11 January 2017

Pradosham Tuesday January 10, 2017: Arunachaleswarar Temple



The below photographs were taken on Pradosham as observed at Arunachaleswarar Temple, Tiruvannamalai Tuesday, January 10th, 2017. 

When Pradosham Vrat falls on Tuesday, it is known as Bhaum Pradosham. The benefit of Bhaum Pradosh Vrat is believed to give relief from health problems and enhance physical health. It also brings prosperity. 



Aarti at Periyar Nandi 5th Prakaram

Devotees watching Periyar Nandi Aarti, 5th Prakaram

Large crowd of devotees gathered for Tuesday Pradosham

Aarti at Kodi Kampathu Nandi,Third Prakaram

The next pradosham to be observed at Arunachaleswarar Temple will be on Wednesday January 25, 2017.

February 6, 2017 Mahakumbhabhishekam at Arunachaleswarar Temple


The below photographs were taken on November 21, 2016 during the "Kumbabisheka Yakasalai Panthakal" function. The function is the precursor of the Mahakumbhabhishekam that will take place at Arunachaleswarar Temple on Monday, February 6, 2017. 











 







Regular visitors to Arunachaleswarar Temple will have noticed renovation and restoration work being undertaken throughout the Temple since 2015. Gopurams, shrines and stonework have been cleaned, repaired and restored and in the case of the Raja Gopuram (Temple East Gate) cracks in the tower were recently repaired by civil engineers. 

Gopurams and stonework have been cleaned, restored and whitewashed, however Vimanas on all shrines, statues at front and top of shrines, and some smaller shrines in the west 4th Prakaram have been painted. 

The most recent of previous Mahakumbhabhishekams at Arunachaleswarar Temple took place in 1918, 1944, 1976 and 2002. 

5 January 2017

2017 Uttarayana Kala Flag Hoisting


Today, Thursday January 5th, 2017 marks flag hoisting at Arunachaleswarar Temple heralding the Uttarayana Festival. As this Festival follows so soon after Karthigai Deepam, it is not followed as lavishly compared to some other major Temples in Tamil Nadu. However at Arunachaleswarar Temple in the evenings a special puja is observed at the Siva Sannidhi, which is then daily followed by the Gods on procession around the Temple perimeter streets (mada veddhis). 

Uttarayana and Dakshinayana are each comprised of six months. Uttarayana means the northern movement of the sun. The period starting from Capricorn Zodiac (Makara Rashi) up to Gemini Zodiac (Mithuna Raasi) is Uttarayana. The period when Sun leaves Gemini Zodiac is known as Kataka Sankramana and this marks the end of the Uttarayana period. This happens annually on July 15th or 16th. 

“In terms of sadhana, Dakshinayana is for purification. Uttarayana is for enlightenment. Particularly, the first half of Uttarayana (until the equinox in March) is a period where a maximum amount of grace is available. This is the period of receptivity, of grace and enlightenment, of attainment of the ultimate. This is the time to harvest, and it is also the reason agricultural harvests begin during this period. Pongal is the harvest festival. So it is not only the time of harvesting food grains, but also the time to harvest human potential.” 

Pongal was originally a Festival for the farming community but nowadays it is celebrated by all. It follows the solar calendar and is celebrated on the same days each year. At Tiruvannamalai (and throughout Tamil Nadu) the four consecutive days of Pongal are: 'Bhogi' January 13th, 'Pongal' January 14th, 'Maattuppongal' January 15th and 'Thiruvalluvar Day' on Jan 16. 


Lord Chandrasekhara and Goddess Parakashakti

Flag Hoisting at Arunachaleswarar Temple


Devotees watching the flag hoisting ceremony at Arunachaleswarar Temple

Lord Chandrasekhara being taken on procession



27 December 2016

Pradosham Monday December 26, 2016: Arunachaleswarar Temple


Soma Pradosham was observed at Arunachaleswarar Temple on Monday, December 26, 2016.


Significance of Monday Pradosham
Lord Shiva is also known as Chandrasekhara, which literally refers to the 'Person who wears the moon'. In some cultures the appearance of the new crescent moon has been celebrated as a return of the moon from the dead. This celestial body is a powerful influence on the human psyche. Its influence which is always available at Arunachala is celebrated in disparate ways during Sivaratri and Poornima. It is also recognised in all Pradoshams that fall on Mondays, as did today’s Pradosham Monday December 26, 2016. To read more about the significance of Soma Pradosham go to this link here.


All of the below five Temple Nandis receive abhishekam and aarti on Pradosham. From East to West the five Temple Nandis are: 

Periya Nandi in front of Vallala Gopuram, Fifth Prakaram 
Chinna Nandi, Fourth Prakaram 
Kodi Kampathu Nandi,Third Prakaram 
Ratha Vilaku Nandi, Second Prakaram 
Pradosha Nandi, Moolastanam 


Aarti being offered at Periyar Nandi, 5th Prakaram

Milk Abhishekam being offered to Kodi Kampathu Nandi, 3rd Prakaram

Tumeric abhishekam offered to Kodi Kampathu Nandi

Aarti at Nandi, 3rd Prakaram

The Lord on golden Rishaba, 3rd Prakaram with Arunachala background

24 December 2016

Merry Christmas



 

Mookupodi Swami Current Location


I’ve recently received many requests about how to connect with Mookupodi Swami. In this respect a few days back I received a comment from SOURI KB on a very interesting and informative posting relating to Mookupodi Swami (at this link here) about the current whereabouts of the Saint. 

“Hello every one, if you want to have the darshan of MPS. Please visit the Hanuman Temple near the High School on the girivalam path. Nowadays he is staying there. Recently I had his darshan. Every day after the breakfast swami will do girivalam in an auto in anti-clockwise (opposite to how we do) between 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. and rest at the Hanuman Temple. Happy darshan.” 

I have made a number of postings on Mookupodi Swami on two of my blogs; Arunachala Grace and Arunachala Mystic. But to those unfamiliar with this Saint, am below posting a short narrative about some of my own experiences with Mookupodi Swami.


Mookupodi Swami at Deepam Hotel in 2007

Swami at Hotel 2007
Mookupodi Swami at High School, Girivalam Roadway, 2009


I first met Mottayan Swamiji (now more commonly known as Mookupodi Swami) in 2007. He moved to Tiruvannamalai some 40 years ago and although he occasionally disappears—after a short time returns. He has been known in Tiruvannamalai for many years by traders, merchants and devotees. It used to be Swamiji’s custom to habituate a particular shop or restaurant for months at a time and then suddenly, for no apparent reason, leave the spot and take up residence at some other place. Wherever he remains, its always with the grateful thanks of the owner of whatever establishment Swamiji has selected. In much the same way Sri Seshadri Swamigal’s nomenclature was “golden hand” because he imbued everything he touched with auspiciousness, Mottayan Swami is also believed to bring good fortune to those he moves with. 

When I met him in 2007 his abode was the restaurant Hotel Deepam on Car Street (near Arunachaleswarar Temple). He would sit quietly in the same corner and rarely notice or look at anyone. And yet he was sought by many. Devotees and visitors would come, sit at a table nearby hoping for a glance, blessing or some sort of signal or recognition. He would not receive offerings of food instead when he wished to eat he would command whoever he choose to ‘bring me food’. At night he slept on the restaurant floor. Sometimes he would get up and wander about the town. About three times a week Swami ordered an auto rickshaw driver to take him around the Hill—but always in an anti-clockwise direction. I’ve heard of several saints and sages who also habitually travel anti-clockwise around the Hill. 

For many years Swamiji has been offered expensive clothes and gifts, but rarely accepts anything, preferring instead to remain in his own well worn rags. The Hotel manager told me a story of a rich devotee who offered Swamiji a fabulously expensive embroidered shawl. Swami accepted the shawl and proceeded to drop it onto the filthy street, stomp on it and only after ingraining it with dirt, put the shawl around his shoulders. 

Many locals believe Mottayan Swamiji is some kind of Avadhuta much in the same way as Shirdi Sai or Seshadri Swami. He was born in East Rajapalayam, near Salem with the name of Mottayan Gaunder, and hailed from a farming community. In his youth Mottayan Gaunder spent most of his time at the Veerapathiran Temple performing pujas and making garlands for the God statues. He was 25 years old when his family arranged his marriage to a girl named Chadachi. The couple had a son Periyarswamy but shortly after the birth of the child, Mottayyan Gaunder left his birth village, only to return twelve years later a few days before the death of his wife. 

Swami is now commonly known as Mookupodi Swami (Siddhar) because of his habit of using snuff. Over the last years he has spent most of his time in spots around the Hill; including Rajarajeshwari Temple, Adiannamalai Temple, Hanuman Shrine and more recently the Navagraha Shrine close to the Ner Temple off the girivalam roadway. 

In much the same way the actions of Seshadri Swamigal were believed to always be in the devotees best interest—so too, Mookupodi Swami’s actions of shouting at devotees, sometimes threatening or beating them with a stick, are also attributed to his teachings and blessings. His actions are ever random and unpredictable. He may command a visitor to give him money which he proceeds to put inside a towel and then wrap the towel around his head or some other part of his body. After some time he might give the money to a different person nearby. In such incidences both the giver and receiver feel blessed—the giver believes Mookupodi Swami (by taking the money) has taken off bad karma, and the receiver feels the gift from the saint will bring auspiciousness and good fortune into their life. In many of my earlier postings on Mookupodi Swami, people have replied with comments telling of their own extraordinary experiences with him.  


2016 Arunachala Karthigai Festival: Cauldron Puja at Temple — Friday December 23, 2016



Yesterday Friday December 23, 2016 the Karthigai Deepam Cauldron was brought down from the summit of Arunachala and taken to the 1000 Pillar Hall in the 5th Prakaram of Arunachaleswarar Temple. 

After arrival in the 1000 Pillar Hall, Temple Priests performed a puja on the Cauldron. Photographs below. 


Karthigai Deepam Festival Cauldron afterwards

Aarti being offered during the puja

I've never seen a Deepam Cauldron so damaged after the Karthigai Festival

This is the 2015 Cauldron after last year's Festival. Can see its in much better shape and it was an old cauldron on its last year of service. Oh dear don't know if the new one will be able to manage another Festival without serious intervention!!!


23 December 2016

2017 Full Moon Dates: Arunachala Pradakshina—Significance of Girivalam



Sacred Power—Girivalam 
The Significance of Girivalam (Circumambulation) 


[The below narrative is taken from my website dedicated to Arunachala and available at this link]. 


One of the thousand and eight names given to Arunachala by Adi Shankara is giripradakshinapriya – the Lord who loves giripradakshina. 


'Be they of lowly birth, without the advantage of learning, unable to practise the virtue of liberality, it is of no account. Those who perform pradakshina of holy Aruna, the Supreme, submit to his rule and become his devotee, will excel even amongst the most excellent . . .' 
[Arunagiri Antadi] 


Arunachala


At most holy places located on hills, the Deity is found at the top. But here at Tiruvannamalai, the Hill itself is the Deity (Lord Annamalaiyar) and one of the ways in which it is propiated and worshipped is by its circumambulation. In Sanskrit this going around the Hill is called 'giripradakshina' (giri = mountain and pradakshina: Prada = giver of boons; Kshi = destroyer of Karma; Na = giver of Jnana. Also, Pra-Dakshina = going around with centre kept to the right). 

'Pradakshina (the Hindu rite of going round the object of worship) is "All is within me." The true significance of the act of going round Arunachala is said to be as effective as circuit round the world. That means that the whole world is condensed into this Hill. The circuit round the temple of Arunachala is equally good; and self-circuit (i.e. turning round and round) is as good as the last. So all are contained in the Self. Says the Ribhu Gita: "I remain fixed, whereas innumerable universes becoming concepts within my mind, rotate within me. This meditation is the highest circuit (pradakshina).' 
[Ramana Maharshi: Talks with Sri Ramana Maharshi] 

In the Tamil language, this process of going around, is called 'giri valam' (giri = mountain and valam = right side), inferring that one should keep the Hill to the right when circumambulating. 

The Arunachala Puranam declares that: 

'the holy Arunachala is the primal, Adi linga. The path around its base is the sacred Yoni. Pradakshina of the Hill is therefore pradakshina of the source of all lingas! So one goes round keeping to the left-edge of the path. A mere step taken, confers the benefit of a Yaga, sacrifice; two steps, the fruit of Rajasuya Yaga; and three that of Asvamedha Yaga. Going round the hill one gains in health and vigour. The hill abounds in rare herbs sought by traditional herbalists and the breeze carries the salubrious wafts from these siddha herbs to the one doing the holy round. The dust from the feet of such a person, carried and deposited in towns far away effects immeasurable purification.' 



Route of 14 km outer Arunachala Giripradakshina


The circumambulation path is 14 kilometres (8½ miles). Tradition has it that even today a number of siddhars are living on the hill. There are eight lingams located at the eight directions, which provides an octagonal structure to the town of Tiruvannamalai. The eight lingams are: Indra Lingam, Agni Lingam, Yama Lingam, Niruthi Lingam, Varuna Lingam, Vayu Lingam, Kubera Lingam and Esanya Lingam. 

There are two pathways around the Hill, the outer pathway which is the most commonly travelled and which contains Temples, the Asta Lingams, Tirthams and Shrines. And the inner pathway which winds its way through the countryside at the feet of Arunachala. 

According to scriptures, the walk around the Hill should be conducted at a slow pace either in silence, reciting mantras or chanting sacred songs. As to the ritual of the spiritual round; one should abjure all thought of the opposite sex on the day of pradakshina. After bathing one wears clean white clothes, applies vibhutti and proceeds, giving alms but without accepting any. Free from fear, anger, irritation or sorrow one walks on bare feet, without using vehicles or carrying an umbrella. Without swinging one's arms about, and with a silent soft tread, one saunters like a queen in her 'tenth-month'. One bows, first to the holy Hill from each of the eight cardinal directions, and then to the Lord of that direction enshrined in the linga there. One bows mentally to the incorporeal gods and siddhas going the rounds and keeps to the side. One could keep silence of speech and mind; or one could allow thoughts to flow on to the Hill of Fire; or one could sing and listen to songs of devotional praise. 

In the company of those of lofty character, one is able to halt here and there and enjoy a feast of fruit and milk. Otherwise, simple food free of flesh can be taken. 

Certain days are regarded as particularly auspicious for circumambulation:-

The fruit of a Sunday pradakshina is Siva's abode (enter the solar region and attain Liberation); 

that of Monday is merger in Siva-form (live happily in a world free from senility and death); 

that of Tuesday is termination of debt and cyclic death (freed from all doubts and becomes Emperor); 

that of Wednesday is divinity through skill in philosophy and art (attain Wisdom and Omniscience); 

that of Thursday is lordship over gods and god-men (venerated by all Devas and may even become a renowned Guru); 

that of Friday is lordship of the Lotus Lady (may hope to reach Vishnu's abode). 

A Saturday pradakshina confers the astronomical benefits of a nine-planet conjunction in the Eleventh House (worldly success and protection against planetary influences). 

The above effects are magnified if circumambulation is done on Sivaratri, New-year day, or during the three months, mid-October to mid-January. The fruits are believed to increase by a factor of one crore if done on the two solstices; or on the day the moon is in the Magha asterism during February-March; or during the pre-dawn hour; or during solar eclipse or Vidhipaada Yoga. 

It is also regarded as particularly auspicious to perform "Girivalam" during every Full moon day (poornima) to coincide with siddhars' movements, and the heady perfumes of herbal plants surrounding the Hill. 

Once a sadhu who went regularly around the Hill, requested Sri Ramana for a Vedantic text. A devotee casually remarked, "He only goes round the Hill. What will he do with any Vedantic text?" To which Sri Ramana retorted, "What better sadhana can there be than going round the Hill?" 

Hindu mythology also explains the significance of circumambulation, in a narrative relating that the Goddess Parvati on the advice of Sage Gautama circumambulated the Hill everyday in order to have her desires fulfilled. 

Another story says that Sage Durvasa, who cursed two vidyadharas stated that:-

"The curse cannot be lifted by any act except that of circumambulating the Arunachala Hill." 

He then proceeded to relate what Siva Himself had declared in an assembly of devas and others: 

"He who circumambulates with devotion the Arunachala Hill which is my form, attains a form like mine. He becomes the Lord of the entire world and reaches the highest state". 

The two vidyadharas then advised King Vajrangada who was suffering, 

"The Lord of Aruna Hill is a repository of compassion and His glory is great. Circumambulate the Aruna Hill on foot as a means of release from suffering". 



Dates for 2017 Full Moon Arunachala Pradakshina





2016 Arunachala Karthigai Festival: Cauldron brought down Hill — Friday December 23, 2016


As earlier directed, the Deepam flame on Arunachala stayed alight for 11 days. The time that the Deepam remains on the Hill depends upon calculations done by priests prior to the Festival and can range from the shortest of 7 days to the longest of 13 days. 

To read about the Cauldron going up the Hill, go to this earlier posting at this link here. To find out why Fishermen are the sole custodians of the Cauldron and its lighting go to this link here



Deepam cauldron on its way down Arunachala Hill

Men from the fishing caste carry the Cauldron down the hill on large bamboo poles

Coming close to the bottom of the Hill

Getting near the bottom

Entering Arunachaleswarar Temple from the North Amman Ammani Gopuram

Inside the 4th Prakaram of Arunachaleswarar Temple

Devotees reverentially touching the Cauldron for blessings

The Deepam Cauldron being carried into the 1000 Pillar Hall in the 5th Prakaram of Arunchaleswarar Temple

2016 Arunachala Karthigai Deepam Cauldron after the Festival
2016 Arunachala Karthigai Deepam Cauldron before the Festival



The 2016 Cauldron was lit on December 12, 2016 and remained alight on Arunachala for 11 days. It was brought down to the 1000 Pillar Hall, Arunachaleswarar Temple today Friday, 23 December, 2016. 

The cauldron this year was a new one and was constructed in 15 days by 4 men of the Nattar community. It weighs 160kgs is 5 feet in height and has a capacity of a 1000 litres. It is fully made of copper and cost Rs.1.75 Lakhs to create. 

18 December 2016

2016 Arunachala Karthigai Festival: Deepam on Arunachala on 7th Day — Sunday December 18


The photographs below are from today i.e. the 7th Day of Deepam on Arunachala summit. A big thanks to Sethu for these beautiful photographs. 


2016 Arunachala Deepam

The rocks upon which the Cauldron is always placed, are thick and slippery with accumulated ghee from years of Deepams

Guardians of the 2016 Arunachala Deepam

View of the 2016 Deepam

Climbing the pathway to Arunachala Summit

Every day fresh supplies of ghee and wicks taken to the Arunachala Summit

On their way to Arunachala Summit

Photograph of Arunachaleswarar Temple taken from side of Arunachala