Showing posts with label Festival of Love. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Festival of Love. Show all posts

19 April 2016

Night Seven: Vasantha Urchavam 2016

Lord Somaskanda being carried out of Temple on palanquin

Leaving the Siva Sannidhi on palanquin

The Gods first receive worship in Pandal opposite the Main Shrine

Gods then moved to Paneer Mandapam where they are feted with flowers by a Gandharva Kanni (celestial nymph)


Celestial Nymph offering her flowers to the Gods

Our own sweet Rukku a major part of the festivities throughout the 10 days of the Vasantha Urchavam Function

Night Six: Vasantha Urchavam 2016



Vasantha Urchavam (also known as Vasantha Utsavam) is the Spring Festival held in the season of Vasantha (Spring). It is also commonly known as the Festival of Love as it re-enacts the Love of Shiva and Parvathi and the burning of Manmatha by the piercing look of the Lord’s third eye. 

Lord Somaskanda (a form of Shiva and Parvathi) is the deity of this Festival. For nine consecutive nights after being carried in state out of his shrine, Lord Somaskanda is installed in a pandal facing the main shrine. After receiving due reverence with flowers and light to accompanying musicians playing on their mridangam and nathaswaram, the God is moved by palanquin to the Paneer (rose-water) Mandapam. 

At the Paneer Mandapam diparadhana is performed. Afterwhich the Gods re-enact a dance in front of a mirror placed nearby while musicians accompany them. After the dance, a representation of a Gandharva Kanni (celestial nymph) travels down a rope from a nearby gallery. Once the laps of the Gods are covered with flowers, the priest on the pandal pours a pot of water with five vilva leaves in front of the Gods and then performs aarti. 

Rukku our Temple Elephant is an important part of these ceremonies and on each of these nine consecutive nights, stands adjacent to the Paneer Mandapam during these functions. 

Afterwards the Gods on their palanquin led by Rukku perform circumambulation ten times of the Mahila Marams (Temple Trees). This procession is accompanied by musicians, singers and devotees. At the completion of each circumambulation a re-enactment of the God’s dance is performed in front of the mirror in a gallery adjacent to the Paneer Mandapam. 


Gandharva Kanni (celestial nymph) with offering of flowers
The nymph on her  journey to the Gods under the Paneer Mandapam

Offering her flowers to the Gods

Palanquin returning to the Paneer Mandapam

Beautifully lit and decorated Paneer Mandapam

Sixth Night Vasantha Urchavam Festival, Arunachaleswarar Temple

Night Five: Vasantha Urchavam 2016



Below is a pictorial report of Night Five of the Vasantha Urchavam 2016 Festival. Special Night pujas and accompanying functions occur at the Big Temple each night from the 2nd to the 9th night inclusive of this Festival. 


The Gods exiting the Siva Sannadhi

Being carried by palanquin on their way to the Paneer Manadapam

Gods resplendent under Paneer Mandapam receiving flower tributes from a Gandharva Kanni (a celestial nymph)

Gandharva Kanni coming down from the Gallery on way to the Paneer Mandapam


"At 9 p.m. on the fifth and eighth days the Temple lights are switched off so that the procession is in the dark. After going around the sacred Mahila Maram ten times the lights are switched back on to great rejoicing."


Gods circumambulating the Mahila Trees in 3rd Prakaram

Lord Dakshinamurti under the Mahila Trees is decorated splendidly each night of this Festival

Night Four: Vasantha Urchavam 2016



To read more about this Festival of Love, go to an earlier link here 


Rukku is an important part of each evening of the Vasantha Urchavam Festival

The Gods under the Paneer Mandapam on the Fourth Night of Festival

Gandharva Kanni (celestial nymph) with bucket of flowers ready to sprinkle on the Gods under the Mandapam

Gods performing circumambulation inside the 3rd Prakaram