Kalia Nayanar and message of the Nayanars

Nayanar’s Message
[By Swami Venkatesananda]


"There have been many ‘intellectuals’ even in India who have looked down upon the path of Bhakti (devotion) as something inferior to Jnana (wisdom). Their short-sightedness becomes at once apparent when we study the lives of the great Four Teachers (Appar, Sundarar, Manickavachagar and Sambandar) and realise that these great Jnanis, too, were great Bhaktas who loved to visit Temples and sing the glories of the Lord. Look at the humility of Appar who carried Sambandar’s palanquin. It is not born of the weakness of the ignorant: but it is the culmination of true knowledge!

How shall we understand the wonderful spirit of renunciation that characterised the lives of many royal Nayanars, if we regard them as weaklings? They had understood the true nature of the world, and wanted only God . . . This great truth has been beautifully brought out again and again in these lives — love of God completely removes the devotee’s attachment to his own body.

Let us also never forget that in the case of all the Nayanars devotion invariably meant expansion of the heart, and, therefore, service and charity. It is essential that, in our study of these great lives, we take them as a whole: the sixty-three blending into one marvellous scripture on devotion. . . . Nayanars have to be read with this caution: we have to take them as allegories exhorting us to rout out the inner obstacles to our Sadhana, ruthlessly. The story of Eripatha Nayanar, for instance, should be taken as an exhortation for us to kill lust, anger and greed, the powerful impediments on our spiritual path which, in the twinkling of an eye wreck our worship of the Lord.

If we approach these saints with faith and devotion in our hearts, we shall grasp the message they have for us. We shall also understand why they gave such a great place to externals like the sacred ash, Rudraksha, etc. These symbols remind one constantly of God: and, when they are said to remove our sins, they remove our sinful tendencies, too, by constantly reminding us of God, and keeping evil out of our mind."



Kalia Nayanar


Kalia Nayanar is another of one of the 63 Nayanars whose story is associated with deepams and lamps maintained in praise of the Lord.


“Kalia Nayanar was an oil monger of Tiruvotriyur. His adoration of the Lord, to who he was highly devoted, took the form of lighting the Temple lamps daily. The bhakta was rich. But, in order to reveal his greatness the Lord impoverished him, so, Kalia began to work as a labourer in order to earn money to purchase oil for his worship. But even this became impossible. His depths of poverty were so dire that the bhakta even tried to sell his wife, but no-one would buy her.






At last, in despair at his plight at not being able to maintain the Temple lamps, Kalia decided to cut his own throat and use the blood instead of oil, to burn the lamps. In his attempt to do this, Lord Siva caught hold of his devotee’s hand and blessed him.

What greatness, and what intensity of devotion is portrayed in this simple life! Self-forgetfulness is the key-note in devotion. Remembering God always, the devotee is so thoroughly absorbed in Him, that nothing but God and His worship matters to him. By all means His worship must go on: no obstacle shall stand in the way. The devotee’s heart and mind are always positive, never letting a negative thought enter them. He sees opportunities in difficulties and is never beaten by any obstacles which serve him as steps to God!”
[By Swami Sivananda – abridged]

Another Deepam Festival

The following fascinating narrative of a previous Deepam Festival was written by a lady from Australia who spent many years living in Tiruvannamalai with her adopted Indian daughter.


“Deepam Festival lasts fourteen days. The Big Temple displays its treasures every night of the first nine days in processions around the circuit of streets in town. Millions of pilgrims come, perhaps two million sometimes, perhaps more; they camp out in the temple complex and fill every available hut, home, shop, guesthouse, ashram, room, corner, balcony, corridor, niche, stone bench, and nook under trees and rocks. They all walk around the hill; some many times because it is exceedingly auspicious to do so. Lord Siva may very likely grant a pilgrim’s wishes.

Many years ago when my daughter was small, the old infirm lady who lived with us - an elderly Brahmana woman of ninety-nine-odd years - used to bundle her pots and pans, condiments, clean white saris – she’d bundle them all up in a cloth and scoot off by rickshaw into town for Deepam every year. She had an age-old arrangement with a family in the main street, she used to camp on their verandah for the ten days, staying awake at night to worship the gods as they came past. The divinities would no doubt reward her for all her trouble.

Although we are tempted to conjecture that the motivation to partake of this exceeding auspiciousness arises from other-worldly concerns lured by the possibility of relinquishment from the cycle of birth and death, this is not entirely true. For the Hindu it is considered monumentally difficult for an individual to achieve the freedom from attachment to this world that is essential for absolute freedom. It is love of this world that fires the hearts of the devotees; the possible fulfillment of desires sustains arduous pilgrimages. The number of pilgrims walking around Arunachala has increased so much during the past ten years that we now have a mini-Deepam every single month. A famous film star’s pronouncement that Arunachala grants wishes at full moon as well as at Deepam is what started it all off. Since then, the entire town has to be frozen of incoming traffic for the duration of the moon’s radiant fullness and thousands of extra buses are scheduled. The ostensibly other-worldly Deepam festival is actually a tremendous affirmation of confidence in life on Earth.

Hawkers come with their wares: food in particular and pictures of gods, film stars and politicians. Hawkers bring spiritual books, protective talismans, plastic toys and bunches of grapes, things to hang on your rear vision mirror and stand on your TV, wind chimes, socks, belts, warmers for heads, underpants, bangles, molded plastic divinities, fruit trees, pillows and blankets, jewels, hair clips, watches, fruit trees and motor bikes – to name a few conspicuous items. The religious festival becomes a vast marketplace. The Holy Hill is garlanded with opportunities.

Beggars come by the busload with their leprous legs and stumpy arms and their begging bowls; some have little vehicles. Sadhus come in orange - the mendicant’s uniform. Businessmen also come. Families come with plastic carry bags of clean clothes and blankets. With their shaven scalps smeared with turmeric paste; they wash their saris, dhotis and shirts in the tanks beside the hill-round road route and walk with one wet sari end tied modestly about their body - the other held by a family member up ahead, the cloth streaming out to dry in the breeze. Skinny people with big feet and wide eyes: these are the true-blue pilgrims who camp on the flagstones of temples and mandapams. Modern middle class families stay in expensive hotels. Groups come with musical accessories and flower garlands, voices joining footsteps. The Hill becomes garlanded in humans, encouraged by the voices of the hawkers and bucket loudspeakers blaring from the frequent stands selling tapes of devotional music.

A recent upsurge in progress has resulted in the construction of several sheds along the way, in which pilgrims can rest and watch TV. A special cable was laid to provide video images of the festival happenings including much film of pilgrims walking around the Holy Hill so that resting pilgrims can even see themselves perhaps, by courtesy of our recent technological achievements.

It is widely believed that the provision of Free Food at Deepam is rewarded by the Lord more than any other provision of Free Food! Down at little shrine area in the only remaining virgin forest adjacent to my house, on one side of the road every year we have The Big Temple servants feeding ten thousand persons a day, and on the other side another group feeding another ten thousand. Crowd Control Barriers sprout and the vast distribution of free food manifests itself all along the Hill Round Route.

We wandered down to the little shrine area around midday on the seventh day of last year’s festival - the day of The Lighting. The Free Food queue in the crowd control barrier on one side of the road extended back for more than a kilometre, forming a static block against the jabbering stream of thousands not interested in free food just then. The field behind where the forest watchman lives was full of onionskins, vegetable peelings, big pots being filled with food and big pots on fires. Full steaming-hot big pots were carried on palanquins by strong men across to the awning on the roadside where more big pots of hot food were lined up and many men were dishing spicy rice onto leaf plates for the long barricaded queue of hungry Tamilians extending out of sight.

We ate our free food on a bench segregated from the crowd by thorns, watching a big fight between temple bouncers and persons trying to eat their food too near to the distribution spot, thereby creating untold congestion in a greatly congested situation. There was no alternative since there was nowhere to go to eat, because the sea of human beings takes up every available space. Discarded leaf plates smeared with spicy rice covered the road and particularly the shoulders of the road, where one had to wade through a great mess in order to move. Huge religious festivals have an agonizingly sordid side.

But the ecstasy is something else."

[By Apeetha Arunagiri]

Other Beacons

My favourite part of the movie trilogy, ‘The Lord of the Rings,’ is the lighting of the beacon on the mountain which starts the lighting of a series of seven mountain beacons calling for help in the upcoming battle. When the beacon is lit, Gandalf say, ‘Hope is kindled.’

Its impossible for me to see the below excerpt from the film, without immediately thinking of Arunachala and Karthigai Deepam.







A beacon is an intentionally conspicuous device designed to attract attention to a specific location, and in the case of Karthigai Deepam, the beacon on top of Arunachala, is also used to observe and celebrate a vast amount of mythology associated with the Hill. One could also say that the Deepam, also serves as a metaphor of guidance in our own spiritual quest.

Nami Nandi Adigal

Another Saivite saint connected with lights and deepams, and mentioned in the Peripuranam, the book of the lives of the famed Shiva devotees, the 63 Nayanars, is Nami Nandi Adigal. His story recounted by Swami Sivananda goes thus:-

“In Emaperur in the Chola kingdom there lived a Brahmin called Nami Nandi Adigal. Daily he used to go to Tiruvarur and worship Lord Siva, his sole refuge. One day, he felt an intense desire to light many lamps in the temple, which is an act highly extolled in the Siva Agamas. So, Nandi Adigal went to a near-by house and asked for ghee to light the lamps with. It was a Jain’s house: and the Jain said scornfully: ‘I have no ghee: if you are so eager, you may as well use water, instead.’ Nandi Adigal was filled with anguish to hear this. He went to the temple and prayed to the Lord. He heard a voice: ‘Don’t grieve. Bring water from the near-by tank and light the lamps with it.’ With great joy Nandi Adigal did so. Through the supreme grace of the Lord, all the lamps burned brightly! All were amazed to witness this miracle. Nandi Adigal did so on several days continuously and many people embraced Saivism in Tiruvarur.







The Chola king, hearing of Nandi Adigal’s greatness, appointed him as the head of the temple. He used to celebrate the Panguni Uttaram festival on a grand scale. The Lord would be taken to a place called Tirumanali where people of all castes would flock around and worship Him. On one such occasion, after finishing his duties, Nandi returned home. Feeling that the touch of people of all castes had polluted him, he did not enter the house and do the usual worship before he went to bed. He asked his wife to bring some water so that he could bathe and then enter the house. But, before the water came, he was overpowered by sleep. In a dream, Lord Siva said: ‘Oh Nandi! All those who are born in Tiruvarur are my Ganas (servants). They cannot be regarded as impure. You yourself will see this with your own eyes.’ Nandi Adigal woke up from sleep and told all this to his wife. He repented for his wrong thinking and at once performed the worship. In the morning he went to Tiruvarur. There he saw that all people born there had the same form as Lord Siva. Nandi Adigal prostrated before them all. Afterwards all resumed their original forms and Nandi Adigal understood it was the Lila of the Lord.

Then, Nandi Adigal settled down in Tiruvarur. He served the Lord and His Bhaktas so well that Appar praises him as ‘Anipon’ (pure gold). Ultimately he attained the glorious realm of the Lord.”

2011 Karthigai Deepam Invitation

I previously posted a leaflet issued by the Arunachaleswarar Temple, giving details in Tamil (with my own English translation) about the 2011 Kathigai Deepam Programme.

Subsequently the Temple has issued another leaflet with more information about the programme, and importantly details for devotees wishing to purchase ghee to be offered in the Deepam Cauldron, and thereafter to receive prasad from the Cauldron (which will be posted from the Temple in mid-January). The prasad is a black sticky residue packed individually in small plastic sleeves.

I have often participated in the Ghee Pot scheme, however I have never done so by post, so cannot give any specific information as to how efficiently the Temple runs the prasad postal scheme. But the ghee will be purchased and offered into the Cauldron.

Am posting this information because I know many readers will wish to make a ghee offering to the Deepam Cauldron, and thereupon receive prasad taken directly from the inside of the Deepam Pot, after the Festival is concluded.

At the very bottom of the below leaflet (right click to view enlargement), there is information in Tamil regarding the purchase of Deepam Ghee Pots, the English translation follows below:



2011 Deepam Invitation


“Devotees are welcomed to pay and send their offerings towards "Ghee Pots". Devotees can arrange Rs.200/- for a half kg (500gms), Rs.100/- for 250 gms and Rs.50/- for a small offering, in person or through DD (Demand Draft) or MO (Money Order) or Bank Cheque in favour of; "Executive Officer, Sri Arunachaleswarar Temple, Tiruvannamalai" Landline: (0)4175-252438.

The devotee should include their proper contact address. Devotees who send a Ghee Pot offering will receive the Deepam Cauldron prasad through the post after the Aarudhra Festival which is celebrated during the Tamil month Maarghai (i.e. will be mailed around mid-January).

Devotees who are interested in offering for "Kattalai Archana Scheme" are also requested to send their offering to the same address above in the sum of Rs.200/- for one year and Rs.5000/- for life long. According to the scheme a special Archana (offering) will be carried out in the name of the devotee or in the name of a person who they like on the dates as per the devotees’ preference e.g. birthday or marriage anniversary etc. The prasad will be sent to them by post.

Devotees who are interested in offering "Nithya Annadhanam" serving food to devotees are also welcome. As per request the devotee should pay Rs.20,000/- which will be held as a permanent deposit, and the interest will be collected for the amount and food will be served on the date of the devotees’ preference. Interested devotees can send their offerings to the above-mentioned address, through the post, or come in person.”



Top of Arunachala near Cauldron
surrounded by Ghee offerings



Wick coated with ghee



Cauldron packed with
ghee coated wick



Cauldron preparations complete



Deepam Cauldron 2010

A Visit to Karthigai Festival

The below video is part of a BBC series entitled ‘The Story of India’. In this video, the lady the narrator interviews, talks about Karthigai at around the 2.20 minute mark. Thereafter the narrator boards a bus with the lady and heads for Tiruvannamalai to witness the Karthigai Festival.

To read more about this T.V. series, go to this link here.

Kanampulla Nayanar

Kanampulla Nayanar was a wealthy man of Pullirukkuvelur, who was a great Siva Bhakta. He wanted to utilise all his wealth in the service of the Lord. So, with unswerving devotion he would light lamps in Siva shrines and sing the praises of the Lord..

Kanampulla went to Chidambaran where he continued his service. Lord Siva wanted to reveal the devotion of his bhakta to others, so the Lord withdrew the wealth of his devotee The bhakta’s holy service continued in spite of whatever hurdles he faced. He sold his household articles one by one, and with the money received fuelled and lit lamps everyday with ghee.






Then came the situation when there was nothing left in the house to sell So, he went out to the fields to cut grass and sell it so that he could purchase ghee to fuel lamps in service to the Lord. Because he cut a variety of grass known as Kanampul, the bhakta is known as Kanampulla Nayanar.

One day he was not able to sell the grass. But as he did not want to swerve from what he believed to be his duty of maintaining oil lamps in service to the Lord, he went to the Temple and made a wick out of grass he had cut and burnt it. The quantity of grass was not enough to sustain the flame, so the bhakta, brought his own head near the lamp, spread his hair on the lamp, and began burning it. It was then that Lord Siva appeared before him, and blessed him.

Karthigai Deepam, South Africa

The South African branch of the World Saiva Council will celebrate Karthigai Deepam on Saturday, December 3, 2011, at 5pm at Chatsworth Stadium, South Africa.

”Celebrated by South Indians for many centuries as the ancient festival of lights, the World Saiva Council has celebrated it on a very large scale annually for many years. In the month of Karthigai on the Tamil calendar, thousands of devotees around the world will climb the Mountain of Arnachellam (Annamalai mountains) in South India to pay homage to Lord Siva during the Karthigai Deepam celebration.

In South Africa, the World Saiva Council will erect a miniature replica of the mountain at the stadium during the celebrations so that all the swami's and guru's will create an aura of deep spirituality in their chanting of the 'maha mantra' and the lighting of the many clay lamps spread around the shrine and the ground during the religious 90 minutes of the programme.”

For more information go to this link here.

Karthigai Deepam 2011

Between now and Deepam, I hope to post various narratives explaining the relevance of Karthigai Deepam and how it is celebrated at Arunachala, and at other places. I will also post information and articles, on deepams, and saints associated with lights and lamps.

Karthigai Deepam is believed to be one of the oldest festivals celebrated in Tamil Nadu, previous even to the Festivals of Deepavali and Navarathri. Reference of Karthigai Deepam can be found in such ancient Tamil literature as ‘Ahananuru’, (2,000 BC), 'Jeevakachintamani', written by the Jain poet Thiruthakka Thevar (Sangam period), 'Kalavazhi Narpadu' (1,000 BC) with mention of the festival made in the works of the poetess Avaiyyar.

Karthigai Deepam is also called the festival of lights and nowadays is observed as an extension of Deepavali festival with many families doubling the number of lamps at their home, every day from the day of Deepavali until the day of Karthigai Deepam. Like Deepavali, there is general practice of cleaning homes and decking up houses beautifully with stunning illuminations and multihued 'Kolams' or Rangoli.

In Kerala, this festival is known as Trikartika or Kartika Vilaku and is held in the month of Vrichikam (November – December). Lighting traditional oil lamps in the evening after sunset (during twilight period) is the main event on the day. Karthigai Deepam is also observed as Vishnu Deepam in Tamil Nadu and is an auspicious day for Vaishanvites.

Karthigai is essentially a festival of lamps. The lighted lamp is considered an auspicious symbol and believed to ward off evil forces and usher in prosperity and joy. It occurs on the day when the moon is in conjunction with the constellation Karthigai (Pleiades). The constellation which appears as a group of six stars in the shape of a pendant, is considered in mythology as the six celestial nymphs who reared the six babies at the saravana tank which later were joined together to form the six faced Muruga. Muruga is therefore also known as Karthikeya (i.e. the one brought up by the Karthigai nymphs).

Karthigai Deepam is celebrated in a special manner at Arunachala. At which legend goes, Lord Shiva asked the Lords; Brahma Vishnu to find out the extent of His form, which they are unable to do. Subsequently Lord Shiva takes the form of a jyothi (light of fire) on Arunachala Hill.

At Arunachala, Karthigai Deepam celebrations begin with the flag hoisting on the Uttradam day and continue to the early morning of Bharani Deepam, when five ’agantams’ are lit at Arunachaleswarar Sannithi in the early morning hours of the tenth day with the lighting of Mahadeepam occuring at dusk on top of Arunachala. To view a programme of the festivities of 2011 Karthigai Deepam at Arunachala, go to this link here.







The Deepam on top of the Hill, is lit in a huge metal cauldron with a capacity to hold about 2,000 liters of ghee. The cauldron stands at a height of five and half feet. The wick of the lamp itself is made up of 30 metres of khadi cloth burnt using 2 kilos of camphor. It is claimed that on the night of Karthigai Deepam, when the lamp is lit, the illumination can be seen for 35 km from the Hill.

Some Animals in my Day

So many animals interact so seamlessly in our days, that often one doesn't even notice. Bonnet Macaque Monkeys are part and parcel of life in Tiruvannamalai, and not a day goes past that one doesn't see the urbanised monkey living its life side by side with its human brethren.







Most Bonnet Macaque Monkeys are mischievous and opportunistic, and I was very glad to have my camera to hand so I could take snaps of this naughty little imp engaged in a motorbike heist. The monkey noticed me watching, but as soon as he understood that my attention was more admiring than admonishing, he continued with his snack larceny.







Then I returned home and picked up my doggies for a nice walk on the Samudram Erie. And what a pretty day. See how everything is green and iridescent?






And here are three of my doggies hanging around waiting for movement. My other doggies are close by.






The Samudram Erie is almost dry except for some rather nice large puddles which make the grazing Water Buffaloes very happy.







And as I was watching the Water Buffaloes, a beautiful Brahminy Kite flew over my head. To find out more about the Brahminy Kite and to view photographs, go to this link here.







In these parts the Brahminy Kite is believed to be a manifestation of Lord Vishnu's Vahana (vehicle), the Garuda. To read about Garuda Mythology go to this link here.






A very beautiful day, which was made even more beautiful by the lovely animals of Arunachala.

Lord Subramanya

The worship of Muruga, as Skanda is popularly called in Tamil country, is very old in South India, where he is worshipped with great devotion. One of the most ancient totem-groups in the South was that of the Nagas (i.e. snakes) and the appearance of a serpent is even today considered by many as betokening the presence of Murugan. Lord Subramanya's other names are Skanda, Kumaresa, Kartikeya, Shanmukha, Guha, Muruga and Velayudhan.

The oldest Tamil hymns refer to Him as the deity of the hilly regions, the God of the tribes of hunters — Velan (He who carries a vel or spear). He was also believed to induce violent passions of love in the minds of girls, and was propitiated by magic rites.

By about the sixth century, the Skanda cult had shed its association with the earliest indigenous forms of worship practised by the hill-tribes and the Kumara Tantra was looked upon as a branch of the Saiva Tantras, and Skanda was invested with some of the attributes usually associated with Siva, for instance; Mahayogin, the great Teacher, the great Healer, the Lord of the Bhutas, and as the great Ascetic.

Lord Subramanya is a ray born of the Divine Consciousness of Lord Siva. Valli and Deivayanai are His two wives who represent the power of action and the power of knowledge. Lord Subramanya is an aspect of the Divine easily accessible in this age of ignorance and lack of faith. He gives material and spiritual prosperity and success to His devotees, if they show even the smallest devotion to Him.

He holds a spear in His hand, which is an emblem of power and indicates that He is the ruler of the Universe. Lord Subramanya’s vehicle is the peacock which he rides, thus signifying that He has conquered pride, egoism and vanity. There is a cobra under His feet, which signifies that He is absolutely fearless, immortal and wise.

Sri Subramanya Temple, Chengam Road, Tiruvannamalai

Front of Temple from Chengam Road


Swami in charge at Temple


This year the Festival of Skanda Sashti took place from October 26th to October 31st and was lavishly celebrated at all His Temples including the six Muruga Temples located at Tiruvannamalai. Skanda Sashti denotes the destruction of evil by Lord Murugan and His victory of light over dark. Lord Krishna says in the Bhagavad Gita: "Among the army generals, I am Skanda".




Side view of Temple


When I visited this Sri Subramanya Temple on Chengam Road, opposite the Simha Lion Tank, the Swami in charge told me that the Temple (also known as Arumukha Koil i.e. Six-Face Temple) is believed to be 700 years old. The open compound surrounded by trees has a beautiful, quiet serenity. In front of the Shrine housing Lord Subramanya is a peacock, vel and stele. Swami mentioned that the stele is thought to be a 100 years old. (Steles are upright stones with an inscribed surface and are used as a monument or as commemorative tablets).



Facing front of Shrine




Lord Subramanya's Vahana, the Peacock



Stele in front of Temple


At this Subramanya Temple the Lord stands alone with His spear. In this pose He is known as Velayudhan; this is His Nirguna aspect, which is free from the illusory power of Maya. Several of the Murugan Temples in Tiruvannamalai have the Lord represented with his six heads in a horizontal line. But in the case of this Temple, three of the Lord’s heads are at the front, and three at the back which signifies that He is all-pervading and indicates that He can multiply and assume forms at will.



Three faces at front, three at back


Close up of the 3 faces, front


Compound surrounded by trees

Many choose to have functions and pujas performed inside the Mantapam of this Temple Compound. Even though conveniently located to my own place, this was actually the first time I’ve visited this peaceful, beautiful Murugan Temple. For those of you planning to visit, the Temple’s opening hours are 6 a.m. to 10.30 a.m., and 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.



Doorway leading to Mantapam


Photo of Lord Subramanya in Mantapam


Light and airy Mantapam


For those wanting to find out more information about Skanda worship go to this Swami Sivananda link to download a fascinating PDF

And to view a beautiful and comprehensive website dedicated to Lord Murugan go to this link here.