Temple Lights Deepam 2007

The below photograph is of Arunachaleswarar Temple decorated with beautiful Karthigai Deepam Lights. The view is from Arunachala looking down at the 2007 Lights.

click on photograph to see enlarged view

Episode at Mahadeepam

It is estimated a crowd in excess of a million attended the 2007 Mahadeepam lighting function at Arunachala. However the occasion was not completely without incident.

Just before the lighting of the flame which occurred shortly after 6 p.m. on November 24th, a flame appeared on the Hill directly below the area containing the Deepam cauldron. The flame was so large that some people even thought that it was the Deepam light itself.

Miscreants allegedly set fire to the dry grass on the Hill, a few minutes before the sacred lamp was lit.

Six photo-journalists, who covered the lighting of the Karthigai Mahadeepam on Saturday, found themselves in the midst of a fire which broke out on the hilltop.

One photo-journalist said; “We were scared when the fire encircled us. There was no way of escape for us except to backtrack on our path. Luckily, it changed course. We reached the plains after a lot of difficulty since we missed the path while trying to avoid the fire,” Devotees also faced difficulties due to the fire.

Deepam Processions

One of the earliest references to Karthigai Deepam festival is found in the Ahananuru, a book of poems, which dates back to the Sangam Age (200 B.C. to 300 A.D.). The Ahananuru clearly states that Karthigai is celebrated on the full moon day (pournami) of the Tamil month of Karthigai. It was one of the most important festivals (peruvizha) of the ancient.

Karthigai is essentially a festival of lamps. The lighted lamp is considered an auspicious symbol. It is believed to ward off evil forces and usher in prosperity and joy and indispensavle for the festival of Karthigai.

After the completion of the preliminary 3 day functions; Sri Durgambal on Kamadenu vahanam, Sri Pidariamman on Lion vahanam, Sri Vinayagar on Mooshiga vahanam, the ten days of Bhrammotsavam which takes place in the month of Kartikai (Scorpio, Nov 15 through December 15), started up today.

Each of these festival days is marked by a procession of the Pancha Murthis (5 God idols) inside the Big Temple and around the streets of Tiruvannamalai. The Gods are; Arunachaleswarar (Shiva), Unnamulaiyaal (Shakti, Parvati), Ganapati, Subramanian (Murugan) and Chandikeswarar in gaily decorated mounts.

Most noteworthy among the proceesions are the Rishabha Vahana Utsavam celebrated on the fifth evening (19th November) of the festival and the Rathotsavam (Maha Radham) Big Wooden Chariot around roads of town, celebrated on the seventh day of the festival (November 21st).

Order of Processions

First Day 15th November
Day: Panchamoorthies
Five Deities Silver Chariot

Night: Panchamoorthies
Mooshigan Mayil (Peacock), Adihara Nandi (Bull),
Sina Rishaba Chariots

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Second Day, 16th November
Day: Sri Vinayagar
Sri ChandrasekaraVimanams
(Chariots) of Sooriya Prabha; the Sun.

Night: Panchamoorthies
Silver Indra Vimanam Chariots


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Third Day, 17th November
Day: Sri Vinayagar
Sri Chandrasekara in new Vahanams

Night: Panchamoorthies
Simha (Lion) Vaahanamam,
Silver Swan etc

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Fourth Day, 18th November
Day: 1008 Sanka Abishekam,Sri Vinayagar,
Sri Chandrasekara Vimanams - Naga (Cobra) Vahanam

Night: Panchamoorthies
Silver Kalpatraru, Kamadenu (Cow of Plenty),
Ruby and Silver Chariots.

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Fifth Day, 19th November
Day: Sri Vinayagar
Sri Chandraskara Glass, Rishaba Vahanams, Silver Elephant

MAJOR PROCESSION Night: Panchamoorthies
Silver Mooshigan,Silver Mayil
Large Silver Bull Rishaba Vahanam

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Sixth Day, 20th November
Day: Sixty-Three Nayanmars (Saints)
Sri Vinayagar, Sri Chandraskara Mooshikan

Night: Panchamoorthies
Indra Vimanam - Silver Car, Etc.

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Seventh Day, 21st November
BIGGEST AND GRANDEST PROCESSION
Big Wooden Chariot -
The Maha Radham around roads of town

Night: Panchamoorthies reach Ashthana Mandapam

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Eighth Day, 22nd November
Day: Sri Vinayagar,Sri Chandrasekara, Silver Chariot

Night: Panchamoorthies start with Horse
Vahanams etc at night 4.p.m. Pichandavar in Golden Meru

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Ninth Day, 23rd November
Day: Sri Vinayagar,Sri Chandrasekara, Glass Vimanam

Night: Panchamoorthies
Kailasa Vahanam,
Kamadenu - Cow of plenty
Raveneswaram Vahanam etc.

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Tenth Day, 24th November
MAHADEEPAM DAY

4 a.m. Maha Barani
Day: Tank Teertham
Ceremony 4.00 A.M.

Dusk: Panchamoorthies in Golden Vimanams
6 p.m. Deepam fire on top of Mountain.
Tank Ceremony


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Tank Ceremony
25th November
Day: Sri Chandrasekara Boating Festival

Night: Panchamoorthies in Golden Rishaba Vimanams.

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Tank Ceremony
26th November
Day: Sri Parasakthi Boating Festival

Night: 7 p.m Sri Arunachaleswara
and Mother Apeethakuchalambal
Sri Chandikeswarar

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Tank Ceremony
27th November
Day: Sri Subramania Boating Festival

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Tank Ceremony
28th November
Day: Sri Chandikeswarar Festival

Night: Sri Chandikeswarar Utsavam
Rishaba Vahanam
Silver Bull.