2015 Panguni Uthiram Festival--Celestial Wedding

Panguni Uthiram is celebrated during Panguni Month (March-April) during Uthiram Nakshatra day. In 2015 the Panguni Uthiram date was April 3.

Panguni Uthiram (Falgun Purnima) full moon day is known as the time of celebration of the Celestial Wedding of Lord Siva and Goddess Parvathi; Lord Murugan and His consort Goddess Devayani and Lord Vishnu and His consort Goddess Andal. This day also celebrates the divine wedding day of Lord Rama and the Goddess Sita. 

This celebration of Divine marriage is intended to emphasis the glory of married life for householders and to protect their union from separation. It is believed that offering prayers to God at this time gives good mental equilibrium to couples and bestows them with strength, love, affection and understanding. 

Devotees visiting Lord Murugan Temples on Panguni Uthiram day carry Kavadis and many devotees choose to have their heads shaved and to observe austerities at this time. To read the legend of Lord Murugan's devotees and the Kavadi, go to this link here.

Lord Murugan devotees carrying Kavadis

At Arunachaleswarar Temple a Marriage Festival is celebrated.

Exchange of Garlands for the Gods

Alangaram of the Gods

Marriage of  Lord Annamalaiyar and the Goddess

Devotees watching the marriage

In the evening the Gods came in procession and an exchange of garlands took place. 

Arunachaleswarar and Parashakti after exchanging garlands were both moved to the Kalyana Mandapam. Inside the Kalayana Mandapam (Thirukalyanam Mandapam), the Thirukalyanam Festival occurred. 

Gods in procession in the town

After which Lord Arunachaleswarar with Goddess Ambal came out in procession on the mount of the Golden Rishaba (bull). 

After completion of the Celestial Marriage on full moon day, special functions celebrating the Panguni Festival daily occurred connected with  Arunachaleswarar Temple from April 3, 2015 to April 8, 2015. 

Arunachala spur with Murugan Shrine on Top

As mentioned earlier this Panguni Uthiram full moon day Festival is also the celebration of the Celestial Wedding of Lord Murugan and his Goddess Devayani. As well as the carrying of Kavadis, devotees of Lord Murugan also held separate functions for their God at various Lord Murugan Temples and Shrines throughout Tiruvannamalai. 

The hillside shrine on a small spur south of Arunachala held a two day long celebration of the Celestial Wedding. On both the 3rd and 4th of April, the whole top of this spur was decorated and lit up with lights. 

For more information and photographs of the Lord Murugan Shrine on the spur rock go to this link here. 

6 a.m. at Arunachala

To avoid the fierce heat of the day, I take my dogs out for their daily jaunt early each morning. The below photographs were taken around 6 a.m. Most early mornings, there is a beautiful ethereal haze surrounding the top of Arunachala.

Arunachala Darshan through Haze

Early morning haze. Temple Gopurams right of Hill

Spur of Arunachala with Lord Murugan Shrine 

Close view of rock formation on Spur with shrine set further back

Even though Arunachala is known primarily for its association with Lord Siva, other Gods are also worshipped at this place. As mentioned in my recent post Panguin Uthiram -- Celestial Wedding at Arunachala, during this time the Wedding of the Gods is celebrated. At the top of an Arunachala Hill Spur (at Rajiv Gandhi Nagar near Sri Nannagaru Ashram), is a lovely Shrine dedicated to Lord Murugan at which the Celestial Wedding of Lord Murugan was celebrated during the recent Festival. 

The Shrine during Festival this year was visited by a large number of Murugan devotees, and from a distance during the nights of the celebration the Shrine at the top of the spur was beautifully lit up. If you ever want to have a nice view of the surrounding area and are not up to climbing to the top of Arunachala, one gets very nice darshan from the top of this Hill spur while also benefiting from a visit to the sweet Lord Murugan Temple 

Panguin Uthiram -- Celestial Wedding at Arunachala

The first day of Panguni Uthiram which was celebrated at Arunachaleswarar Temple yesterday (Sunday April 13, 20134) is known as the time of celebration of the Celestial Wedding of Lord Siva and Goddess Parvathi. 

The below photographs celebrated the following programme:- 

Evening 6.00 p.m. At Amman flag post Arunachaleswarar came in procession and there was performed the exchanging of garlands. 

8.00 p.m. Arunachaleswarar and Parashakti after exchanging garlands moved to the Thirukalyanam Mandapam. 

11.00 p.m. Thirukalyanam Mandapam, the Thirukalyanam Festival occurred.

Exchanging of Garlands

Exchange occuring in front of Unnamulaiamman Temple

Exchange occurring late Sunday night

Inside the Thirukalyana Mandapam for Marriage Function