Friday, October 17, 2008

Rolling in the Temple - Penance, Prayer & Purity



Firewalking or Thimethi (thi means fire in Tamil and methi means step) is a major festival in Singapore's Mariamman Temple and for many generations devotees have been either firewalking or rolling around the temple to show their love for the Goddess. Today, two days, before the actual fire walking ceremony, I went to the temple to observe the Kumbhudustaam (rolling with the neem leaves in your hands). Devotees in wet yellow ceremonial wear lay flat on the temple grounds and rolled clockwise around the entire temple. A demanding task it also another occasion where penance and prayer are intertwined to inspire purity in a devotee's heart and mind. And to instill in them a sense of courage and heighten their devotion to the Goddess. Way before yoga became hip and asanas became a way to look good naked, Hindus have been showing their love for their goddess through rigorous physical acts like this. I was deeply moved to see this event. The vibration in the temple was also intense and just 10 days ago I had danced for the Goddess there - again another form of physical prayer.

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