The Kavadi Festival

Perhaps the most potent propitiatory rite that a devotee of Shanmukha undertakes to
perform is what is known as the Kavadi. The benefits that the devotee gains from offering a Kavadi
to the Lord are a millionfold greater than the little pain that he inflicts upon himself.
Generally, people take a vow to offer the Lord a Kavadi for the sake of tiding over a great
calamity. Though this might, on the face of it, appear a little mercenary, a moment’s reflection will
reveal that it contains in it the seed of supreme love of God. The worldly object is achieved, no
doubt, and the devotee takes the Kavadi; but after the ceremony he gets so God-intoxicated that his
inner spiritual being gets awakened. This is also a method that ultimately leads to the supreme state
of devotion.
Kavadi: The Kavadi has various shapes and sizes, from the simple shape of a hawker’s
storehouse (a wooden stick with two baskets at each end, slung across the shoulder) to the costly
palanquin structure, profusely flower-bedecked and decoratively interwoven with peacock
feathers. In all cases the Kavadi has a good many brass bells adorning it and announcing it as the
Kavadi-bearer draws it along. As the Kavadi-bearer very often observes silence, the bells are the
only eloquent signs of a Kavadi procession.
Now, the two baskets hanging at each end of the Kavadi contain rice, milk or other articles
that the devotee has vowed to offer the Lord. The more devout among them, and especially those
who do it as a Sadhana, collect these articles by begging. They travel on foot from village to village,
and beg from door to door. The villagers offer their articles directly into the basket of the Kavadi.
The Kavadi-bearer continues begging until the baskets are full or the avowed quantity is reached,
and then offers the Kavadi to the Lord. Some keen devotees undertake to walk barefoot from home
to one of the shrines of Lord Subramanya, bearing the Kavadi all the way and collecting materials
for the offering. He has to walk a hundred miles sometimes! The people who place the articles in the
baskets also receive the Lord’s blessings.
The Kavadi-bearer: The Kavadi-bearer is required to observe various rules between the
time he takes up the Kavadi, and the day of the offering. He has to perform elaborate ceremonies at
the time of assuming the Kavadi, and at the time of offering it to the Lord. He also puts on the dress
of a Pandaram, a Saivite mendicant. It consists of a saffron-coloured cloth, a conical scarlet cap, and
a cane silver-capped at both ends. Lord Siva, the Supreme Pandaram Himself, loves to wear this
dress. The Pandaram lives on alms only. The bare chest of the Kavadi-bearer is covered with
several rudraksha malas.
The Kavadi-bearer observes strict celibacy. Only pure, Sattwic food is taken; he abstains
from all sorts of intoxicating drinks and drugs. He thinks of God all the time. Many of the
Kavadi-bearers, especially those who do it as a spiritual Sadhana, impose various forms of
self-torture. Some pass a sharp little spear through their tongue, which is made to protrude out of the
mouth. Others may pass a spear through the cheek. This sort of piercing is done in other parts of the
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HINDU FASTS & FESTIVALS
body also. The bearer does not shave; he grows a beard. He eats only once a day. The spear
pierced through his tongue or cheek reminds him of the Lord constantly. It also prevents him from
speaking. It gives him great power of endurance.
The Kavadi-bearer enjoys a high state of religious fervour. He dances in ecstasy. His very
appearance is awe-inspiring; there is divine radiance on his face. Devotees often experience the
state of feeling union with the Lord. Sometimes the Deity enters them and possesses them for some
time.
Agni Kavadi: This is the most difficult Kavadi-offering. With the Kavadi hanging on his
shoulder, the devotee walks through a pit of burning coals. Hymns are sung in praise of the Lord by
those assembled all around the pit. Drums are beaten and incense is burnt. The entire atmosphere is
awe-inspiring. The true devotee enters into ecstasy and easily walks over the fire.
At the Sivananda Ashram in India, Skanda Sashti is observed for six days, preceding and
including the Sashti day.
1. Devotees of Lord Subramanya live on milk and fruit and do rigorous Sadhana.
2. All spiritual aspirants get up at 4am during Brahmamuhurta and meditate on the Lord.
3. On each of the six days, all the participants do as many malas of the Mantra Om
Saravanabhavaya Namah as possible. They even greet one another with this Mantra.
4. Yogis and learned scholars deliver lectures on Subramanya Tattwa or the divine sport of
the Lord. During the evening Satsang, hymns in praise of Lord Subramanya are sung. Readings are
taken from my book Lord Shanmukha and His Worship. Devotees sing inspiring songs on the Lord.
5. Every day there is elaborate ceremonial worship of the image of Lord Subramanya
installed in the Bhajan Hall.
6. On the last day a grand havan (fire-worship) is conducted. The Satsang is devoted
entirely to the adoration of Lord Subramanya.
Pray from the bottom of your heart: “O my Lord Subramanya, O all-merciful Lord! we have
neither faith nor devotion. We do not know how to worship Thee in the proper manner, or to
meditate on Thee. We are Thy child who have lost the way, forgotten the goal and Thy Name. Is it
not Thy duty, O compassionate Father, to take us back? O Mother, will you not introduce me to Thy
Lord? Mother’s love for Her children is deeper and truer than any object in this world. Though we
have become worthless and undutiful children, O beloved Mother Valli, pardon us! Make us dutiful
and faithful. We are Thine from this very second. Always Thine. All is Thine. It is the Mother’s
duty to correct, educate and mould Her reckless child when it strays aimlessly on the wrong path.
Remove the gulf or the veil of delusion that separates us from Thee. Bless us. Enlighten us. Take us
back to Thy Lotus Feet. We have nothing more to say. This is our fervent prayer to Thee and Thy
Lord, our beloved and ancient Parents.”
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SKANDA SASHTI
May Lord Subramanya shower His Grace upon you!