Shree Ambalavaanar Alalyam Temple
The cache is located close to the Shree Ambalavaanar Alalyam Temple just off Bellair Road, Durban. At this temple there are regular fire-walking ceremonies where devotees 'hot foot' it across the glowing embers - quite a sight to witness.
You do not need to enter the temple grounds to find the cache!
Firewalking
Firewalking is the act of walking barefoot over a bed of hot embers or stones.
Firewalking has been practiced by many people and cultures in all parts of the world, with the earliest known reference dating back to Iron Age India ~1200 BCE. It is often used as a rite of passage, as a test of an individual's strength and courage, or in religion as a test of one's faith. Firewalking became popular in the twentieth century when author Tolly Burkan began giving public classes throughout the United States and Europe in an effort to demonstrate that the practice was not paranormal.
Modern physics has explained the phenomenon, concluding that the amount of time the foot is in contact with the ground is not enough to induce a burn, combined with the fact that embers are not good conductors of heat.
History
Walking on fire has existed for several thousand years, with records dating back to 1200 B.C. Cultures across the globe, from Greece to China, used firewalking for rites of healing, initiation, and faith.
Firewalking is practiced by:
- The Sawau clan in the Fijian Islands
- Eastern Orthodox Christians in parts of Greece and Bulgaria, during some popular religious feasts.
- Fakirs and similar persons.
- !Kung Bushmen of the African Kalahari desert have practiced firewalking since their tribal beginnings. (The !Kung use fire in their healing ceremonies.)
- Hindu Indians in South Asia who walk fire during village festivals. Also their diaspora in Mauritius, South Africa, Malaysia and Singapore who celebrate the Thimithi festival
- Little girls in Bali in a ceremony called Sanghyang dedari, in which the girls are said to be possessed by beneficent spirits.
- Japanese Taoists and Buddhists.
- Some tribes in Pakistan as a "justice system", wherein the accused is asked to firewalk; if he does firewalk and is unharmed, he is deemed innocent; otherwise, guilty.
- Tribes throughout Polynesia and documented in scientific journals (with pictures and chants) between 1893 and 1953.
- People of San Pedro Manrique in the autonomous community of Castile and León, Spain, as part of Saint John's Eve celebrations. Walkers generally carry someone on their shoulders, since the extra weight helps avoid combustion.
- People from South India especially Mangalore, Bhootaradhane, Ottekola worship of demi-gods is one of the distinct cultures of the coastal region. Though rituals vary from region to region, the people’s dedication coupled with fear is omnipresent.
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Firewalking