Arunachala Deepam Origins and History

To read more about the traditions and mythology of Deepam as is celebrated at Arunachala, please visit the following earlier postings on Arunachala Grace.


http://arunachalagrace.blogspot.com/2008/12/arunachala-deepam-festival.html

http://arunachalagrace.blogspot.com/2008/12/bharani-deepam-2008.html



Festival of Light

Part 1
http://arunachalagrace.blogspot.com/2008/11/karthigai-deepam-south-india.html


Part 2
http://arunachalagrace.blogspot.com/2008/12/deepam-festival-part-two.html


Part 3
http://arunachalagrace.blogspot.com/2008/12/deepam-festival-part-three.html


Part 4
http://arunachalagrace.blogspot.com/2008/12/festival-of-light.html

Deepam Goddess

Deepam as celebrated at Arunachala, is traditionally connected with the Hill and Arunachaleswarar Temple, and the only other Arunachala Temple that ‘officially’ participates in the Deepam Festival Functions is the Durga Amman Koil..

Even though the flag hoisting at Arunachaleswarar Temple, which denotes the beginning of the Festival, took place this year on December 12th, the Festival, as always, was preceded by three days of functions dedicated to the Goddess Durga. Right click here, to see the full schedule of this year’s Festival.






The reason for this is believed to be because of the Goddess and the demon Mahisha:

read ‘The Fight with Mahishasura’:







In the Mahishasura legend, before fighting with the demon, the Goddess appointed four noble Bhairavis (celestial damsels) to keep watch on all four sides of Arunagiri. Ordering, that:

"Admit only those who have come to worship Arunachala and are tired, hungry and thirsty. Others should not enter. She then appointed strong men to guard the boundaries of Arunachala and continued Her penace at Her ashram."
[The Glory of Arunachala]

In accordance with the mythology of Arunachala, Durga is recognised as a Guardian of Arunachala and thus a precursor of the Deepam Festival is always a celebration of this aspect of the Goddess.

Sri Nannagaru at Arunachala

Right-click on all photographs to view enlarged version

After the recent scandals about Godmen here at Tiruvannamalai, its nice to post about someone who is highly regarded in these parts and has reached the age of seventy-six, after a lifetime dedicated to spiritual service, with a blemish free, impeccable reputation.

Sri Nannagaru was born in 1934 at Jinnuru, Andhra Pradesh and first visited Arunachala in 1957 on a visit to the samadhi of his Guru (who he never met in person) Sri Ramana Maharshi.

Shortly thereafter Sri Nannagaru had a realisation experience which he attributes entirely to the Grace of Arunachala-Ramana.

Nowadays Sri Nannagaru visits his two ashrams at Arunachala (Sri Nannagaru Ashram and Andhra Ashram) approximately four times a year, spending around 7-10 days per visit. As Swamiji traditionally spends Deepam at Arunachala, that is the only time that his devotees are able to plan ahead and make arrangements to visit Arunachala at the same time as their Guru.

By the way this year the first night of the lighting of the flame of Deepam is November 21, 2010.

Swamiji arrived at Arunachala this visit on March 18th and left this day March 27th. During his stay he gave regular darshans and talks (in Telegu), visited Ramana Ashram and Andhra Ashram, attended several pujas, and also performed rounding the Hill with his devotees.

Today prior to his return to Andhra Pradesh, his devotees arranged Pada Puja and Cow Puja ceremonies at Sri Nannagaru Ashram.

Sri Nannagaru is regarded by many as the most authentic Guru representative that visits Arunachala these days. He bases his teachings on that of his guru, Sri Ramana Maharshi, inculcating his devotees in the method of Self Enquiry.

Even though he donates generously to spiritual and social organisations and individuals, his primary objective is of inspiring and supporting devotees and visitors on the spiritual path. Even as an adolescent and prior to his realisation experience, at the tender age of sixteen years old, Sri Nannagaru would ride his bicycle to villages close to his native Jinnuru (Andhra Pradesh) to give dissertations at the market place on the Bhagavad Gita.

Suggest you take advantage if you are able to connect with Sri Nannagaru either at Arunachala or during his regular visits to Hyderabad and around Andhra Pradesh. Check out his schedule at his website at this link here.