AMA - Vinayaka

[Vinayaka]

I have been to Subrahmanya temples but have never done any piercings myself. I do admire the rare Hindus who do it though. I consider the hooks and skewers as a metaphor for the Vel, an ancient spear which the god Subrahmanya received to vanquish the three demons.

So I consider the piercings to be a symbolic metaphor of understanding and vanquishing the demons of vices within through austerities and spiritual exercises and replacing them with virtues instead. Fasting, mantra chanting (of Panchakshari Mantra), identifying vices and replacing them with virtues, meditation are the spiritual exercises I usually do.

I do like the concept of Kavadi, which is to take upon physical and mental hardships for gaining greater physical and mental strength. And this motivates me to take upon physical challenges associated with rigorous service, long distance pilgrimages to ancient temples, overcoming physical obstacles and others , within my capabilities.

Would you say that your interest and devotion to Subrahmanya stems from a past life !

Ajay: Yes, the piecing needles often have vels, or look like vels. Your interpretation is one I forgot, but yes it is symbolic of His Vel piercing the bondage of ignorance. Past life? Perhaps, although I was in Kolkata. At Palani there was a strong feeling of deja-vu, but Palani is something special on its own. Have you been to Palani? It is where kavadi started. Another interpretation of the kavadi arch is it's the symbolic connector of the pineal and pituitary forces inside the head during nirvikalpa samadhi.

The arch is another whole part of it. I built my own, which is an old tradition. The 3 curving support pieces of wood I used were 3 different saplings from the temple property. Esoterics, you know.

 

[Jedster]

This is mostly for JustGeorge, but also DS and Jedster. I'll start with kavadi, as it's kind of dramatic. Kavadi (google it) is an ancient Tamil practice that was outlawed by the British in India, but was sustained in the sugar diaspora by those who left India to countries where it wasn't banned, mainly Malaysia, Mauritius, and Fiji. In those places it took on a new momentum of it's very own.

I first heard about it in 1984, on a spiritual retreat in Mauritius with my Guru. I was immediately fascinated by the stories of devotees, and watched as others in the group had their Abrahamic reactions. So 30 years later when we returned to the small island, I was finally able to participate, although in a small way, compared to my local friends there. A close friend guided me. I had 4 piercings done, one through the cheek, both sides, and 2 smaller ones on the temples. Then we paraded for about a mile to a small Murugan temple.

There are at least 3 spiritual reasons for kavadi, and a couple not so spiritual. Kavadi is always done for Murugan, although that might be disputed, as some could do it for Amman. One is to appease guilt from misdeeds, like volunteering to take on the karma. Another is to prepay, or 'clear the way' when intuitive feelings have a sense of dread, or a round of your karma hitting you where it hurts. A third is a 'thank you' for prayers answered. So if a prayer for somebody to get healthy, for good results on exams, etc., and individual can show their sincerity to Murugan. For me personally, it was reason 1, but also 2. The 'false' reasons are to show how tough you are, or on dares. That was never the intent, but it remains a reason in some places for some people. There is also the reason that it's just what we do on this particular festival, with no real reason.

Since 2014, I've done it here twice, and was the only one in our temple each time, at Thai Pusam. Lots or people carrying milk pots, but me being only person getting pierced. It was challenging to find a piercer, but eventually I went into a western counterculture, and found a willing person. First time was 6 limes across my chest (hooks are inserted, and limes are hung on them.) and the cheeks and temples. The second time, just 2 weeks back, was 2 limes on the back, temples, cheeks, and tongue.

The amazing thing about kavadi is that it just feels so darn good after. There is some kind of euphoric causing hormone released, I'm not sure of those details.

There we go. AMA (Please no judging, or I will be out.)

During my time as a Bhakti, there were austerities, but never anything physical.
However, had my (then) Guru would have given an agya(command) to do Kavadi, I would have done so unhesitatingly.
The central point of my devotion was obedience to the Guru.

 

[Vinayaka]

During my time as a Bhakti, there were austerities, but never anything physical.
However, had my (then) Guru would have given an agya(command) to do Kavadi, I would have done so unhesitatingly.
The central point of my devotion was obedience to the Guru.

As is mine. Gurudeva did occasionally assign kavadi, for more severe lapses in judgement. I'm doing it on my own, but have discussed it with my current Guru. Other austerities I've undertaken are rolling around the temple, (at the annual brahmotsavam) and multiple prostrations. Currently I'm working on 1 prostration to Murugan for every day of my life, and just passed 55 years. I have a ways to go on that one.

What stopped you, if you don't mind me asking?

 

[Jedster]

As is mine. Gurudeva did occasionally assign kavadi, for more severe lapses in judgement. I'm doing it on my own, but have discussed it with my current Guru. Other austerities I've undertaken are rolling around the temple, (at the annual brahmotsavam) and multiple prostrations. Currently I'm working on 1 prostration to Murugan for every day of my life, and just passed 55 years. I have a ways to go on that one.

What stopped you, if you don't mind me asking?

Discovering one of the guru's mahatmas(who we considered saints) who would do initiations was a paedophile. It was denied for many years until exposed.
I used to drive this person(the pedo) believing I was doing service to the lord of the universe.

This and many other things made me exit the whole show.

 

[Vinayaka]

Discovering one of the guru's mahatmas(who we considered saints) who would do initiations was a paedophile. It was denied for many years until exposed.
I used to drive this person(the pedo) believing I was doing service to the lord of the universe.

This and many other things made me exit the whole show.

Yes, that is sad. There have been too many like that. It gives all of Hinduism a bad name. I'd be out so quickly as well, and I'm glad you got out. People are too vulnerable. In our sampradaya, 'listen to your own spine' trumps blind Guru obedience. But I've never heard of anything I considered unreasonable. It's almost always gentle advice.