Kathirkama Murugan

August 25, 2009

Dear Devi and Gokhale,I saw your query about Kathirkamam on the Dhandapani, but it was part of a thread about another topic altogether from Murugan or Kathirkamam. Let me try to answer your query here.

Because there was once a popular song about " Kandi Kathirkamam " , Tamils outside of Sri Lanka think that Kandy and Kathirkamam are the same. They are not the same, and they are not related. Kandy is the old capital of the Buddhist Kandyan kingdom. Kathirkamam is far away from Kandy, and was a small shrine in the southeastern jungle that was nearly eradicated by British colonial policies of the 19th Century, and only returned to prominence in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. If you would like to read more about the history of Kathirkamam, see the article " Kataragama's Role in Sri Lankan History " online at www.kataragama.org/research/history-is-whose-story.htm

Concerning how to visit Kathirkamam, from at least the time of Saint Arunagirinathar and even into the 20th Century, Hindu pilgrims used to walk on Pada Yatra starting from Yaazhpaanam (Jaffna) in the far North following the east coast (which was populated by Tamil speakers only) via Tiru Koneswaram Kovil (Tirukkonamalai or Trincomalee) and many other famous kovils, a two month yatra that starts from Jaffna in May and reaches Kathirkamam two months later. As you might expect, the two-month pada yatra was not for cultivators or shopkeepers or govt employees, but for sadhus and the elderly, who typically did plan to return home, and even today people say " I will go to ____ and come " , except when the destination is Kathirkamam. For more about the tradition of pada yatra to Kathirkamam, visit www.padayatra.org

Since the conflict began, or since 1983, very few pilgrims any longer walk the distance. Instead, they come in charter buses for the Adi festival (July-August) which is THE time to visit Kathirkamam to see it in its full glory when seasoned devotees come from all over the island, including (yes) Hindus, Buddhists, Vedars (who are neither Hindus nor Buddhists), Muslims (the festival's kodiyetrum or flag-hoisting ceremony is at the mosque) and even Christians. Foreigners too are attracted to Kathirkamam, whether out of devotion or curiosity, and indeed Kathirkam has long had a reputation for 'calling' foreigners from as far as South India, North India, or even Central Asia. As mentioned Arunagirinathar was also one of them; 14 of his surviving Tiruppukazh celebrate Kathirkama Kanthan or Kataragama Skanda.

So about visiting Kathirkamam, you are advised to time your trip to coincide with the annual 15 day Adi festival in July-August, when you will meet the most diverse crowd of devotees and see the colorful rituals that without words re-enact Murugan's clandestine courtship with Valli (the central theme of Kathirkamam). Otherwise, try to visit on a full moon, especially for Karttikai (November) when there is a one-day festival. There are plenty of buses plying from Colombo daily (7 hours journey) and there are lots of rest houses in Kathirkamam, but the favorite for Hindus is the Government-operated. Hindu Rest House, which always has plenty of space, except perhaps during Adi festival.

Don't plan to eat in hotels while in Kathirkamam--the Lord's spouse Teyvanai Amman serves annadanam to devotees thrice daily during festival, and on request for Hindu devotees--for details go to www.annadanam.org/annadanam1.htm or www.kataragama.org/news/theivani.htm

You can find links to all these articles and many more on the home page of www.kataragama.orgyours in service,

Patrick HarriganeditorOn Tue, Aug 25, 2009 at 8:35 AM, samuraigokhale <samuraigokhale wrote:

Dear Mr.Patrica,

I am Very eager to know about Kathirkamam Murugan.

Please give me the web link if available.

Thanks/Regards,

Devi anand Gokhale. R