Shelter

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A basic structure or building that provides cover.

Contents
[hide]

• 1 Shelter as a building
o 1.1 Protection from the weather
o 1.2 Places of refuge
o 1.3 War or catastrophe related
• 2 Shelter in other meanings
o 2.1 Groups or organisations
o 2.2 Transportation
o 2.3 Music

o 2.4 Other medias

[edit] Shelter as a building

[edit] Protection from the weather

• Dugout (shelter) — a primitive house made by digging a hole in the ground

• Public transport stops, such as:
o Bus shelter
o Tram stop
o Railway platform
o Taxi stand
• Rock shelter — a naturally formed shallow cave-like opening at the base of a cliff
• Shack — a type of small house that is in disrepair.
• Shelter half — a military tent used in UK and Australia
• Typhoon shelter — protection for boats from typhoons

[edit] Places of refuge

• Animal shelter for stray pets

• Emergency shelter from natural disasters, etc.
• Homeless shelter for vagrants
• Women's shelter for abused women
 • Shelter Centre, an NGO supporting humanitarian shelter

[edit] War or catastrophe related

• Air-raid shelter
• Fallout shelter
• Blast shelter
• Hardened Aircraft Shelter
• Refugee shelter
• Tent city

[edit] Shelter in other meanings

[edit] Groups or organisations

• Shelter (charity), a charity based in England and Scotland that focuses on housing
issues
• The Shelter Half — a coffeehouse in Tacoma, United States which became an anti-
war headquarters for American ex-servicemen

[edit] Transportation

• Shelter (automobile), a Dutch experimental city car of the 1950s

[edit] Music

Bands and labels

• Shelter (band) (since 1991), a U.S. Krishnacore band

• Shelter Records (1969–1981), a U.S. record label

Albums, chronologically

• Shelter (Lone Justice album), 1986

• Shelter (The Brand New Heavies) (Featuring Siedah Garrett), 1997
• Shelter (compilation), 2002 compilation by various
• Shelter (Rasa album), 2003 album by Rasa
• Shelter (soundtrack), 2008 album from the eponymous 2007 movie

Songs

• "Shelter" (song), 2004 single and song by Bedouin Soundclash on Sounding a Mosaic
• "Gimme Shelter", 1969 song by The Rolling Stones on Let It Bleed

[edit] Other medias

• "The Shelter" (The Twilight Zone), an episode of the television series

• Shelter (1998 film), a 1998 film starring John Allen Nelson
• Shelter (2007 film), a 2007 film starring Trevor Wright
• Shelter (2009 film), a 2009 film starring Julianne Moore
• Shelter (novel), a novel by Susan Palwick published by Tor in 2007
• Shelter (book), a 1973 book by Lloyd Kahn examining human habitats
It is also referred to as Thaipooyam or Thaippooyam in the Malayalam language. Pusam
refers to a star that is at its highest point during the festival. The festival commemorates both
the birthday of Murugan (also Subramaniam), the youngest son of Shiva and Parvati, and the
occasion when Parvati gave Murugan a vel (spear) so he could vanquish the evil demon
Soorapadman.

Contents
[hide]

• 1 Origin
• 2 Kavadi
o 2.1 Preparations
• 3 Celebrations
• 4 See also
• 5 Notes and references

• 6 External links

[edit] Origin
Skanda (or Murugan) was created during one of the battles between the Asuras and the
Devas. At one point, the latter were defeated several times by the former. The Devas were
unable to resist the onslaught of the Asura forces. In despair, they approached Shiva and
entreated to give them an able leader under whose heroic leadership they might obtain victory
over the Asuras. They surrendered themselves completely and prayed to Shiva. Shiva granted
their request by creating the mighty warrior, Skanda, out of his own power or Achintya
Shakti. He at once assumed leadership of the celestial forces, inspired them and defeated the
Asura forces.

[edit] Kavadi

Thaipusam burdens
Kavadi Attam is a dance performed by the devotees during the ceremonial worship of
Murugan, the Tamil God of War.[1] It is often performed during the festival of Thaipusam and
emphasizes debt bondage. The Kavadi itself is a physical burden through which the devotees
implore for help from the God Murugan.[2]

Generally, Hindus take a vow to offer a kavadi to idol the for purpose of tiding over or
averting a great calamity. For instance, if the devotee's son is laid up with a fatal disease, he
would pray to Shanmuga to grant the boy a lease of life in return for which the devotee would
take a vow to dedicate a kavadi to Him.

[edit] Preparations

Vel kavadi

Devotees prepare for the celebration by cleansing themselves through prayer and fasting.
Kavadi-bearers have to perform elaborate ceremonies at the time of assuming the kavadi and
at the time of offering it to Murugan. The kavadi-bearer observes celibacy and take only pure,
Satvik food, once a day, while continuously thinking of God.

On the day of the festival, devotees will shave their heads undertake a pilgrimage along a set
route while engaging in various acts of devotion, notably carrying various types of kavadi
(burdens). At its simplest this may entail carrying a pot of milk, but mortification of the flesh
by piercing the skin, tongue or cheeks with vel skewers is also common.

The simplest kavadi is a semi circular decorated canopy supported by a wooden rod that is
carried on the shoulders, to the temple. In addition, some have a small spear through their
tongue, or a spear through the cheeks. The spear pierced through his tongue or cheeks
reminds him constantly of Lord Murugan. It also prevents him from speaking and gives great
power of endurance. Other types of kavadi involve hooks stuck into the back and either
pulled by another walking behind or being hung from a decorated bullock cart or more
recently a tractor, with the point of incisions of the hooks varying the level of pain. The
greater the pain the more god-earned merit.

[edit] Celebrations
Nel Parai Alappu

In Palani, Tamil Nadu, India, Thai Pusam is celebrated with grandeur. Thousands of devotees
flock to Palani and attend kavadi. According to palani.org, "The number of kavadis reaching
Palani for Thai Pusam is about 10,000. For Pankuni Uttiram, 50,000 kavadis arrive. It is
kavadi to your right, kavadi to your left, kavadi in front of you, kavadi behind you, kavadi
above you and kavadi below you."[3]

In Vaikom, Kerala, India, Thai Pusam festival is conducted with Kaavadis at Udayanapuram
Subramanya temple. Devotees take panchamritha kaavadi, paal kaavadi, bhasma kaavadi etc.

In Karamana, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India, Thai Pusam festival is conducted at

Satyavageeswara temple. The utsava moorthy is taken in procession on a vahanam(mount).
There is nel(Paddy)parai alappu or Nel alavu, as a ritual performed for good luck and
prosperity.

The largest Thaipusam celebrations take place in Singapore, Mauritius and Malaysia[4]. It is a
public holiday in several states in Malaysia, including Selangor, Penang, Perak, Johor,
Putrajaya and Kuala Lumpur.

Thaipusam festival will be held on 8th February 2009 at Batu Caves. But the procession
will start on Friday evening 6th February 2009 from Petaling Street

Once a year, Batu Caves become the centre of a great religious procession.

Almost 1 million people pay homage to the highly revered deity, Lord

Murugan during the 3-day long festival. Thaipusam falls on the tenth day of

the month of Thai in the Hindu Almanac and that would usually be in late

January or early February. For those who want to be there in the thick of

things next year, click on to Calendar.

The story

A long, long time ago- the world was torn apart by an infernal war
between the Devas (celestial beings) and the Asuras (evil forces).
Tired of constant attacks from the Asuras, the Devas paid homage to
Lord Shiva and asked for his protection. Moved by their plight, Lord
Shiva agreed to help the hapless Devas.

Lord Shiva opened the central eye on his forehead, radiating six
sparks of fire. At the convergence of these sparks and through a series
of celestial transformation, Lord Murugan appeared. He brought
forward this powerful divine personality with elements of Himself and yet distinct from Him,
powerful and brave enough to defeat the tyrannous Soorapadme - the meanest and most
powerful of the Asuras. Armed with a Nyanya Vel (golden spear) presented to him by Lord
Shiva, Lord Murugan went into battle with the evil force. A fierce battle ensued. Finally with
one fatal stroke, Lord Murugan slayed Soorapadme. The divine
converted one portion of the slain enemy into a peacock as his
vehicle and the other portion into a cock adorning his banner.

Lord Murugan, the son of Lord Shiva is considered the very

manifestation of valour, beauty, youthfulness, vitality, masculinity,
valour and the abode of happiness. Thaipusam celebrates the very
essence of Lord Murugan and the power of good over evil.

It is 11.30pm on the eve of Thaipusam, a

time when the crowd is manageable and
the cool night air brings forth a concoction of dizzy, soothing,
intoxicating scents to slip us into a mood for a long, invigorating
night. (The KTM trains and LRT schedules have been extended to
shuttle devotees to Batu Caves to prepare for the day). For others it
is to witness the arrival of the silver chariot carrying Lord Murugan
heavily adorned with diamonds, rubies, sapphires and other
precious stones. The deity is seated snugly on a bed of flowers
encircled by burning incense on the chariot, which is pulled by two
garlanded oxen and hundreds of devotees, also accompanied by
religious dignities, musicians and dance (kolattam) groups. The
silver chariot weighing all of 5 tonnes is transported through a
15km journey from town centre. The entourage leaves the Sri
Mariamman Temple in Chinatown where for most of the year, the chariot and Lord
Murugan's idol is housed for safekeeping. The journey takes 8 hours to complete. As the
chariot arrives at Batu Caves, devotees carry Lord Murugan's idol up the 272 steps to the
temple cave, an ascent of almost 185feet from the base of the steps.

Meanwhile, at the bottom of the steps, devotees (and others who have come to earn some
income) set up food stalls, fortune telling booths, paraphernalia counters, balloon stands and
even shaving tents. One way of doing penance, especially for children is to shave the head
(and facial hair for others). There are also other less obvious ways of fulfilling their religious
obligations by means of preparing annadanam - food, generally rice and curry for devotees so
that they don't go hungry. Or devotees can provide first aid or serve drinks and food and other
essential services. The really serious pilgrims go all the way by carrying kavathi. There are a
number of reasons as to why devotees would take a kavathi. Some seek to overcome bad
karma, some as penance for their sins, and others to honour a vow. Those fulfilling a vow
have, in the past asked for help such as birth of a baby, healing the sickness of a loved one,
helping them pull through hard times and sometimes to help them through their studies. In
return they have proposed to carry the kavathi if the request is fulfilled. There are, of course
those who participate only to reaffirm their strength of faith.

We followed a group of students who have come here this year to

fulfil their vows to Lord Murugan for having granted them with
favourable results in their studies. It is believed that if the vow is
not paid, then misfortune will befall the person. We thought it a
 great idea to follow one group from the start of their journey to the end so that we could learn
and witness the entire procession through their eyes for a better understanding. We were told
that preparations began long before the day of Thaipusam. Each participant had to physically,
mentally and spiritually prepare himself through a 48day fast - eating only one meal a day
(strictly vegetarian), conduct prayers at home and at the temple, observe abstinence from
carnal pleasures, observing 'mounam'(silence) as far as possible and even endure personal
hardships such as sleeping on bare floor. However many do not observe such long periods of
purification and the more experienced pilgrims may fast for only seven days or so.

World Map Malaysia Kampong Sungai Ramal Dalam

TAMAN PERMAINAN KANAK KANAK

•
• See in Google Earth
by mohd salim yunus
This photo is selected for Google Earth [?] - ID: 12523457