Rukku Gone on Holiday

On December 19, Rukku our 15 year old female elephant from Arunachaleswarar Temple started off from Arunachaleswar Temple in the back of a lorry on her way to her 48 day vacation. This is her fourth such vacation, and from all reports boarded the transport lorry very enthusiastically. 

Rukku having bath at Temple

This holiday is part of a yearly elephant rejuvenation camp started in 2003 at Mudumalai (Theppakadu) sanctuary by the Chief Minister J Jayalaitha. In 2012-13, the rejuvenation camp was shifted to Thekkampatty in Mettupalayam on the banks of Bhavani. 

As many as 43 elephants from Temples and Mutts and for the first time 55 elephants maintained by the Forest Department will participate in the camp to be held for 48 days. 

Our Rukku

Have a Wonder-filled Holiday sweet Rukku.

Arudra Darshanam Nataraja Abhishekam

A form of Siva is that of Lord Nataraja, The term 'Nataraj' means 'King of Dancers' (Sanskrit nata = dance; raja = king). It is believed that the energy from this dance of bliss (Ananda Tandavam) sustains the cosmos, and when Siva is finished with this dance, the Universe will end and a new one will begin. The dance is said to symbolize the five divine acts (pancha krityas) of creation, sustenance, dissolution, concealment and bestowment of grace.

Arudra denotes a red flame and Lord Siva has also a name called "Semporjyoti" or "Golden Red Flame," and thus Nataraja is the manifestation of Siva as a Light.

This Festival celebrates the cosmic dance of Lord Siva and is observed in the month of Marghazhi , on the day when the Arudra Star and the new moon coincides. This year the Festival fell on December 18, 2013. In this festival Abhishekam of Lord Nataraja takes place early in the morning and then He comes outside amongst his devotees.

Legends of Arudra Darshanam 

One time while Lord Vishnu was lying down on the serpent Adisesha, the serpent felt the Lord was very heavy. On asking the reason, Vishnu responded that he was remembering and enjoying the great dance of Lord Siva. 

A devotee of Lord Siva known as Viyagrapadha prayed to his Lord that he may attain the legs of a tiger so that he would be able to pluck flowers early in the morning for puja, before insects touched the flowers. He also prayed that he would receive darshan of the Lord in the form of Nataraja dancing the Cosmic dance. God appeared to the devotee on the day of Thiruvaadirai to grant the devotee his wish.

Special Puja, Arunachaleswarar Temple December 14, 2013

In the previous posting entitled: December 14, Arunachaleswarar Temple Pradosham, I posted photographs of Sani Maha Pradosham. Sani Pradosham, the Pradosham which falls on a Saturday, corresponds to the planet Saturn and to read an earlier posting giving information about its significance and relating the Legend of Sani Pradosham, go to this link here. 

In connection with this special day, in the early morning an elaborate puja; Kalasa Abhishekam, Gaja Puja and Maha Rudra Pua with Siva Achariyas chanting the Rudra Mantra was performed at Arunachaleswarar Temple. 

Young Siva Achariyas chanting the Sri Siva Rudra

Priests carrying the Kalasas (pots of sanctified water)

Ghee being poured on the Homam

Worshipping our lovely Rukku

December 14, Arunachaleswarar Temple Pradosham

The below photographs are of the December 14, 2013 pradosham observed at Arunachaleswarar Temple. Take a note of the ever increasing crowds of pilgrims attending the pradosham observances. 

Sri Ratu Peranda Visits Arunachaleswarar Temple

At the beginning of this month a group of 32 visitors from Indonesia spent about a week at Arunachala. The leader of the group was Ratu Peranda, Head of Hinduism in Indonesia. Many of those accompanying Ratu Peranda on his visit to Arunachala were coming here for the first time.

Ratu Peranda and Rukku

Ratu Peranda, Head of Hinduism in Indonesia

Soma Temple (creator of Aum Rudraksha Designs) and a devotee of Ratu Peranda and organisor for their visit got in touch with us here at Arunachala Grace for help in organising a trip to the Big Temple. That visit occurred on December 7th and included two beautiful abhishekams at the major Shrines of Arunachaleswarar Temple.

Group outside Mother Shrine after Puja

After the puja at the Shrine of Unnamulai, a senior Priest from the Temple adorned Ratu Peranda with a beautiful shawl and presented him with a laminated photograph of Arunachaleswarar Temple. All other members of the group were also presented individual prasadam packages from the Temple.

After Presentation to Ratu Peranda

Presentation of Prasad Packages to all Group

Ratu Peranda visiting from Indonesia

Group from Indonesia

Group performing Arunachala Girivalam

To learn more about the teachings of Ratu Peranda in English please visit 'Dharma Talks for the World' at this link here, and also for photographs his Facebook link here. 

Holy Christmas to All

Have many wonderful postings of Arunachala to make in the upcoming days, so please check back to read about Rukku’s (our Temple Elephant) vacation, photographs of the beautiful Natarajar Abishegam recently performed at Arunachaleswarar Temple, the visit of Ratu Peranda (Head of Hinduism, Indonesia) with devotees to Arunachala and the very special Ruthra Abishegam Kaja Puja performed on December 14, 2013 at the Big Temple. 

In the meantime wishing all readers a very Holy Christmas, and to while away those seasonal moments, please click on this link here to take you to three jigsaw puzzles of Arunachala Deepam 2013.

2013 Arunachala Deepam Festival Photographs

RIGHT CLICK ON PHOTOGRAPHS TO VIEW ENLARGEMENT

The below photographs are of the culmination of the 2013 Deepam Festival celebrated at Tiruvannamalai by the lighting of the Deepam Cauldron at the top of Arunachala and also inside the Arunachaleswarar Temple. 

The first photograph is of the blessing of the Cauldron inside the Arunachaleswarar Temple before it starts its long trip to the top of Arunachala. 

Rukku's blessing of the Cauldron

Cauldron leaving the Temple on its way to top of Arunachala

The next series of photographs show the fisherman (who are traditionally in charge of the Cauldron, including its lighting) filling the Cauldron with ghee and wick. The small bottles of ghee have been donated by devotees, who often climb the hill during the period the Cauldron is alight to personally deliver their ghee offerings. Large containers of ghee from the Temple are also carried up the Hill to fill the Cauldron. 

Individual ghee pot offerings for the Cauldron

Fishermen devotees preparing the Cauldron

Wick previously waiting inside the Temple waiting to be carried up the Hill

Filling the Cauldron with the wick

 Arunachaleswarar Temple from Hilltop, notice the crowds in compound

The next two photographs are of devotees climbing Arunachala to be as close as possible to the Deepam Cauldron to view the lighting. From early morning one can see a column of devotees climbing the Hill from the Temple side. From a distance the column looks like a line of ants.

Some devotees marking their spot for the Mahadeepam Function

Other Devotees eager to climb higher to the top of the Hill

The next two photos are of the lighting of the 2013 Arunachala Karthigai Deepam Cauldron

Lighting of 2013 Arunachala Karthigai Deepam

2013 Deepam

While the lighting is occurring at the top of Arunachala, so too a smaller cauldron is being lit inside Arunachaleswarar Temple outside the Siva Sannidhi, near the flagstaff. At the culmination of the Deepam function inside Arunachaleswarar Temple, the statue of Ardhanarishvara is carried into the crowds. This is the only time in the year that this statue leaves its permanent place inside the Temple.

Arunachaleswarar Temple with 2013 Deepam Lights

The statue of Ardhanarishvara (Shiva-Parvati)

The Deepam Flame was burning on the Hill this year for 11 days. In olden times the Deepam pot remained on the top of the Hill and was only taken down the Hill when it was being repaired or replaced. Nowadays the Cauldron is taken up just before Mahadeepam and after its completion is brought back down to Arunachaleswarar Temple to its permanent home in the 1,000 Pillared Hall. Where it will remain until next Deepam at which time it will be repaired (if necessary) and repainted. 

Koparai Puja for the Deepam pots (from top of Hill and Temple)

I have a full collection of photographs of each day of the 2013 Arunachala Karthigai Deepam Festival which will be soon uploaded with full narratives onto Arunachala Samudra. 

In this respect Arunachala Samudra website welcomes contributions be they financial, submission of narratives, articles or photographs, in support and development of what will be the definitive Arunachala Website. There is a PayPal function located at the left column of this Blog. For information regarding alternative methods of sending donations please email via the address located at the top left of Arunachala Grace. Thank you.