10th Day of 2018 Vasantha Utsavam Festival at Arunachala: Teerthavari

10th Day of Vasantha Utsavam Festival at Arunachala

The below is a pictorial report of the tenth day of the recently concluded 2018 Vasantha Utsavam Festival at Tiruvannamalai.

Day 10: Sunday 29 April, 2018  

Morning: Ayyankulam Tank. Theertavari 

Night: Special puja at Gopala Vinayaka Temple (near Thrishul Hotel) 

Night: Temple Manmatha firing after 11 p.m. 

On the the tenth and final day of this Festival, Lord Somaskanda and the Goddess go outside the temple on procession in palanquins. The procession completes at the Ayyankulam Tank in front of Arunagirinathar Temple (the third most famous Siva Temple at Arunachala). It is here where Teerthavari will be observed. 

After the ceremony and attendant rituals are complete, the Gods return to Arunachaleswarar Temple. 

The Gods in Mandapam at Ayyankulam Tank

Lord Somaskanda

Parihara Puja Ayyankulam Tank: February 12, 2016

As readers will already know an incident sadly occurred at the Ayyankulam Tank, Tiruvannamalai, on the morning of February 8 during the Mahadhaya Maha Punniya Kalam 2016 ceremonies. In that incident four people drowned in the Theertham and a number of others were injured when devotees jostled to bathe in the Tank on the auspicious occasion of Mahodaya Amavasya. 

‘Mahodhaya Punniya Kaalam’ is when the below attributes align together in a single day, an event which occurs only about once every 30 years. 

Thithi: Amavasya 

Nakshathiram: Thiruvonam 

Yogam: Vyathi Patham 

Month: Thai 
Vaaram: Soma (Monday) 

Ceremony at Siva Shrine, Arunachaleswarar Temple

Parihara Puja was performed at the Ayyankulam Theertham yesterday Friday, February 12, 2016 in connection with the recent tragedy at that place. 

The meaning of “parihara” is the removing, averting, remedying and clearing away of difficulties and troubles. 

Ceremony at Ayyankulam Tank

It is stated in the Veda Sastras, that the remedy for “parihara” can be divided into three parts. 

Sulabha-Sadhya: Problems can be removed with simple “pariharas” (remedies) such as going to Temple, lighting lamps, Navagraha pradhakshina, Navagraha archana, reciting slokas-mantras and dhaana (gifts and donations) done daily and frequently. 

Kasta-Sadhya: Problems have to be removed with a more concentrated and strong effort, as they cannot be removed with simple “pariharas”. To remove Kasta Sadhya such focussed long term efforts as intense recitation of Japa and performance of Homas is required. 

Asadhya: These are problems which cannot be removed with any of the above “pariharas”. The problem just has to be undergone and experienced. It is estimated that around five percent of problems fall in this category. 

My personal opinion in connection with the drownings at the Theertham is: if one considers the ways in which people meet their end; to die by water in the consecrated waters of the Indira Theertham, next to the Holy Sulam of Lord Shiva, under the auspices of Arunachala on one of the most sacred days of the last 30 years, seems more like a blessing than a tragedy. 

Further, in the words of one of the people connected with this event: 

 "We don't feel sad because it was very peaceful and we didn't even know till after the function what had happened. One victim was a Temple Gurukkal and the other three were devotees who have done excellent service over the years to the Temple Gods. It was such a big, important day and what happened was like God just silently taking them home." 

Mahodhaya Maha Punniya Kalam 2016

Mahabhishekam Theertha Utchava Invitation 

Right Click to view Enlargement

Translation:

Sri Arunachaleswararar Parameshwara is one among the five panchaboothas. It is the Agni, fire sthalam. Moorthi Thalam Theertham is the special name given to this sthalam along with 365 Theerthams at this place. Brahma, Visnu and other Devadevatas did pujas and got blessings from Siva in the form of Ardhanishvara. He killed the feeling of “I” in the Lingodbhava form where he manifested into a mountain. Devotees do girivalam. On Deepam Day He comes out as the Fire, taking the form of Half Siva and Half Shakthi. 

Punya Kalam occurs during the Solar Eclipse, Moon Eclipse, Vishu Punyakalam, Uttarayana, Dakshinayanam, Sankaranti etc. The Eclipse time is good for pujas and also theerthavari, yaham, japam, tarpanam and donations (dhanam) are good during this time. This is said in the Puranas. During japam in the time of grahanam (eclipse) the power is greater, also things like the giving of donations are more powerful. 

But 1000 times more powerful and sanctified is the time of Mahodhaya Punniya Kalam. It is better than the time of the solar eclipse. This truth is recorded in many Aham and Sastra books. It is also said in the Arunachala Mahatmyam. Parameshwara said that during Mahodhaya Maha Punniya Kalam, we have to do special pujas and theerthavari. 

In the Tamil Month of Thai; Amavasya (New Moon), Thiruona Nakshatriam (Monday) and Vayadeepadhyam—when all fall on the same day it is known as Mahodhaya Punniya Kalam. 

During this Tamil Year Manmatha, Thai Month, Tamil day 25. English date Monday, February 8, 2016. On this special day, Sri Apeethakumbachambal Samadeha Sri Arunachaleswarar will be worshipped with Mahabhishekam, Alankaram, Deepatharthana, and Theertha Urchavam at the Indira Theeram also known as Ayyankulam Tank. 

In the early morning between 6.30 and 6.45 a.m. Mahodhaya Punniya Kalatheeravari will occur. 

This powerful Punniya Kalam occurs only once every 25-30 years. During this time Shiva Bhaktas are invited for this function. 

Schedule: 

7.02.2016 Early morning 1 a.m. Mahabhishekam starts for Apeethakumbachambal Samadeha Sri Arunachaleswarar at the Big Temple. 

8.02.2016 Early morning 5 a.m. Mahadeepatharana and Swami go to Ayyankulam Tank. 

8.02.2016 Early morning 6.30 a.m. at Indira Theertham (Ayyankulam Tank) Mahodhaya Punniya Kalatheeravari and later procession. 

Right Click for Enlargement

‘Mahodhaya Punniya Kaalam’ is when the below attributes align together in a single day: 

Thithi: Amavasya 

Nakshathiram: Thiruvonam 

Yogam: Vyathi Patham 

Month: Thai 

Vaaram: Soma (Monday) 

Arunachaleswarar Temple and the Indira Theertham (Ayyankulam Tank) will be very crowded during this time.

2015 Deepam Festival. Day Fourteen--Night: Chandikeswarar on Theepal

Last night was Day 14 of the 2015 Karthigai Deepam Festival. And it was the turn of Chandikeswarar on Theppal at the Ayyankulam Tank. 

The Mahadeepam on Arunachala was lit on November 25, and is expected to remain so for at least the next 10 days . . . so we still have wonderful darshan of the Hill with Beacon everynight -- even though the Festival Functions are now over. 

Chandikeswarar Theepal Alangaram

The steps at the left of the wall, are those upon which devotees sit to watch the Theepals on the Tank

Across from the tank, is Arunagirinathar Temple which is less known than other major Temples, but very special

2015 Deepam Festival. Day Thirteen--Night: Lord Subramaniyar on Theepal

The below photographs are of Lord Supramaniyar on Theepal at Ayyankulam Tank about a ten minute walk from Arunachaleswarar Temple. For four consecutive evenings the Gods are floated on the Tank in front of large crowds seated on the steps of the Theertham. The floats being used nowadays were made and used for the first time last year. 

Lord Supramaniyar

The Lord with his two wives on Ayyankulam Tank on their Float

Watching the Gods on their Floats for four consecutive evenings

2015 Deepam Festival. Day Twelve--Night: Amman on Theepal

The below photographs are of Amman on Theepal at Ayyankulam Tank about a ten minute walk from Arunachaleswarar Temple. For four consecutive evenings the Gods are floated on the Tank in front of large crowds seated on the steps of the Theertham. 

Amman Alangaram

Steps at Ayyankularm Tank

Taking darshan of the Goddess on Float

Day 3 Theepal - Lord Subramanya: Deepam Festival December 8, 2014

This evening the third night of Thirthotsavam (i.e. Water Festival) Lord Subramanya (with his two wives) was taken out on a float on the Ayyankulam Tank located in front of the Arunagirinathar Temple a few minutes from the Big Temple. 

Lord Subramanya

Float on Ayyankulam Tank

3rd Day of the Thirthotsavam Festival, 2014 Karthigai Deepam

Teertham 2013 Aani Bramothsavam Festival

The below photographs were taken at the Ayyankulam Tank in front of the Arunagirinathar Temple a few minutes walk from Arunachaleswarar Temple. The idols are being bathed at the teertham on the tenth and last day of the 2013 Aani Bramothsavam Festival. 

To those unfamiliar with the very beautiful and recently restored Arunagirinathar Temple, I am posting additional photographs of the third oldest Shiva Temple at Arunachala. 

Arunachala Darshan from Arunagirinathar Temple. Raja Gopruam at right

An ancient Temple that has an intricate relationship with Arunachaleswarar Temple and the Hill. It is at this Temple that the last three days of Deepam Festival are celebrated when the Gods are taken on elaborately decorated floats onto the large tank. 

If you take time to walk around the perimeter of the Temple Tank, you will be rewarded with interesting and fascinating sights of a number of obscure but powerful shrines and Temples. The view also of Arunachala is quite sublime from most aspects around the Ayyankulam Tank.

Fascinating, ancient Arunagirinathar Temple

Navagraha Shrine at Arunagirinathar Temple

Arunagirinathar Temple has powerful sanctum sanctorums dedicated to Lord Shiva and the Goddess. It also has my favourite Navagraha Shrine at Tiruvannamalai, which includes a most ornate and beautiful representation of Lord Surya. 

Lord Surya with his Mounts

Powerful and Beautiful Navagraha statues

To read more about this Temple and Tank, go to this link here. And to explore the perimeter of the Ayyankulam Tank, go to this link here. 

Deepam Festival 2012, Ayyankulam Tank

After the night of the lighting of the Deepam on the top of Arunachala, there are several subsequent days celebrated at Tiruvannamalai which are also part of the Deepam Festival. For three consecutive evenings after the lighting of the Arunachala Deepam, the Gods are taken upon the Ayyankulam Tank upon beautifully decorated floats. 

Also during one of the days after Mahadeepam the Gods perform a grand circumambulation of Arunachala, stopping at many spots along the way, allowing devotess to make offerings to the Gods, and for the attendant priests to perform aarti. 

Ayyankulam Tank in the daytime

First Evening Lord Chandrasekhara

Crowds at Tank Edge, First Evening

Second Evening, Amman Theppal

Amman

Gods on Circumambulation

Stopping whenever requested

Night of Deepam, The Golden Bull

After the lighting of the Deepam yesterday evening there was a wonderful procession of the Golden Bull, followed by Kamadhenu (the wish fulfilling cow). Depending upon astrological computations made by the Temple priests, the Deepam on top of Arunachala will stay alight from anywhere from a minimum of seven nights to a maxium of thirteen nights. 

As well as the Deepam on Arunachala, over the next several days in the evening the Gods will be put on floats on the Ayyankulam Tank located in front of the third most major Shiva Temple in Tiruvannamalai, Arunagirinathar Temnple. 

Golden Bull

Circumambulation of the Big Temple

Gods in concourse front of Big Temple Raja Gopuram

Tenth Night and Ayyankulam Tank

Right click on photographs to view enlargements


The light still blazes through the night on the top of Arunachala, but the festivities of the Deepam Festival are over. Below are a few photographs of the latter days of the Festival. The first two photographs are of the evening of the 10th day.




Murtis of the 5 Gods giving
darshan to devotees outside the Temple



Golden Rishaba (bull) procession
rounding Temple perimeter walls


The lighting of the Mahadeepam takes place on the 10th day of the Festival after which in the evenings of the following three nights, the Gods are taken for a sailing trip on the waters of the very large Ayyankulam Tank.

The Ayyankulam is the tank of the famous Arunagirinathar Temple, which is the third most renowned Shiva Temple at Tiruvannamalai after Arunachaleswarar Temple and Adiannamalai Temple. The Arunagirinathar Temple is in fact one of my favourite Tiruvannamalai Temples and I encourage more pilgrims to visit it while at Tiruvannamalai.



Crowds at the Ayyankulam Tank
to watch the Gods on their float


To view photographs of Temples and Shrines on the perimeter of the Ayyankulam Tank, go to this link here. And to see the view from Ayyankulam Tank, go to this link here.



The Gods float setting
out on the Ayyankulam Tank


Most of the crowds have left Tiruvannamalai, and the town is slowly returning to normal. And yet we can look up and still see the blazing beacon on top of Arunachala, and look in and see the Blessing hand of Annamalaiyar.




The Blessing hand of Annamalaiyar
at 2011 Deepam

Ayyankulam Tank Perimeter

This morning I attended a function at Arunagirinathar Temple, next to Ayyankulam Tank. As I frequently visit this Temple, while there I also take the opportunity to explore the area.

The perimeter of the huge Ayyankulam Tank, is filled with Temples, Shrines, houses, colonies and neglected curious compounds.

As the view of Arunachala from the front of the Tank is obscured by development, I decided to walk around to the back of the Tank for Hill darshan.

In spite of rampant development the view of Arunachala with the Raja Gopuram of Arunachaleswarar Temple in the foreground is still spectacular and rather better than I anticipated.

As is usual at tanks, many local housewives line up to wash their clothes in the tank water.

Throughout there were fascinating passages and shrines, and traditionally built Indian cottages, which I took the opportunity to explore.

It would be fascinating to learn the history of these Shrine and Temples. Many of them are currently in the condition that the now famous shrines such as the Asta Lingams, Pavala Kundru, Kannapar Temple, Arunagirinathar Temple etc., were in as recently as 25 years ago before their renovation was taken up.

So maybe some of these deserted compounds, neglected Shrines and dilapidated Temples, will also be given a ‘new life’.