26 June 2023

Aani Thirumanjanam Procession — Arunachaleswarar Temple: June 26, 2023

 

Aani Uthiram, or Aani Thirumanjanam, is an auspicious day in the Tamil Month of Aani (June-July) and is dedicated to Lord Nataraja (Shiva). It is believed that Lord Nataraja gives darshan to his devotees in the months Aani and Margazhi.

 

After completion of abhiskeham which took place in the 1000 Pillar Hall (link here at Arunachala Mystic) the Gods are taken out of the Hall and after turning right (in front of the Murugan Shrine) proceed through the gardens to the Thirumanjana Gate and exit Arunachaleswarar Temple on the start of circumambulation of the mada veedhis (perimeter streets) of Arunachaleswarar Temple. 

 

The Gods leave 1000 Pillar Hall on Procession and circumambulation of Temple Perimeter Streets



 






Dancing with Shiva 

The world is seen as it truly is sacred when we behold Siva's cosmic dance. Everything in the Universe, all that we see, hear and imagine, is movement. Galaxies soar in movement; atoms swirl in movement. All movement is Siva's dance. When we fight this movement and think it should be other than it is, we are reluctantly dancing with Siva. We are stubbornly resisting, holding ourselves apart, criticizing the natural processes and movements around us.

 

It is by understanding the eternal truths that we bring all areas of our mind into the knowledge of how to accept what is and not wish it to be otherwise. Once this happens, we begin to consciously dance with Siva, to move with the sacred flow that surrounds us, to accept praise and blame, joy and sorrow, prosperity and adversity in equanimity, the fruit of understanding. We are then gracefully, in unrestrained surrender, dancing with Siva. The Vedas state, "The cosmic soul is truly the whole Universe, the immortal source of all creation, all action, all meditation. Whoever discovers Him, hidden deep within, cuts through the bonds of ignorance even during his life on earth."

[By Satguru Sivaya Subrmauniyaswami]

 

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