Thaipusam

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Thaipusam

Murugan during Thaipusam.

Observed by Tamil Hindus
Type
Religious
The festival commemorates the
Significance occasion when Parvati gave Murugan a
Vel
Date
decided by the Tamil calendar
2015 date Tuesday, 3 February 2015
2016 date Sunday, 24 January 2016
2017 date Friday, 10 February 2017 **
Thaipusam, Thaipoosam (Tamil: , Taippcam ?) is a Hindu festival celebrated mostly
by the Tamil community on the full moon in the Tamil month of Thai (January/February). It is
mainly observed in countries where there is a significant presence of Tamil community such as
India, Sri Lanka, Malaysia,[1] Mauritius[2] Singapore, South Africa, Guadalupe, Reunion,
Indonesia, Thailand and Myanmar[3]

The word Thaipusam is a combination of the name of the month, Thai, and the name of a star,
Pusam. This particular star is at its highest point during the festival. The festival commemorates
the occasion when Parvati gave Murugan a Vel "spear" so he could vanquish the evil demon
Soorapadman. There is a misconception among people that Thaipusam marks Murugan's
birthday; however, it is believed that Vaikhasi Vishakam, which falls in the Vaikhasi month
(May/June), is Murugan's birthday.,[4]

Contents

1 Origin

2 Kavadi Attam

3 Traditions

4 See also

5 References

Origin
This festival was created during one of the battles between the Asuras (or to be more specific
Soorapadman) and the Devas. At one point, the latter were defeated several times by the former.
The Devas were unable to resist the onslaught of the Asura forces. In despair, they approached
Shiva and entreated to give them an able leader under whose heroic leadership they might obtain
victory over the Asuras. They surrendered themselves completely and prayed to Shiva. Shiva
granted their request by creating the mighty warrior, Skanda, out of his own power or Achintya
Shakti. He at once assumed leadership of the celestial forces, inspired them and defeated the
Asura forces and to recognise that day the people created the festival, Thaipusam.
According to Skanda Puranam, the legend of Murugan, and Thirupugal which are divine verses
on Murugan, adhere to Shaivam principles. Murugan is the embodiment of Shiva's light and
wisdom and devotees pray to him to overcome the obstacles they face, as He is the divine
vanquisher of evil. The motive of Thaipusam festival is to pray to God to receive his grace so
that bad traits are destroyed.[5]
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Kavadi Attam
The Kavadi Attam ("Burden Dance", also written as cavadee) is the ceremonial sacrifice and
offering performed by devotees during the worship of Murugan, the Hindu God of War.[6] It is
often performed during the festival of Thaipusam and emphasises debt bondage. The Kavadi
itself is a physical burden through which the devotees implore for help from the God Murugan.[7]

Devotees prepare for the celebration by cleansing themselves through prayer and fasting
approximately 48 days before Thaipusam. Kavadi-bearers have to perform elaborate ceremonies
at the time of assuming the kavadi and at the time of offering it to Murugan. The kavadi-bearer
observes celibacy and take only pure, Satvik food, once a day, while continuously thinking of
God. On the day of the festival, devotees will shave their heads and undertake a pilgrimage along
a set route while engaging in various acts of devotion, notably carrying various types of kavadi
(burdens). At its simplest this may entail carrying a pot of milk, but mortification of the flesh by
piercing the skin, tongue or cheeks with vel skewers is also common. The simplest kavadi is a
semicircular decorated canopy supported by a wooden rod that is carried on the shoulders, to the
temple. In addition, some have a small spear through their tongue, or a spear through the
cheeks."[8]

Traditions
Outside India, Thaipusam celebrations take place in USA, Mauritius, Malaysia and Singapore.[9]
It is a public holiday in several states in Malaysia. In Malaysia, the temple at Batu Caves, near
Kuala Lumpur & Arulmigu Balathandayuthapani Temple, Penang near George Town, Penang ,
often attracts over one million devotees and tens of thousands of tourists.[10] In Singapore, Hindu
devotees start their procession at the Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple in the early morning, carrying
milk pots as offerings or attaching "kavadis" and spikes pierced on their body.[11] The procession
travels for 4 kilom
etres before finishing at Tank Road, Sri Thendayuthapani Temple.[12][13][14] In USA Concord Shiva
Murugan Temple celbrates the Thaipoosam preceded by walk. Some people walk more than 46
miles from Fremont, California and some walk 21 miles from San Ramon, California to Concord
and most walk 7 miles from Walden park, Walnut Creek to Concord. Over couple of thousand
people particpate in the walk for last several years.

Devotees carry pal kavadi offerings at Thaipusam festival

Batu Caves, Malaysia during Thai Pusam 1985

Penang Thaipusam

See also

Thaipusam
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Thaipusam

Murugan during Thaipusam.

Observed by Tamil Hindus
Type
Religious
The festival commemorates the
Significance occasion when Parvati gave Murugan a
Vel
Date
decided by the Tamil calendar
2015 date Tuesday, 3 February 2015
2016 date Sunday, 24 January 2016
2017 date Friday, 10 February 2017 **
Thaipusam, Thaipoosam (Tamil: , Taippcam ?) is a Hindu festival celebrated mostly
by the Tamil community on the full moon in the Tamil month of Thai (January/February). It is
mainly observed in countries where there is a significant presence of Tamil community such as
India, Sri Lanka, Malaysia,[1] Mauritius[2] Singapore, South Africa, Guadalupe, Reunion,
Indonesia, Thailand and Myanmar[3]
The word Thaipusam is a combination of the name of the month, Thai, and the name of a star,
Pusam. This particular star is at its highest point during the festival. The festival commemorates
the occasion when Parvati gave Murugan a Vel "spear" so he could vanquish the evil demon
Soorapadman. There is a misconception among people that Thaipusam marks Murugan's
birthday; however, it is believed that Vaikhasi Vishakam, which falls in the Vaikhasi month
(May/June), is Murugan's birthday.,[4]

Contents

1 Origin

2 Kavadi Attam

3 Traditions

4 See also

5 References

Origin
This festival was created during one of the battles between the Asuras (or to be more specific
Soorapadman) and the Devas. At one point, the latter were defeated several times by the former.
The Devas were unable to resist the onslaught of the Asura forces. In despair, they approached
Shiva and entreated to give them an able leader under whose heroic leadership they might obtain
victory over the Asuras. They surrendered themselves completely and prayed to Shiva. Shiva
granted their request by creating the mighty warrior, Skanda, out of his own power or Achintya
Shakti. He at once assumed leadership of the celestial forces, inspired them and defeated the
Asura forces and to recognise that day the people created the festival, Thaipusam.
According to Skanda Puranam, the legend of Murugan, and Thirupugal which are divine verses
on Murugan, adhere to Shaivam principles. Murugan is the embodiment of Shiva's light and
wisdom and devotees pray to him to overcome the obstacles they face, as He is the divine
vanquisher of evil. The motive of Thaipusam festival is to pray to God to receive his grace so
that bad traits are destroyed.[5]
Part of the series on

Kaumaram
Deities[show]
Sacred symbols[show]
Six sacred abodes[show]
Other temples[show]

Tamil portal
Hinduism portal

Part of a series on

Hinduism

Hindu

History

Concepts[show]
Schools[show]
Deities[show]
Texts[show]
Practices[show]
Gurus, saints, philosophers[show]
Other topics[show]

Glossary of Hinduism terms

Hinduism portal

Kavadi Attam
The Kavadi Attam ("Burden Dance", also written as cavadee) is the ceremonial sacrifice and
offering performed by devotees during the worship of Murugan, the Hindu God of War.[6] It is
often performed during the festival of Thaipusam and emphasises debt bondage. The Kavadi
itself is a physical burden through which the devotees implore for help from the God Murugan.[7]
Devotees prepare for the celebration by cleansing themselves through prayer and fasting
approximately 48 days before Thaipusam. Kavadi-bearers have to perform elaborate ceremonies
at the time of assuming the kavadi and at the time of offering it to Murugan. The kavadi-bearer
observes celibacy and take only pure, Satvik food, once a day, while continuously thinking of
God. On the day of the festival, devotees will shave their heads and undertake a pilgrimage along
a set route while engaging in various acts of devotion, notably carrying various types of kavadi
(burdens). At its simplest this may entail carrying a pot of milk, but mortification of the flesh by
piercing the skin, tongue or cheeks with vel skewers is also common. The simplest kavadi is a
semicircular decorated canopy supported by a wooden rod that is carried on the shoulders, to the
temple. In addition, some have a small spear through their tongue, or a spear through the
cheeks."[8]

Traditions
Outside India, Thaipusam celebrations take place in USA, Mauritius, Malaysia and Singapore.[9]
It is a public holiday in several states in Malaysia. In Malaysia, the temple at Batu Caves, near
Kuala Lumpur & Arulmigu Balathandayuthapani Temple, Penang near George Town, Penang ,
often attracts over one million devotees and tens of thousands of tourists.[10] In Singapore, Hindu
devotees start their procession at the Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple in the early morning, carrying
milk pots as offerings or attaching "kavadis" and spikes pierced on their body.[11] The procession
travels for 4 kilom
etres before finishing at Tank Road, Sri Thendayuthapani Temple.[12][13][14] In USA Concord Shiva
Murugan Temple celbrates the Thaipoosam preceded by walk. Some people walk more than 46
miles from Fremont, California and some walk 21 miles from San Ramon, California to Concord
and most walk 7 miles from Walden park, Walnut Creek to Concord. Over couple of thousand
people particpate in the walk for last several years.

Devotees carry pal kavadi offerings at Thaipusam festival

Batu Caves, Malaysia during Thai Pusam 1985

Penang Thaipusam

See also