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.
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.
5 comments:
Sweet Rukku had a bad cold for two weeks but was still giving darshan. Later he lead the parade. You should have seen Rukku, so proud and majestic. Rukku really likes cabbage. Took in a huge cabbage in crunch and gulp
Loved that she got to crunch on a nice cabbage.
Noticed in the photos that her eyes seemed closed up. Poor little thing has the big snuffles.
Everybody likes Rukku the Temple Elephant.
Is Rukku also on holidays. Saw the following item in the papers today:
CHENNAI, INDIA, December 14, 2011: Tamil Nadu, a southern Indian state, on Wednesday ordered a vacation for elephants employed by temples as part of an official program to "rejuvenate" the weary creatures, officials said.
State foresters herded 45 domestic pachyderms from Hindu shrines and hermitages in Tamil Nadu to the coastal state's Mudumalai forests for a 48-day break to help them regain lost vigor, they said.
"The elephants were brought in two batches in trucks from various temples and mutts across the state," said senior forest department official Ameer Haja. They will eat a special diet of sugarcane, coconuts and banana laced with herbal medication and vitamins during their stay at the rejuvenation camp, Haja added.
Elephants form a traditional part of Hindu rituals in temples, where they bless pilgrims and devotees with their raised trunks. They are also trained to perform other physical duties at the shrines.
Yes she is on holiday, and I will shortly be making a posting about our sweet girl and her BIG vacation plans.
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