BEYOND FAITH

Like in many previous years I had fulfilled my pilgrimage this year at Velayuthar Temple Batu Caves. It felt good, reinvigorating, inspiring, and highly motivating. This has been an annual event for my family, where the youngest to the oldest, participate in carrying Paal Kudam (Milk Pot) up the 272 steps to energize mind and body.

Many reasons have been given to this ritual, but the most common would be to thank the Lord Muruga for his divine intervention in our lives.

For the sick, beyond the hands of a skillful doctor, faith gives them courage and strength to go through a particular treatment.

For a student, beyond his or her effort in preparing for an examination, faith gives clarity of focus to achieve the desired outcome.

To a job seeker beyond equipping oneself with the necessary skills and knowledge faith gives hope for a better job.

Thus there could be many reasons why the "faithful" perform such or any other act to thank the divine for the believed intervention.

But the philosophy behind the "VEL", Lord Murugan's lance embodies great value as a guide to one's journey called life.

The shape of the lance "Vel" which has a broad 'head' representing the need for broadness of the mind, followed by the sharp pointed edge representing sharpness of knowledge and the long length of the shaft depicting the depth of thought. In totality the VEL represents WISDOM, something that many lack. 

The entire act of fasting and preparing both mentally and physically for the pilgrimage definitely requires greater discipline, which in itself is an act of detoxification.

Ultimate human progression leads to the development of higher consciousness, as such a disciplined articulation of body and mind would pave the way for clarity of pursuits. 

Many look for happiness and peace via religion and religious practices, hoping for a divine intervention either for the present or even for an eventful afterlife. Unfortunately many are so focused on embracing religion and religious rituals that they fail to see within on how to be a good human being.  

An act of "Kavadi" bearing (carrying the milk pots balanced on a wood or sugarcane) gives a sense of humbling to the bearer making one realize that the cosmos is definitely bigger than one's ego. 

I have found solace in many places of worship, be it a Mosque, Church, Synagogue, Gurdwara, Temple or even the Mausoleum of Spiritual Masters.  In all of them, I have  experienced positive vibrations or energy that gives a good feeling. I have come to the realisation that Religion is merely a means to higher consciousness but religion itself is not the end. Hence there are many spiritually enlightened masters who do not belong to any specific boundered philosophies. 

If only more people understand the logic of their actions, the world will be a better place.

Vetri Vel, Veera Vel

Lance of Victory, Lance of Bravery

Bravery to face all challenges, and Victory To all Pursuits

Ravi Varmman
21 January 2019
Subang Jaya.