Showing posts with label cauldron. Show all posts
Showing posts with label cauldron. Show all posts

25 November 2016

2016 New Arunachala Mahadeepam Cauldron



Every several years the Mahadeepam cauldron (used during the Karthigai Festival and which burns at the top of Arunachala  throughout the Festival) has to be replaced because of damage. Years previously the cauldron used to remain at the top of the Hill throughout the year. Nowadays it is carried up on poles prior to Mahadeepam and then brought down again at the end of the Festival.


Previous Mahadeepam cauldron on Arunachala


This year a new Mahadeepam cauldron (kopparai) is being created at metal works here in Tiruvannamalai. The new cauldron will measure 5 feet and have pure copper rings around the outside top of the cauldron measuring 3 feet diameter width, and on the outside bottom (of the cauldron) of 2.25 feet diameter width. The new cauldron (kopparai) is to cost Rs.1.5 laks to create.




Creating the new cauldron



Creating new 2016 Arunachala Mahadeepam cauldron



17 December 2014

Arunachala Deepam Cauldron Puja



Individual devotees, organisations and Ashrams donated to Arunachaleswarar Temple towards the purchase of ghee for the recently completed 2014 Karthigai Deepam. In addition individual devotees climbed Arunachala over the duration of the Karthigai Festival to personally deliver their own ghee offerings, often in the form of small packets and bottles. 



This year the flame on top of Arunachala, remained alight continuously for 11 days and at no time was the flame allowed to go out. Each day over 150 kgs of ghee (clarified butter) were fed to the flame. 


Puja before the pot is put into storage at Big Temple


The giant cauldron took 10 men (from the fisherman caste) more than three hours to haul to the top of Arunachala. Women are not involved to carry the Cauldron or tend it whilst it's on the Hill. However women are always welcomed on the Hill during the Deepam Festival. 

Each Cauldron is used for about 10 years before being replaced. The current one was first used in 2004. When it is time to create a new Cauldron, the old one will be taken to metal workers to be broken up and recycled in the production of the new pot. Each pot takes around Rs.10,000 to make. After Deepam the Cauldron was taken down the Hill by the same fisher-folk and after puja at Arunachaleswarar Temple, is kept in storage there until the next year.

16 December 2014

2014 Karthigai Deepam Cauldron back to Temple


The amount of time the Arunachala Deepam stays alight depends on calculations made by the Temple priests. This year the jyothi on the Hill stayed alight for 11 days. Today the cauldron, with its duty complete was carried down by men from the family of the fishing caste in charge of the cauldron for 2014. 

There are two lines of the family of the fishing caste assigned this yearly duty of lighting and maintaining the Deepam Cauldron -- these two lines alternate each year in taking up this responsibility. 






The Deepam Cauldron is carried back to Arunachaleswarar Temple, where it will be stored until the 2015 Arunachala Karthigai Mahadeepam Festival.


3 December 2014

Carrying 2014 Karthigai Deepam pot up Arunachala


Every year during Deepam five earthen-pot lighted lamps, representing the five elements, provide the flame for the single Bharani Deepam which fisherman carry to the top of the mountain for use as the source-light for the Krittikai Deepam. It is also they who are entrusted with carrying the Deepam Cauldron up to the top of the Hill prior to the day of Mahadeepam. 

The Deepam cauldron is hauled up the slopes of Arunachala supported by poles inserted into the cauldron’s rings. The unique privilege for taking the flame (source-light) and cauldron up the Hill and also for the actual lighting of the Deepam Flame is always given (for long as the Hill’s recorded history) to men of the fishing caste. 




The reason for the extraordinary grace shown to the fishing clan reputedly is explained by a famous legend of the time the Goddess Parvati was adopted by the king of the fishermen. A version of the story appears below. 




Becoming a Fisherman 

"Once, the Lord was explaining to the Goddess the secret import of the Vedas. However, the Goddess who was listening to the Lord, seemed to be beset with some anxiety and was otherwise engrossed. It was, therefore, apparent that She was listening in name only. The Lord noticed this and said that as She was not paying full attention to the important things discoursed by him she should be born in the fisherman’s community. The Goddess lamented this and the Lord assured Her that She would be born to the king of fishermen and that He (The Lord) would in due course come to wed her. 

Ganapathi and Subrahmanya, the sons of the Lord were greatly perturbed by this and in their frenzy, considered the books of the Vedas to be the cause of the trouble and threw the offending books into the sea. The Lord took Nandikeswara to task for having allowed Vinayaka and Subrahmanya to go to Him without knowing His convenience and cursed him to become a shark in the sea. Any curse on Ganapathi would recoil on Him (the Lord) and hence the Lord did not impose any curse on him, however, Subrahmanya was cursed to become the dumb son of a merchant. 




There was a place called Pakam on the eastern seashore of the Pandya Kingdom which was inhabited by fishermen and their king of the great fisherman clan of Paravar, was a great devotee of Lord Siva. The king had no children and one day, when he went to the sea for fishing, found a crying female child lying under a Pinnai tree (or Punnai, Calophyllam Inophyllam) on the seashore. He picked the child up with great joy and handed it to his wife saying that it was a gift of the Lord. His wife brought up the child very affectionately and adorned it with various jewels. The child grew to be a girl who constantly meditated on Lord Siva. 

As ordained by the Lord, Nandikeswara became a shark and caused havoc to the fishermen’s boats sailing in the sea. The king of the fishermen took considerable pains to catch the shark – but all was in vain. The king therefore announced that he would give his daughter in marriage to any person who would catch the shark. 





The Lord appeared in the guise of a young fisherman before the king of fishermen, who was struck with the personality and bearing of the young newcomer. To the king’s enquiry He replied that he was a fishermen and could net any big fish or shark. The king told him of the prize offered for netting the shark infesting the area. The newcomer went to the sea and in no time netted the shark. 

The king and his men were astonished at the feat. And happily gave to the newcomer his daughter in marriage and celebrated the wedding immediately. The bride and bridegroom immediately appeared as Siva and Parvati on their Vrishabha mount and the shark also appeared as Nandikeswara. 

The king of the fishermen prayed to the God extolling Him for the great kindness shown to an ordinary and illiterate man like him. The Lord told him that as he has he had been yearning to get a child for so long, he had sent Parvati as his daughter and He came himself came to wed Her. The Lord also blessed the king to have all prosperity and at the end of his life to become a denizen of Sivaloka. Then the Lord instructed Parvati about the secret import of the Vedas and She eagerly and earnestly listened to the discourse." 

1 December 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.

26 November 2012

2012 Mahadeepam Cauldron



Below are photographs of the cauldron that will be used for the 2012 Arunachala Mahadeepam. By the time the Festival is over and the Deepam flame is extinguished, the bright and beautiful cauldron will be blackened by soot and smoke. 

The giant tub in front of the cauldron, is that which will be used inside the Temple near the flagstaff in front of the Siva Sannidhi. The giant tub, will also be filled with a ghee saturated wick, and then lit at around 6.02 p.m. (time of dusk) Tuesday evening. The fishermen at the top of the Hill will be looking down at the Temple compound and as soon as they are given the sign of the lit deepam down below, will then light the cauldron at the top of the Hill.



The Gents Painting the Cauldron



Cauldron for the Hill, Tub for the Temple




Just a small amount of the Ghee that will be used


Early this morning there was a puja inside the Temple blessing the cauldron, and at which the Temple elephant and one of the cows from the Temple goshala, were present. 


Blessings Abound


Immediately after the Temple puja, the fishing family set off from Arunachaleswarar Temple with the precious Cauldron, on their way to the passage opposite the Temple which winds its way past Virupaksha and other Caves and onwards and upwards right to the Hill Summit. 


Leaving the Temple on its journey upwards


Already a huge amount of ghee, and cloth wicks have been carried to the top of the Hill in preparation for the lighting of the flame Tuesday evening. 

From early morning tomorrow, it will be easy to see with the naked eye, hundreds of pilgrims climbing the Hill on their way to the top of Arunachala, in order to claim as close a vantage point as possible from which they can watch the lighting of the Deepam in the evening. 

 Many other pilgrims will be walking up the Hill tomorrow and throughout the period that the Deepam flame will be alight, in order to offer their ghee personally onto the flame. 


Cauldron on the start of its journey to the Hill Summit

7 December 2011

Blessing the Deepam Cauldron

Right click on view enlargements of photographs


Very early this morning Puja was performed at the Arunachaleswarar Temple on the Deepam cauldron with sweet Ruku, the Temple elephant and one of the cows from the Temple goshala in interested attendance.

Many years previously, the Deepam pot used to remain on top of Arunachala throughout the year, and was only replaced after several years of use and weathering from exposure on the Hill, had irreparably damaged it. Nowadays, the pot is carried up Arunachala a few days before Mahadeepam. And after the Festival is over, brought back down the Hill and stored at the Arunachaleswarar Temple.





The pot started its slow ascent up the side of the Hill before dawn. And by daybreak the carriers have already reached nearly half way up the Hill.




Those who have climbed the Hill, from the Temple and Virupaksha side know only too well of the rough, uneven path. Progress is slow, but progress is certain.




Before long the Temple Cauldron will have reached its destination as beacon light on top of Holy Arunachala.

24 November 2007

Deepam Day

I am posting this beautiful narrative, (authorship unknown) which describes in stirring, graphic language the events of this day, Deepam:

Deepam Day
"At about 4:30 a.m. this day November 24th, Bharani Deepam, the small main sanctum of the massive Arunachaleswarar Temple, is packed with souls who have been waiting in line all night.

The chief priest has just finished a simple ritual called Bharani Deepam and now ceremoniously waves a huge camphor flame in the direction of nearby Arunachala mountain. Although he is chanting Sanskrit slokas, he cannot be heard amidst the deafening furor of devotion that surrounds him. Finally, he touches the flame he is holding to the wicks of five huge, earthen, ghee-filled pots, representing the sacred elements earth, air, fire, water and ether. As these five flames loom up with red-yellow light, the famous, one-day, South Indian festival of Krittika Deepam officially begins.

All across Tamil Nadu, bonfires are lit on hills and in temples on Krittika Deepam. But nowhere is this festival celebrated like it is at Tiruvannamalai. Here it is unique. It is on this auspicious day that, at dusk (approximately 6:00 p.m. this evening), a sacred fire will be lit on top of the 2,668 foot Arunachala mountain to symbolize the merging of all manifest existence back into the one source of all things.

Preparations for this day begin one month in advance with the local administration, revenue department, police and temple authorities. Since early morning, temple staff and volunteers have been carrying five-gallon containers of ghee and large pots of thick, braided cloth wicks to the top of Arunachala mountain. Once the mountaintop flame has been lit, it must be kept burning for ten days, which requires vast quantities of wick and clarified butter.

As the day wanes into dusk and night begins to darken the sky, pilgrims stand or sit, motionless with anticipation, at the base of Arunachala mountain, preparing to worship God Siva as an infinite pillar of light.

At 6 pm, a roaring fire is ignited in the Temple at the base of Arunachala. This signals the lighting of a similar blaze on the summit. When that flame is seen by the thousands of devotees below, the entire countryside explodes with flashing luminescence. Bonfires, lamps, neon lights and fireworks light the night like day as a surging, thronging, emotionally charged mass of devotees chant, "Arunachala Siva," "Annamalai” and "Annamalai Harohara”.


The Chosen Fishermen
A flame taken from the five earthen pots that were lit just after the early morning temple ceremony of Bharani Deepam is kept burning in the Temple throughout the day as a symbol of the merging of manifestation back into God, the one source of all. This single flame is referred to as the Bharani Deepam. At 10:00 a.m., a group of fishermen are blessed by the temple priest with a small ceremony. At this time, amidst ringing bells and temple music, the priest gives the fishermen a lamp that has been lit from the Bharani Deepam in the Temple. This lamp, also called Bharani Deepam, will be taken by the fishermen to the top of the mountain.

Local fishermen are traditionally given the privilege of carrying the Bharani Deepam up the mountain and lighting the Krittika Deepam in the evening, because, according to a popular myth, Parvati (the wife of Lord Siva) was born in a fishing village. After their consecration ritual, the fishermen take off up the mountain. Their hike up the steep, rugged slopes will take about four hours.

In the Temple, all is quiet after the fishermen leave. By 5:00 in the evening, the area surrounding the Temple flagpole, as well as the adjoining terrace, will be packed. Pilgrims observe the dramatic arrival of five exquisitely decorated palanquins, carrying the Gods Vinayaka, Subramanya, Siva, Amba and Chandikeshwara.

Within about 30 minutes, five palanquins have arrived in all their spiritual pageantry. Now, we wait for the climax, the coming of Ardhanarishvara (Lord Siva as half man, half woman). This will occur immediately after the Krittika Deepam is lit. Everyone wants to be able to see the mountaintop. All eyes are looking up.

Finally, the appointed moment arrives. Against the backdrop of a sunset sky, crowned with the rising star of Kartika, thundering firecrackers, ringing Temple bells and a frenzy of rhythmic chanting merge to create a cacophony of chaotic splendour. Camphor is lit in a cauldron by the Temple flag pole, signaling priests on top of the mountain to light their flame. The timing is perfectly synchronized. The air is charged as the overpowering sight of light, signifying Siva in the form of Jyoti (divine light), merges with Parvati to become Siva/Sakti. Now, finally, Ardhanarishvara is brought out of the Temple with great ceremonial fanfare. This is the only day of the year that this particular Deity is ever moved. It is most auspicious.

The sight of the Krittika Deepam is magical. It brings an inexplicable joy. People are ecstatic, mesmerized by the light. After nightfall, we see groups of people lighting lamps in the streets. Every house, every shop, every temple, not only in Tiruvannamalai but in all surrounding villages and towns, is bedecked with beautifully flickering lamps.

Throughout the day, street merchants have been performing annadana (free distribution of food). For this one day, the entire town has merged as one family of unforgettable warmth, amity and cordiality. Even amidst the discomfort of the crowded streets, life runs smoothly and everyone gets along harmoniously.


Cauldron/Fishermen
During the 10 days that the flame burns on Arunachala after Krittika Deepam, it consumes a ton of ghee and 1,000 feet of thick, cotton wick. The fishermen who have been chosen to light the Deepam hike up the mountain every day to restock the cauldron and keep the flame alive. They consider their task a sacred privilege.

A month after the celebration has ended they perform fire-walking to absolve themselves of any sins they have accrued by setting foot on the mountain while carrying the Deepam. They also arrange for special pujas (worship ceremonies), abhishekam (water ceremonies) and homas (fire ceremonies) to be performed in their names.

The fishermen who have been chosen to light the Krittika Deepam are all gathered together inside a side shrine adjacent to the main Temple. They have just been blessed by the Temple priest who now lights the ghee lamp they will carry up Arunachala mountain. To the thundering of drums, they all suddenly rise together to stride quickly out into the main temple courtyard where hundreds of pilgrims are waiting for them. They make their way out of the Temple into the street heading for the trail that leads up the mountain.

The main devotee fisherman, who is carrying the ghee lamp, is moving very quickly. At first, a few of his colleagues stumble behind him with a cluster of pilgrims clumsily striving to keep up. As the progression proceeds, more pilgrims join the march. Soon, there are hundreds. Then there are thousands.

Pilgrims scramble, most shoeless, along the snake-like trail, snatching blessings at various shrines along the way. Storm clouds are gathering rapidly around the mountain's summit. Now we are meeting devotees coming down. There is only one trail and we tangle in a human traffic jam. Miraculously, the fishermen thread their way through this obstacle as if it is not there.

Temple
As the temple fire is lit at 6 pm, the moment is overwhelming. Thousands of pilgrims are chanting "Aum Namasivaya." Suddenly a fire is jumping skyward from the top of Arunachala, "Siva and Parvati are one." "