A good old friend of mine, who shares the same sentiments on folklore and godliness was determined to brave the sun yesterday on Thaipoosam. She tagged me along and assured me that I am going to enjoy it!! ‘Thaipoosam’ as the name goes is the Lunar month ‘Thai’(January/February) and the rasi ‘Poosam’ on this very day when Parvati gave Murugan a Vel(spear) so he could vanquish the evil demon Soorapadman. There is a misconception among people that Thaipoosam marks Murugan's birthday! Anyways never mind the misconceptions! Life has many alike!
The Perumal temple had a scintillating atmosphere and all the people thronged around the various ‘Kavadi’ bearers to get them started. Each one had a startling story to see! The spears all pierced and adorned with the bright golden and earthy Indian colors! It was a feast to watch the preparation. The men had to stand holding a pole while the helpers tied the dhothi piece around his hip till he could bearly breathe. Absolutely tight to ensure a low blood flow and after which the various piercings started . The nerves were skipped and pierced. One definitely needed to know body science in way that even the practicing doctors may not know. No blood drips at all!!
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| Checking for the nerves and piercing |
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| Adjusting the spears |
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| The kaavadi bearer almost prepared |
It’s the ‘faith’ my friend said and having watched this ritual from the age of 8, I would love to believe that this knowledge of faith by conviction is the essence of this self-infliction!! But to me Science is very closely related to Religion and while I will keep to the sentiments of the crowd I saw yesterday, I still cannot help be speculative about this!
The walk itself was a few kilometers long and we started by noon. The sun blazing right above, the streets all resounding with folk music being sung aloud on hand mics. The kavadi bearer was the centre of all the noise but the dancers beside him definitely kept him entertained. Numerous stalls with water, juice and food were stationed to keep the people going on this religious journey. It’s a big community that comes together in faith and culture.
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| Many worshipped him too! |
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| Bright earthy colours caught my eye |
The entire traffic rolled by slowing near every kavadi bearers to check out the details of his piercings! There were chariots of favourite gods and family deities being pulled by the rope that was pierced on the bearer’s back! Slippers with 1000 nails, numerous danglings on a back, spears on the tongue and I must say that innovation was at its best! Apart from the spears their tattoos said a million stories more.
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| The 1000 nails slippers |
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| Quite bravely worn |
When the long walk to the Tank road Dhandayuthapani temple ended, the temple had the Lord Murugan continuously engaged in prayers and an unlimited milk abhishekam(shower)! The darshan was absolutely satisfying! Many of them fainted and regained consciousness soon! It was a day of high energy and utmost faith and religious manifestation too!
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| The Dhandayuthapani temple |
Trials and tribulations of life help strengthen spirits! It surely strengthens religious beliefs and brings an assured positive energy to people who have the real faith! The piercing and cutting may not make for any rationality but it still reiterates a very traditional Hindu belief that everything big is achieved only by hardships! Conversely, nothing achieved easily has ever lasted is the belief. Self-infliction of this kind just goes a little further to prove the Hindu wheel of karma!
The day ended with a lot of discussion on people and cultures with my family. My husband and me went with an empty trolley to the nearby 24 hour shop to get the Amul milk carton for a fortnight. The shopkeeper said with a smile, “I have run out of milk today. Please come 2 days later”. A smile escaped my husband’s lips as well! We walked back with an empty trolley but knew that many people today would have gone home with a full heart !
Very brave of you to participate in this event as is the braveness required to read and see the photos in this article!! Very nicely explained event and the reason behind it. Actually Thaipusam is more prominent here (and Malaysia) than in India itself....Nevertheless, you have earned lot of points ('punyam') due to this deed!! The last para was enlightening for me as last week we were told by our nearby store that Amul carton is out of stock and did not know the reason that time. Now we know where all of it went!! :-)
ReplyDeleteThanks Anand. It was a good experience. Though I have seen this as a kid it did seem quite startling to see those piercings, even now! But at the end atleast it was a satisfying darshan.Never thought I could see the Murugan on that terribly crowded day!
DeleteThe Amul carton really amused us as well.