Lord Murugan:
The embodiment of loveliness
by Sivanandini DURAISWAMY
"The world rejoices and the many adore
As the Sun of Glory riseth for the world's joy"
are the opening lines of the celebrated Sangam work depicting Lord
Murugan as the Supreme One riding across the luminous sky bringing joy
to all. This is the beauteous picture that we see as we gather for the
grand annual festival in Nallur. Lord Murugan called variously as Nallur
Kandan, Kandambam, Shunmugan to mention a few, appears regally riding
over the thousands and thousands of heads as He circumambulates the
Temple giving darshan to all.
“Year succeded year as I
drank deep of the Temple festivities and took my fill of the
sight of Kandan. How beautiful and full of peace they were/are
and the world’s ills seemed so far away and unreal.”
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The ancient Tamils saw Him as an embodiment of loveliness and beauty,
ever young and fragrant. They had worshipped Him, for more than five or
six millennia and this faith and devotion that they had for Him have
been embedded in their collective consciousness.
The archaeological findings of the Indus Valley Civilization and the
ancient remains unearthed at Adichanallur resounding endorse not only
the pre-historic origin of the indigenous Murugan but also His
primordial nature. He is represented in mythology, iconography and
painting as a deity - youthful and benign portraying the Hindu ideals of
grace, beauty and wisdom.
The Tamils were able to visualize His peaceful contenance as Skanda
or Kartikkeya and portray. His charm and grandeur as Saravanabhava into
their works of art and beauty which may be the creative touches of the
pen, chisel or brush.
These corpuses of the artists contain graphic references to Him in
poems, sculptures or paintings. In these profiles, we see Him evolving
from the hilly tracts of Kurunji lands, blossoming into a universal
image of the entire Tamil race - Tamil kadavul.
It was Amma who said "Hurry! Let's go to Nallur, Surrender yourself
to the magical environs of Murugan in Nallur and you will feel the peace
and calm of sanctity." This young Hindu who had lived most of his life
abroad was wondering what all this was about, but seemed mesmerized by
his mother's words.
Both mother and son went to Nallur and he continues. "As we emerged
from the side-lane Chetty Street in Nallur into the huge quadrangle in
front of the Temple, I realized that nothing quite prepares one for this
life time experience. The sheer magnitude of the crowds that early
morning awaiting the Lord's arrival, instantly overwhelmed me with a
sense of peace I had never experienced before. A quietude of the spirit
descended on me.
There was a strange mystic aura as the thousands and thousands of
devotees stood in prayer. The whole atmosphere was an inspired burst of
creativity - both stunning and exuberant. I felt that after having lived
abroad for so long understanding only a little of Hindiusm, this was
going to be a new beginning for me. The Tamil saying "It is a blessing
to see thousands of heads bowed in prayer," seemd so true.
"On the dot, the Lord arrived at the entrance resounding with the
cascading mantras chanted by seveeral priests, the blowing of the conch
shell and the music of Nadaswaram. Suddenly an outburst of "Arohara,
Arohara" reverberated through the devotees as they saw the Lord in all
His regalia.
Time seemed lost in an infinite timelessness! The atmosphere vibrated
with spirituality. And at that moment my perception of life changed. The
overwhelming feeling that I had, made all my cares and needs of earthly
existence disppear.
"And the Lord moved as the chariot was drawn by hundred of devotees.
It was then that I understood the important of my father's words earlier
that morning. "Let me lend my shoulder even for a moment and feel that I
too had helped to draw the chariot. This is important for me. "The
chariot's vadam" the rope that is tied to it, is drawn by the devotees.
Nallur Kandan's annual twenty five day festival is a grand cultural
and spiritual fiesta, a festival of colour, creativity and joy mingled
with deep piety. It is one of the most intricately choreographed and
spiritually powerful rituals in our Tamil Hindu culture.
"Nalluraan tiruvadiyai naan ninaiththa maathiraththil ellaam
marappenodi kiliya," the moment I see the sacred Feet of the Lord in
Nallur, I slumber into forgetfulness knowing that He is my refugee."
sings Yogar Swamigal expressing in a telling way the very feelings
that the devotees have as they see the Lord emerging over the sea of
heads." These thoughts of that young pilgrim are indeed poignant. The
Nallur experience was special and as the spirit of quietude descended on
him he poured out his feelings.
Chequerred history
The town of Nallur in jaffna is a flourishing centre of Hinduism. It
is tucked into the heart of the Tamil homelands. It was a capital that
had seen the rise and fall of the Jaffna empire where places of
political, religious and cultural importance were built. These include
the old Sankiliyan palace, Navalar Adheenam, Chellappa Swami Samadhi and
more importantly the Nallur Kanthan Temple.
Nallur is a montage where the annual festival co-exists with the ever
changing times but remains an enthralling spectacle of the colourful
Tamil-Hindus. The Temple lives on from the past alongside the present -
a gentle continuity absorbing the spirituality of the devotees, the
numerous mantras cascading from the Sanctum, the sound of the conch
shells and the rhythm of the Nadaswaram music constantly recreating the
magic moments of Nallur Kandan's darshan.
The Temple beckons us. "Come and see for yourself and discover your
own Nallur Kandan. It is an experience and you are bound to fall in love
with the Lord residing in Nallur as you get involved in His mystery and
realize that He is in reality also within you. And as you discover
Nallur, you would perhaps discover a new dimension of yourself." |