Showing posts with label festival. Show all posts
Showing posts with label festival. Show all posts

12 November 2013

Chariots on Big Street


The weather is very unseasonal for this time of year -- lots of azure blue skies and hot toasty sun. Walking down Big Street, which is the main arterial road in front of the east side of Arunachaleswarar Temple's Raja Gopuram, its difficult to believe that Mahadeepam is just a few days away.

As always the chariots that will be used for the Maharadham Festival this coming Thursday November 14, are parked on the sides of Big Street. Traffic is less on this thoroughfare nowadays, since the one-way road system in the busy part of town was implemented.

Below are a couple of photographs of the Murugan Chariot, which has had a substantial amount of renovation work implemented this season.



Murugan Chariot parked side of Big Street



Workers inside the chariot completing renovation



There is also a short video I took a couple of days ago of Big Street with the brightly painted chariots in the distance. 




4 August 2012

Arunachala Samudra Update


To those interested in reading about the recent Adi Annamalai Mahakumbhabhishekam please visit my website Arunachala Samudra at the section on Adi Annamalai Temple.  




Over the last month a number of new narratives have been added to the website, in the Temple Section, narratives and photographs on Adi Annamalai Temple, Rajarajeshwari Temple, Pachaiamman Temple and the Asta Lingams

There are also in depth narratives in the Festival Section, on the Thiruvoodal and Mahashivaratri Festivals. 

For morality tales, anecdotes and quotes go to this link here.

I will be continuing to upload new material on Arunachala Samudra over the coming months, so please continue checking in. 

12 November 2010

Karthigai Deepam Festival Schedule


This morning the Flag Hoisting Ceremony at Arunachaleswarar Temple marked the first day of 2010 Karthigai Deepam Festival. To those thinking of visiting Tiruvannamalai during the Festival, below is the full Festival Schedule.

Hope to post photographs from various days and functions of the Festival on Monday.



Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Festival: Sri Durgai Amman Utsavam

Evening: Vimana



Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Festival: Sri Pidari Utsavam

Evening: Simha Vahana



Thursday, November 11, 2010
Festival: Anughnai, Vigneshwara Poja, Vaasthu Shanthi Mrithsangrahanam

Evening: Sri Vinayagar Velli Mooshiga Vahana



Friday, November 12, 2010 -- Festival: 1st Day
Morning: Dwajaroghanam (Hosting of religious flag of the festival), Panchamoorthies Five Deities Silver Chariot

Evening: Panchamoorthies Mooshigam Mayil (Peacock), Silver Adihara Nandi (Bull), Hamsam and other Small Rishaba Chariots.



Saturday, November 13, 2010 -- Festival: 2nd Day
Morning: Sri Vinayagar, Sri Chandrasekara Vimana's (Chariots) and Suryapirai Vahanam

Evening: Panchamoorthies Silver Indra Vimana (Chariots)



Sunday, November 14, 2010 -- Festival: 3rd Day
Morning: Sri Vinyagar, Sri Chandrasekara Vimana’s, Boodha Vahana and 1008 Sangabhishekam

Evening: Panchamoorthies, Simha Vahana (Lion Chariot), Velli Anna Vahana



Monday, November 15, 2010 -- Festival: 4th Day
Morning: Sri Vinayagar, Sri Chandrasekara and Naga Vimana’s

Evening:Panchamoorthies, Velli Karpagha Viruksham (Auspicious tree which will fulfill your wishes), Velli Kamadhenu Vahana and other Velli Vahana’s



Tuesday, November 16, 2010 -- Festival: 5th Day
Morning: Sri Vinayagar, Sri Chandrasekara, Mushigam, Kannadi Rishaba Vahana’s

Evening: Panchamoorthies, Velli Mushigam, Velli Mayil, Velli Big Rishaba Vahana’s



Wednesday, November 17, 2010 -- Festival: 6th Day
Morning: Sri Vinayagar, Sri Chandrasekara, Mushigam, Velli Yanai, 63 Nayanmar’s Vimana’s

Evening: Panchamoorthies in Silver Chariot, Indira Vimana and other Silver Vimana’s



Thursday, November 18, 2010 -- Festival: 7th Day
Morning: Panchamoorthies in Maha Radha’s (Big wooden Chariots)

Evening: Panchamoorthies Reaching Aasthana Mandab in Chariot’s



Friday, November 19, 2010 -- Festival: 8th Day
Morning: Sri Vinayagar, Sri Chandrasekara Silver Chariot

Evening: Panchamoorthies start with Horse Vahanams. Pichandavar in Golden Meru



Saturday, November 20, 2010 -- Festival: 9th Day
Morning: Sri Vinayagar, Sri Chandrasekara Glass Vimanam

Evening: Panchamoorthies Kailasa Vahanam, Kamadenu - Cow of plenty Raveneswaram Vahanam etc



Sunday, November 21, 2010 -- Festival: 10th Day
Morning 4'o clock: Bharani Deepam in the Temple and Theerthavaari in Brahma Theertham

Evening 6'o clock: Maha Deepam on the top of the holy mountain.

Night: Panchamoorthies, Golden Rishaba Vahana’s


Monday, November 22, 2010
Festival: Theppam (Holy Boating)
Evening: At 7.00 PM Sri Chandrasekarar Theppam And Giri Pradakshanam by Sri Chandrashekara with Sri Abithakujalambal


Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Festival: Theppam (Holy Boating)
Evening: At 7.00 PM Sri Parashakthi Amman Theppam


Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Festival: Theppam (Holy Boating)
Evening: At 7.00 PM Sri Subramania Boating Festival


Thursday, November 25, 2010
Evening: Sri Chandikeswarar Festival, Sri Chandikeswarar Utsavam, Rishaba Vahanam (Silver Bull)



13 April 2008

Tamil New Year

The month of Chittrai (April - May) embarks the time of festivities in Tamil Nadu and starts off the Tamil year running through to Panguni (March - April), 2009. Tamil's New Year Day “Puthandu” (according to the Gregorian Calendar) is celebrated on April 13 or 14 every year. People greet each other “Puthandu Vazthukal” which means Happy New Year. This auspicious day is also known as “Varusha Pirappuv”, a time upon which, Lord Brahma is believed to have started the creation of the Universe.



The day starts with viewing the “kanni” (the auspicious sight) at dawn, in the expectation that beginning the New Year by looking at auspicious or favourable things will bring good fortune throughout the year. Such auspicious items includes; old and silver jewellery, betel leaves, nuts, fruits and vegetables, flowers, raw rice and coconuts. “Kanni” is followed by a bath and visit to the Temple to pray for a prosperous and happy New Year. After which, the Panchangam (almanac) is read. Ladies adorn the entrances of their houses with “Kolam” (design made with rice flour) and deck the doorway with mango leaves.

It is during the month of Chittirai the marriage of Goddess Meenakshi to Lord Sundareswarar is celebrated as “Chitthirai Festival”.

4 March 2008

Mahashivaratri 2008


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 this year, 2008 falls on Thursday 6th March). 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, circumbulation of Arunachala Hill is observed by earnest spiritual pilgrims.


To learn more about the history and legends surrounding this festival, please read a previous posting on Mahashivaratri at this link.

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." "

14 September 2007

Ganesha

WISHING YOU A HAPPY, JOY-FILLED GANESHA CHATURTHI



WITH BLESSINGS OF LIGHT AND GRACE FROM ARUNACHALA

13 September 2007

Ganesha Chaturthi

The main day of the festival of Ganesha Chaturthi this year falls on September 15. Ganesh Chaturthi is the occasion on which Lord Ganesha, the son of Shiva and Parvati, is believed to bestow his presence on earth for all his devotees



There is a curious tale about the birth of Ganesha. It is believed that once while Parvati was bathing, she created a human figure from some unguent and balm, gave him life and asked him to guard the door while she bathed. After a long period of meditation on Mountain Kailash (Shiva’s abode), Shiva chose that very moment to visit his wife, but was abruptly stopped by the man-god Parvati had posted at the door. Outraged by the impudence of this stranger, Shiva cut off his head only to discover that he had killed Parvati’s son! For fear of enraging his wife, Shiva immediately dispatched his ganas (attendants) to get him the head of the first living creature they could find, which happened to be an elephant.


As instructed, the head was chopped off and brought back to Shiva, who placed it on Parvati’s son’s body, bringing him back to life. This elephant-headed God was welcomed into the first family of the Hindu heavens and named Ganesha or Ganapati, which literally means the chief of the ganas, or the attendants of Shiva. Ganesha is the foremost God of the Hindu pantheon and the most auspicious God of new beginnings. He is worshipped during every festival and before people undertake a journey or embark upon a new venture. You will also see him carefully guarding entrances to Temples and homes and gracing marriages and important occasions.