What strikes your mind first when you think of Thaipusam? Uncontrollable crowd, enthralling Kavadis, Milk pots, and Pathayathira, right. Obviously these are the prominent features of Thaipusam, but more of it, many of us are unaware of the substantial significance of this festival. Thaipusam is one of the major festivals that is celebrated mostly by the Tamil People all around the globe. In this blog, you may get to know some of the rare and interesting facts about Thaipusam, Lord Murugan, festival dates, and some of the best places to visit during Thaipusam.
Lord Murugan “ The Tamil God”
Lord Murugan is one of the most celebrated Gods in South India and in overseas countries like Malaysia, Singapore, and Sri Lanka. The image of pleasing Bala Murugan, carrying a sublime smile and highlighted verse “Yam Iruka Bayamen,” is enough to overcome any hurdles in life. “Muruganuku Arohara” is not just a word; it’s an emotion for millions of people, not only in Tamil Nadu but across the globe. Lord Murugan, known by innumerable names like Karthikeyan, Murugan, Kanthan, Velayutham, Dhandayuthapani, Shanmugan, Kumaran, Kathirvelan, Malaiyandi, Balan, and Subramaniyan, was worshipped by the Tamil people from time immemorial.
Facts may be overwhelming as you come across this, but it’s true that Lord Murugan has been worshipped by millions of Buddhists in China, Japan, Tibet, and Bhutan every day. This Tamil Lord has reached overseas and been worshipped by the followers of Buddhism in the name of Wei Tuo Pu Sa. This Wei Tuo Pu Sa is none other than the Lord Murugan, whose fame had spread overseas many thousands of years ago by our ancestors and by Lord Buddha himself. Buddha, who evolved as the almighty, had worshiped Lord Murugan in his earlier days and practiced the same once he started his divine journey to countries like China and Japan to spread his religion. Even today, every Buddha temple has a small shrine for Wei Tuo Pu Sa at the entrance, and millions of devotees worship the lord knowingly and unknowingly.
The Saga Of This Festival
Thaipusam is a ceremony of celebrating the victory of Lord Murugan over the vicious Soorapadman. The name itself is an amalgamation of two words. The legend has it that this is the very day on which Goddess Parvati endows Lord Murugan with the incredible Spear (Vel) to annihilate the Soorapadman’s tyranny. Though some argue that Thai Poosam is the day of Lord Murugan’s birth, it’s still in commotion. Be it any legend, Thaipusam is a day for Lord Murugan and the right day to see his frenetic, arduous devotees from across the globe.
Places Of Celebration
Thaipusam is commemorated throughout the world wherever there is a sacred abode for Lord Murugan and a significant presence of the Tamil community. The major places where Thaipusam is taken to another level are Tamil Nadu, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Singapore, Mauritius, the USA, Canada, and South Africa.
Celebration Of Thaipusam In Tamil Nadu and Other Countries
Be prepared for something unusual and enthralling when visiting Murugan shrines on Thaipusam. Ardent devotees undergo many vigorous sacrifices and offerings to Lord Murugan. From Kavadis to body piercing, you may witness the most arduous and unbelievable sacrifices by the devotees.
Kavadi:
Kavadis, literally “sacrifice at every step”, is a bow-like structure adorned with peacock feathers, glassworks, and many more ornamental things, which is carried by the devotees on their shoulders throughout their Path Pilgrimage (Pathayathirai) to the temple.
Some Kavadis can weigh up to 35 kgs, and some Pilgrimages may last for about a week. This offering needs lots of willpower and devotion; not everyone can take Kavadi to Lord Murugan. Only those who are destined for this can take Kavadi. More than any other offering, Kavadi is considered to be the most auspicious and painstaking offering done to Lord Murugan. There are many types of Kavadis, Pookavadi, Vel Kavadi, Paravaikavadi, and many more.
Sacred Piercing:
Piercing the body parts is yet another frenetic offering done by the devotees as a gratitude for their answered prayers. Devotees pierce the sharp vel in various parts of their bodies. In some cases, hooks are pierced to the back of the devotees, some pierce the whole Kavadi to their body, and some will get their cheeks pierced.
Thaipusam is also known for fasting. Many devotees will prepare themselves for 48 days prior to the Thaipusam, consuming only vegetarian foods and leading a disciplined life. The milk pitcher procession is yet another devotional practice on Thaipusam. Women and men dressed up in bright yellow attire will carry Milk pitchers from their native place and offer it to lord Murugan on a walk.
Places To Visit During Thaipusam
Though Thaipusam is commemorated in all Murugan shrines in South India and Overseas, some places and shrines are very popular to witness the grand procession of the devotees and offerings accompanied by the fervor of drums and loud music.
Following are some of the prominent and famous Murugan temples in South India to be on the eve of Thaipusam are Palani Dhandayuthapani temple, Thiruparankundram, Subramaniya Swami Temple Thiruthani, Vadapalani Andavar Temple, Chennai; Vayalur Murugan temple, Trichy; Swamimalai Murugan Temple, Kumbakonam; Pazhamuthircholai Murugan Temple, Madurai; Thiruchendoor Subramaniya Swami Temple, Sikkal Singara Velar Temple, Nagapattinam; Sree Subramaniya swami temple, Haripad, Alappuzha; Poombarai Kuzhanthai Velappar Temple, Kodaikanal; Kundrathur Murugan Temple, Kanchipuram; Maruthamalai Murugan Temple, Coimbatore; Ettukudi Murugan temple, Thiruvarur; Kalugumalai Murugan temple, Thoothukudi and Sree Subramanya Swami Temple, Perunna, Changanasserry.
Batu Cave Murugan Temple, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Sri Srinivasa Temple, Singapore; Sri Thendayuthapani Temple, Singapore; Malaysia island of Penang; Medan in North Sumatra, Colombo in Sri Lanka; Kataragama Temple in Sri Lanka; Sri Murugan Temple, Manor Park, London, England; are all some of the notable and prominent Lord Murugan Temples other than India.
Thaipusam is one among the few festivals that bring out the perseverance, determination, and dedication of the human race. Many may shun away these offerings as an act of cruelty, but it is to declare to the world that bodily flesh is mortal, while the immortal ones are our soul and the omnipresent Almighty. The body we possess, the sight we behold, the speech we speak, and the wealth we amass are all bestowed upon us by the Almighty; on this day of Thaipusam, we are destined to pay our gratitude towards our creator and offer him what he has blessed us with.
Every devotee with pierced skewers is revered and honored; what they are doing is not for attraction or showcase, it is purely sacred and devotional. If you happen to see them, respect them, don’t point, and be horrified.
