Aadi Kirthigai, Karthikeya" or 'Muruga Day

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Aadi Kirthigai is a day auspicious for Lord Muruga. This year it was

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.

 

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 Aadi 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 Aadi 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 Aadimai

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.