Hagiography of Saint Aarumugathambiran

THE GLORY OF ARUMUGANAR'S KAVADI VIRATHAM

Aarumuganar undertakes fasting from the month of Karthigai till the Thaipoosam day. Eight days before Thaipoosam, he travels about 30 miles with his Kaavadi around Thiruthangal to get biksha (begging) from people as rice, dals, vegetables for annadanam to poor people at the eve of Thaipoosam. Knowing the selfless cause of Aarumuganar, people donates him groceries and vegetables liberally.

A LADY PROVIDES RICE TO AARUMUGANAR FOR THAIPOOSAM FESTIVAL

But few people ignored and degraded him. One day when he was on his biksha to the house of Sevalpatti zameendar (landlord) he shouted to his servant to shun the paradesi (wanderer) away from his village. Aarumuganar without uttering a single word, left that place calmly. But the Almighty Lord Muruga, decided to show the greatness of Aarumuganar through which the zameendar would also be reformed.

                                      AARUMUGANAR ON HIS BIKSHA TO THE LANDLORD HOUSE

The zameendar who was hale and healthy till that day, suddenly suffered from paralysis. Even his royal medicants were not able to diagnose and cure the disease. In his dream his Kuladeivam ordered him to beg pardon from Aarumuganar and call him to his house politely. Immediately the zameendar sent for Aarumuganar to forgive him and to cure his paralysis. Aarumuganar who was all in love for fellow beings gave the zameendar the sacred ash, thiruneeru, upon applying through the affected parts the zameendar was cured. Realizing Aarumuganar's height of spiritual enlightment the zameedar donated him lots of rice, dal and vegetables for the Thaipoosam annadanam.

Two days before Thaipoosam, Aarumuganar starts giving away rice, dal and vegetables to mendicants and poor people. The day before Thaipoosam Aarumuganar with the left off groceries and vegetables, cooks food and feed the poor people. There will be sumptuous food to serve the unknown number of people to come that day! At 6.00am on Thaipoosam day, Aarumuganar takes his Kavadi on his shoulders and with one leg on ground and other folded he hops around Thiruthangal village and then starts to Palani, one of the Arupadai Veedu of Lord Muruga. He has divine radiance on his face and dances in ecstasy with Kaavadi as if the Lord Dhandayuthapaani has possessed him. The village people gathers around him to see his Yoga Siddhi of hoping on one leg with Kavadi upto Palanimalai. They follow him till the borders of the village with Kottu (special band). Only upto one mile till Karuppasamy temple, Aarumuganar with his Kavadi will be visible. Then people will hear a loud Omkara sound and the juggling bell sound of Kaavadi. Such is his fastness of hoping on one leg with Kavadi. His sacred Kavadi is still protected and worshipped in Kaavidikoodam with his paatharatchai (wooden slippers).

AARUMUGA THAMBIRAN FEEDS THE VILLAGE PEOPLE ON THAIPOOSAM ANADHANAM FESTIVAL

AARUMUGANAR TAKES KAVADI ON HIS SHOULDERS AND THEN STARTS TO PALANI  (A SACRED PLACE OF LORD MURUGA IN SOUTH INDIA)

KAVADI, WHICH IS CARRIED ON SHOULDERS ON THAIPOOSAM FESTIVAL DAY

                                                           AARUMUGANAR ON HIS WAY TO PALANI