Beyond the controversy: the spiritual significance of carrying the kavadi

Free Malaysia Today

FMT examines the profound meaning behind carrying the kavadi and explores its practices, significance and the faith it represents.  Read More: https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2025/04/04/beyond-the-controversy-the-spiritual-significance-of-carrying-the-kavadi/  Free Malaysia Today is an independent, bi-lingual news portal with a focus on Malaysian current affairs.    Subscribe to our channel - http://bit.ly/2Qo08ry   ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Check us out at https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com Follow FMT on Facebook: https://bit.ly/49JJoo5 Follow FMT on Dailymotion: https://bit.ly/2WGITHM Follow FMT on X: https://bit.ly/48zARSW  Follow FMT on Instagram: https://bit.ly/48Cq76h Follow FMT on TikTok : https://bit.ly/3uKuQFp Follow FMT Berita on TikTok: https://bit.ly/48vpnQG  Follow FMT Telegram - https://bit.ly/42VyzMX Follow FMT LinkedIn - https://bit.ly/42YytEb Follow FMT Lifestyle on Instagram: https://bit.ly/42WrsUj Follow FMT on WhatsApp: https://bit.ly/49GMbxW  ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Download FMT News App: Google Play – http://bit.ly/2YSuV46 App Store – https://apple.co/2HNH7gZ Huawei AppGallery - https://bit.ly/2D2OpNP  #FMTNews #Kavadi #Hindu #Controversy

Transcript

00:00Last month, Tree Era FM radio host and independent preacher Zamri Vinov

00:05sparked controversy by seemingly mocking the Cavity Ritual.

00:09While most Malaysians are familiar with the ritual,

00:12especially images of Cavity-caring devotees who are often in a trance-like state in Batu Caves,

00:18not many are familiar with its significance.

00:21The term Cavity comes from the Tamil word meaning burden,

00:32which symbolizes the caring of both physical and spiritual burdens as an act of penance

00:37or devotion to the Hindu deity Murugan during the Thaipusam festival.

00:43Malaysia Hindu Sangam Honorary General Secretary S. Vinayaga Murthy explained that

00:48many Hindus carry the Cavity as a form of vow fulfillment,

00:51often in return for prayers answered, blessings received,

00:54or to seek divine intervention for personal or family well-being.

00:59Carrying the Cavity requires weeks of spiritual and physical preparation,

01:04demanding devotion, mental focus, and physical conditioning as an act of faith.

01:10This discipline, which begins 48 days before Thaipusam,

01:14involves a vegetarian diet or fasting, refraining from harming even an insect,

01:19controlling anger, and abstaining from smoking, alcohol, and drugs.

01:25One of the most striking aspects of the Cavity procession

01:28is the trance-like state devotees enter through chanting, drumming, and devotional music,

01:33enabling some to even undergo body piercings with little or no pain.

01:38Meanwhile, the shouts of Vail! Vail! refer to the spear-like weapon carried by Lord Murugan,

01:43symbolizing knowledge, wisdom, and willpower.

01:47Repeating Vail! Vail! serves as a reminder for devotees to sharpen their minds,

01:51maintain clarity of thought, and progress successfully in life.

01:56The entire process of Cavity carrying is to break bad habits

01:59and to create a new and more spiritual way of thinking and living.

02:07Narmada Raja and Kirtana Arumugam, FMT

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