Sree Vijayanayagam offering prayers before carrying the ‘paal kudam’ to fulfil a Thaipusam vow in Penang last year.The human resources consultant had been faithfully fulfilling his vow to Lord Muruga by carrying the kavadi, and later the “paal kudam” , while in a trance on Thaipusam day every year for the past 47 years.
“You see,” he tells me, “I was in upper six then at Anderson Secondary School, Ipoh, and very sickly. I had bronchial asthma and later doctors told me I had pneumonia.” However, from 1983 he decided to do it in Penang and switched to carrying the “paal kudam” but still with his tongue pierced with a skewer in the shape of the spear-like weapon of Muruga, the “vel”, which represents intellectual discernment with which one is to take up the battle of life.
Does he feel pain when the skewer is thrust through his tongue? “No, not at all,” comes the reply. “I don’t even realise they have pierced my tongue. There is no pain and no blood. After I remove the “vel” from my tongue, I can immediately eat and swallow food.” He sleeps on a mat on the floor; he doesn’t shave, smoke, drink liquor or have negative thoughts about himself or others; he doesn’t get angry or upset or have any negative emotion; and he tries to keep his mind on Muruga.
“More importantly, I feel I have become more spiritual. I have a strong sixth sense now and am able to see things that others may not. I feel a sense of peace, especially during the 15 days when I observe the Thaipusam discipline.” During the first year of his fast, Sree Vijayanayagam would visit the Kallumalai temple every evening for the 30 days and then hop over to a Murugan shrine ensconced in a cave a short distance away.
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