Thaipusam: Coconut Breaking Vow
It is auspicious to see a ratha (chariot), and it is more auspicious when doing ritual around the ratha. It is a very rare opportunity to see ratha. Among the ritual is breaking a coconut. The experience of breaking coconuts in large numbers will accelerate one's spiritual bliss, reduce karmic debt.
<script async src="https://pagead2.googlesyndication.
com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js"></script>
<script>
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({
google_ad_client: "ca-pub-2960278825814307",
enable_page_level_ads: true
});
</script>
But some Anaryas (non-Hindus) condemning the act of coconut breaking ritual as waste and no purpose. These ill-informed people / Anaryas condemning the act of coconut breaking ritual by Hindus. If people don't know the significance of breaking the coconut, no point comment on the issue. They should refrain from interfering in others' faith or believe.
Coconut
Coconut is called Shripala (divine fruit) in Sanskrit, Trinetra Pala (Mukanan) in Siva Purana which resembles two physical eyes with the third eye, even some believes it represents Trimurthis and also called Narikela (water fruit), it is believed the cleanest water one can offer to God. In another version of Vaishnavism history, Vishnu brought down the coconut tree together with Kamadhenu cow when embracing Lakshmi when she emerged from the churning of the milky ocean.
“It is believed that coconuts are divinely created for significant purposes,” said Sivasri AP Muthukumara Acharya.
As per Purana, Sage Vishwamitra created the coconut tree to help Satyavrata to remain in the space between heaven and earth.
Even though there are so many versions of the puranic explanation, but the sadhana of breaking coconut has its deep meaning by ritual, philosophy, and metaphysics.
We can transfer the negative energy with a coconut. By holding a coconut and pray, we can transfer our negative thoughts, tendencies into the coconut, when smashing the coconut, the negative effect can be eliminated at a certain percentage.
Coconut is the only tree that grows from the seed, which is not contaminated by any human or animal saliva. The other fruit plants growing by the seed thrown after the flesh is eaten. One of the reasons coconut was chosen for sadhana purposes.
Vow of Breaking Coconut
Bhaktas vow to break coconut during Thaipusam at their own will, there is no compulsion. It is an act of faith. A huge number of coconuts were broken by the bhaktas, from one coconut, it can be escalated up to 108 or 1008 as ones' vow. There are significant reasons for this act. It is an auspicious ritual for Hindus. It involves the soul.
Reasons.
Two main reasons for breaking coconut for the vow.
1. Cleansing Own Soul.
Two main reasons for breaking coconut for the vow.
1. Cleansing Own Soul.
It is a ritual cleansing our soul from negative tendencies.
Purifying the soul by breaking away the ego (ahankara) and other negative tendencies from one's thoughts, words, and deeds. Coconut's form itself signifies the nature of our soul within us. Our Atma / soul is covered up by Asuric tendencies. A coconut is covered by skin, shell, flesh, water, air, and embryo within.
Purifying the soul by breaking away the ego (ahankara) and other negative tendencies from one's thoughts, words, and deeds. Coconut's form itself signifies the nature of our soul within us. Our Atma / soul is covered up by Asuric tendencies. A coconut is covered by skin, shell, flesh, water, air, and embryo within.
Breaking a coconut symbolizes smashing your ego and humbling yourself before God. The hard shell resemblance ignorance and ego are smashed which gives way to inner purity and knowledge which is symbolized by the white part of the coconut.
So, by breaking the coconut, one can enhance his own soul spiritually to a better level of enlightenment.
So, by breaking the coconut, one can enhance his own soul spiritually to a better level of enlightenment.
2. Releasing Trapped Soul (Atma Nivethanam)
Releasing the trapped soul from its karmic debt in present birth and able to go for the next birth cycle by shortening the suffering period. When breaking coconut for a vow, a pure Atma is offered to released from karmic bondage.
We see very often pigeons were released from cages to signifies freedom but it is physical freedom. It is not atmic freedom. By breaking the coconut, we are helping a soul to escape the life cycle (rebirth /samsara) faster than it supposed.
As per the karmic account, a soul might be born as anything from a cell to the highest being. It is believed that some plants and animals are actually ‘jail’ for the atma for a specific reason for previous life karma.
Even a coconut has a soul, is a soul trapped as a temporary jail term as per shastra. If the coconut grows into a tree, it takes many years (70-100 years) to go back to samsara. By breaking the coconut, the soul saved many years and immediately goes for the next cycle of life. Those souls of the coconuts chosen for the ritual are the lucky ones compared to others. Their (Atma in the coconut) karmic debt will be absorbed by the deity/Devata, not by the person who is breaking it. Breaking coconut for another purpose such as eating, the karmic debt will be absorbed by the person himself. Hindus choose coconuts for ritual because it is considered divine fruit and satvic nature.
As mentioned in Ramayana, how Rama had released a trapped soul Ahalya cursed by Sage Gautama (her husband) in to form of stone. The brush of Rama's feet on the stone by his holy sole (pada), Ahalya released after 64 thousand years. We ordinary people can help this kind of trapped soul by breaking it especially when a ratha yatra. It is an auspicious sadhana for every Hindu. In Manusmriti, it is mentioned that when doing sacrifice for God/Deity, the soul will be released immediately to reach heaven or takes the next birth, the karmic debt of the soul will be absorbed by God. So, breaking coconut is similar action.
It is also a sattvic method of sacrifice. The coconut resembles a human head in many ways. The coir outside is compared to human hair, the hard shell is like a skull, the water inside resembles blood and the kernel is the mental space. Adi Shankara emphasis on sattvic sacrifice compared to animals sacrificial (tamasic). It is a way to fulfill the need for a sacrificial ceremony in case. So by breaking the coconut, we are releasing a soul but karmic debt still is borne by the Deity. Those people who are breaking coconuts should understand the purpose and do it accordingly.
Some Precautions.
1. Devotee ( Vowed)
a.The purpose of a vow.
The devotee should understand the purpose of the vow. Breaking coconut has great significance. One should follow all the basic agamic rules.
b. Execution of vow.
The devotee should break the coconut. Arrange a good number of people to break a large number of coconuts. Those breaking the coconut without purpose held karmic debt too. Women should not break coconuts, it is believed that the woman will not bear children in the next life if any. Remember, coconut is an embryo.
c. Responsibility after the execution of the vow.
The remains of the broken coconuts should be removed properly. Breaking one coconut won't produce many remnants. The shattered flesh should be eaten. But breaking in large quantities, then the devotee should arrange all the necessary procedures to collect and send the coconuts to be used properly. It should not be thrown into the dustbin, it will add karmic debt.
2. Non-Devotee
Those who are not involved in the vow or prayer should avoid breaking the coconuts unless required after purifying ceremony by the archagar in the chariot.
For those complaints, the vow of breaking the coconut is not a waste. Those who are vows are actually doing more charity work compared to those commenting on that.
If Anaryas want to question, you should look at, there are people who spend thousands in the name of luxury, movie-going, gamble, smoke, alcohol, etc., why don't you ask them to stop that, channel the money to the so-called poor.
Om Namasivaya
With the advice of Aiya Sri A. Radhakrishnan, President of Malaysia Hindudharma Mamandram.
Sivasiddhi.
Sivasiddhi Spiritual Foundation Malaysia
23 January 2019
Reference
1.Ramayana, Balakanda
2.Garuda Purana.
3.Significance of coconut
4.Spiritual meaning of coconut
5. Quotes from Sivasri A. P. Muthukumara Sivaacharya.
6.Manusmriti
Comments
Post a Comment