukudi Kavadi Festival is a famous
festival celebrated during the months of April-May. Devotees
from places and villages around this temple come here with
Kavadis, milk pots, coconuts, cocks and goats. This is a
major crowd pulling festival where one can see the true
Tamil culture in its habitat.
