Aadi Pooram Photographs—Friday August 9, 2013

After a long delay I finally connected with Swami at Rajarajeshwari Temple on the Arunachala Girivalam Roadway, and picked up photographs of the Aadi Pooram Festival as it was celebrated at that Temple. 

Below are two photographs of Sri Rajarajeshwari at Arunachala, specially dressed for this most auspicious Festival. I will be posting a more complete narrative with photographs onto my website Arunachala Samudra. To read more about this wonderful Temple, please visit my website at this link here. But for the time being below, two most sublime photographs. 

Right click for photo enlargement

Adi Pooram is celebrated in all Hindu temples in Southern India in the month of Adi, which corresponds to the English months of July-August, when the asterism Pooram (Delta Leonis) is in the ascendancy. As the Festival fell on a Friday this year, the occasion was regarded as even more auspicious. This Festival is observed to propitiate the Sakti Goddess who is said to have come into the world on this occasion to bless all. She is thus worshipped in order that one may secure happiness for oneself and for loved ones.

Shakti Fire Walking 2013

Yesterday, August 9th, 2013 the Vallaikappu (Bangle) ceremony took place in the Vallaikappu Mandapam, Fifth Prakaram of Arunachaleswarar Temple. Later that day around 11.30 p.m. preparations began in front of the Unnamalai Amman Temple for the Fire Walking ceremony. At that time logs were set alight and allowed to burn up. At about 1.00 a.m. this morning Saturday August 10th, 2013, embers from the burnt logs were spread out on the compound floor in front of the Amman Temple. 

I have attended (as a visitor NOT participant) the Fire Walking ceremony at the Big Temple three times in the past, and had no plans to visit Arunachaleswarar Temple this year to view the ceremony. Thankfully I was snug and safe at home, because we had a fierce storm in these parts all through yesterday evening and early morning today. I am amazed that the organisers were able to keep the logs alight long enough for them to burn down to embers as I expected that due to the storm that the fire walking function would have to be cancelled. 

Fire Walking Pictorial

As mentioned in an earlier posting, here are some more photographs of Adi Pooram and of the Fire Walking ceremony. You can view the earlier posting at this link here.

In the upcoming Arunachala Grace Newsletter there will be a full information-filled narrative of the history and significance of the celebration of Adi Pooram and Fire Walking at Arunachaleswarar Temple. So if you are not yet a subscriber of the free Arunachala Grace Newsletter (sent direct to your email inbox) please visit the subscribe facility at the left hand column of this page.

Right click to view enlarged version of below photographs.

Flag Hosting Ceremony

Ladies at Vallaikappu Mandapam,
ArunachaleswararTemple

Ladies worshipping Amman at Mandapam

Amman at Vallaikappu Mandapam

Devotees bathing at Brahma Tirtham,
Arunachaleswarar Temple before firewalk

[If you look at the previous posting of the firewalk you will see that the fire embers are red hot. I suspect the grey colour of the embers in the below photographs are because of the position of the photographer.]

FIREWALK

Schedule of Adi Pooram and Fire Walking
at Arunachaleswarar Temple

5 a.m. Amman Abhishekam

6 a.m. Alangaram

6.30 a.m. Flag Hoisting

8.00 a.m. Amman from Sannadhi to Vallaikappu Mandapam

4.00 p.m. Amman in Vallaikappu and the worship of Amman by ladies

4.00 p.m. Abhishekam

6.00 p.m. Valaikappu

8.00 p.m. Amman goes around the Temple and returns to Vallaikappu Mandapam

12.00 p.m. Adi Pooram firewalking preparation

1.30 p.m. Fire walking