Arudra Darshan Lord Nataraja Abhishekam and Deeparathani: December 20, 2021

 

Below are photographs of the abhishekam and deeparathani performed on Lord Nataraja and the Goddess at the Arunachaleswarar Temple, 1000 Pillar Hall on Wednesday, January 11, 2017. Arudra Darshan is observed in the Tamil month of Margazhi (December–January). It takes place at the time of the full moon (along with Arudra Birth Star) and is the longest night of the year. 

 

 

 

 

This function celebrates the cosmic dance of Lord Shiva, which is represented by the Nataraja form. The term 'Nataraj' means 'King of Dancers' (nata = dance; raja = king). Arudra denotes a red flame and Lord Siva has also a name called "Semporjyoti" or "Golden Red Flame," and thus Nataraja is the manifestation of Siva as a Light.

 

The cosmic dance of Lord Shiva represents five activities–Creation, Protection, Destruction, Embodiment and Release–thereby representing the continuous cycle of creation and destruction. It is believed that the energy from this dance of bliss (Ananda Tandavam) sustains the cosmos, and when Siva is finished with this dance, the Universe will end and a new one will begin.

This Festival is in particular celebrated in a grand manner in the five Sabhas of Sri Nataraja. Lord Shiva as Nataraja (Lord of the Dance) performs the Tandava–the dance in which the Universe is created, maintained, and resolved. The five places where Lord Nataraja performed His Tandavam are collectively known as Pancha Sabhas meaning Five Assembly Halls of Lord Nataraja.

 

(1) Kanakasabha (Gold) at Chidambaram, Ananda Tandavam (Dance)

(2) Velli Sabhai (Silver) at Madurai, Sandhya Tandavam (Dance)

(3) Ratnasabha (Ruby) at Tiruvalankadu , Oordhva Tandavam (Dance)

(4) Tamrasabha (Copper) at Tirunelveli, Muni Tandavam (Dance)

(5) Chitrasabha at Kutralam, Tripura Tandavam (Dance)

 

 

 

In this festival at Arunachaleswarar Temple, Abhishekam of Lord Nataraja takes place early in the morning and He and the Goddess then come outside amongst  devotees. Only a few times a year is the statue of Lord Nataraja brought out of its permanent home at the 2nd Prakaram of Arunachaleswarar Temple.

 

For more information and photographs about the performance of this Festival at Arunachaleswarar Temple, please visit an earlier post at this link here.

Arunachala Karthigai Deepam Lighting—Friday November 19, 2021

The below photographs are of the lights of Arunachala starting with small deepams inside the Temple compound, the lighting of the Deepam on the Hill summit and thereafter darshan of the light on Arunachala from the rooftops of Tiruvannamalai. 

Below there is also an extended video with commentary and footage of the actual lighting of the Deepam Cauldron on the Arunachala summit and a video of the celebrations of Tiruvannamalai. 

Lighting of the 2021 Karthigai Deepam, Tiruvannamalai

The 2021 Arunachala Karthigai Deepam

An extraordinary photograph circulating amongst Arunachala devotees, many of whom believe shows the manifestation of Lord Siva at the time of the lighting of the 2021 Karthigai Deepam

First appearance from distance of the 2021 Arunachala Deepam at 6.05 p.m. Friday 19 November

2021 Arunachala Deepam

Extended video with commentary of the lighting of the Deepam Cauldron on Arunachala Summit

Celebrations in Tiruvannamalai of 2021 Karthigai Deepam of Tiruvannamalai devotees

    

2021 Karthigai Deepam Festival: November 18, 2021—Ninth Day

The below photographs are of the Ninth Day of the 2021 Karthigai Deepam Festival. The God alangarams after worship and aarti are carried out of the Kalyana Mandapam (third prakaram) and taken upon a procession around the Temple prakarams.