Namaskaaram.  This 5th issue of “Utsavam” during the month of December comes at a time with high expectation of another new year in the horizon. However we are all now gripped by the shock over the tragic losses caused by the recent deadly tsunami that has swallowed many lives all over the Bay of Bengal region. The sudden and swift event ended the holiday season with a phenomenal destruction that many find difficulties to grapple with the mopping-up operations. The year 2004 leaves us sadly with the deep soul searching of why and how could such a calamity occur to destroy the sanctity of many millions of lives merely affected by a singular yet tragic event. We could only pray for the departed souls and, at the least, offer our consolation for those in suffering. The international effort to bring rehabilitation to the affected areas calls for a very concerted and essential service to mankind. The essence of our very being is now truthfully revealed! Lets put all our efforts together to now help, assist and bring the compassion to lend ourselves in this Herculean task to salvage and restore one way or another those lives needing our immediate care and concern.

What better way would this be besides otherwise wishing you all “Best Wishes for the New Year”.

SPECIAL PRAYERS AT SVKT FOR TSUNAMI VICTIMS (Saturday, 1 January ’05)

In the aftermath of the recent tsunami tragedy that killed thousands of lives in the Bay of Bengal region, many nations and international organizations are now focused in mobilizing various efforts and resources for the rehabilitation of the victims’ lives from the wide-spread loss. Even the traditional countdowns to usher in the New Year across the globe became subdued with great compassion shown at these gatherings that will certainly bring the hope for the quick relief to the sufferings caused by the natural disaster.

With the support of all the Hindu temples, HEB also have initiated charitable actions to be undertaken to support the Red Cross and Red Crescent organizations in their endeavour to render all possible assistance to ease the sufferings of the victims.

In this connection, Sri Vairavimada Kaliamman Temple (SVKT) ushered in the New Year with a special “Samuthra Devatha Shanthi Pooja” to seek with great devotion for the appeasement of the ‘devatas’ ruling the 7 oceans with the ‘saptha kalasams’ pooja. Besides this, a memorial service was also observed with a minute’s silence for the departed souls to rest in eternal peace. This solemn ceremony was conducted on this New Year Day by our temple priest together with a monk from the Shuang Lin Monastery.

In response to our appeal, some 200 devotees had turned up to join this mass prayer with the monk and our Chief Priest in reciting the Vedaparayanam mantras with the offerings of flowers. The ceremony commenced at 8.30 am and concluded with the Saptha Kalasaabishegam, Thirusathi archanai and deeparathanai.

Sri Ayyappanswamy 41st Mandala Pooja and Nehi Abishegam (Sunday, 26 Dec ’04)

The ‘Mandala’ pooja together with the observance ceremony for the special nehi thengai abishegam for Swamy Ayyappan was grandly celebrated to mark the end of the 41 days ‘Karthigai Vratham’ on Sunday, 26 Dec ’04. Many swamimargals thronged the temple’s courtyard and we had more than 200 devotees participating in the special nehi thengai abishegam. The significance of this event was the filling of the coconut with ‘nehi’ or ghee which is clarified butter, through an elaborate ceremony at the main sanctum. The coconut, which represents the human body and its outer shell symbolizing the ego while the ghee is the ‘Athma’ (human soul) is then carried in a procession to symbolize exhausting all the worldly possessions during the circumbulation of the temple. Upon reaching the Lord’s sannidhanam, the ghee from the coconut is then offered as one’s Athma to the Lord.

Swamy Ayyappan also known as Hariharasuthan or Hariharaputhran, which is coined by the name Hari meaning Lord Vishnu and Hara referring to Lord Shiva while Sudhan or Puthran depicts a son. Thus he is therefore the son of Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu (from His form as the divine enchantress called Mohini). Lord Ayyappan’s birth was to fulfill the prophecy made by the demoness Mahishi who can only be killed by a son from the unison of Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu as she thought that it is impossible to have a son from two apparently masculine Gods.

The ghee used in the abishegam symbolizes Lord Vishnu while the coconut is symbolic of Lord Shiva. The devotees’ participation far exceeded our expectation and the ceremony became a memorable occasion.

Special Event Reporting

THAIPUSAM FESTIVAL- Tuesday, 25 January ‘05

Origins of Thaipusam

‘Thai Matham’ is the 10th month in the Tamil calendar and falls between mid-January and mid-February. ‘Pusam nachitiram’ shines at its brightest coinciding with the advent of the full moon and Thaipusam is celebrated on this day. Thaipusam is also centered on the story of Idumban, a devotee of Lord Subramaniam, who had received a divine calling to pay his homage to the deity on a hilltop shrine. Along the journey, he sang hymns in praise of Lord Murugan to forget the heavy burden of the offerings he was carrying. Pleased by his devotion, Lord Subramaniam showered blessings upon Idumban. Thaipusam commemorates Idumban’s devotion and even today, it is believed that any devotee carrying a kavadi in fulfillment of vows will have their wishes granted.

Preparing for Thaipusam

Devotees prepare themselves by following a strict vegetarian diet with fasting and praying. They refrain from all worldly activities, discipline the body and soul, and tune the mind to spirituality away from all worldly desires.

On the eve of Thaipusam, a statue of Lord Subramaniam is taken in a silver chariot from Tank Road to Sri Lion Sithi Vinayagar Temple at Chinatown. Later in the evening, the statue returns to Sri Thendayuthapani Temple and the priest brings along the Vel (lance) of Lord Murugan in the chariot.

On Thaipusam day, milk and other offerings in small brass pots attached on the kavadi which are carried by devotees will be poured over this Vel at the Sri Thendayuthapani Temple. The Vel represents knowledge and the triumph of good over evil. The milk represents the purity of the devotee’s heart and this is considered an auspicious offering to Lord Murugan.

Kavadi

Kavadi is usually a wooden pole with a clothed arch over it and is carried on the devotee’s shoulder during the procession. The kavadi with the offerings are then offered to Lord Murugan at the end of the procession.

A simple kavadi with a wooden frame is decorated with simple flowers and milk pots tied at both ends and with pictures of Lord Murugan. Some pierce dozens of metal skewers to the chest, arms, forehead, cheeks and tongue of the devotees. Usually no less than 100 skewers are used. Special decorations with peacock feathers are also fixed on the kavadi called ‘Alagu Kavadis’.

Some kavadis significantly express the devotees’ devotion. Some devotees walk on 60 to 100 nails sticking out above the base of wooden sandals. They also pierce their tongues and cheeks with gold or silver skewers or hook lime fruits and small milk pots on their bodies to fulfill their vows through such penance.

Thaipusam Day

On Thaipusam day, thousands of devotees gather at the Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple on Serangoon Road. Devotees take bath and wear yellow-coloured veshti and pray by offering coconuts, bananas and flowers to Lord Ganesha first before they proceed with their penance rituals along the journey to Sri Thendayuthapani Temple on Tank Road.

Crowd of supporters chant prayers or sing devotional songs throughout the procession. It is awe-inspiring and inspirational to watch the devotees’ ability to transcend pain while showing no signs of bleeding or scarring subsequently other than the effort of carrying the kavadis. It is believed that their faith, devotion and religious fervour combined with their strict and careful spiritual preparation help them through this journey of thanksgiving.

Upon reaching the temple, the devotees offer the pots of milks onto the Vel of Lord Subramaniam. The kavadis will then be carefully dismantled and the devotees’ wounds treated with ‘vibhuti’ (holy ashes). It is generally believed that the holy ashes have the ability to heal.

On the 3rd day after Thaipusam, devotees pray at the Temple in the morning. In the evening, they lay out their Kavadi and offer archanai to show their appreciation to Lord Murugan for his blessings. This marks the end of the Thaipusam ceremony for the year.

The Temple invites volunteers to extend their services to the Temple. The following are some of the areas in which your assistance is required and will be highly appreciated:

• Information Technology – databases, e-newsletters, websites, etc.

• Mass Communication – publicity & promotion

• Literary Services – editorial, translations, etc.

• Social, Cultural & Educational – religious classes, social events, etc.

• Temple Activities – operations & maintenance works

• Administration – accounts & clerical support

Please email us at  with your particulars and indicate the area of your interest.

UBAYAMS FESTIVALS  AVAILABLE

Ubayams are celebrated by members of the public to conduct special prayers on auspicious days in our temple. These ubayams are available for collective participation either with family members or a group of friends and colleagues. Such ubayams commemorate important religious festival for public participation. Sponsors are privileged to have abishegam performed for principal deities and the procession event of the celebrated deity circumbulating the temple’s courtyard takes place on the same evening. Devotees interested to conduct any of the following available ubayams can contact our Temple’s clerk at tel: 62591672 for more details :

Coming Up Next Month

The grand finale for all the Ayyappan swamimargals is this solemn observation of the 3-day celebration of ‘Makara Vilakku’ pooja which culminates on the 1st day of Makaram – the sixth month in the Malayalam calendar, which coincides with the Tamil month of Thai, the 1st day being celebrated as ‘Thai Ponggal’. The legend has it that it was on this day that Lord Ayyappan transformed in a flash of jyoti (celestial light) or vilakku and took the incarnate form of Lord Dharma Sastha, the Benevolent One. The jyoti appears precisely on Makarasankranti day at Sabrimala, His hill-top abode in Kerala and is the very day that ‘Makara Villakku’ is commemorated. The consistent enchanting sound captivating the mantra ‘Samiyeh Saranam Ayyappan’ meaning ‘surrender to Him all that you are’ is the compassionate prayer of the swamimargals for complete surrender to the Will of Lord Ayyappan.

In celebrating ‘Makara Vilakku’, we dedicate all our efforts to Lord Ayyappan and seek his blessings on our journey of spiritual evolution. At SVKT, ‘Makara Vilakku’ celebrations will be observed with the ‘Panchakaala’ Pooja in the mornings as well as in the evenings from 12 Jan 05 to 14 Jan 05. During the pooja, one immerses himself with the Lord, sings the bhajans, chants the mantras, circumambulates and prostrate before Him and finally partakes the prashadam or sanctified food offerings. It is thus a total experience of all the senses, the whole inner self and becomes sanctified by participating in the prayer service.

This is a traditional harvest festival for the Tamils, the equivalent of ‘Thanksgiving Day’. Pongal means to ‘boil over’ with all the trappings of happiness, prosperity and success’. The first day is known as Surya Pongal and is to recognize and thank the source of life sustenance in honour of the Sun God, for the bountiful harvest. The celebrations involve the boiling over of sweet rice called pongal. Families gather to rejoice and share their joy and their harvests with others in their courtyards by cooking the newly harvested rice, milk and sugar in a pot and making the offering to the Sun God. Entrances to houses are decorated with kolam which are made with coloured rice flour for intricate floral or geometrical designs to be drawn to welcome Goddess Lakshmi and be blessed with prosperity in abundance. On Bhogi pandikai, which falls on the eve of Thai Pongal, spring cleaning takes place in the homes and courtyards. On the second day, Mattu Pongal, is observed to honour the bulls and cows which are essential assets for a farmer and finally on the third day, Kanni Pongal is celebrated by the village belles or unmarried girls for good prospective husbands.

At SVKT, the Thai Pongal festival will be celebrating with the ceremonious boiling over of the pongal on Friday, 14 January ‘05. The auspicious time for conducting this ceremony has been prescribed to be either between the hours of 6.00 am and 7.30 am or 10.00 am and 11.00 am or 3.00 pm and 6.00 pm.

Kaliamman Moola Mandhira Mala Mandhira Kayathiri Mandhira Mahayagam (Tue, 18 Jan ’05 till Sat, 22 Jan ’05)

In conjunction with the Varushabishegam (anniversary of Mahakumbabishegam or consecration ceremony) which will be commemorated on Saturday, 22 Jan 05, the Temple has made arrangement to conduct the auspicious ‘Kaliamman Moola Mandhira Mala Mandhira Kayathiri Mandhira Mahayagam’ ceremony. A series of 8 ceremonial ‘Kalam’ pooja will be  held both in the morning and evening hours for 5 consecutive days from Tuesday, 18 Jan 05 to Saturday, 22 Jan 05. Special abishegam will be performed daily to honour our principal deity ‘Sri Vairavimada Kaliamman’ with the culmination of the ‘kadam’ procession on the eighth ‘Kalam’ conducted on Saturday morning. Devotees are encouraged to participate on all the days’ events to commemorate the anniversary celebrations and to receive the blessings of Ambal

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