I am a 7am girl, yet I woke up effortlessly at 04h45 on the morning I carried kavady. It was a very different and much more significant high from any alcohol or schedule-5 pain killer I had ever consumed. My frontal lobe was dancing with ecstasy and what can be closely described as love. I opened my consciousness to the presence of this energy and was so surprised at how powerful its vibrations were. I eventually got to see Muruga beyond the images of him as a child or young boy, and beyond his powerful weapon – the vel. These two Shaktis work together to create transformation in the consciousness so that we may eventually act and think on a subconscious level with the confidence of Muruga. His consorts are IshaShakti and KriyaShakti – desire and action. I did not understand the energy of Muruga and each day I had to figure it out. As mentioned in my previous articles, I am a devotee of Adi ParaShakti and this is a familiar relationship because I can connect to the Great Mother’s energies quite easily. I had to go deep within to understand what this was all about. Since the beginning of time, worshippers of Lord Muruga have been carrying this kavady. Idumban was given the honour of being a sentinel and gatekeeper to Lord Muruga before entering the temple. He was later restored to life and became the greatest devotee of Muruga, declaring that anyone who carries a kavady on his shoulders will be blessed. There was a battle in which Idumban was killed. Idumban found that the hills could not be lifted because Muruga was sitting firmly on Shivagiri as a recluse. In the angry state, Muruga found himself in Tiruavinakudi. Subsequently, there was a sage who wanted to take two hills ‘Shivagiri and Shaktigiri’ to his home and he instructed his disciple Idumban to carry them over his shoulders – think about the kavady and the milk hanging on either side as these two hills. On his return, Muruga found out that he lost the battle, when Ganesha was eating the fruit, and left in a rage of fury riding his peacock. Ganesha contemplated and went around his parents three times, acknowledging them as his world, and subsequently won the battle between him and Muruga - receiving the prized fruit. Shiva gave them a task by asking them to go around the world three times and Muruga was secure that he would win so dashed off to circumnavigate the globe thrice. Hindu mythology says that Muruga, being the son of Shiva and Parvathi, had a duel with his brother Ganesha about who was the greater between them. So who is this Murugan.the Shunmuga? Who is the one we call Soobramunian and chant Vel Vel Vetri Vel to? Who is the energy that we invoke when we shout Haro Hara at? I had all these questions and here is my humble attempt to explain. It was only my third consecutive year and the second time at Buccluech Temple and the most powerful in my experience of kavady. I attended each day where offerings, meditations, and discourses were provided. It is a strong spiritual space one where I am allowing myself to be transformed by the tangible energy of this Tamil God.Īs with all Hindu prayers, a flag raising is done at the temple to signify the start of kavady. I then got into an unhealthy relationship and stopped practicing Hinduism, creating years of spiritual distress only later on to find my way to the now. I just remember the manja (turmeric) water doused over my new white clothes, syringaberry leaves thrashed over my head and the smells of marigolds, incense, and sambrani all around. I remember my mother taking me to the temples when I was younger, and because I used to always get sick or injured, she told me to carry the kavady, but I was so young and immature that I never understood anything. I can only estimate the global numbers in awe and wonder why this grand event goes so unacknowledged.Įven Hindus ourselves have minimal understanding of what kavady is. 400,000 devotees carry kavady here on the southern tip of the great Dark Continent, paying homage to this Tamil God and allowing the vibrational energies to transform our consciousness. Known as the Tamil God, worship to Lord Muruga is one of the biggest festivals for Hindus in South Africa.