Vel Pooja - Devotion to the Divine Javelin

Rajesh Govindarajulu

The Vel or the spear is an ancient weapon. It was used by soldiers in the battlefield. The Vel was the weapon used by the guards in a city or in a palace. This weapon was a symbol of protection and authority. The soldiers from old Tamil movies would be found carrying the Vel. The ancient battle cry of the Tamil speaking soldiers was ' Vel Vel Vetrivel '. Eminent author Kalki has brought the importance of the Vel in the first volume of the magnum opus ' Sivakamiyin Sabatham '. The Vel belonging to Paranjothi ( later day Siruthonda Nayanaar ) is studied and analyzed by Mahendra Varma Pallava. He orders that similar Vels ( spears ) should be produced in order to defend the country against the Chalukya Emperor Pulekesin II.

Adi Vel is a famous festival in Sri Lanka. This festival is celebrated in Colombo and Kathirgamam. Devi Parvathi had blessed her son Shanmukha Subramanya by giving him the Vel on a Thai Poosam ( it occurs in the Tamil Month on Thai, somewhere in between January 15 and February 15 ). Devotees pierce their skin, tongue or cheeks with Vel skewers while undertaking a procession to a temple connected with Karthikeya ( Lord Muruga who is also known as Skandha ). The Vel in that is found in the hands of Lord Muruga is a symbol of divinity. The Lord is also known as Kathirvel ( Kathir also means formless light ).

Parvathi was keen to see that her son wins against the Asura Soorapadman and his cohorts. Therefore she grants him the powerful lance / spear. Lord Kandaswamy ( Muruga ) defeats the Asuras and saves the world. The Soorasamharam event at Thiruchendur is famous for the replay of this event. Famous movie producer and devotee of Lord Muruga M.M.A. Chinnappa Thevar had produced the fabulous movie, Theivam ( God ) in Tamil more than 45 years ago. The movie contains scenes which have captured the Soorsamharam Festival at Thiruchendur. Legendary singers T.M.Soundararajan and Sirkazhi Govindarajan had rendered the famous song ' Thiruchenduril Kadalorathil ' for the movie. This song was is an all time hit.

The Divine Javelin ( Vel ) was used by Lord Skandha to annihilate Soorapadman. The terrible Asura transformed himself into a huge mango tree in order to escape the attention of Lord Kandaswamy. However, Lord Senthil was not to be fooled by Soorapadman. He hurled his Vel on the huge mango tree and it split into two parts. One half became the Seval ( rooster ) while the other became a Mayil ( peacock ). Thereafter, the rooster became the emblem on the battle flag and the peacock became the vehicle ( vahanam ) for Lord Shanmukha. The Vel is a symbol of divinity and a number of miracles are associated with it.

Miracles and legends connected with the Vel made in an object of worship at home and in the temples. Followers of Lord Karthikeya are known to perform Vel Poojas on select days. Some of them perform it everyday too. Let us now take a look at the process involved. A Vel is got from a shop. It can be made of gold, silver or the five sacred elements collectively known as ' Panchaloham '. The Vel is fixed on a plate first. Devotees chant the Skandha Sashti Kavacham or Skandha Guru Kavacham during the Vel Pooja. They perform a holy bath or abhishekham for the Vel.

Vel Abhishekham is performed with milk, curd, ghee and honey. Thereafter, the Vel is cleaned up. The four items are transferred to a container or bowl. Sandalwood paste is used to decorate the Vel. Kumkumam is placed on the Vel after it has been fully smeared with the sandalwood paste. A nice garland of Rudraksha beads is smeared with sandalwood paste and kumkumam before adorning the Vel with the same. The devotee then proceeds with the chanting of the Sri Subramanya Ashtothram or Sri Subramanya Sahasranamam. A Naivedyam ( food offering ) is made during this Pooja. It can consist of fruits like banana, guava etc., along with a coconut, betel leaves and betel nuts.

A picture or icon of Lord Muruga with his consorts Valli and Devayani can be placed at the rearside of the Vel. Some Thaen ( honey ) and Thinaimaavu is also offered. Lord Muruga simply loves this combination. The coconut is broken and an arati is performed in order to complete the Pooja. The devotee does an atma pradakshinam and then prostrates in front of the Shanmuga Vel/ Skandha Vel / Vetri Vel / Vijaya Vel / Sakthi Vel / Gnana Vel / Muruga Vel . The Vel Pooja bestows people with good health, knowledge wisdom and mental stability.

The family which conducts the Pooja partakes the mixture of milk , honey, curd and ghee that was used for the abhishekham ( ritual bath ). They slice the coconut and have it with the banana. The mixture of Thaen and Thinaimaavu is also partaken by the devout. Onions and garlic are avoided during the day. It is good to help a socially or financially depressed person on the day of the Vel Pooja. The Vel Pooja is done on Sashti, Kiruthigai, Visakham or Tuesdays. These are days meant for the Vel Pooja. The Vel that was given by Parvathi to Kandasubramania will surely become visible to one and all.

Vel Vel, Vetrivel, Veera Vel , Gnana Vel , Sakthi Vel, Vijaya Vel. Harohara. The Vel of Lord Karthikeya who is also known as Devasenapathi ( Commander of the Devas ) is sure to help everyone to lead a life of piety and righteousness.

Mr. Rajesh Govindarajulu is one of the founding members of The Verandah Club Pvt. Ltd. He is a leading columnist, historian, jeweler, entrepreneur, and a heritage enthusiast who is earnestly working to revive the past in the light of the present. Experiential learning about the history of Coimbatore is his main course of interest and he is also a panel member of many colleges in the city.