Festival of Thai Poosam - the folklore and the prayers
Posted on: 31/Jan/2018 11:38:31 AM
The day on which the Tamil God Lord Muruga received the Veeravel (sacred brave spear) from His Mother Goddess Parvathi (Sakthi) to kill the harmful demons is known as the Thai Poosam day. Thai Poosam is the most important among the various festivals celebrated on Lord Muruga. The Tamil zodiac/star Poosam is the 8th in the order of the 27 stars. When this star ‘Poosam’ occurs in the sacred Tamil calendar month of ‘Thai’, it is the day of celebration known as Thai Poosam festival which is celebrated in a grand manner by the Hindus.
The day when Thai Poosam occurs will be invariably a Full Moon Day (Tamil – Pournami or Poornima). This is considered a special sacred day for Lord Muruga. There is a generations-old tradition when the families organise the ‘ear-piercing’ ceremony for their children with pomp. The devotees of Lord Muruga will perform the completion of the penances such as ‘lifting kaavadis’, carrying the camphor-lit pots etc as promised to the Lord Muruga in their prayers.
The day of Thai Poosam is celebrated in a grand manner in all the temples of Lord Muruga- especially the 6 sacred temples known as ‘Arupadai veedugal’ and also in all the temples of Lord Siva.
Thai Poosam is gloriously celebrated not only in India but also in countries like Singapore and Malaysia which have substantial Tamil populations.
On the day of Thai Poosam, the devotees visit the temples of Lord Muruga in order to perform the promised penances they had undertaken to the Lord – such as lifting ‘kaavadis’ on their heads with their forearms and carrying milk pots on their heads or camphor-lit pots on their heads.
The folklore
In the war that ensued between the Devas and Asuras (demons), the Devas could not overwhelm the Asuras and were losing. So, they prayed Lord Siva explaining the harms created by the Asuras and that the Asuras must be killed. They prayed to Lord Siva that as they could not succeed as a team, they should be given a powerful battle –leader.
Lord Siva acceded to their prayers and created a special incarnation - Lord Muruga or Kandha - with his might. 6 sparks emanated from the Lord Siva’s 3rd eye on his forehead and the 6 sparks were transformed into 6 divine and pretty children. They were nurtured by the group of women known as ‘Karthigai Pengal’. Later the 5 bodies merged into a sing figure with 6 heads. Lord Muruga or Kandha was thus born.
The Goddess of Lord Siva, Parvathi Devi, gave the sacred spear – ‘Gnana Vel’ – on the day of Thai Poosam to the Lord Muruga seated in an ascetic posture in Palani on top of the Palani Hills. So, the festival of Thai Poosam is celebrated with much more enthusiasm and vigour in Palani temple as compared to the other temples. The folklore tells that the Lord Muruga went ahead with the Gnana Vel or the sacred spear and destroyed the Auras or demons and protected the Devas,
Lord Muruga killed the demons which did untold harms to the Devas in ‘Thirucheeralaivai’ or Thiruchendur. Hence, as per the myth, there is a strong belief and faith that if the sacred spear which was used to kill the demons is prayed, we will be protected from the evil spirits – they will get tamed and in turn, do good things for us.
The ardent devotees start their penance for the Thai Poosam occasion from the start of the Tamil calendar sacred month Margazhi, wearing a small garland made of basil leaves
While on the penance period, the devotees chant the hymns on praise of Lord Muruga – Sashti Kavasam, Shanmuga Kavasam, Thiruppugazh, etc., - and on the day of Thai Poosam, they complete their penance by performing a special prayer to the Lord Muruga at the Palani temple. Thus, Thai Poosam is the most auspicious day to get the blessings of Lord Muruga.
The devotees of Lord Muruga have been following the age-old tradition of undertaking travel by foot to the 6 sacred temples of Lord Muruga – famously known as ‘Arupadai Veedugal’ – and have a Darshan of Lord Muruga on the day of Thai Poosam and complete their penance.
They also have the tradition of carrying Kaavadis while visiting the temple of Lord Muruga. Lakhs of devotees, who suffered intensely from incurable diseases, while undertaking a penance to carry Kaavadi to the temple of Lord Muruga, have personally experienced they get relieved from the disease with the restoration of good health.
Once their prayers are fulfilled, the devotees visit the Palani temple carrying Kaavadis completing their penance.
