Maharadham's New Garage

On my way to the dentist located off Sannidhi Street decided to make a quick detour to check out if the new "garage" has yet been completed for the Maharadham. The view and darshan of the Hill from this place is spectacular--can never take too many photographs!

Previously the Radhams (wooden chariots) for the Panchamoorthies (5 idols) have been covered with aluminum sheets and left on the side of Car Street. The sheer size of these enormous wooden chariots limit where they can be stored, but at last there has been a rethinking about exactly how they should be stored. In this respect the largest chariot used during the Deepam Festival i.e. the Maharadham has just been allocated a nice, new garage on Car Street. 

Spectacular new garage for the Maharadham

Posting the below photographs to show how devotees access the gigantic wooden chariot during the Deepam Festival. 

Climbing into the Maharadham during Deepam

Tunnel between the Yellow Building and Radham at Deepam

Devotees taking Deepam darshan before the Maharadham set off

4 Panchamoorthi Radhams await their own new garage

Postings on my Arunachala Blogs from Thursday January 1, 2015 to Saturday March 7, 2015

Readers may wonder why I write so frequently about Arunachaleswarar Temple on Arunachala Grace. It is because in the Puranas and Holy Books and from advice and guidance of Saints and Sages, it has been established throughout the history of this place, that there is absolutely no difference between Arunachala Hill and Arunachaleswarar Temple. 

In the legend of Shiva as a manifested column of light, which neither Lord Vishnu or Lord Brahma could find from whence it came or to where it went, in answer to the prayers of the Gods, Shiva himself created a lingam for the devotees to worship on the southeast plain in front of Arunachala Hill. Legend reports that it is this very lingam that Lord Shiva created, around which our own Arunachaleswarar Temple has developed. 

I am currently working on a comprehensive Arunachaleswarar Temple section for my website Arunachala Samudra, which will include narratives, rare information, photographs, and interactives. More details and information on this work’s progress soon. 

As well as the continual development of Arunachala Grace, in 2015, I will be making regular postings on Arunachala Birds, Arunachala Mystic, Arunachala Land and the new blog; Arunachala Satsang.

Arunachala Grace 

Soma Pradosham, March 2, 2015 -- Arunachaleswarar Temple: Explanation about significance of Soma Pradosham. Narrative and Photographs. Legend of “How the Moon fell in love with the Sun”.

Walkabout in Tiruvannamalai: Morning shopping in the streets near the Big Temple. Narrative and Photographs. 

Photographs of  2015 Mahashivaratri at Arunachaleswarar Temple: Narrative (with links) and observance of devotees during Mahashivaratri at the Big Temple. Including Lingodbhavamurti Puja.

2015 Mahashivaratri at Arunachaleswarar Temple: Photographs and narrative (with links) of the night of Mahashivaratri as celebrated at the Big Temple.

February 16, 2015 Pradosham at Arunachaleswarar Temple: Narrative and photographs of the first Pradosham in February, 2015 at the Big Temple.

2015 Arunachaleswarar Temple Mahashivaratri Programme: Times and Schedule of the functions at Arunachaleswarar Temple during the night of Mahashivaratri.

Visit to a village shrine: Goddess Shrine off the Nallan Pillaei Petral village road. Narrative and Photographs.

View of all 9 Temple Gopurams: Explanation and photographs of where to stand inside the Arunachaleswarar Temple from where one can see all nine Gopurams of the Temple.

Life of Ammani Amman (Arunachaleswarar North Gopuram): Life of the woman Saint who constructed the North Gopuram of Arunachaleswarar Temple. Photographs of Gopuram and saint Samadhi.

2015 Maruvoodal -- Arunachaleswarar Temple: Narrative and Photographs of the renunion of the Divine Couple.

2015 Arunachaleswarar Thiruvoodal Enactment: Narrative with links about the enactment of the “tiff” between the Gods here at Arunachala. Photographs.

Happy 2015 Pongal from Arunachala: Explanation about Pongal and Uttarayana in Tamil Nadu. Photographs of decorated Nandis Arunachachaleswarar Temple. Narrative.

Thiruvathira Festival and Saint Manikkavacakar: Festival of Saint Manikkavacakar poet of the Hindu bhakti revival movement. Information and Photographs.

Nataraja Abhishekam during 2015 Arudra Darshanam: Arudra Darshan, also known as the Thiruvathira Festival, celebrated in a grand manner at Arunachaleswarar Temple during the Tamil month of Margazhi. Photographs and Narrative.

January 2, 2015 Pradosham -- Arunachaleswarar Temple: Photographs of puja and crowds at Temple for Pradosham.

Sorgavasal Thirappu 2015: Mukkoti Ekadasi or Sorgavasal Thirappu (Celebration of Lord Vishnu) at Arunachaleswarar Temple. Narrative and Photographs.

A Blessed and Auspicious 2015 from Arunachala: Greetings and photographs of New Year Arunachala. 

Arunachala Mystic 

Visit to Siva Siddhar Mona Swamigal: Narrative of a visit to this Swami. Photographs of him and his Ashram in the Arunachala countryside.

Uttarayana – Hoisting of Flag at Temple: Explanation of Uttarayana and photographs inside Arunachaleswarar Temple of hoisting the Flag.

Aldous Huxley describes the aspect of Lord Nataraja: Video in which the great writer Aldous Huxley (Brave New World, The Doors of Perception etc) describes the "Dancing Shiva" image of Lord Nataraja and its immense significance.

Arunachala Birds 

White Rumped Shama: Narrative and photographs of the life cycle of the White Rumped Shama. Video of this beautiful songster.

Arunachala Bird List 2015: Comprehensive up-to-date alphabetical list of bird species sighted in Tiruvannamalai up to 2015.

Soma Pradosham, March 2, 2015 -- Arunachaleswarar Temple

Hinduism propounds the idea that the (nine) Navagrahas (of which Chandra is one) are 'markers of influence' -- living energies which put out waves which affect our awareness by seizing our consciousness when we come under their influence. Reports of psychics and seers agree that Grahas cause a direct energy influence upon the energy bodies and minds of all life on earth. The nine planets (Navagrahas) are transmitters of Universal, archetypal energy and the qualities of each planet helps maintain the overall balance of polarities in the solar system. 

Lord Shiva wears on his head the crescent of the fifth-day moon. Placed near his fiery third eye this shows the power of Soma, the sacrificial offering, which is the representative of Moon and signifies that Shiva possesses the power of procreation co-existent with that of destruction. Chandra has the following associations: the colour white, gender female, metal silver, gemstones; pearl and moonstone, element water, direction north-west, season Winter, body part blood, food rice, taste salt, day Monday, guna Sattwa. The sun is the indicator of the soul and the moon is the vehicle of the mind that receives the light of the soul. Even though all the Navagrahas are represented at Arunachala, the moon with its particular association with Lord Shiva (Chandrasekhara) has an extraordinary influence. 

The first Pradosham of March 2015 was celebrated on a Monday, so imbibed many of the particular qualities of Lord Shiva’s association with the moon. To find out in more detail the significance of Soma Pradosham, please go to an earlier posting on Arunachala Grace at this link here. 

Nandi abhishekham

Aarti -- Nandi, Arunachachaleswarar Temple March 2, 2015

Walking perimeter of Siva Sannidhi, March Soma Pradosham

To read about a legend of Moonlight go to this link here.

And read the below to find:-

How the Moon fell in love with the Sun

Eons ago, when the Moon and the Sun were still young, they never saw one another. The Moon would look upon the world and see creation change and grow, till one-day man was brought forth. The Moon would hear man talking about the Great Sun and all he did for them. He brought warmth to them, helped the crops grow and was their protector by day as in the night; evil things would prey upon them. This hurt the Moon terribly and for the first time, she turned her back to the world and man. When the Great Sun heard what man had done, he was angry. He said to the world, "You fools. Don’t you know how fortunate you are to have her in the night? She is your light, your guide and the protector of the night. She gives you, every night, all her light and protection she can. She is a heavenly body, the most beautiful of us all and you shun her. Now you wonder why she has turned her back on you? I should do the same!" 

Man, fearing the turning of the Great Sun, begged the Moon to return to them. "Oh, Great Moon, whose light and protection you grant on us, please return and guide us once more. We are bowed low in your Grace and Love. Please Great Moon, return and save us from the wrath of the Great Sun. We have shamed him in the way we have treated you and he will turn from us, as you have done. Please Great Moon, return!" 

The Great Moon, having heard the call of the world and what the Great Sun had done, began a slow turn to the world. Unsure if she wanted to trust the world again. But as she turned, she would hear more about what the Sun had done and said. Her heart grew warm with his words and longed to see him. In simple words, she was falling in love with the Great Sun. She moved through the night, faster. Trying to see him, her love! Till at last, when the day and the night over lapped, she saw him. The Great Sun turned to her and smiled. He was so please to see her. 

"Great Moon", he said. "You have come at last! I have longed to see you." The Great Sun spread his warmth to the Great Moon and embraced her. His warmth filled her and caressed her. Slowly they came together, their first true embrace. From that day forward, when the Great Moon and the Great Sun would come together, we, the world, would call it an eclipse. For their love would shadow the earth in darkness and allow us to see true love! 

Walkabout in Tiruvannamalai

I had to go into Tiruvannamalai today to take care of a few chores and decided to bring my camera and take some snaps.

I started my chores in a small well frequented lane near the East side of the Temple. Its the place to go when shopping for electrical items and also has a pot pourri of essential stores, including a very good ayurvedic shop. 

Small shopping Lane near Temple

There is something about the quality of light at Tiruvannamalai, because I have never seen a place so well suited to having blue skies. The Temple and Hill always look so pretty with the azure backdrop. Lovely.

The below photograph is really fabulous. Its taken from the North side of the Temple with Ammani Amman Gopuram in the distance. You can get an idea of the massive walls of the huge 25 acre Arunachaleswarar Temple. Even though the Temple is the centre point of Tiruvannamalai, once you pass into the Temple Compound, those massive walls act as sound proofing and you can't hear the noise and chaos of the busy town outside. 

Temple North Side, Ammani Amman Gopuram

One chore for me today was visiting some fancy shops on the North Side of the Temple. These particular fancy shops are a favourite stop-off for visitors with young kids -- as they are a veritable Aladdin's Cave with their mixture of costume jewellery, hair ornaments and Mehndi transfers. 

A Line of Fancy shops

Like an Aladdin's Cave that young girls never want to leave

Before heading off away from the Temple area decided to stop off near the East Side and Raja Gopuram to take photos of the flower sellers outside the Temple Main Gate. On my way enjoyed looking at the juxtaposition of stalls with stuffed and plastic animals and in the background one of the most famous, ancient Temples of India. 

Lovely juxtaposition of the toys with Temple as backdrop

After passing the stalls I got to the front of the Temple and the Raja Gopuram with its line of flower sellers outside the Main Gate. 

Temple Flower Sellers

Making Jasmine Garlands -- a nice way to spend the morning

Photographs of 2015 Mahashivaratri at Arunachaleswarar Temple

The below photographs are of the recent 2015 Mahashivaratri function celebrated at Arunachaleswarar Temple at Tiruvannamalai. To learn more about the legends and significance of Mahashivaratri as is observed at this place go to this link here.

The first photograph is of devotees performing worship by lighting camphor outside the main Raja Gopuram East Gate of the Temple. 

Main Temple Gate on Night of 2015 Mahashivaratri

Devotees going through the Temple Vallala Maharaja Gopuram

Generally both Theerthams inside the Temple Compound are closed to devotees, but on the evening of Mahashivaratri around 6 p.m. the gates of the Brahma Theertham traditionally open to allow devotees entry to light and place their individual Deepamas at the side of the tank. 

Lights around Brahma Lingam Tank, Arunachaleswarar Temple

Throughout the Temple Compound various groups of devotees engage in their own devotions throughout the evening of Mahashivaratri -- one of the Festivals celebrated at Arunachaleswarar Temple during which the Temple gates stay open all night. 

At the auditorium some devotees are watching cultural programmes. In the Moolasthanam others are attending the Kala Pujas and later on the Lingodhavamurti Puja. Other devotees are silently sitting in quiet spots in meditation. In the below photograph a small group of devotees are gathered in front of the Brahma Lingam Shrine in satsang and are observing the night of Mahashivaratri, singing bhajans dedicated to Lord Shiva. 

Singing bhajans in front of the Brahma Lingam Shrine

Devotees coming up from Tank after lighting their Deepam

Cultural Programme, Arunachaleswarar Temple Auditorium

Traditionally large kolams created by using salt rock crystals are made in the morning of the first day of the Festival. After their creation, devotees place small clay deepams around the kolam perimeters. The below depicts Saint Arunagirinathar -- who has many legends associated with this Temple. 

Arunagirinathar Kolam

Lingodbhavamurti Puja 

On the Night of Mahashivaratri, which in 2015 was observed on February 17th-18th, an abhishekham and puja ritual commenced at 12 midnight at the Sri Lingodbhavamurti. 

The manifestation of Shiva in a column of fire, carved in stone is known as the Lingodbhavamurti. It is always enshrined in the rear niche of a Shiva Lingam sanctum. Since most temples face east, the Lingodbhava faces West. The non-anthropomorphic form of the Shiva Lingam is a representation of this infinite cosmic column of fire, whose origins were not traceable by Brahma or Vishnu. The Shiva Lingam is the centre of reverence and worship in all Saivite temples. 

2015 Lingodbhavamurti Puja, Arunachaleswarar Temple

Lingodbhavamurti located outside the back of the Moolasthanam

Arti at 2015 Mahashivaratri Puja at Lingodbhavamurti

To learn more about the Lingodhavamurti at this Temple, and the legend of the Ketaki flower and why it is only used in Shiva worship one time a year -- i.e. the night of Mahashivaratri, visit my earlier posting at this link here. 

2015 Mahashivaratri at Arunachaleswarar Temple

The below photographs are of the 2015 Mahashivaratri Festival as observed at Arunachaleswarar Temple.

At around 6 p.m. this evening, the gates to the Temple tank were opened to allow devotees to place and light their deepam clay pots around the perimeter of the tank. The tank gates stayed open till about 9 p.m. But it wasn't just around the Temple Tank that one could observe the small deepam lights, as little ghee deepam pots were twinkling everywhere throughout the Temple compound.

Devotees lighting their own clay lamps around Temple tank

Devotee creating his version of the Amarnath Ice Lingam

Lingam display at the Mahila Maram trees, Third Prakaram

Ardhanarishvara at Arunachala

 

As tradition dictates, in the daytime of Mahashivaratri (this year February 17) both ladies and gentlemen created a number of beautiful kolams (also known as rangolis) on the floors of the Temple Compound which depicted scenes from the history and mythology of Lord Shiva. Instead of kolam powder, all the large kolams were made using rock crystal salt to make the kolams look shiny and also to ensure that they last longer. 

Tonight, in accordance with the Mahashivaratri Programme there will be pujas inside the Siva Sannidhi and various cultural programmes at the Temple auditorium. 

To find out more about the Mahashivaratri Festival celebrated at Arunachala, please visit my website Arunachala Samudra at this link here. 

February 16, 2015 Pradosham at Arunachaleswarar Temple

The photographs below are of Pradosham celebrated today at Arunachaleswarar Temple. Crowds were very large in spite of the building work currently going on. 

Work started recently on the refurbishment and renovation of Arunachaleswarar Temple with major focus on restoring the antiquity of the Temple by changing what was recently carried out; such as granite flooring at various spots in the complex. 

Apart from the restoration, work on all the nine Gopurams of the Temple will be repaired and re-plastered wherever required and thereafter painted. Currently several of the Gopurams are crisscrossed with bamboo scaffolding in order to facilitate this work. 

After all of the above work has been completed a grand Kumbhabhishekam will be held at Arunachaleswarar Temple.

2015 Arunachaleswarar Temple Mahashivaratri Programme

Arulmigu Arunachaleswarar Temple, Tiruvannamalai 

Mahashivaratri Festival Celebration Invitation 

Tuesday February 17th-18th, 2015. 

Details of the programmes in the Temple Auditorium on the evening of Tuesday February17, 2015 and early morning of Wednesday 18th February, 2015. 

Cultural Programme Timings:

6.00 p.m. to 7.00 p.m. Devaram poems with music 

7.05 p.m. to 8.00 p.m. Bharatnatyam Dance 

8.05 p.m. to 9.00 p.m. Bharatnatyam Dance by Sri Krishna Kalamandhir (Vellore) 

9.05 p.m. to 10.00 p.m. Bharatnatyam Dance 

10.05 p.m. to 11.05 p.m. Bharatnatyam Dance 

11.05 p.m. to 12.05 a.m. Violin and Saxophone music of devotional songs (Sri Mani Thilaka Group) 

12.05 a.m. to 1.00 a.m. Devotional songs 

Mahashivaratri Night Puja Programme: 
1st Kala Puja 8.30 p.m. February 17 

2nd Kala Puja 11.00 p.m. February 17 

3rd Kala Puja 2.00 a.m. February 18 

4th Kala Puja 4.00 a.m. February 18 

Night of Mahashivaratri February 17-18 at 12 midnight Commencement of the Sri Lingodbhavamurti (at back of Siva Sannidhi) 

Special Abhishekam Lakshana Archana on Tuesday February 17, 2015 from morning 5 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Moolasthana 

Visit to a village shrine

On our way back from a recent visit to the ashram of Sri Siva Siddhar Mona Swami, we stopped briefly at a small shrine set off the Nallan Pillaei Petral village road. The Goddess is represented at that place in the form of an uncarved stone and both the Shrine and surrounding area had a serene, peaceful atmosphere. 

On returning home I read up on Village Goddesses and am posting the below fascinating information. 

Despite the number and variety of gramadevatas (village deities), several typical characteristics of these local deities have been noted. First they are usually female, second these deities are usually not represented by anthromorphic images instead they are usually represented by uncarved stones, trees, or small shrines . . . third, these deities, goddesses for the most part, capture the primary interest of the villagers and tend to be worshipped with more intensity than the great gods of the Hindu pantheon . . . the village goddess engages the villagers directly by being associated with their local, existential concerns. She is perceived to be their deity and to be concerned especially with their well-being and that of their village. 

Goddess as manifest in the form of uncarved stone

“Many Indian villages have Brahmanic temples within them, however the religious focus is mainly on the shrines of the village's goddess and god. Rural Indians inhabit a world full of divine and semi-divine beings; tree spirits (yakshas), ghosts (bhootas), puranic, local, personal and ancestral gods who co-exist in a complex hierarchy. . . . Unlike in orthodox puranic Hinduism villagers have direct access to the local gods and do not require the intercession of a priest. The Goddess also plays a larger role in local religion, and rural religion is centred on specific places of perceived spiritual power. The shrines themselves are relatively simple affairs. 

Guardian of Shrine

In parts of South India Goddess shrines are located to the north of the village. This is significant as the north is associated with spiritual knowledge and disease and so emphasises the innate duality of the Goddess. 

An unpaid priest and his assistants have the duty to maintain the shrines (at the community's expense) and to propitiate the deity to ward off communal bad luck and disease. Individual villagers, regardless of caste, can approach the village deity directly as and when they have a need. At specific times of year and during crisis a festival is held in honour of the Goddess. Generally main feature of these festivals is the sacrifice of an animal, at one time buffalo sacrifice was widely practised, nowadays the victim is more likely to be a goat or chicken.” 

[By Rowan] 

Painted terracotta horse

At this particular shrine, the Tamil words are written under the shrine which translated specifically declare: ‘Don’t kill animals in the name of God.’ 

View of all 9 Temple Gopurams

This post is about one spot inside the Arunachaleswarar Temple Compound from where you can see all nine Temple Gopurams. That spot is located near the sacred Mahila Maram trees in the Third Prakaram. In the below photograph, I have marked with a pink "X" the location of the trees and Dais. 

"X" marks the spot

The next photo shows the dais next to the Trees in the Third Prakaram outside the Siva Sannidhi. At the bottom of the photograph one can see four round pillars encompassing a flat Lingam, which during the Vasantha Ursavam Festival, is filled with water and flowers, which makes it look as if it is floating.

Flat Lingam surrounded by four cylindrical pillars

Statues of Dakshinamurthi and Lord Vinayaka are situated close to the Linga.

Statues of the Gods on the Dais

Boon Cradles

In the above photograph one can see Boon Cradles hanging from the branches of the Mahila Marams; the cradles are made of cloth and sometimes wood and are hung by devotees who are seeking the blessings of the Annamalayiar for a child. 

Circle from where to view all 9 Temple Gopurams

Above one can see in front of the raised platform, a circle drawn on the ground. When standing in the centre of that spot and turning a complete circle, it is possible to see all nine gopurams of the Temple. In addition if you raise your head to view the Temple, one can see see the stone Nandis that face Arunachala. 

In the above photograph (taken from the circle in front of the Mahila Maram tree dais, the smaller structure is the West Kattalai Gopuram and in the background the larger structure is the Pey Gopuram. Notice the Nandis on the wall facing Arunachala.

Continuing in a clockwise direction from Pey Gopuram and the West Kattalai Gopuram, the next Gopurams viewed from the circle spot at the Mahila Maram Trees and dais are to the north; the Ammani Amman Gopuram and in front the North Kattalai Gopuram. 

Ammani Amman and North Kattalai (in front) Gopurams

The next photograph below and facing east are three Gopurams: back Raja Gopuram, centre Vallala Maharaja Gopuram and front the Kili (parrot) Gopuram. 

Back to front: Raja, Vallala and Kili Gopurams

The final 2 Gopurams to be viewed making a total of the 9 Temple Gopurams, are to the South; the large one at back is Thirumanjana Gopuram and smaller in front South Katalai Gopuram.

Back: Tirumanjan Gopuram, front South Katalai Gopuram