Thirukalyanam Function, Big Temple: March 26, 2016

The below photographs were taken in the night at the Thirukalayana Mandapam, Arunachaleswarar Temple during the evening function. 

2014 Major Karthigai Deepam Functions

Below is the programme of the upcoming 2014 Karthigai Deepam at Arunachala listing just major functions over the Festival period. To view the complete programme of the upcoming 2014 Karthigai Festival as celebrated at Tiruvannamalai please go to my earlier posting at this link here.

All the photographs below are of a previous Deepam and taken from my website Arunachala Samudra, to give readers an idea of the size and energy of the crowds attending these major functions. 

To view more photographs and to read in-depth about the Arunachala Deepam Calendar go to to these link here and here.

Major functions over the upcoming 2014 Karthigai Arunachala Deepam

The below photographs are of an earlier Deepam Festival at Arunachala

Holy Flag Hoisting

Wish Fulfilling Tree (Virutcham)

Wish Fulfilling Cow (Kamadhenu)

Wish Fulfilling Tree and Kamadhenu outside Temple

Silver Rishaba

Huge Crowds for darshan of the Gods on Silver Rishaba

Maharadham being pulled around perimeter of Big Temple

Mahadeepam inside Arunachaleswarar Temple Compound

It is advised to all who intend being part of these wonderful, huge celebratory crowds that there will be people present who are not devotees. PLEASE DO NOT TAKE VALUABLES OR MONEY WITH YOU. 

Invitation to Sahashara kalasabhishekam Puja, 2014

The hottest part of the year at Arunachala comes around May and early June and is known as Agni Nakshatram ("fiery star") or Kathiri Veyyil. This year the period ran from Sunday May 5, 2014 and will end tomorrow Wednesday 28 May, 2014. 

For an earlier posting with photos of Thara Abhishekam go to this link here. 

During this period Abhishekam is performed during which water is held in an overhead container and constantly drips, drop by drop unto the Shiva Lingam. 

See below for the schedule of functions celebrating the end of this “fiery period.” 

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

2010 Mahashivaratri Photo Archive

Right-click on all photographs to view enlarged version


The below photographs are a photographic archive of 2010 Mahashivaratri celebrated at Arunachaleswarar Temple at this Shiva Sthalam.

The first photographs are of the beautiful, large kolams traditionally created on the floors of the Temple Compound during this function -- which this year was celebrated on March 13th through March 14th.

As is the tradition at Arunachaleswarar Temple during this Festival, there were a variety of spiritual dramas, Bharatnatayam dances and a musical programme of the drummer Shivamani and his ensemble.

During 2010 Mahashivaratri, Arunachaleswarar Temple including its Shiva Sannidhi stayed open throughout the night. One of the pujas during the night kala, was that of the Lingodhava. To find out more about the history of the dispute between Brahma and Vishnu and the relevance of the Lingodhava, view this link here. To learn more about the Ketaki (Screw Pine) Flower, go here.

One of the more popular pujas performed at Arunachaleswarar Temple during 2010 Mahashivaratri was that of the Periyar (big) Nandi inside the Temple Compound.

As the evening progressed devotees and pilgrims left their offering of lighted oil lamps around the perimeter of the Tanks inside the Arunachaleswarar Compound. Mahashivaratri celebrated at this place is truly a spectacular function and to Shiva devotees, its well worth visiting and participating in upcoming Mahashivaratris celebrated at this place.

2010 Mahashivaratri Timings Arunachaleswarar Temple

Right click on photographs from last year's Mahashivaratri to view enlarged version.









Mahashivaratri falls on the fourteenth day of the dark fortnight of Phalguna (February-March), and is dedicated to the worship of Lord Shiva. Mahashivaratri this year will be celebrated at Arunachala Shiva Sthalams on the night of March 13 through March 14, 2010.

On this night Shiva Temples in Tiruvannamalai will follow the lead of the famous Arunachaleswarar Temple and stay open all night. To those who wish to make plans to attend the Big Temple through the night of Mahashivaratri, check my earlier posting at this link here with FULL details as to the timings and functions at Arunachaleswarar Temple. And its Siva Sannidhi will remain open THROUGHOUT the night of March 13 and 14, 2010.

Quo Vadis

Near Chengam Road and close to several major ashrams, work is almost complete on the primary stage of the development of Quo Vadis; an Interfaith Dialogue Centre being set up by Arcot Lutheran Church.

The co-ordinator of Quo Vadis and Lutheran pastor of this area, Rev. Joshua Peter told me:

"Quo Vadis is Latin and means 'Where are you going?' Because we consider life a pilgrimage, a travel. So in this life we want to stop at one point when we meet people, and stop them as well and try to raise this question, 'Where are you going? Where are you coming from?' By that we start a dialogue."

The below is a photograph of a small hut currently being used for meditation, talks and meetings. As the hut is the original building of the Quo Vadis compound, it will continue to remain centre stage.

When I first saw the below carving, which I think is quite magnificent, I thought it was some kind of African icon. Rev. Joshua Peter told me that it was in fact done by a Tamil artist that had recently come to visit the Centre and it was carved out of a tree that had to be felled before construction of Quo Vadis, could be commenced. It was felt that it would honour the tree and site to transform the felled tree into a permanent sentinel at the compound.

The purpose of the Inter Faith Dialogue Centre is also about faith:

"This is also to share about the faith. Because many so-called ordinary people think that if religion has to be discussed that it should be done by scholars. But here we don't discuss and debate about religion but we dialogue about our own faith. And every individual has the authority to tell his/her story and share the faith.

So sharing becomes the core of our dialogue."

Rev. Joshua Peter

This is the inside of the hut and is quite leakproof. To those who have visited India, the bamboo style of the roof will be no surprise as even, in 2007 Tiruvannamalai, such roofs are commonly to be seen.

The unused area at the back of the compound will, at a later date, be made into accommodation units for visitors and pilgrims to stay at while visiting Tiruvannamalai. This will be the second stage of the development of Quo Vadis, whose concept is:

"On dialogue and building relationships. To go out and cross borders of the Church."
Rev. Joshua Peter

A good photograph of part of Quo Vadis.






The library, reading room will be located upstairs at Quo Vadis. In explanation for the reason that the centre is going to have a library facility, Rev Joshua Peter remarked:

"So, although this Quo Vadis structure was built very recently and this programme actually originated only four years back; Arcot Lutheran Church has a long history of what we call, 'Reading Rooms' and 'Libraries' in many towns, including Chennai, Tiruvannamalai, Cuddalore and Tirukoyilur. Where we would open up a library and invite all religious people to come in and use the library. Those days it was a good culture of learned people who would come and use the library.

Indian-Christian theology, we claim, was born out of the Reading Room in Chennai. Because great Indian Christian theologians would use our reading room and it was there that they wrote books which became the basis of Indian-Christian theology."

"We will have a cafe because a cafe is a wonderful place to sit and order a cup of coffee or soft drink or fruit juice and a piece of cake and share your faith. So there will be a cafe. And it is not a restaurant running as a business. We will have selected items, tasty items; we want people to come. And also we look for economy for that, whatever we earn will not go into people's pocket, it will be used to maintain the Centre and make it even more beautiful."

Rev Joshua Peter

There will in fact be two cafes at Quo Vadis, one here on the roof and one downstairs.

The upstairs at Quo Vadis is quite spectacular and I have no doubt will become very popular with visiting pilgrims. Such a centre has been needed at Arunachala for many years. Previously, visitors and pilgrims would have to either talk and dialogue at restaurants or share a hurried whisper at ashrams; but now Tiruvannamalai has a multi functional centre which is inviting people of all faiths to come, interact and exchange ideas, read a book or magazine, have a meal, visit, or just sit quietly and meditate.

"It is a new time and organisations and ashrams are going to have to adapt to the new time . . . people are coming with different needs and different ideas . . . unless an organisation deals with that reality and with the new type of person coming then that organisation is going to be very much based on the past."

Interviewer

"It is more of Centre. That is why I keep repeating that it is a Centre where people can come and meet and it should be a place full of life. Of course there is a place where you can go on your own to meditate but most of the places are here to actually share your faith. That is the more beautiful thing. What experience you gain; the enlightenment (whatever you call it); the energy, the experience, is more beautiful if you share with others. Because it enlightens further you and also empowers the other person and inspires them. So this place will be a place to inspire many people. And also to be inspired to love people, to love the others."

Rev Joshua Peter






"All the while Arcot Lutheran Church has believed in many things and we went out and called this “outreach”. But for the first time we have ventured out to build relationships. Actually Quo Vadis, intiated by the Lutheran Church, is the only such official Centre, (including all other Protestant institutions) in the whole of India."
Rev Joshua Peter