2021 Karthigai Deepam Arunachaleswarar Temple— Lord Subramanya Theppal

 

On the evening of Monday, November 22 Lord Subramanya Theppal took place on the Brahma Tirtham inside Arunachaleswarar Temple.

 

2021 Karthigai Deepam Arunachaleswarar Temple— Parashakti Theppal

On the evening of Sunday, November 21 Parashakti Theppal took place on the Brahma Tirtham inside Arunachaleswarar Temple.

 

 

2021 Karthigai Deepam Arunachaleswarar Temple—Sri Chandrasekhara Theppal

On the evening of Saturday, November 20 (the day after the lighting of the Deepam on the summit of Arunachala), Sri Chandrasekhara Theppal took place on the Brahma Tirtham inside Arunachaleswarar Temple.

 

 

2021 Karthigai Deepam Arunachaleswarar Temple—Theppal Thirthotsavam

 

Day 1:  Sri Chandrasekhara Theppal

Day 2:  Parashakti Theppal

Day 3:  Lord Subramanya Theppal

 

Brahmostavam is intended to teach us the way to divine self-realisation. One of the last celebratory observances during Karthigai Festival is known as Thirthotsavam which means 'water festival'. Three days are allocated at the end of Karthigai to celebrate this 'water festival'. The 'water festival' is representative of a sadhaka’s plunge into the higher realms of consciousness—and typifies an entering into samadhi—the goal of religious aspiration.

 

Ordinarily the 'water festival' is celebrated at Ayyankulam Tank (in front of Arunagirinathar Temple—the third oldest Shiva Temple at Arunachala). This year, due to the restrictions imposed because of health reasons, the 3-day 'water festival' was not conducted at the Ayyankulam Tank but at the Brahma Tirtham located inside Arunachaleswarar Compound.

 

The Theppals for the Gods are floating structures made up of drums and timber and decorated with flowers, religious paintings and silken buntings. Lights are installed around the perimeter of the tank and focus lights placed at strategic points. When the murtis of the Gods come to the Tirtham, they are placed lovingly on the float which then pushes off and completes an allocated number of turns upon the Temple Tank.

 

Devotees sit on the steps of the tank to take darshan of the God on the Theppal. Thereafter the deity of the day's Theppal is taken in procession around Arunachaleswarar Temple.

 

 Constructing the Theppal

 

 

Arunachala Karthigai Deepam Lighting—Friday November 19, 2021

The below photographs are of the lights of Arunachala starting with small deepams inside the Temple compound, the lighting of the Deepam on the Hill summit and thereafter darshan of the light on Arunachala from the rooftops of Tiruvannamalai. 

Below there is also an extended video with commentary and footage of the actual lighting of the Deepam Cauldron on the Arunachala summit and a video of the celebrations of Tiruvannamalai. 

Lighting of the 2021 Karthigai Deepam, Tiruvannamalai

The 2021 Arunachala Karthigai Deepam

An extraordinary photograph circulating amongst Arunachala devotees, many of whom believe shows the manifestation of Lord Siva at the time of the lighting of the 2021 Karthigai Deepam

First appearance from distance of the 2021 Arunachala Deepam at 6.05 p.m. Friday 19 November

2021 Arunachala Deepam

Extended video with commentary of the lighting of the Deepam Cauldron on Arunachala Summit

Celebrations in Tiruvannamalai of 2021 Karthigai Deepam of Tiruvannamalai devotees