Adi Kirtigai - Aug 6 2007, Monday, Significance of Kavadi for Muruga

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Adi Kirthigai - August 6 2007, Monday

 

Adi Kirthigai is a day auspicious for Lord Muruga. This year it falls on August 9,2004, Monday. Devotees carry kavadi walking up to the temple of Muruga.

Karthikeya" or 'Muruga" is the second son of Lord Shiva and Mother Parvathi. Interesting and inspiring are His birth and feats, which are elaborately described in the 'Skanda Purana'.

 

"Murugu" in chaste Tamil means "beauty". Extolled as the epitome of beauty, valour and "Jnana" [supreme Knowledge], Muruga is worshipped in several ways, through various rituals. One of these is the bearing of "Kavadi" by the devotee.

 

Please view this link for more information on the Kavadi festival:http://www.aryabhatt.com/fast_fair_festival/Festivals/Kavadi%20Festival.htm

 

The devotee, to fulfill a vow made by him, carries on his shoulders a semi circular decorated canopy supported by a wooden rod, to the temple of Muruga, where special prayers are offered. This semi circular object called the "Kavadi", signifies that the devotee has observed a term of strict abstinence in order to undertake the pilgrimage to the temple. The bearer of the "Kavadi" therefore earns respect all around.

 

Learn the origin of the why people started to take the Kavadi for Lord Muruga:

Mythology says that it all started with Sage Agastya. At Mount Kailas, Lord Shiva entrusted the dwarf saint with two hillocks, with the specific instruction that they be carried and installed in South India. But the sage left them in a forest and travelled South. Some time later, when Agastya set out with the specific intention of bringing the two divine hillocks, his disciple, Idumban, offered to carry them. Following his master's instructions, Idumban found the two hillocks.

But he was baffled as to how he could lift them. Divine help came in the form of Brahma's 'danda' [thick stick] poised over the two hillocks, while the celestial snakes fastened themselves to the rod like ropes. Idumban slung the hillocks over his shoulders and proceeded southward. Near Palani in South India [where a famous shrine of Muruga exists], Idumban kept his burden down to rest awhile. When he attempted to lift the hillocks again to continue with his journey, he found that the hillocks were rooted to the spot!

Idumban spotted a youth with a stick wearing only a loin cloth round his waist. On being approached for help for lifting the hillocks, the youth nonchalantly replied that the hillocks belonged to him! In the scuffle that ensued between the angry Idumban and the scantily clad youth, Idumban was defeated. Only then did Idumban realize that the youth was none other than Muruga or "Subrahmanya" Himself - the ruling deity of the region.

 

Idumban craved the pardon of the divine youth and also sought the boon that anyone who comes to the hills to worship Muruga with an object similar to the two hillocks suspended by a rod, may be granted his heart's desire. Idumban's wish was granted.

"Kavadi" appears to be a word of Tamil origin - a combination of the words 'kavi' and 'adi'. 'Kavi' means 'saffron' implying asceticism and 'adi' means 'foot' signifying pilgrimage. Taken together the significance of the word is very clear. The devotee takes a vow to live the life of an ascetic for a particular period and then, as the culmination, travels to the temple of Muruga by foot, bearing that symbol of purity - the "Kavadi".

In all the Murugan temples, special poojas and yagams are conducted for Lord Muruga on Adi Kirthigai day. In all the six padai veedhu of Muruga, special pujas are held and devotees walk and come and offer kavadi for Muruga. Also, some devotees pierce their body, tongue etc and carry kavadi and walk on the fire with divine faith in their hearts for Muruga.

Also, in the hilltop Murugan temple at Malaysia, special poojas are held for Adi kirthigai and you can see devotees walking up the hill with kavadis and chanting "Vetrivel Muruganukku Arohara, Arohara" and dancing with divine ecstasy.

 

Also, in Samratchana at Ramrajya ,Kelamabakkam also, special pujas are done for Muruga temples there.In Ratnagiri Balamurugan Adimai Swami Temple, there are special pujas for Muruga on this day.

 

There are different kinds of "Kavadi" of which the most prevalent are " Annakkavadi", and "Palkavadi". "Annakkavadi" entails the devotee going barefoot from house to house, begging for food, not with the motive of satisfying his own hunger, but as offering to the Lord and his devotees. This custom helps in inculcating humility in the devotee who has to beg for food, whatever his social standing may be. In "Palkavadi" the devotee begs for milk, which is ultimately offered to the Lord and His devotees. There are several variations in the idea, but the basic objective is to destroy the devotees's ego, so that he comes nearer to Divinity.

 

Adi Kirthigai - August 6 2007, Monday

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