THAIPUSAM is one of the country’s unique religious festivals but many do not have a clear picture of the practices and symbols that signify it.
To get a better understanding of the event where devotees throng temples to pay homage to Lord Muruga, StarMetro gathered the wisdom of Srisaktitriyambaganathar Shiva Kovil Veedu president and chief priest Siva Sri S. Jeyakumar Gurukal.
1 Fasting and the satvic meal
Devotees who carry kavadi for Thaipusam are recommended to fast from sunrise to sunset, or observe vegetarianism. Some devotees take it a step further by maintaining a liquid diet of water, milk and soy milk.
Breaking of fast with the satvic meal is by eating fruits and nuts in the morning and having a light meal of idli and thosai at sunset. This is part of cleansing the body and keeping it light for the procession and climb ahead.
2 Yatra
Yatra means “procession”, which in Kuala Lumpur begins at the Sri Mahamariamman Temple in Jalan Tun H.S. Lee on the eve of Thaipusam. While some devotees drive or take public transport to the venue, many devout followers walk the 14km distance as an act of devotion.
This practice also includes the washing of legs. Walking barefoot into the temple is also considered part of the yatra. Naturally, temple floors are built with granite, which is believed to have cleansing properties for the body’s internal organs. By stepping onto the temple tiles, the devotee is cleansed in more ways than one.
3 Shaving of head
Shaving of head is done to remove the ego and beauty of the devotee. Devotees should let go of ego and vanity before making the pilgrimage as an act of surrendering to the divine.
4 Tying of kappu
The kappu is a yellow string tied by the priest around devotees’ wrist as a symbol to discipline the devotee in the vows made before carrying the kavadi to the temple.
It also serves as a reminder for the devotee to strictly follow the festival’s rules and regulations such as observing celibacy and pure thoughts as well as maintain kind behaviour.
5 Peacock feathers
The peacock is Lord Muruga’s vehicle and its feathers symbolise elegance, pride as well as being the shape of the vel, which is the weapon that Lord Muruga holds in his hand.
The moment a devotee carries a kavadi with peacock feathers also known as themayil kavadi, it symbolises that he has transformed himself into the vehicle and is carrying offerings for the Lord.
6 Kavadi
The word kavadi literally translates into “the act of carrying”.
Religious folklore explains that Lord Shiva ordered Saint Agathiyar to summon Lord Muruga to propagate Hinduism from the north to the south of India.
Lord Muruga then took the form of Idumban and carried two mountains over his shoulders to complete the task.
This ritual represents the kavadi. Decorative kavadi with lights and music are some of the common varieties seen in all Lord Muruga temples that celebrate Thaipusam.
7 Pal kudam
Pal kudam refers to milk pots. Pots filled with milk – that is known for its nourishing properties – are generally carried by women and child devotees.
Scriptures say that when devotees poured milk onto a deity, good substance or elixir is extracted from it. This substance when consumed is believed to give good health to the devotee.
Similarly, during Thaipusam devotees would practice carrying milk pots as an act of thanksgiving, to be later poured onto Lord Muruga’s statue.
8 Piercings
Piercings are usually done to discipline the devotee and keep him or her focused on the pilgrimage. Typically, piercings are made on the tongue and the cheek to prevent the devotee from speaking and getting distracted during the course of his journey.
9 Vel
The vel is the ultimate symbol of Thaipusam. It represents knowledge, power and integrity. Scriptures explain that Goddess Shakti transformed herself into a vel, so that it could be used as a weapon to defeat the demon Surapathman.
10 Climbing of steps
All Lord Muruga temples are situated on top of a hill as Lord Shiva ordered him to be situated atop Mount Palani in south India. Following this, devotees are required to hike up to the temples carrying offerings to Lord Muruga.
In Penang, the most famous hilltop Lord Muruga temple is Arulmigu Balathandayuthapani Kovil and in Selangor, devotees climb the 272 steps of Batu Caves.
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