The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : It’s time for ‘kaavadis’

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Friday, Mar 21, 2008
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

It’s time for ‘kaavadis’

divine grace: Pilgrims proceeding to Palani hill.

As padayatra is for Thai Poosam, ‘kaavadi’ is for Panguni Uthiram. Thousands of devotees bring ‘kaavadis’ containing materials such as rose water, milk, flowers, water for abishekam to Lord Muruga.

They vow to carry ‘kaavadis’ in all the six abodes of Lord Muruga.

Palani has a unique place in this colourful custom.

It is said that the custom of ‘kaavadi’ first originated from Palani hill and later spread to other abodes of Lord Muruga.

The legend

According to the legend, Idumban, an asura who survived after Sursamharam and became an ardent devotee of Lord Muruga, was the first ‘kaavadi’ lifter. Idumban, as per the direction of sage Agasthya, took Sivagiri and Saktigiri hills to the abode of the sage in the south.

The Asura carried both the hills on his shoulders in the form of a ‘kaavadi,’ one on each side. He placed the ‘kaavadi’ in Palani for a while to rest.

Lord Muruga, who occupied the hill immediately, refused to vacate.

In a fiery battle with the god, the asura was defeated. On realising that his rival was Lord Muruga himself, Idumban prayed to Him that pilgrims visiting the temple with ‘kaavadis’ should be blessed and their vows fulfilled. Since then, pilgrims bring their offerings in ‘kaavadis’ to the hill temple.

Later, this custom has spread to all Muruga shrines.

Another speciality is that the 10-day Uthiram festival is being celebrated at Tiruvavinankudi Temple near the hill temple in summer after the harvesting season. Besides puja items, agriculturists also offer paddy to the lord thanking him for blessing them with better yield.

Panguni uthiram festival is also celebrated in Lord Vishnu’s temples. Celestial wedding of Lord Krishna, popularly known as Tirukkalyanam also takes place on the Panguni Uthiram day.

According to the legend, marriages of Lord Rama and Sita and Lord Krishna and Radha and Lord Murugan and Valli took place on this auspicious day only.

K. Raju

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