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The Most Important Custom
The most potent propitiatory rite that a devotee of Lord Muruga
undertakes to perform is what is known as the "Kavadi". The
benefits that the devotee gains from offering a Kavadi to the Lord are a
million fold greater than the little pain that he inflicts upon himself.
Generally,
people take a vow to offer the Lord a Kavadi for the sake of tiding over a
great calamity. Though this might on the face of it appear mercenary, a
moment's reflection will reveal that it contains in it the seed for the
supreme love for God. The worldly object is achieved, no doubt, and the
devotee takes the Kavadi; but after the ceremony he gets so
God-intoxicated that his inner spiritual chamber is opened. This is also a
method that ultimately leads to the supreme state of devotion.
The Kavadi
The 'Kavadi' varies in shape and size from the simple shape of a street
hawker's storehouse (a wooden stick with two baskets at each end, slung
across the shoulder) to the costly palanquin structure, profusely flower-
bedecked and decoratively interwoven with peacock feathers. In all cases
the Kavadi has a good many brass bells adorning it and announcing it as
the Kavadi-bearer draws it along. As, very often, the Kavadi bearer
observes silence; the bells are the only eloquent signs of a Kavadi
procession.
The two baskets hanging at either end of the Kavadi will contain rice,
milk or other articles that the devotee has vowed to offer to Lord Muruga.
The more devout among them, and especially those who do it as a 'Sadhana'
(meditation), collect these articles by begging. They travel on foot from
village to village, and beg from door to door. The villagers offer their
articles directly into the basket of the Kavadi.
The Kavadi-bearer continues begging until the baskets are full or the
avowed quantity is reached, and then offers the Kavadi to the Lord. Some
keen devotees undertake to walk barefooted from home to one of the shrines
of Lord Muruga, bearing the Kavadi all the way, and collecting materials
for the offering. He has to walk a hundred miles sometimes! The people who
place the articles in the baskets also receive the Lord's blessings.
The Kavadi-Bearer
The
Kavadi-bearer is required to observe various rules between the time he
takes up the Kavadi and the day of the offering. He has to perform
elaborate ceremonies at the time of assuming the Kavadi and at the time of
offering it to the Lord. He also puts on the dress of a 'Pandaram', a
Shaivite mendicant. It consists of a saffron-coloured cloth, a scarlet
conical cap, and a cane silver-capped at both ends. Lord Shiva, the
Supreme Pandaram, Himself loves to wear this dress. The Pandaram lives on
alms only. The Kavadi-bearer's bare chest is covered with several
'Rudraksha Malas' (rosaries).
The Kavadi-bearer observes celibacy. He takes only pure, Satwic food; he
abstains from all sorts of intoxicating drinks and drugs, He continuously
thinks of God. Many of the Kavadi-bearers, especially those who do it as a
spiritual Sadhana, impose various sorts of self-torture upon themselves.
Some pass a sharp little spear through their tongue, which is made to
protrude out of the mouth. Others may pass a spear through the cheeks.
This sort of piercing is done on other parts of the body also. The bearer
does not shave; he grows a long beard. He eats only once a day. The spear
pierced through his tongue or cheeks reminds him constantly of Lord
Muruga. It also prevents him from speaking. It gives him great power of
endurance.
The Kavadi-bearer is in a high state of religious fervour. He dances in
ecstasy. His very appearance is awe-inspiring; there is divine radiance on
his face. Devotees often experience the state of feeling complete union
with the Lord. Sometimes the Deity enters their body and possesses them
for some time.
Agni Kavadi
This is the most difficult Kavadi-offering. With the Kavadi hanging on
his shoulders, the devotee walks through a pit of burning coals. The
devotees all around the pit sing hymns in praise of the Lord. The beating
of the drums and the burning of the incense make the entire atmosphere
awe-inspiring. The real devotee gets into a state of ecstasy and easily
walks over the fire.
Celebrations
The Kavadi festival is celebrated at all shrines of Lord Muruga. Dancing
in a hypnotic trance to the rhythm of drums, devotees of Muruga carry the
Kavadi all the way up the Palani hills to fulfill their vow. Ettukudi
Kavadi Festival is a famous festival celebrated during the months of
April-May. Devotees from places and villages around this temple come here
with Kavadis, milk pots, coconuts, cocks and goats. This is a major crowd
pulling festival where one can see the true Tamil culture in its habitat.