Thai Poosam Kavady 29th Jan
(Its Origin & Significance)
Vanakum and Prem Namaste. All glories to our eternal Parents Shree Shree Radha Krsna.
All glories to Mother Parvati-Lord Shiva.
All glories to Shri Ganeshji.
All glories to Lord Muruga.
"Thai Poosam" falls every year on the full moon day in the Tamil month "Thai" (January/February). This year it falls on the 29th January. On this day the full moon is in transit through the brightest star "Pusam "in the zodiac sign cancer and the planet Guru (Jupiter) is said to be the presiding deity. The festival occurs in the month of Thai (the 10th month on the Tamil calendar) and on the day when the full moon passes through the star "Pusam". This event is called "Thai Poosam". This festival is one of the biggest festivals on the South Indian calendar in South Africa.
The Kavady prayer and penance is observed over 10 days by devotees. The devotee has to abstain from various things like alcohol, drugs etc. They have to observe celibacy and maintain a vegetarian diet for this entire period. The Kavady procession is seen as an outward demonstration of mass devotion to god as Lord Muruga. There are various reasons for carrying the Kavady but the two main categories are firstly to express thanks to Lord Muruga or to ask Lord Muruga for help in overcoming a particular problem. Iduman, one of the disciples of Agasthiyai, was asked to bring to hills - representing the two forces inherent in all living beings (Shiva and Shakti). Iduman, carried these two hills with a - Kavady a beam across his shoulder with one hill suspended on each end. Mid way through the journey he sat his burden down in order to rest.
When he was ready to resume, he found that the hills were too heavy to pick up. As he prepared to forcibly pick them up he saw Lord Muruga in the way and he angrily asked him to move out of the way, Lord Muruga refused. Iduman was annoyed a battle broke out between Lord Muruga and Iduman whereby Iduman was destroyed. Lord Muruga through his eternal mercy revived and pardoned him, a change came over Iduman and he became Lord Muruga’s greatest devotee. He carried the first Kavady out of absolute devotion to the Lord. Lord Muruga also made Iduman his gate keeper. That is why when a devotee goes to the famous Pazhanimalai temple one must first pray to Iduman and then proceed to the main temple.
It is a Tamil word meaning flattened pole with loads at the ends. The Kavady carried in a religious procession also has a pole with a semi circular arch. The arch is decorated with flowers and palm leaves. The loads attached to the ends of the pole are brass vessels filled with milk or other offerings. Peacock feathers and a Vel (Lord Muruga’s spear) are also attached.
A brass pot filled with milk can also be carried for Lord Muruga as an offering and it is called “Paal Kodum”. One question, which is often asked by devotees, is can I fast for Kavady without carrying a Kavady. The answer to this question is definitely “YES”. One does not have to only carry a Kavady to show devotion to Lord Muruga. By observing the 10-day fast and attending the 10-day prayer at the temple is also seen as devotion towards Lord Muruga. Dear devotees please remember it is your love and devotion towards the Lord that is important.
Kavady is actually a procession that signifies devotion and prayer to Lord Muruga. Symbolically it is said that the essence of life involves balance, moderation and harmony. Maintaining a sense of balance in our lives involves mental calmness. To attain mental calmness we must balance our desires. If we have more desires than actions … we suffer imbalance and mental distress. Balance also signifies love and devotion to God to offset the weight of evil and vice. Lord Muruga represents perfect balance between desire and action. Since humans face problems in maintaining such balance on their own, they seek Lord Muruga’s help to achieve it. Devotees blessed with his grace get peace of mind through mental balance. We carry KAVADY for one of 2 reasons: firstly to express gratitude to Lord Muruga for his mercy and to ask for his help in restoring balance (overcoming a problem or life obstacle). Devotees carry Kavady, a symbol of balance and pray to Lord Muruga for such mental calmness and balance in their lives.
Why is a flag raised and a 10 day fast observed? - The flag, which is raised on the first day. Firstly marks the beginning of the 10-day fast and the observance of the Kavady festival. The flag also serves as a reminder that one should start fasting and go to the temple. The meaning of the banner or flag: - The Sevel (Rooster) symbolises the approach or the dawn of knowledge. It is the Sevel that proclaims the coming of the sun in the east. The sun is the heavenly body that dispels darkness. The Sevel on the banner announces the approach of knowledge, which will destroy all ignorance. The 10 day fast or sadhana is the clearance of ones mind, body and soul. By fasting and going to temple and praying for 10 days devotees become spiritually charged and uplifted to carry their Kavady. Lord Muruga’s Vel is strong, straight and pointed representing our spinal cord running through the spinal column, to the top most part of our brain, which is the highest point of knowledge. The Vel is the spear of wisdom, penetrating the intellect, seeking ultimate reality. A deadly foe to the arrogant, to the lower natured it affords strength and protection to the awaken soul. The Mayil (Peacock): - The Peacock represents his Vahana (vehicle) symbolizing his conquest over ego, vanity and pride. By Lord Muruga sitting on the Peacock it symbolises the control he has over our pride and ego. Why yellow? - The ancient tribes in India started the Kavady festival by worshipping the rising sun. They believed that the sun could provide heat and light but symbolically it could also burn up sins and redeem devotees. They recognized the sun as Lord Muruga. The sun was seen as a yellow colour, which is associated with Kavady. That is why devotees wear yellow for Kavady.
PAAL…(Milk) – Good life and prosperity THAYIER…(Sour Milk) – Sickness SANDANOH…(Sandal wood powder) – Happiness and Wisdom THEN…(Honey) – Truthfulness and honesty PANJAMRITHAM…(5 sweet mixtures) – Good strength ELLEMICHAAI…(Lime) – For enemies MANJAL PODI…(Turmeric powder) – Worries and Debts PANIER…(Rose water) – Wealth and progress ILLANIER…(Tender Coconut) – Conceiving NEY…(Ghee) – Liberation (MOKSHAM) VIBHOOTI…(Holy Ash) – Blessings KAARUMPIEN CHARU…(Sugar cane juice) – Cure Diseases MACHA…(Fish) – Only carried by fisherman, to rid of evil spirits PUSHPA…(Flowers) - progress and success The six-syllabled mantra chanted for Lord Muruga: - OM SARA-VANA-BAVA NAMAHA/POTRI (please note in north India namah (I offer my obeisance’s) is used and in South India Potri is used. Both have the same meaning. The message is that Kavady offerings to Lord Muruga need not be confined to a special day set aside for that purpose. We should mentally carry the Kavady each and every day of our lives; that is, we should ask God’s help to live a well balanced life at all times. Please remember that Kavady is not only for the Tamil-speaking people but also for all Hindu’s. Lets not segregate rather congregate. Thank you for taking time to read this article. We are trying to reach out not only to Hindus but to others of other faiths as well. By compiling and publishing these articles we hope that others will understand what a beautiful and diversified way of life Hinduism (Sanathan Dharma) really is. Please pass these articles to your friends and family and print them and keep them in a file. These articles are published so that it will be a reference to you and your family when you need clarification of certain topics. Jai Shree Muruga