After Deepavali, Thaipusam is the most widely celebrated Hindu festival. Unlike Deepavali that is celebrated in the homes, Thaipusam is only celebrated in temples. i.e. temples dedicated to Lord Muruga. Thaipusam is therefore celebrated in all major towns such as Kuala Lumpur (Batu Caves), Penang, Ipoh, Johore Baharu etc where there exist temples dedicated to Lord Muruga. The importance of Thaipusam can be gauged from the fact that Thaipusam is a public holiday in several states in Malaysia. However, regrettably, the origins and the philosophy of such an sacred festival appears to have been forgotten. Let's therefore spare a moment to recollect.
The Origin
In puranic times, the asuran Tarakasooran performed great penances and obtained a boon by Lord Shiva that he (Tarakasooran) would not be defeated by anyone other than a son of Lord Shiva. When Lord Shiva was observing a severe penance and was also separated from His consort, Mother Shakti, Tarakasuran thought that since Lord Shiva's penance cannot be disturbed and there would be no son to defeat him. Armed with the boon, the demon along with his allies attacked the devas and drove then out Swargaloka (the Heaven). The devas then went to Lord Vishnu and Lord Brahma who requested Kamadeva to arouse the passion within Lord Shiva. But when Lord Shiva's penance was disturbed He realized that it was the work of Kamadeva and Lord Shiva opened His third eye and reduced Kamadeva to ashes.
Lord Agni carried the six sparks that fell from the third eye of Lord Shiva and deposited them in a pond - the Saravana Poigai, where six babies were born on a lotus each. The krittika maidens nursed the babies and Mother Parvati took the babies in Her arms and made them into one, albeit with six heads. The child was Lord Shanmuga i.e. aka Lord Muruga!
Lord Muruga assumed the leadership of the devas and declared war on the asurans. Idumban, an asuran, realized the futility of the efforts of the asurans. Knowing that the asurans will all be destroyed Idumban hid himself so that he would be available to perform the death rites of the defeated asurans. After the war, Idumban, having completed the last rites of the dead asurans, retired to the forest to meditate. Here he met Saint Agathiyar who accepted him as his disciple initiated him into the secrets of the Sadakshara Mantra – Sa Ra Va Na Ba Va.
One day, Saint Agathiyar instructed Idumban to transport two hills known as Shivagiri and Shaktigiri to the south of India. Idumban tied these two hills to the ends of a stick and carried them slung across his shoulder. This act of carrying things tied to a stick slung across one's shoulders is known, in Tamil, as kaavuthal.
When Idumban reached present day Palani, he decided to rest awhile. While Idumban rested, unknown to him, Lord Muruga, who had left Kailasam after a dispute with Lord Ganesha over a fruit, decided to make one of the hills His home. Having rested, Idumban decided to resume his journey. But now he could not lift or even move the hills. On investigation he identified the cause to be a young sanyaasi who had made one of the hills His home. When persuasion failed, Idumban resorted to violence not realizing the young sanyaasi was none other than Lord Muruga. Idumban was of-course no match to the Devasenathipathi and was soon defeated. Lord Muruga spared Idumban's life due to the pleas of Idumbi, Idumban's wife. Idumban then prostrated at the Feet of Lord Muruga and requested Lord Muruga to bless all devotees who carried their karma to Him similarly. Thus Idumban became the initiator of the practice of carrying kaavadis to Lord Muruga as a form of penance.
What is a kaavadi?
Kaavadi is made up of 2 words i.e kaavuthal that means to carry things on a pole across one's shoulders and adi which means feet. Thus kaavadi is the process of carrying things on a pole slung across one's shoulders for submission at the Lotus Feet of Lord Muruga. In place of the two hills carried by Idumban, devotees carry containers that contain offering to Lord Muruga especially milk and other abishega materials. Thus the act of carrying a kaavadi is an act of submission to Lord Muruga's Lotus Feet, an act of prayer and extreme humility!
Present Practice.
Today the act of carrying kaavadis has undergone significant changes. Over time it has degenerated into a show of one's ability to endure pain or the ability to design and construct the most elaborate structure. In their haste to outdo others, kaavadis are often hired from others for a fee. In these cases, the personal effort in constructing the kaavadi by the devotee is minimal, if any. Devotees appear to be under the delusion that that one's bhakti is in direct proportion to the amount of self inflicted pain that one can endure. This has reduced the highly spiritual act of carrying kavaadis into a road show complete with audio-visual special effects.
The act of piercing one's body with metal spears (the bigger the spear, the greater the bhakti it seems) and skewers in not necessary. Our scriptures have always considered the human body that houses the divine soul, as a temple. Therefore acts that desecrate a human body is akin to desecrating a temple and is not encouraged. In addition, spilling blood in a temple is most inauspicious! In fact even if a single drop of blood is spilt in a temple regular poojas must be suspended until prescribed purification rites are conducted. Also the endurance of pain, self-inflicted or otherwise, cannot be an act of penance. Lord Muruga who is the Fountain of Mercy will not take satisfaction from the sufferings of His children. All He wants from us is to observe His dharma – the Sanathana Dharma.
Another practice associated with Thaipusam that is not in keeping with the teaching of Hinduism is the offering and consumption of non-vegetarian food during the Idumban Pooja. It is customary to begin and end the Thaipusam viratha with poojas to Idumban. Though Idumban was an asuran, he was a realized soul both by his association with Saint Agathiyar and the Grace of Lord Muruga. It is therefore sacrilegious to include non-vegetarian food in his pooja or pooja to other realized souls. An Idumban Pooja, like all other poojas, MUST be vegetarian. There can be no compromise!
In keeping with the spirit and philosophy of carrying kaavadis, it is important that devotees accompanying kaavadi bearers conduct themselves appropriately. They should be dressed in traditional clothes, sing only religious hymns, recite appropriate mantras and play traditional music on traditional instruments. Loud music destroys the serenity of the occasion and is more suited for street parties. The carrying of the kaavadi MUST NOT be reduced to being a mere spectator event.
** This thattva was compiles, published and brought to you by SAMAJ Hindu Academy(Rudra Devi SAMAJ)**
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