2014 Deepam Festival. Day Seven—Full Day: Maharadham

Yesterday, Tuesday December 2, 2014, was the seventh day of the 2014 Karthigai Deepam Festival and definitely one of the most popular. It was the day of the Maharadham, the massive wooden chariot that is pulled around the Mada Streets (four main perimeter streets surrounding the Arunachaleswarar Temple) by devotees. The men pull on the right side of the chariot and the women the left. 

One chariot each for the panchamoorthies

Lord Arunachaleswarar in His sanctum top of the Maharadham

Gents on right, ladies to the left pulling chariot on Thiruvoodal Street

Circumambulation of Temple by Maharadham takes around 12 hours

Devotees packed on roofs and every vantage point to take darshan

To propel Maharadham, lads jump on levers wedged under the back wheels

2014 Deepam Festival. Day Four—Night: Karpavirutcham and Kamadhenu Vahanams

Wish Fulfilling Tree and Cow

[Due to a photograph glitch, this posting on Arunachala Grace, 'Day Four—Night of the 2014 Deepam Festival', of the wish-fulfilling tree and cow is out of sequence. To be clear, however, this function did indeed occur as usual on the night of the fourth day of the Karthigai Deepam Festival]

One of the most popular of the processions during the Deepam Festival at Arunachala, is that of the Kamadhenu, the wish fulfilling cow, and the Kalpavriksha (also known as Karpavirutcham), the wish fulfilling tree. Both of which emphasis the wish fulfilling aspect of Arunachala.

Lord Karthikeya, Lord Arunachaleswarar and Goddess Saraswathi

The Kalpavriksha is a mythological divine tree said to fulfil all desires. Its mythology narrates that the wish-fulfilling tree originates from the churning of the ocean of milk afterwhich the god Indra, returned with the tree to his paradise. During the Deepam Festival on the Fourth Night Lord Arunachaleswarar is seated under the Kapavriksha Tree.

Glorious Wish Fulfilling Tree outside Temple Mandapam

The second major Radham appearing on that night is that of Kamadhenu (literally meaning; the cow; "from whom all that is desired is drawn", or “the divine cow providing for all needs”). The Kamadhenu is a divine cow-goddess described in mythology as the mother of all cows who provides the owner with whatever is desired.

Theories as to the origin of the Kamadhenu are two-fold. One scripture describes her as the daughter of the creator god Daksha, and another narrates that Kamadhenu also emerged from the churning of the cosmic ocean. Upon the divine cow during the Deepam night procession is seated the Goddess Saraswati.

Wish Fulfilling Tree vahana of Lord Arunachaleswarar

It is often the wish fulfilling aspect of Girivalam that brings many pilgrims each Poornima (Full Moon) to the Hill, whatever the difficulty or weather, to perform circumambulation. In fact many pilgrims prefer it when the conditions are extreme (cold, heavy sheeting rain, previous tapas such as fasting and mortification etc) as they believe that the greater the difficulties they overcome in performing girivalam, the greater will be the focus of their sankalpa (intention) and success of their wish.

Wish Fulfilling Tree rounding the perimeter streets of Temple

The now deceased Annamalai Swami explains the power of the Hill as thus:-

“. . . It is not an ordinary hill. It is spirituality Itself. It has a powerful, magnetic pull to the Self. Seekers who come to this place with the intention of realizing the Self will have untold benefits to do pradakshina on a full moon.

Kamadhenu -- Wish Fulfilling Cow

In the proximity of this holy hill the presence of the Self is more powerful and more self-evident than anywhere else. Indian mythology speaks of a wish-fulfilling tree. If you find this tree and tell it what you want, your wish will be granted. 

Arunachala also has this reputation. This is why so many people come here on a full moon night and walk around it. But very few people come here and ask for their complete freedom, for undisturbed peace. 

Arunachala is a light. It shines. It is the light of the Self, and the light of the Self will continue to shine on you whether you believe it or not. Arunachala is greater than all other religious places. There are other holy, powerful places in the world, but none have the power of Arunachala . . . There is a huge amount of shakti, or spiritual energy, here.”

2014 Deepam Festival. Day Six—Night: Silver Chariot

The below four photographs are of the night of the sixth day of 2014 Karthigai Deepam Celebrations here at Arunachala. In this series Lord Arunachaleswarar is being carried across Car Street to the tank on the corner of Sannidhi Street, where his Silver Chariot awaits. 

In the bottom two photographs the Lord in his Silver Chariot is going around the four Mada Streets surrounding the perimeter of Arunachaleswarar Temple. 

2014 Deepam Festival. Day Five—Night: Big Silver Rishabam

For a full pictorial representation of the below narrative please visit my website Arunachala Samudra at this link here.

Big Silver Rishba

[Narrative By Swami Abhishekananda 1970]

“The Festival begins nine or ten days before Thibam. Each evening there are solemn processions round the Temple, which are over and above the regular worship and the private offerings of puja which go on through the day.

The day comes to its climax with the procession in the evening, which lasts almost until midnight. It is led by Ganapati, the commander of the heavenly hosts (gana-pati). Next comes Karttikeyi, the lord of the Pleiades, also called Murugan or Subrahmaniyan in Tamilnadu, who like Ganapati is a murti of Shiva and also his son. Surya, the Sun, comes next, the great sign of Light. There there is Uma or Parvati, Shiva’s consort; and lastly, on his white bull, Shiva Arunachala or Annamalaiyar. According to custom they are carried on the Temple cars, whose dimensions and decoration are on the grandest scale. Every evening there are different cars, each more impressive than its predecessor. Of these the most remarkable are the huge car of carved wood, more than ten metres high, on which the statue is carried on a day during the Festival and also the silver bull on which Shiva rides on the fifth day.

I was strongly recommended not to miss the night of the silver bull, and had accordingly arrived in very good time. I passed the time in the shrine of Sundareshwar, which was under the supervision of my friend Arunachala Aiyar, Ramana’s old companion in the Virupaksha cave. Saminathan was also there that evening. The mandapam was crowded with people who like us were waiting to see the procession. They plied me with endless questions, which I answered as well as I could. Saminathan, not knowing Tamil, remained silent, his eyes half shut, lost in his prayer. I have to admit that my questioners were much more impressed by Saminathan and his silence than by the answer that they sought to extract from me; but they paid even less attention to the disquisitions which which one or other of the company sought remorselessly to improve the occasion. They clearly told me so . . .

During this time, in the Kalyana Mandapam, ‘the portico of weddings,’ the priests were busy decorating the murtis, using silk and gold brocade, flowers and valuable jewels. Meanwhile the cars were standing outside the Temple, and on them also ornaments were being loaded. All this seemed to go on interminably; but at last there was a sudden blare of trumpets form the inner courtyard, their sound re-echoing loudly from the high enclosure walls. Accompanying the trumpets was the low drone of the tamburas, while the silvery melody of flutes pierced though the noise of the crowd. 

Now the file of murtis with their attendants emerged from their shrines, and when they passed under porticos or gopurams the echo from the low vaults become deafening. Soon they came to the Vallalla Gopuram where were were standing. In front were the torch-bearers, next the musicians, and last the palanquins, carried on the bare shoulders of the priest. On either side was the tightly-packed crowd with outstretched arms, giving cries of fervent devotion. Somewhere breaking coconuts on the ground, while others held out at arm’s length gilded trays of burning camphor. The enthusiasm spread, swelled, multiplied itself irresistibly. Light, heat, scents, sounds, bodies and souls too, all were weeded together into a single vast and vibrant outpouring of love in honour of the Lord of Arunachala. 

We followed behind the procession, crossed the outermost courtyard, passed under the huge gopuram, passed under the huge gopuram over the East Gate and reached the long colonnade which adjoins it on the east, where the cars were waiting. The murtis were installed on the cars; and once again the work of decoration was resumed with renewed zeal; flowers, jewels, lights in even greater quantity. The crowd was now more tightly packed than ever. The friend who was guiding me managed to open a path for me immediately in front of the chief car, where the palanquin of Shiva Annamalaiyar was mounted on the silver bull. 

Over him was held a huge ceremonial umbrella which touched the roof overhead. Behind the car was a trailer with a dynamo, and thousands of electric bulbs sparkled all over the palanquin, the platform, the decorations, among the jewels, silks and flowers which adorned the statue. Appusastri, who was standing near, was so moved that he cried out: “How can one doubt any longer that it is the Lord himself upon his car, who presents himself for our adoration!” Yet this Appusastri was an old disciple of Ramana and Ganapati Muni, who more than anyone had lectured me about advaita, proclaiming that whatever appears is maya, that there is no distinction at the heart of Being, and that it is vanity to worship God as an “Other” . . . !

2014 Deepam Festival. Day Five—Day: Chandrasekhara in Rishabam

2014 Deepam Festival. Day Four—Day: Naga Vahanam

Today we had the procession of Chandrasekhara and Naga Vahanam. The first photo in his gallery is of the newly renovated and plated Naga Vahanam. 

Naga Vahana recently refurbished

Lord Arunachaleswarar on Naga Vahanam, 2014 Deepam

Lord Arunachaleswarar in Mandapam outside Temple Rajagopuram

Procession of the Panchamoorties around the Temple perimeter Streets

2014 Deepam Festival. Day Three—Night: Shima Vahanam

During Festivals the Deities are taken in procession around the Temple. Sometimes, the deity is shown mounted on or riding their vehicle, while at other times, the vahana is shown by the Deity’s side. Many times, this vahana (vehicle) is also represented by way of symbolisms, as a divine attribute. Though the vahana appears to be independent, it is part and parcel of the deity’s presence and has an meaning to it. 

In the case of the Lord on the Simha (lion) vehicle; the creature represents lordly power in general and lordly power of wild beasts in particular. Lion, the royal beast represents the best in animal creation. It can also represent greed for food and hence the greed for other objects of enjoyment, which invariably leads to lust. And as God’s vehicle represents His control of animal instincts in human beings 

The golden skinned lion is an archetypal symbol for the golden rayed sun, the lord of the day, whose appearance kills the demonic forces of the night. The lion has always been important in mythology in India as it symbolises the solar and luminous principle of life and knowledge. 

The lion also expresses the heroism and prowess necessary to defeat asurik forces and represents the heroism and strength required to enter the spiritual path. 

Alagarams left to right: Karthikeya, Shiva, Goddess

Lord Arunachaleswarar on Simha Vahana

Simha Vahana

Panchamoorthies outside Arunachaleswarar Temple

2014 Deepam Festival. Day Three—Day: Bootha Vahanam

This morning Day 3 of the 2014 Karthigai Deepam Festival at Arunachala was the procession of Lord Chandrasekhara on the Bootha Vahanam. 

Lord Chandrasekhara Alangaram

The Lord on the Bootha Vahana

In this and other processions throughout the Festival, the Panchamurthis are: Vinayagar, Lord Annamalaiyar, Goddess Unnamulaiyar, Lord Subramanya and Sri Chandikeswarar (representing all devotees).

Lord Chandrasekhara rounding Arunachaleswarar perimeter streets

Ganesha on his Vahana

2014 Deepam Festival. Day One—Evening: Adhikara Nandi Vahana

There are two types of Nandi (Nandikeśvara) statues at Siva Temples, the more common is that of the reclining bull (Vrsabha) and the other is that of Adhikara Nandi. In the case of Arunachaleswarara Temple the Adhikara Nandi of last night’s function is in the form of a bull-head human standing on two legs.

Adhikara Nandi's two back hands hold a parasu (battle axe) and mrga (antelope) and the two front hands are folded on the chest in a pose of obeisance. Since he is the chief of the ganas (retinues) of Siva, exercising his authority (adhikara) over them, he is christened as ‘Adhikara Nandi.’

There are different accounts as to the origin of this manifestation. Desirous of a son, a sage named Salankayana, propitiated Lord Vishnu, who granted his wish by producing a boy exactly resembling Siva, from the right side of his body. He was named Nandikesvara. According to another account, a sage called Nandi obtained the status of a Deva and the headship of the ganas of Siva by propitiating him. A third account depicts Adhikara Nandi as emerging from the yagasala (sacrificial shed) of the blind sage Silada, in the form of a young lad resembling Siva, thus bringing ‘nandi’ or joy to him. Silada adopted him as his son.

Panchamoorthies Deeparthana

Arunachaleswarar

Arunachaleswarar on Adhikara Nandi Vahana

Panchamoorthies giving darshan front of Arunachaleswarar Temple

2014 Panthakal Invitation, Arunachaleswarar Temple

Arulmigu Arunachaleswarar Temple, Tiruvannamalai. 

At Tiruvanamalai in the form of Agni and among the panchabhuta sthalams with the blessings of Arulmigu Annamalaiyar and Unnamulai 

from Sunday 23rd November 2014 to Tuesday 9th December 2014 

Thirukarthigai Deepam Festival is going to celebrated. 

Right Click to enlarge

In connection with this on Monday 6th October, 2014 in the morning between 5.30 a.m. and 6.45 a.m. during the kaniyar lagnam, Panthakal Muhurtham is going to be conducted. 

At that time at the Arulmigu Samanthar Vinayakar Sannadhi, a special abhiskekam and aradhana will be performed as marking the start of the Festival. 

All are invited.