Religious tolerance
THE unsubstantiated and reckless comments made by Dr Naidoo regarding Murugan worship are viewed with utter disdain by members of the community who subscribe to Murugan worship.
While Naidoo has a right to his own belief system so, too, do others. For him to advocate that: “The worship of Murugan has no future. It should have been brought to an end many years ago,” is nothing short of blasphemous.
Kavady does place emphasis on ritual behaviour, but contrary to Naidoo’s views, the very image of Murugan is philosophy personified.
The religious and philosophical significance of Murugan can be traced far back to the Sangam literature (300BC to 300AD – Akananuru, Paripaatal and Purananuru), the Skanda Puranam and Nakkirar’s Thirumurukaattrupadai (lines 95 –101 and 407 – 416).
Further, it was the great philosopher, Saint Sri Sankarachiriyaar, who sanctified the worship of Murugan under Sanatana Dharma.
It is also erroneous to state that the Kavady observances are not accompanied by sermons. If anything, the Kavady observances are accompanied by august discussion on Murugan worship and more specifically its significance to the devotee’s everyday life.
Let us learn to respect, embrace and inculcate religious tolerance rather than to incur the wrath of others by causing divide.