by Kumarasamy SOMASUNDARAM

Nallur is a holy place of historic, religious and cultural significance for the Saivite Hindus of Sri Lanka. It is here that the very revered and renowned Nallur Kanthasamy temple is situated with its grandeur. The temple has a long history of more than a thousand years. The Saivite Hindus consider certain sites in Sri Lanka as sacred and they are held in high esteem and special veneration. Nallur Kanthasamy Kovil is one among them. Every Saivite Hindu feels that it is obligatory to visit this temple and worship Lord Kanthasamy at least once during the annual Festival days. The Tamil word 'murugu', means Beauty. Murugan is one who possesses Beauty. Beauty is perfection. Where there exist beauty and perfection, there is Divinity. Lord Murugan is the other name of Lord Kanthasamy. He is the embodiment of Beauty, Perfection, Truth, Love and Divinity. He has come to maintain law and order; peace and harmony in the world.

"Why fear, when I am here at Nallur" this divine utterance of Lord Murugan is ever ringing in the ears of Murugan devotees, wherever they live. It is the firm belief of Nallur Murugans devotees that Lord Murugan is there to come to their rescue in times of adversity and give them necessary strength of mind and physique to face the challenges of life. Lord Murugan is always there on call of the devotees to guide them and shower His Grace for their well-being. These beliefs, combined with faith in God and fear of God for doing evils acts, are not superstitious and not proved futile. Religion is belief and experience. Those who have trust and faith in god and lead their lives in the righteous path achieve success, prosperity, good health, happiness, peace and harmony. Experience proves that God-fearing people with spiritual strength always are successful in life. Those who taste the sweet pills of successful life rush to Nallur Murugan and pay their homage and express their gratitude to Lord Murugan. It is an act of veneration and thanks-giving to the bestower of boons, bliss, success and accomplishments.

The symbolism of Lord Murugan points to the ways and means of reaching perfection in life. The devotees attend the temple of Lord Murugan to commune with him at least once a week, preferably on Fridays and additionally on Lord Murugan's auspicious days of the month and annual festival days. It is at the temple the devotees nurture their relationship with the God and also with the fellowship. Besides daily round of poojas, held six times a day, the annual festival is conducted for twenty five days continually at Nallur Murugan temple, commencing with the ceremony of flag-hoisting and culminating with the water-cutting ceremony (Theertham) on the twenty fifth day.

Mancham, Karthigai, Kailasa vahanam, Sapparam, Ther, Theertham and Thirukkalyanam events are considered as high festivals. Nallur Murugan temple is very conspicuous and outstanding especially for the fact that all the poojas, rites, rituals, ceremonies connected with the festivals are conducted to perfect time and in clean atmosphere. Purity, sanctity, punctualiy, adds colour, grace and splendour to Nallur temple. Time-consciousness is really God-consciousness.

The management is very much concerned about proper time management.

The annual festival, the most significant event at Nallur temple, usually draw a massive crowd of devotees, irrespective of ethnicity, creed or religion from all over Sri Lanka and even from the Tamil Diaspora.

Temples are constructed and poojas, festivals and ceremonies are conducted for the material and spiritual well-beings of all the communities and the world at large.

The spiritual culture guides people to lead a moral, ethical and righteous life with positive thoughts, words and deeds. Attainment of gods consciousness and nature, being the goal of life, could be interpreted as attainment of divine qualities and values such as truth, righteousness, peace, beauty, non-violence, justice and love. Festivals are occasions to learn, refresh and practise these human and divine qualities, with piety and devotion in daily life.

Festivals are powerful inducements and inspirations to keep oneself engaged in good wishes and pure feelings, exchanging with others. Caring and sharing get materialised. During festival days, Annathanam - offering cooked food to anyone who feels hunger" is a special feature in the Inns and houses of the area, around the temple. Serving annathanam (meal served free of charge with devotion) to pilgrims is an age-old tradition and a culture, being kept alive even now.

special pandals are erected for the devotees to quench their thirst and take rest, religious discourses, singing of bhajans and devotional hymns, cultural programmes are conducted, in the pandals. Devotees observe fasts and do penance during festivals. As such, they keep themselves away from sensual pleasure; stop wandering of the mind and negative tendencies. Fasts control passion: checks emotions and overhaul the respiratory, circulatory, digestive and urinary systems.

Festival-related events such as kavadi processions,milk-pot and camphor lights parades, accompanied with Nathaswaram and Thavil (drum) recitals; bhajan singing and musical recitals attract the attention of the spectators. These festive processions and other religious practices are being conducted, invoking Murugans grace and protection and also dispelling their sins, pride and vanity. The festivals provide opportunities for family reunion and community togetherness. They visit their relations and friends and strengthen their relationship. Marriages are proposed and weddings conducted during this season on auspicious days. So many family problems are settled. Nallur Kandasamy festivals provide opportunities for religious, social, spiritual aesthelic and cultural developments and preservation.

It is from Nallur, Sri La Sri Arumuga Navalar, the Champion Reformer of the Saivite Hindus, launched the Saivism Revival movement, during the 19th century. Kadaiyit Swamigal, Chellappa Swamigal and Yogar Swamigal attained enlightenment at the Nallur Murugan temple precincts, closer to the chariot (ther) enclosure. These great Siththar Saints spread Spiritual Wisdom and Guidance among the people.The Glory and Grace of Nallur Murugan can hardly over-emphasised.

Pic: Velmurugan

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