Friday, July 30, 2010

The Hindu Festival of Thaipusam

Thaipusam (Tamil: தைப்பூசம்) is a Hindu festival celebrated mostly by the Tamil community during the full moon of the Tamil month Thai (January to February). It also speaks of this festival as the Thaipooyam or Thaippooyam language Malayalam.

The word comes from the Thai pusam name of the month, Thai and pusam, which refers to a star which is at its highest point during the festival.

It commemorates both the birth of Murugan, also known as Subrahmanya, the youngest son of the god Shiva and his wife Parvati, and the opportunity during which Parvati gave Murugan a spear (vel) for that it can defeat the devil Surapadman.

Origin

Skanda (or Murugan) was created during one of the battles between the Asura (demon spirits) and Deva (gods). At one point, the gods were defeated repeatedly by the Asura. The Deva were unable to resist the onslaught of the forces deployed by the Asura.

In desperation, they prayed to Shiva, so he gives them a leader who, by his heroic command, to give them victory over the Asuras. Shiva granted their request, creating the powerful warrior Skanda, pulling his own power (Shakti Achintya).

Skanda took command of the gods, and knew how to instill the necessary momentum to defeat the forces of Asura.


Source: http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thaipusam


See Also: idul fitri, hamper hari raya, hari raya hampers

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