State Birds of India: Tamil Nadu Emerald Dove

Arindam Aditya has created a beautiful poster of the State Birds of India. I have posted a sample above. 

If you want the high resolution version, good enough to print out a very large wall poster, please get in touch with him direct at his email address: 
tamal12aug@gmail.com 
and he will send you a higher resolution version of the above. He asks no payment other than a commitment to plant 10 sapling trees in your area. 

The high resolution version is 15,240 pixels x 11,175 and can be printed to a 30 inch width x 22 inch height format and look very nice in the home, school or organisation. 

The State Bird of Tamil Nadu is the Emerald Dove. To watch a video of this beautiful bird and to read a narrative and description of the bird, visit my Blog Arunachala Birds at this link here.

Emerald Dove: State Bird of Tamil Nadu

Have a Blessed Mahashivaratri

2020 Mahashivaratri Legends and Significance

Each month there is day known as Sivaratri and once a year there is Mahashivaratri (maha=great) -- the Great Festival of Shiva. The dates of these occasions correspond to certain phases of the new moon when it is believed that the mind (which is adversely affected by the power of the moon) is less susceptible to low, animalistic forces and thus more tractable to the power of meditation and prayer.

It is for this reason that Mahashivaratri is believed to be the one 24-hour period in the year which is of the greatest benefit. It has been stated in the scriptures that if a man fasts, stays awake and meditates for the whole of Mahashivaratri, it will give him his best chance to achieve mastery of the mind and attain liberation.

Mahashivaratri always falls on the fourteenth day of the dark fortnight of Phalguna (February-March), and is dedicated to the worship of Lord Shiva. (Mahashivaratri in 2020 falls on Friday, February 21st). On this day devotees sing Shiva bhajans, recite verses from scriptures, offer prayers in the morning and evening, and some observe fasting throughout the day. People visit Shiva Temples and in the case of Arunachala, premier Shiva site of South India, circumambulation of Arunachala Hill is observed by many.

The name Shiva signifies a quality that means 'Auspicious' or 'The Auspicious One'. To a few, Shiva is Paramatman, Brahman, the Absolute, but many more prefer to see Shiva as a personal God given to compassion for his worshippers, and the dispenser of both spiritual and material blessings. Related to the Absolute concept is Shiva as Yoganath, the Lord of Yoga, wherein he becomes teacher, path and goal. As such he is the Adi Guru or Highest Guru of sannyasins who have renounced the world to attain the Absolute.

One of the early traditions, is Shiva in the form of Dakshinamurti; the South-Facing Guru. In this form, seated on a low platform, with one leg hanging down in front, he communicated the Sanatana Dharma or Eternal Wisdom to the four Kumaras who appeared early in creation. The Guru spoke no words but taught them by the transmission of mind-to-mind, and its purpose was to show that man can realise the Absolute when the human mind is in complete equipoise with the Cosmic Mind.


 

Dakshinamurti

 

While almost all other festivals are celebrated during the day, Mahashivaratri is celebrated at night: and night stands for all that is evil; ignorance, darkness, sin, violence, treachery, falsehood, and misfortune. Mythology says that Shiva appeared to save the world from Tamoguna (darkness and ignorance).

There are a number of legends connected with the origin of Shivaratri. One such legend is that Lord Shiva and the Goddess Parvati were married on this day.


 

Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati Marriage

Our own Arunachala legend, proclaims it to be the day Lord Shiva appeared as a luminous Jyotilingam before Brahma and Vishnu.


 

Lingodbhavamurti (Ellora)

On Mahashivaratri, Lord Shiva is Lingodbhavamurti, the pillar of fire that spans all, with no beginning and no end. The devout believe that they are on their way to oneness with Shiva, that they will join with the Supreme after hours of darkness spent in fasting and prayer. The worship of Lingodbhavamurti is with the leaves of the bilva, gathered from quince trees. The lingam is showered, unceasingly, with basketfuls of these, and other flowers, (just as the hunter in the below legend once did).

And it is believed that on the day of Mahashivaratri, all twelve Jyotirlingams of India manifested.

 

12 Jyotilingams

 

Shiva Purana legend about the Hunter and the Lingam:-

“In ancient times, a Bheel (forest inhabitant) named Gurudruha trudged through a forest to hunt deer. At night, without having sighted a single animal, he climbed a Bilva (Aegle marmelos) tree on the banks of a lake. Later at night, a doe arrived to drink water. Gurudruha aimed his bow and arrow at her. While aiming, he unknowingly dropped some Bilva leaves and his drinking water below on a Shivalingam that happened to be under the tree. The deer then requested him to allow her to entrust her fawns to her husband, after which she would return. After much haggling he agreed.

While awaiting her return, he stayed awake by aimlessly plucking leaves and dropping them below. Again they fell on the Shivalingam. Thus he unknowingly performed its puja (worship) while remaining awake all night. Finally the doe returned with her family, She informed him that along with her, he'd have to kill her family too. As he aimed, some more leaves fluttered down on the Shivalingam.

The collective punya (spiritual merit) accrued from the puja performed unknowingly, eradicated all his sins. This purified his heart. Repenting his flawed life of sin, he set the deer free. As he sat repenting, Lord Shiva manifested in front of him and granted him a boon, "You shall be born in a town known as Shrungver, as a man named Gruha. Lord Vishnu will grace your home as Lord Rama and redeem you." (This event is described in the Ramayana.) Shiva also blessed the deer, which attained a better destiny.”

Another legend of Mahashivaratri traces the origin of this festival to the churning of the Ocean of Milk by devas (gods) and asuras (demons). It is said that when both gods and demons were churning the Ocean of Milk to obtain amrita (water of immortal life), they came across many unusual substances, including the deadly poison Kalakuta. As soon as they touched the poison, it exploded into poisonous fumes that threatened to envelope the entire Universe with darkness.


 

Churning the Ocean

When the destruction of the Universe seemed inevitable, the gods ran for assistance from Brahma and Vishnu, but neither was able to help. At last they ran to Lord Shiva, who raised his trident and condensed the fumes. In order to save the creation, Shiva swallowed the poison without spilling a single drop. The poison left a dark blue mark on Shiva's throat. The gods praised and worshipped Shiva for saving the Universe.

 
 

Lord Shiva drinking the poison

 

The Ocean of Milk represents the ideal world that is full of peace and happiness for all human beings. Churning the Ocean of Milk signifies the human activity in the world. The amrita symbolizes happiness and the poison represents human greed and selfishness. Shiva symbolizes the atman (self), and worship of Shiva denotes meditation and contemplation by an individual on his or her own self.

Thus the only way to achieve peace and happiness is by worshipping Shiva at night, that is, by meditating on one's own self during the night when the individual is free from the distractions of the physical world. When the individual attains self-knowledge, he or she can live in the world without being affected by anger, greed, and selfishness, the three enemies of one's soul. Mahashivaratri symbolizes the worship of the atman within.

At Suruttapalli (located in Chittoor District of Andhra Pradesh), there is a unique Temple. It is at this place that Lord Shiva is depicted drinking the poison (karma) of the world with Goddess Parvati holding his head in her lap so that the poison does not spill back out into the world. It is thought that by going there and in particular by performing puja there, that bad effects of karma may be averted. 

Lord at Surattapalli

Because at Suruttapalli Lord Dakshinamurti (Jupiter) can be found in the rare form in which his Shakti is present, it is believed that this symbolises that the Goddess is present to take hold of the pain and suffering of devotees and expiate their bad karma.

On the night of Mahashivaratri one can devote oneself to the chanting of the Vedic Rudram, or the five-syllable mantra of Shiva - Om Namah Shivaya - and on meditating on Him, thereby remembering one's ultimate goal, which is God Realization, the purpose of human birth. By ascending to the top of Arunachala within oneself, and trying to experience the presence of the God Shiva within as one's very own self, and simultaneously as the Universal Self permeating the entire universe, one draws close to Lord Shiva on this night.

On this day it is easy to please Lord Shiva by fasting and prayer. The main prayer is usually conducted during the night. Every three hours the devotee worships Lord Shiva in the form of a Shiva Lingam and bathing the Lingam with milk, ghee, honey, curd, rose water, etc. Lord Shiva is also greatly pleased by the offering of Bilva leaves. This worship is replicated in the worship at the Arunachaleswarar Temple which will take place tonight:

 

Invitation and Schedule

1st Kala Puja Night (21st February) 7.30 p.m.

2nd Kala Puja Night (21st February) 11.30 p.m.

3rd Kala Puja Morning (22nd February) 02.30 a.m.

4th Kala Puja Morning (22nd February) 04.30 a.m.

Midnight 21st-22nd February Special Pooja and Alankaram to Sri Lingodbhava Moorthi. 

All Are Invited

To find out more about the signifiance of Mahashivaratri and learn how it is celebrated elsewhere in India, go to this link here.

Mother Amritananadamayi visits Tiruvannamalai January 26, 2020

Mother Amritananadamayi visited Tiruvannamalai on January 26, 2020. She made an address, bhajans were sung and then attendees went on stage to receive a hug from the Saint. To learn more about Mother, visit her website at this link here. Below are photographs from the evening of Mother's recent visit.

 

This was not the first time this saint has visited Tiruvannamalai. In 1982 with a group of 50 devotees she visited Arunachala to attend the 1982 Karthigai Deepam Festival. 

The story goes like this:- 

Mother Amritananadamayi at Karthigai Deepam 1982 

"At the end of November 1982, Mother and a group of us went to Tiruvannamalai on a ten-day pilgrimage. This was the first time that Mother had left Her village for such a long time, and also the first time that the Krishna and Devi bhavas would not be held since their inception in 1975. We took a train on a Monday morning after the Sunday night bhava darshan and arrived the next day. There were about 40 or 50 of us, and we all stayed in the two houses I had built when I had earlier resided there. Mother gave darshan in the house in the daytime. Many devotees who were living in and around the ashram came to see Her. In the evenings She sang devotional songs in Ramanashram in front of Ramana Maharshi's tomb, or samadhi shrine as it is called. 

On the morning after our arrival, a sannyasi called Kunju Swami came to visit Mother. He had been born in Kerala and was a disciple of the famous saint Narayana Guru, who had lived at the beginning of the century. Narayana Guru had brought him to Tiruvannamalai when he was a young man and had entrusted him to Ramana Maharshi for his spiritual upbringing. He was now in his eighties. But Mother treated him like a five-year-old boy, and he enjoyed it, behaving like a child with his own mother. When he sat in meditation, Mother placed Her hand on his shaved head and danced a little "ditty" while going round and round him. 

A friend of mine in Tiruvannamalai told me that when I had left to stay with Mother in the beginning of 1980, Kunju Swami had said, "Nealu would never have left this place until his death if the Mother there in Kerala were anyone but Parashakti (the Supreme Power)." And you could see in his expression that he indeed looked upon Mother as the Goddess incarnate. 

It was the Karthigai festival day at Tiruvannamalai, and it was customary for the devotees who had come to take part in the festival and circumambulate the holy hill Arunachala. To complete the circumambulation of Arunachala, one has to walk more than 12 kilometres. It was only the day before that we had climbed all the way up and down the hill with Amma, and thus that day all of us were feeling tired. So none of us stirred to do the circumambulation. 

That day Mother suddenly bolted out of our residence all alone. This was obviously an escape; She clearly did not want anyone to follow Her. Since I was the only person who saw Her leave, I immediately grabbed some bananas, cookies, and drinking water, put them in a bag and ran after Her. Having witnessed Mother's lack of body-consciousness, I knew that She might very well get lost. I followed Her from a distance as She walked around Arunachala Hill, obviously in an intoxicated mood. Seeing me running out of the house, all the others followed on my heels. Mother was walking at a very rapid pace and gradually She disappeared into the distance, leaving us behind. 

We immediately hired a horse-cart and started driving around Arunachala Hill, looking intently for Amma. The previous day, while climbing the hill with Her, we had come across many caves on both sides. Amma had gone into some of them to meditate and it was only after much urging that She could be persuaded to come out. While descending from the mountain, Amma had said, "I don't feel like coming down, but thinking of you children I am restraining myself." So we guessed that Amma might be sitting in one of those caves. But how to find Amma among the numberless caves on this vast hill? Everyone was worried. 

The horse-cart finally reached the hill. After travelling a few miles, we suddenly caught a glimpse of Amma's form, walking far ahead of us on the road. When we had driven up fairly close to Her, we got down off the cart. It was a glorious sight to see Amma. She was swaying to and fro while walking, as if drunk. Her whole body was vibrating, and Her hands were forming sacred mudras (mystic hand poses). Her eyes were half closed and a blissful smile glowed on Her face. It looked as if the Goddess Parvati were circumambulating Lord Shiva! We followed Amma and instructed the horse-cart to follow us. We began chanting Vedic mantras and loudly singing bhajans. The hills echoed with our chanting. The bliss of samadhi that radiated from Amma, together with the joy of singing and chanting, blessed all of us with a sublime experience. 

After we had followed Amma for some distance, She turned round and cast a glance of indescribable love at us. Her gaze held so much compassion and power that it seemed she was burning away all our karma and vasanas (deep-rooted tendencies). Slowly Amma came down to our level. Soon She was laughing and talking with us affectionately. A little tired by the long walk, She sat down under a tree at the roadside for a few minutes. Despite our suggestions, She refused to get into the horse-cart, and was soon up and walking again. Thus we all walked for the full eight miles around the hill. 

Towards the end of the circumambulation, we saw a snake charmer playing his flute by the side of the road. Amma went and sat before him, watching with great interest as the snake danced to the music of the flute. Like a little child, Amma asked, "Children, why don't snakes have hands and feet?" Her innocent question made us all laugh. She Herself then gave the answer: "In their previous lives, they may not have used their hands and legs properly. Children, keep in mind that such a birth could come to anyone who misuses what God has given him." 

Now her facial expression had completely changed, revealing the seriousness and majesty of the Guru. "Children," She continued, "Amma knows that you love Amma more than anything else. You cannot think of any form of God other than Amma. Therefore, you do not really have to circumambulate the hill. However, you must become a role model for society and should set an example for others to follow. In olden days, people were able to see God in their gurus. But in the present age, not many people have that power of discernment. This is why conventional rites and rituals are required for the ordinary person. Society can learn from your example how to follow these practices. So, in the future, always honour those rituals in order to uplift mankind. Amma Herself does these practices to teach you the proper path." 

We all sat in chastened silence, absorbing Amma's words. After a few moments, Amma continued, "Children, don't be sad thinking that Amma is always correcting you. Never think that Amma doesn't love you. It is only out of Amma's overflowing love for you that She instructs you. Children, you are Amma's treasure. When Amma renounced everything, there was only one thing that She couldn't renounce -- and that was you, my children. It is only when Amma sees you becoming the Light of the world that She feels truly happy. Amma doesn't require your praise or service. Amma only wants to see you acquire the strength to bear the burdens and the suffering of the world." 

"Mother's profound, nectar-like words brought our egos crumbling to the ground. Falling at Her feet we prayed, "O Mother, please make us noble! Please make us so pure that our lives may be sacrificed for the salvation of the whole world." 

For the Karthika Deepam, a sacred fire was lit on top of Arunachala Hill, representing the light of spiritual illumination blazing forth in the darkness of ageless ignorance. We all went to the town one morning to see the chariot festival. Images of the local deities were placed in a huge, ornately carved wooden chariot more than 100-feet tall, and a procession was made through the streets with people pulling the chariot by rope. It was a joyous occasion and a sight to behold. 

While Mother was standing on the balcony of one of the buildings to get a good view of the chariot, an avadhuta named Ramsuratkumar came to see her. He had been a disciple of the well-known Swami Ramdas of Kanhangad in northern Kerala. Ramsuratkumar was highly revered in Tiruvannamalai for his saintliness. Dressed in rags, he had a long, flowing beard and in his hand he carried a fan. In Mother's presence, he became like a little child, and looked upon her as his spiritual mother. This opened the eyes of the local devotees as to who Mother really was. 

After 10 blissful days in Tiruvannamalai, we all returned to the Ashram (in Kerala)." 

[By Swami Paramatmananda] 

2020 Calendar Hindu Religious Days

2020 Calendar of Hindu Festivals

Significance of Arunachala Girivalam 2020 Full Moon (Pournami) Dates

[The below narrative is taken from a website dedicated to Arunachala and available at this link]. 

One of the thousand and eight names given to Arunachala by Adi Shankara is giripradakshinapriya – the Lord who loves giripradakshina. 

'Be they of lowly birth, without the advantage of learning, unable to practise the virtue of liberality, it is of no account. Those who perform pradakshina of holy Aruna, the Supreme, submit to his rule and become his devotee, will excel even amongst the most excellent . . .' [Arunagiri Antadi] 

Arunachala photo taken during rainy season

At most holy places located on hills, the Deity is found at the summit of the Hill. But here at Tiruvannamalai, the Hill itself is the Deity (Lord Annamalaiyar) and one of the ways in which it is propiated and worshipped is by its circumambulation. 

In Sanskrit this going around the Hill is called 'giripradakshina' (giri=mountain and pradakshina: Prada=giver of boons; Kshi=destroyer of Karma; Na=giver of Jnana. Also, Pra-Dakshina=going around with centre kept to the right). 

'Pradakshina (the Hindu rite of going round the object of worship) is "All is within me." The true significance of the act of going round Arunachala is said to be as effective as a circuit round the world. That means that the whole world is condensed into this Hill. The circuit round the temple of Arunachala is equally good; and self-circuit (i.e. turning round and round) is as good as the last. So all are contained in the Self. 

Says the Ribhu Gita: "I remain fixed, whereas innumerable universes becoming concepts within my mind, rotate within me. This meditation is the highest circuit (pradakshina).' [Ramana Maharshi: Talks with Sri Ramana Maharshi] 

In the Tamil language, this process of going around, is called 'giri valam' (giri=mountain and valam=right side), inferring that one should keep the Hill to the right when circumambulating. 

The Arunachala Puranam declares that: 

'the holy Arunachala is the primal, Adi linga. The path around its base is the sacred Yoni. Pradakshina of the Hill is therefore pradakshina of the source of all lingas! So one goes round keeping to the left-edge of the path. A mere step taken, confers the benefit of a Yaga, sacrifice; two steps, the fruit of Rajasuya Yaga; and three that of Asvamedha Yaga. Going round the hill one gains in health and vigour. The hill abounds in rare herbs sought by traditional herbalists and the breeze carries the salubrious wafts from these siddha herbs to the one doing the holy round. The dust from the feet of such a person, carried and deposited in towns far away effects immeasurable purification.' 

The Asta (8) Lingams plus the additional Surya and Chandra Lingams i.e. Dasa Lingams (10) are underlined in the above map of the 14 km outer Girivalam Arunachala pathway

The circumambulation path is 14 kilometres (8½ miles). Tradition has it that even today a number of siddhars are living on the hill. 

There are eight lingams located at the eight directions, which provides an octagonal structure to the town of Tiruvannamalai. The eight lingams are: Indra Lingam, Agni Lingam, Yama Lingam, Niruthi Lingam, Varuna Lingam, Vayu Lingam, Kubera Lingam and Esanya Lingam. To find out more about the esoteric signifiance of the Asta Lingams around the octagonal perimeter of Arunachala which reflects the geometry of a Cosmogram, go to this link here.

To learn more about the Dasa Lingams and their relevance to the geometry to both Arunachala and also Arunachaleswarar Temple Siva Sannidhi Shrine go to links on Surya Lingam and Chandra Lingam.

There are two pathways around the Hill, the outer pathway which is the most commonly travelled and which contains Temples, the Asta Lingams, Tirthams and Shrines. And the inner pathway which winds its way through the countryside at the feet of Arunachala. 

According to scriptures, the walk around the Hill should be conducted at a slow pace either in silence, reciting mantras or chanting sacred songs. As to the ritual of the spiritual round; one should abjure all thought of the opposite sex on the day of pradakshina. After bathing one wears clean white clothes, applies vibhutti and proceeds, giving alms but without accepting any. Free from fear, anger, irritation or sorrow one walks on bare feet, without using vehicles or carrying an umbrella. Without swinging one's arms about, and with a silent soft tread, one saunters like a queen in her 'tenth-month'. One bows, first to the holy Hill from each of the eight cardinal directions, and then to the Lord of that direction enshrined in the linga there. One bows mentally to the incorporeal gods and siddhas going the rounds and keeps to the side. One could keep silence of speech and mind; or one could allow thoughts to flow on to the Hill of Fire; or one could sing and listen to songs of devotional praise. 

In the company of those of lofty character, one is able to halt here and there and enjoy a feast of fruit and milk. Otherwise, simple food free of flesh can be taken. 

Certain days are regarded as particularly auspicious for circumambulation:- 

The fruit of a Sunday pradakshina is Siva's abode (enter the solar region and attain Liberation); 

that of Monday is merger in Siva-form (live happily in a world free from senility and death); 

that of Tuesday is termination of debt and cyclic death (freed from all doubts and becomes Emperor); 

that of Wednesday is divinity through skill in philosophy and art (attain Wisdom and Omniscience); 

that of Thursday is lordship over gods and god-men (venerated by all Devas and may even become a renowned Guru); 

that of Friday is lordship of the Lotus Lady (may hope to reach Vishnu's abode). 

A Saturday pradakshina confers the astronomical benefits of a nine-planet conjunction in the Eleventh House (worldly success and protection against planetary influences). 

The above effects are magnified if circumambulation is done on Sivaratri, New-year day, or during the three months, mid-October to mid-January. The fruits are believed to increase by a factor of one crore if done on the two solstices; or on the day the moon is in the Magha asterism during February-March; or during the pre-dawn hour; or during solar eclipse or Vidhipaada Yoga. 

It is also regarded as particularly auspicious to perform "Girivalam" during every Full moon day (poornima) to coincide with siddhars' movements, and the heady perfumes of herbal plants surrounding the Hill. 

Once a sadhu who went regularly around the Hill, requested Sri Ramana for a Vedantic text. A devotee casually remarked, "He only goes round the Hill. What will he do with any Vedantic text?" To which Sri Ramana retorted, "What better sadhana can there be than going round the Hill?" 

Hindu mythology also explains the significance of circumambulation, in a narrative relating that the Goddess Parvati on the advice of Sage Gautama circumambulated the Hill everyday in order to have her desires fulfilled. 

Another legend says that Sage Durvasa, who cursed two vidyadharas stated that:- 

"The curse cannot be lifted by any act except that of circumambulating the Arunachala Hill." 

He then proceeded to relate what Siva Himself had declared in an assembly of devas and others: 

"He who circumambulates with devotion the Arunachala Hill which is my form, attains a form like mine. He becomes the Lord of the entire world and reaches the highest state". 

The two vidyadharas then advised King Vajrangada who was suffering, 

"The Lord of Aruna Hill is a repository of compassion and His glory is great. Circumambulate the Aruna Hill on foot as a means of release from suffering". 

2019 Karthigai Photographs

2019 repaired Cauldron before painting

Taking Cauldron to Arunachala Summit

Bharani Deepam am December 10, 2019

Ardhanishwari, Big Temple, evening of December 10, 2019

Deepam inside Big Temple, December 10 2019

Lighting of Cauldron, December 10, 2019

Cauldron on top of Arunachala, December 10, 2019

Karthigai on Arunachala Summit from distance

Karthigai background, Temple gopuram in front

Lights on Temple with Karthigai bckground, December 10, 2019

Karthigai Deepam with Gopuram in front, from distance

Arunachala Suprabatham

There are a number of Arunachala Suprabathams (Waking up the God) Videos on Social Network platforms that have different music and lyrics. The version below appears without transliteration or English translation . . . so have added both below the video. 

Om enum pranavathin utporul naamavaney

Omkaaranaathamayamaana Jagadeeswaraney

Malar thaavum vandugal panpaadum

Pularkaalaiyil malar thoovi vanangugirom

Arunaachalaney ezhuntharulvaai.

You are the internal meaning and being of Om

You are Jagadeeswara and Om Kareeswara

Bees sing as they move from flower to flower

We offer our prayers to you with fresh bloom flowers

Arunachala wake up and give us Your Blessings.

Eesane, Paramesaney, Kayilai malai vaasaney

Sivagaami nesaney, Jagadeesaney

Nandhi kesane Lingesaney Thillai Nadaraajaney

Arunodhayam uthithathey

Arunaachalaney ezhuntharulvaai

Ishwara, Parameshwara, the Lord of the Himalayas

You are Love to Mother Sivagaami, O Jagadeeswara

Nandi Ishwara, Lingaeeswara.

You are the Lord of Chidambaram—Nataraja

Arunachala wake up and give us Your Blessings

Nanthi mathalam kotta naaradhar thamburaa meetta

Naanmarai vedhangal naadheswaram udan olikka

Naagabaranam thariththa Namachivaaya gurunaathaney

Narthanam purinthidavey

Arunaachalaney ezhuntharulvaai

Nanthi has started to beat the drum, Naradha to play his Thambura

All the 4 Vedas are being sung along with the music of Naadheswaram

Naga Devadhas are dancing, Namashivaya Gurunatha

All other Devas have started their work

Arunachalana wake up and give us Your Blessings

Aathiye paranjothiye arubathi moondru naayanmaar thozhum

Karunaimalai nithiye

Aathithan uthikka keezhvaanam sivakka

Athikaalai vanthathey

Arunaachalaney ezhuntharulvaai

You are the rootless one, You are in the form of fire.

All 63 Naayanars worship you

You are the kind hearted one in the form of mountain and river.

The sun is rising up and the light starts to spread

Arunachalana wake up and give us Your Blessings

Senjadaiyil Gangaiyudan pirainuthal tharithoney

Senjudaraai vaan sivakka muzhumathi marainthoda

Seythi solla seval koova methiniye kanvizhikka

Aathisakthi naayaganey

Arunaachalaney ezhuntharulvaai

You have the Ganga River and the Crescent shape moon on your head

The sky becomes red as the sun emerges

Cocks crow in the morning light

You are the Shakthi of the Universe

Arunachalana wake up and give us Your Blessings

Kalthondri manthondraa kaalathey munthondri

Adiyaargal kanmun thondri kanathil maraintha paramey

Kaamanai kannazhagaal vizhitherithathanaal

Kaamaari vadivam petra

Arunaachalaney ezhuntharulvaai

You originated before all else

You appear in front of those full of devotion and then disappear

You took the shape of Kaamaari

Arunachalana wake up and give us Your Blessings

Aalakaala vishathai kandathil niruthiye

Neelakandan ena peyar konda perunithiye

Mukkaalamum unarnthavaney

Kaalanai thuraththi maarkandeyanukku ekkaalamum pathinaaru

endraruliya

Arunaachalaney ezhuntharulvaai

You drank poison and stored it in Your throat

Because of that your name is Neelakandan

You know all the kalas, and got rid of time

You gave the thought to Maarkandayan to be 16 years old always

Arunachalana wake up and give us Your Blessings

Vethiyar othidam rudhram olikka

Devaathi devargalum tharisanam kaana thavamirukka

Vilvaarchanai seiya ninathadiyaargal kaathirukka

Vidivelli mulaithathendrey

Arunaachalaney ezhuntharulvaai

All Veadhars start to sing Rudhram

All Devars await to have your darshan

All your devotees await your darshan

Those devotees awaits  to do Vilva archana to you

A new day has started

Arunachalana wake up and give us Your Blessings

Pittukku man sumanthu pirambadi pattavaney

Pithanaana arthanaana sithanaana ennappaney

Viragu vetti sumanthu veethiyellaam vitru

Vilaiyaadal purinthavaney

Arunaachalaney ezhuntharulvaai

You carried soil on Your Head. Got beaten with sticks

You were in the form of the madman, Arthanaada, my Father

You carried wood on Your Head and sold it on the streets

You showed Your playful love

Arunachalana wake up and give us Your Blessings

Maganidam manthira porul katru

Thaan petra maganukke seedanaana maheswaraney

Mugam aaru kondavanai guruvaaga etra unai

Jagam potrum Jagadeesaa

Arunaachalaney ezhuntharulvaai

You learned the lesson of OM from your son

And acted as follower (junior) to your son, Oh Maheswara

You took as Guru, your son with the 6 faces

You are the Lord of the Universe

Arunachalana wake up and give us Your Blessings

Panniru thirumuraigalum unmundrinai paadiya

Thirugnaanasambantharukku arul purintha eesaney

En iru karam kooppi unai thozhuthen Venneeranintha meniyaney

Un iru vizhi malara

Arunaachalaney ezhuntharulvaai

12 Thirumurai sung before you

Oh, Ishwara, you gave blessings to Thirugnana Sambathar

I am folding both my hands in front of you and offering my prayers

Kindly open both Your Eyes

Arunachalana wake up and give us Your Blessings

Thalaiyotha payanaaga thalaikeezhaai nadanthu vanthu

Sivalogam thanai adaintha Karaikaal Ammaiyaarukku

Sivanadi thantha senjadaiyoney piraimudi kandiyoney

Sadai melathi gangai konda

Arunaachalaney ezhuntharulvaai

Keeping head down, she walked

She reached the Siva Logam, to Karaikaal Ammaiyaar

You gave blessings to Her and she resided at Your Feet

You have Ganga river in Your Hair

Arunachalana wake up and give us Your Blessings

Ainthu thirumugathinindru aagamangal irubethettu uruvaagi

Aaru mugap perumaanaal viruthaasalathil kailaasa prakaarathil sthaabithu vazhipada seithavaney

Ninpainthamizh paadalil kutram kandapin thavarai unarntha

Nakkeeranukku narkathi thantha

Arunaachalaney ezhuntharulvaai

With Your beautiful face, Hindu rituals took form of 28

With the help of Murugan, at Viruthasalam you created Kailasa Prakaram

And lead everyone to worship

In your literary Tamil poem, a mistake was made by Nakkeran Poet

To let him know about the mistake in the poem, you showed your third eye

Arunachalana wake up and give us Your Blessings

Patralla gurupatru matriye eginum

Appar paadalil arputha porul arinthen

Sutram maranthen Sitrambalaney

Satre manamirangi enakkarulvaai

Arunaachalaney ezhuntharulvaai

Devotion to the Guru is important to everything else

In Appar’s songs, I learned the meaning of Guru

I forgot everything in the world, except you

Kindly shower your Blessings on me, my Lord

Arunachalana wake up and give us Your Blessings

Olimaaya perungadal kadakka

Meyyaana verum padagai thanthu

Narai kirai indri nanneri adaiya

Viraivaai vantharul puriya

Arunaachalaney ezhuntharulvaai

Knowledge is like an ocean, without boundaries

Truth is the boat, by which we cross it

To reach the shores, we need Your Blessings

Kindly come soon and shower your blessings

Arunachalana wake up and give us Your Blessings

Oonaagi uyiraagi valiyaagi oliyaagi

Vaanaagi kuriyaagi arulaagi nirpavaney

Boga yoga vedha vadivaai

Baagam piriyaaludan aruliya

Arunaachalaney ezhuntharulvaai

You are the soul of all living creatures, in all stages of their life

You own the sky, river, fire, earth and air

You are all vidhas and yogas, as their forms

You are a part of Mother Baagam Piriyaal

Arunachalana wake up and give us Your Blessings

Vinthaigal palapuriyum vinothamayamaanavaney

Pithaana soodalai venneeraai aninthavaney

Moovalagaalum mukkannaney in mugam kaana

Ezhulagam yenguthappaa

Arunaachalaney ezhuntharulvaai

You have done many miracles, as you are Supreme of all

You are our Lord, with Venneerai on your top

You are the Lord with three eyes, to all three worlds

All Devaras of the 7 worlds are waiting for you

Arunachalana wake up and give us Your Blessings

Kaanaatha aruvilirukkum uruvilirukkum karanamaai

Neeraanam aninthaarkku nizhal puriyum sivalingamena

Ulagariyaar paadalukkerpa aruvuruva vadivaana

Lingamaaga arul puriyum

Arunaachalaney ezhuntharulvaai

You are the vision to the blind, you are the knowledge to wise

You are the shadow, to all

You took all forms in the world

You are giving Blessings, in the form of Lingam

Arunachalana wake up and give us Your Blessings

Panjaboothangalum paramporulaagi

Prabanjathai aalukindra panchaatchara naayaganey

Paravaigalum karavaigalum pagalavan vara unarnthu

Paravasamaai unai azhikka

Arunaachalaney ezhuntharulvaai

You are the leader of all Panchaboothams

You are the secret manthras of Panchaatacharm

Birds, animals, Humans worship you

They all call you Parama Siva

Arunachalana wake up and give us Your Blessings

Agathooimai thanthu mei anbarkku arul thanthu

Ijjagam kaatharalum jagam pugazhum eesaraney

Kaarirul maraiya kathiravan thaan malara

Thevarul purinthidavey

Arunaachalaney ezhuntharulvaai

You give blessings to devotees with clean hearts

You are the saving God, for all the Universe

The darkness goes away, as the light rays of the Sun comes out

To give Blessings to all Devas

Arunachalana wake up and give us Your Blessings

Than bakthi sirappaal than iru kangalai thanthu

Thavap payan adaintha Kannappa naayanaarukku

Kaninthu arul purintha ennappaney

Enai aalum eesaney

Arunaachalaney ezhuntharulvaai

With full hearted devotion, He gave his two eyes

He attained mukti, Kannapa Nayanar

You gave him eyes and blessed him

Ishwara you are ruling me

Arunachalana wake up and give us Your Blessings

Gnaayiru andru vazhipada pinigalai kalaibavaney

Thingalandru vazhipada aatralai tharubavaney

Sevvaayandru vazhipada piravippini theerpavaney

Buthanandru vazhipada vetrigal tharubavaney

Viyaazhan andru vazhipada gnaanam tharubavaney

Velliyandru vazhipada vishnupadham arulbavaney

Saniyandru vazhipada navagraha anugraham tharubavaney

Arunaachalaney ezhuntharulvaai

They who worship you on Sunday will get rid of problems

They who worship you on Monday will get new skills

They who worship you on Tuesday will desired objects in this birth

They who worship you on Wednesday will get victory in their work

They who worship on on Thursday will get knowledge

They who worship you on Friday will get darshan of Lord Vishnu’s feet

They who worship you on Saturday will get blessing of Navagraham

Arunachalana wake up and give us Your Blessings

Mesharaasiyar niruthi lingathai vazhipadavum

Rishaba raasiyar indira lingathai vazhipadavum

Mithuna raasiyar eesaana lingathai vazhipadavum

Kadaga raasiyar vaayu lingathai vazhipadavum

Anugraham puriyum

Arunaachalaney ezhuntharulvaai

Devotees with Mesharaasiyar transit (Aries) should worship Niruthi Lingam

Devotees with Rishaba transit (Taurus) should worship Indira Lingam

Devotees with Mithuna Raasi (Gemini) should worship Eeswaraa Lingam

Devotees with Kadaga Raasi (Cancer) should worship Vayuu Lingam

Ishwara give you Blessings

Arunachalana wake up and give us Your Blessings

Shimma raasiyar agni lingathai vazhipadavum

Kanni raasiyar eesaana lingathai vazhipadavum

Thulaam raasiyar indira lingathai vazhipadavum

Viruchika raasiyar yama lingathai vazhipadavum

Arulpuriyum

Arunaachalaney ezhuntharulvaai

Devotees with Shima Raasi (Leo) should worship Agni Lingam

Devotees with Kanni Raasi (Virgo) should worship Isanya Lingam

Devotees with Thulaam Raasi (Libra) should worship Indira Lingam

Devotees with Viruchika Raasi (Scorpio) should worship Yama Lingam

Kindly shower Your Blessings

Arunachalana wake up and give us Your Blessings

Thanusu raasiyar kubera lingathai vazhipadavum

Magara kumba raasiyar varuna lingathai vazhipadavum

Meena raasiyar kubera lingathai vazhipadavum

Kaatharalum

Arunaachalaney ezhuntharulvaai

Devotees with Dhanusu Raasi (Sagittarius) should worship Kubera Lingam

Devotees with Magara Kumbha Raasi (Capricorn, Aquarius) should worship Vayuu Lingam

Devotees with Meena Raasi (Pisces) should worship Kubera Lingam

Kindly save us Ishwara

Arunachalana wake up and give us Your Blessings

Padaiththal kaaththal azhiththal enum muththozhil puriyum mukkatselvaa

Neerum neruppum kaatrum boomiyum aagaayamumaana praboodha naadhaa

Swarnalingam spadigalingam maragathalingam jothilingamena

Atchayalingam naagalingam sahasralingam kodilingamaaga

Ezhuntharuliya Eeswaraney

Arunaachalaney ezhuntharulvaai

You are doing three duties of creation, saving and destroying so called mukkatselvaa

You are water, fire, air, earth, sky as panchaboothams

You are in the form of Swarna Lingam (Gold), Spadiga Lingam (Crystal), Maragatha Linglam (emerald), Jothilingam (fire)

Akshayya Lingam (Imperishable), Naagalingam (Serpent), Sahasralingam (Thousand), Kodilingam (One Crore)

Wake up Ishwara

Arunachalana wake up and give us Your Blessings

[The audio is a copyright of Siva Audio.With lyrics by M.R. Vijaya and sung by Bombay Saradha. I have added the transliteration and translation myself for devotees to chant along.]