December 14, Arunachaleswarar Temple Pradosham

The below photographs are of the December 14, 2013 pradosham observed at Arunachaleswarar Temple. Take a note of the ever increasing crowds of pilgrims attending the pradosham observances. 

Pradosham, October 2, 2013

It can be seen from the below photographs of the October 2, 2013 Pradosham at Arunachaleswarar Temple, that the number of visitors attending this bi-monthly function seems to be increasing exponentially.

Nandi

Crowds of Pilgrims in the Temple Compound

Crowd at Large Nandi, which faces direction of the Shiva Sannidhi

Whisper into my Ear

September 17, 2013 Pradosham, Arunachaleswarar Temple

The first two photographs are of Nandi taken at Arunachaleswarar Temple during Pradosham which fell on September 17, 2013.

Nandi the Bull, Arunachaleswarar Temple

Whisper into my Ear

Nandi is the Gate keeper of Lord Shiva's abode, thus it is believed to be important to seek his blessings before praying to Lord Shiva.

It is thought that by whispering our prayers into Nandi’s ear, it will induce him to act as our interlocutor (messenger) and those prayers will reach Lord Shiva. When whispering into Nandi’s ear, some close one of his ears while whispering into the other, to prevent the wish leaving through the other ear.

When whispering it is believed that one shouldn’t stand in-between Nandi and Lord Shiva while praying. First one touches the feet of the Bull, then whispers into the ear and then goes to Nandi’s back.

Nandi on Girivalam Roadway

As seeing the Sivalingam in the Siva Sannidhi from in-between the ears of Nandi is also said to be a form of worship as it is believed that Shiva is looking at the world from between those ears and head. Thus in the case of Nandi at the side of the Girivalam Roadway, one should stand at the back of the statue and look at the Arunachala Lingam from in-between the Bull’s ears.

Next time you visit Arunachala and perform girivalam (giripradakshina), try whispering your thoughts and needs into the Bull’s ears. I found it a powerful and happy experience.

Sani Pradosham, Arunachaleswarar Temple

Yesterday, February 23, Sani Pradosham was celebrated at Arunachaleswarar Temple. Pradosham which is a worship connected to Lord Shiva and is a bimonthly occasion which falls on the thirteenth day of every fortnight in the Hindu Calendar.

If Pradosham falls on a Monday it is called Soma Pradosham (or Chandra Pradosham), on a Tuesday it is known as Bhauma Pradosham, and on a Saturday is called Sani Pradosham. Among all Pradoshams, Soma Pradosham and Sani Pradosham are the most significant ones observed by devotees. An auspicious 3 hour period, 1.5 hours before and after sunset is regarded as the optimum time for worship of Lord Shiva. 

During the day of Pradosham a fast observed from sunrise to sunset is considered highly beneficial. During pradosham, the bull Nandi (in Shiva Temples in South India) is worshipped and the idol of Shiva with Parvati in a seated pose on Nandi are taken on procession in the Temple compound.

Lord Shiva and Parvati

Worship of Bull Nandi

Gods on Nandi in procession

Performing circumambulation of Lord Shiva shrine

Large crowd of devotees attendant

Legend of Sani Pradosham 

Sani Pradosham, the Pradosham which falls on a Saturday, corresponds to the planet Saturn and is associated with the Mahakaleshwar Temple in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh. 

According to legend, there was a ruler of Ujjain called Chandrasen, who was a pious devotee of Shiva and worshipped him continuously. He was blessed with a celestial gem which could create miracles. Rivals of Ujjain, King Ripudaman and King Singhaditya of neighbouring kingdoms decided to attack Ujjain to appropriate the celestial gem. King Chandransena unaware of the impending attack was involved in his worship of Lord Shiva. A farmer's boy (Shrikhar), walking on the grounds of the palace heard the king chant Lord Shiva's name. However on being discovered by the King’s guards, the farmer’s boy was removed from the palace grounds and sent to the outskirts of the city near the river Kshipra. 

Shrikhar (the farmer’s boy) continued to pray and news spread to a priest named Vridhi. Who upon the urgent pleas of his sons, also started to pray to Lord Shiva. The attack by the enemies of the King occurred on a Saturday and with the help of the powerful demon Dushan, (blessed by the God Brahma to be invisible), the invading Kings plundered the city and attacked the inhabitants, who were all Shiva devotees. Upon hearing the pleas of his helpless devotees, Shiva appeared in his Mahakal (form of light) and destroyed the enemies of King Chandrasen. 

Upon the request of his devotees Shrikhar and Vridhi, Shiva agreed to reside in the city and become the chief deity of that kingdom. From that day on, (at that place) Shiva resided in his light form as Mahakal in a Lingam that was formed on its own from the powers of Shiva and Parvati. 

It is believed that people worshipping Shiva on Sani Pradosham will be free from the fear of death and diseases and have an increase in their worldly wealth. 

2011 Mahashivaratri Appreciation

Right Click on all photographs to view enlarged version:



All the below photographs were taken at Arunachaleswarar Temple during this year's Mahashivaratri Festival celebrated March 2nd-3rd. Kolams were created in the morning of March 2nd, on the floors throughout the Temple Compound.

The first photograph is of the 12 Jyotirlingams.

12 Jyotirlingams

The next kolam is of Kannappa, the great devotee of Lord Shiva. To read an earlier posting on this Shiva devotee check out this link here.

Kannappa Nayanar

The next kolam is of the Tamil Siddhar, Idai Kadar, a saint who was believed to have lived in the third or second Century B.C. in the place that is now known as Tiruvannamalai. There are 18 Siddhars, who are mostly Saivaite saints from Tamil Nadu, who practised an unorthodox type of Sadhana (spiritual practices) and attained siddhic powers.

Idai Kadar’s story goes that once whilst grazing his goats he met and was blessed by a Siddhar of immense divine powers.

Foreseeing difficult times of drought in the world, it is said that Idai Kadar built a house with walls of grain and fed his goats plants that survived without water. To discover the secret of his survival during the drought, the Navagrahas (9 planets) visited Idai Kadar. After eating grain and goat’s milk, the Navagrahas fell asleep. As soon as the planets were sleeping, Idai Kadar arranged the planets in such an order that the world would benefit. Immediately after the planets were repositioned, rain started to fall upon the world.

Kolam of Idai Kadar Siddhar

One of the biggest contributions of Idai Kadar is the invention of the Kayakalpa techniques (i.e. the system of total body rejuvenation).

Idai Kadar attained mahanirvana at Tiruvannamalai and it is believed that his Jiva Samadhi is behind the Siva Sannidhi at Arunachaleswarar Temple.


“Om namah shivaya! Oh, my children! Don’t praise me for anything small I did. Don’t praise petty humans. It’s all because of the power of Lord Shiva and Krishna. So, praising them would make you all flawless souls. Wherever festivals are conducted for them, there will be endless joy and happiness. Worshipping them will liberate you all from your burdens and sorrows. Whenever you have difficult times, believe in God, devote your whole heart and mind to the problem you are facing and the solution for it, don’t worry about the outcome, do your best. You will win the battle for sure. Om namah shivaya!”

Abhishekam of the Temple's giant Nandi

In an earlier posting I listed the sequence of the major pujas that were performed at Arunachaleswarar Temple during the night and early morning of March 2nd and 3rd, 2011.


As is customary on the night of Mahashivaratri, Arunachaleswarar Temple stayed open throughout the night. The Temple tanks were illuminated with ghee lamps, and crowds milled throughout the Temple's grounds.

Nandi facing the Shiva Sannidhi

In the Temple Auditorium the Festival was celebrated by musical programmes, dramas and classical dance

Dance Programme

Below are photographs of the Lingodbhava puja (at the back of the Shiva Sannidhi) which was performed on the night of Mahashivaratri.

Ketaki flower (screwpine)
resting on Shiva's heart

Mahashivaratri is the only night of the year that the Ketaki Flower (screwpine) is used in the worship of Lord Shiva -- to read the story of how the Flower supported Brahma's lie to Shiva and the consequences of the lie, check out this link here.

The Nandis

Pongal, Harvest Festival is followed by Mattu Pongal; the Cow Festival and Thiruvoodal Festival. The below photograph is of a decorated Temple Nandi during the recently celebrated Pongal Festival.

click image to enlarge

During this time the five Nandis; Pradosha Nandi, in the Moolastanam, Ratha Vilaku Nandi in the Second Prakaram, Kodi Kampathu Nandi in the Third Prakaram, Chinna Nandi in the fourth prakaram and the Periyar Nandi that stands in front of the Vallala Gopuram in the Fifth Prakaram, are all decorated with garlands and foodstuff.