Kapaleswarar temple festival

[CHANDRU1849]

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March 14, 2014

Mylapore has been in festive mood for the last 10 days on account of Kapaleswarar Temple Festival.

Last Sunday (9th Mar), it was Adhikara Nandhi, Tuesday (11th) Rishaba Vaganam (it started at 1 a.m.), Thursday (13th) Thiru Ther and today (14th) Arupathu Moovar, remembering the 63 Nayanmars (except one or two all were NBs).

This festival brings oneness among Hindus, without bothering about caste, colour, economic status etc., and the only idea was to think about Lord Shiva. The chanting of Om Namashivaya / Kabali, Kabali has been quite absorbing and emotional.

Irrespective of States, festivals / rituals dedicated to Lord Shiva has its own flavour; whether it is Kapaleswarar, Annamalai Deepam, Kumbh Mela, Maga Magham, Amarnath Yatra, Kailash Manasarovar etc.

I have a feeling that Hinduism can be divided into two parts; one relates to NBs who give importance to Bakthi and other Bs whose importance rest with Sringara Rasam/Wars etc.

 

[Vaagmi]

I have a feeling that Hinduism can be divided into two parts; one relates to NBs who give importance to Bakthi and other Bs whose importance rest with Sringara Rasam/Wars etc.

The bhakti of the former category includes:

1. Offering a cigar or a bottle of freshly brewed arrack to the deity worshipped and distributing it freely to the "bhaktas" assembled.

2. Going to the smasanam (the burning ghat/burial ground) in the midnight accompanied by thArai and thappattai and offering cattle in a gruesome ritual to the God/Goddes worshipped (they actually suck the blood of the animal offered in sacrifice by biting it at its neck and incising the jugular vein.

3. To reach the nirvana stage in the bhakthi, drinking a few millis of country liquor and then dancing with scantily clad females in the stage to the accompaniment of filmsongs belted out from loud-speakers or tuned by nAdaswaram players.

All this is indeed giving importance to bhakti as you have said. LOL.

 

[CHANDRU1849]

The bhakti of the former category includes:

1. Offering a cigar or a bottle of freshly brewed arrack to the deity worshipped and distributing it freely to the "bhaktas" assembled.

2. Going to the smasanam (the burning ghat/burial ground) in the midnight accompanied by thArai and thappattai and offering cattle in a gruesome ritual to the God/Goddes worshipped (they actually suck the blood of the animal offered in sacrifice by biting it at its neck and incising the jugular vein.

3. To reach the nirvana stage in the bhakthi, drinking a few millis of country liquor and then dancing with scantily clad females in the stage to the accompaniment of filmsongs belted out from loud-speakers or tuned by nAdaswaram players.

All this is indeed giving importance to bhakti as you have said. LOL.

It is there in all religions and all sects, no exception. LOL.

 

[ashwin_ash]

It is there in all religions and all sects, no exception. LOL.

A close relative of mine is one of the chief priests at the Benares temple and he says the entire city is known as "Maha-Smashan" or the great crematorium. And "bhasma aarti" with fresh ashes at Ujjain is very famous. It has nothing to do with caste. Brahmins do the aarti at Ujjain.

 

[Naina_Marbus]

The bhakti of the former category includes:

2. Going to the smasanam (the burning ghat/burial ground) in the midnight accompanied by thArai and thappattai and offering cattle in a gruesome ritual to the God/Goddes worshipped (they actually suck the blood of the animal offered in sacrifice by biting it at its neck and incising the jugular vein.

If this seems gruesome to you, you haven't seen this:

The Jewish ritual of oral suction- metzitzah b’peh (in Hebrew) — is practiced even to this day in ultra-Orthodox communities and, to a lesser degree, in Orthodox Jewish communities. The procedure occurs during the circumcision ritual of the bris (the male circumcision rite, usually performed on the eighth day after a child is born) as the mohel ( a man qualified to perform circumcision) removes the foreskin of the penis and then sucks the blood with his mouth from the wound to clean it.

New York Times - http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/08/n...renews-debate-over-a-circumcision-ritual.html

 

[CHANDRU1849]

If this seems gruesome to you, you haven't seen this:

The Jewish ritual of oral suction- metzitzah b’peh (in Hebrew) — is practiced even to this day in ultra-Orthodox communities and, to a lesser degree, in Orthodox Jewish communities. The procedure occurs during the circumcision ritual of the bris (the male circumcision rite, usually performed on the eighth day after a child is born) as the mohel ( a man qualified to perform circumcision) removes the foreskin of the penis and then sucks the blood with his mouth from the wound to clean it.

New York Times - http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/08/n...renews-debate-over-a-circumcision-ritual.html

In fact, Jainism was formed and was totally against inhuman killing of animals during vedic period. It was said that animals were killed, the blood was poured in the fire and meat was eaten.

Even during 20th century, due to in fighting between the two Kalais, an elephant was put into lot of hardships.

Fact cannot be denied.

 

[Vaagmi]

Even during 20th century, due to in fighting between the two Kalais, an elephant was put into lot of hardships.

What were the hardships that the elephant went through? Was it worse than the humiliation and hardship that the non brahmin boy who wanted to chant the Devaram in front of the Thillai Nataraja suffered when he was denied the permission? Please enlighten the readers.

 

[CHANDRU1849]

What were the hardships that the elephant went through? Was it worse than the humiliation and hardship that the non brahmin boy who wanted to chant the Devaram in front of the Thillai Nataraja suffered when he was denied the permission? Please enlighten the readers.

First, castesim still prevails in TN in all sects; not with only one sect. How many non-Brahmins are allowed inside Vaishanative temples (Near God)?

The elephant was forced to kneel down in order to place the respective marks on the forehead, after some specific period. The elephant got serious injury. The incident also came up as a joke narrated by Vivek in a Tamil film.

While the fight was between two groups of human beings, ultimately, the sufferer was an innocent animal. Is it possible now? Definitely not; the Blue Cross will take the concerned persons to task.

 

[Vaagmi]

The elephant was forced to kneel down in order to place the respective marks on the forehead, after some specific period. The elephant got serious injury. The incident also came up as a joke narrated by Vivek in a Tamil film.

What was the need for the animal to kneel down? It used to just lie down and facilitate the handler to fix the mark. And lying down and getting up(even kneeling and standing up again) are common physical activity for any animal. Without that the animal may not be able to digest all that it eats. It may suffer from acidity and obesity. If by lying down and getting up an elephant is to get injured all the elephants in the forest must be limping by now. It is great indeed getting info about such matters from Vivek that too from a Tamil film. LOL.

 

[CHANDRU1849]

What was the need for the animal to kneel down? It used to just lie down and facilitate the handler to fix the mark. And lying down and getting up(even kneeling and standing up again) are common physical activity for any animal. Without that the animal may not be able to digest all that it eats. It may suffer from acidity and obesity. If by lying down and getting up an elephant is to get injured all the elephants in the forest must be limping by now. It is great indeed getting info about such matters from Vivek that too from a Tamil film. LOL.

I knew this information some decades back and not from the Tamil Film. I specifically mentioned the term 'ALSO' in my blog.

 

[sarang]

Some decades back, in srirangam temple, the elephant became uncontrollable, spurned food and died within a few months after his pagan passed away. A loving mahoot will ensure that his asset will be valued and pampered.