Aadippoora Mahotsavam festival

by Chelvatamby MANICCAVASAGAR.

The 22nd year Aadippoora Mahotsavam of Mayurapathy Bhatharakali Amman Devasthanam, Wellawatte, Colombo which commenced last week, will conclude with water cutting ceremony on July 27 at the sea (Charlemont Road Beach), Wellawatte.

Further, the Aadippoora Paal Kudam (Milk Pot) festival will take place on Saturday 25 starting from Bambalapitiya Samman Koddar Sri Manicca Pillaiyar Temple at 7.30 a.m.

In this colourful "Paal Kudam" festival more than 3,000 women both young and old will go in procession to the accompaniment of Nathaswara Music and devotional songs through Lorenz Road, Amerasekera Mawatha, Havelock Road and finally will reach the temple at Mayura Place.

T. S. Eliot in describing the predicament of man states that the progress in science and technology brings us knowledge of words, but not of stillness!

Lord Shiva without Sakthi is all stillness since it is Sakthi which stirs Him to motions and speech.

Shiva is the word, it is Sakthi which moves Him to words. The union between them is represented by the image of Shiva as Artha Nariswara, the half man and half woman. Further, Sakthi herself takes different forms. Sometimes, she is stern and formidable. Furthermore, of the many Gods in the Hindu Pantheon, none is revered more than Mother Goddess. She is Parvathy, Durgai and Kali. Indeed, the compassion a mother shows not only to her children, but also to the community, has no parallel.

In the religious parlance the "Divine Mother" is termed as the extra-ordinary intermediary who pleads with God to show mercy to a real penitent

when he may not be inclined to do so in view of the enormity of sins.

In fact, the Hindu temples are intended to educate men in the art of removing the veil of attachment that covers their hearts. Thus, the renowned poet "Thiyagarajah" cried in the temple at Thirupathi "Remove the veil, O! remove the veil of attachment, the veil of pride and hatred!

Further, in Hinduism, the supreme Lord is represented by Maheswara and His power in turn is represented by His consort Sakthi, Devi, Durgai and Kali.

Just as the husband and wife take care of their family so does Shiva and Shakthi in looking after the affairs of the universe. Sakthi is the embordiment of power. She is the supreme power with which the world is made to function!

In fact, Colombo Mayurapathy Bathrakali Amman temple is a miraculous one where several devotees have been cured of their sicknesses. Further, Pon Vallipuram, a former collector of customs and a philanthropist is rendering yeoman service as Trustee of this temple for more than two decades. His services are immensely recognised by the devotees belonging to all the communities.

He has also organised several cultural programmes in which Colombo schools participate.

Srimathy Mangaiyarkarasi Sakthi Subramaniam from Tamil Nadu has been specially invited to deliver religious discourses pertaining to "Rama Avatharam", "Appar Peruman", "Arul Petra Arunakirinathar", "Mutpiravi', "Kantha Puranathin Saram", "Vali Motsam", "Saint Manikkavasagar", "Muththaitharu Vilakkam", "Karaikal Ammaiyar" and "Rama Pattabhesekam" commencing from July 15 to July 24.

Srimathy Mangayarkarasi is a religious and Tamil scholar of exceptional ability. While she was at Madursai R.C. secondary school she was able to recite all the 1330 Thirukural and was highly commended by teachers for her marvellous memory power. She was conferred with the title "Thirukural Selvi."

In fact, the chariot symbolises human body and the statue of Sri Bathrakali Amman is the soul. In front of the Chariot are the wooden horses depicted as Galloping and the reins attached to their mouths are held in the hands of the image of Sri Bathrakali Amman.

These horses represent human passion and the reins symbolise the necessity of restraining and guiding these passions. The journey of the chariot through the streets symbolises the progress of life. This shows that throughout his life a man must control and guide his passions.

These passions are the motive powers, the driving force of life, but unstrained and unguided they will wreck a man's life. This is the symbolic meaning of the chariot festival.