Thursday 22 June, 2017: Guru Vrat Pradosham Arunachaleswarar Temple

In this posting are photographs of the Pradosham observed at Arunachaleswarar Temple on June 22, 2017. The significance of Pradosham on Thursday (the day of the Guru) is that one receives help to overcome opponents and enemies—thus eliminating all danger. Also on Pradoshams which fall on Thursdays, devotees receive Divine blessings through their ancestors. 

Milk abhishekam of Periyar Nandi

Aarti at Periyar Nandi

Large crowd watching abhishekam at Periyar Nandi

Aarti at Nandi near Flagpost, 2nd Prakaram

Alankaram of the Gods on Guru Pradosham

Sunday 9 April, 2017—Panguni Uthiram Festival: Celestial Wedding

Panguni Uthiram is celebrated during Panguni Month (March-April) during Uthiram Nakshatra day. This year Panguni Uthiram occurred on Sunday 9th April, 2017.

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.

At Arunachaleswarar Temple a Marriage Festival is celebrated. In the evening the Gods came in procession and an exchange of garlands takes place. Arunachaleswarar and Parashakti after exchanging garlands are both moved to the Kalyana Mandapam. Inside the Kalayana Mandapam (Thirukalyanam Mandapam), the Thirukalyanam Festival occurred.

Exchange of Garlands

Exchange of Garlands

Gods being carried to Kalyana Mandapam for marriage ceremony

Priest tying Mangala Sutra around the neck of the Goddess

After ceremonies completed, darshan is given in front of Alankaram Mandapam and Gods taken in procession around the Temple Mada Veedhis

2016 Arunachala Karthigai Festival: Day 7. All Day—Maharadham Procession

In an earlier post, I wrote about parents performing circumambulation of the mada veedhis (perimeter streets) of Arunachaleswarar Temple carrying their child in a "sugarcane cradle". To read more about this, go to the earlier post at this link here. 

The most popular day for performing this vrata (vow) is the day of Maharadham (giant chariot/car). From early morning parents and family members have been purchasing their sugarcane from vendors throughout Car Street. And then off they go on their Temple rounding. 

Parents with their sugarcanes near the Panchamoorthi Radhams lined up on Car Street

Endless supply of sugarcane for sale throughout Car Street

Parents with child in its sugarcane cradle start off on their circumambulation of Arunachaleswarar Temple mada veedhis

The Ter (Chariot)

“Ter-pulling Festivals are to be understood as a royal progress. In Tamil Hindu Temple rites, the “ter” is at once a war-chariot, a mobile palace and a representation of the God’s Temple. During these Festivals the God (or Goddess) is enthroned on his “ter” and vested with royal trappings; the great car is then drawn in triumph along its designated procession route. 

This route is the Deity’s symbolic kingdom. As He proceeds among His worshippers, He (or the priest-attendants who act on His behalf) receives the offerings which are presented by His subject-devotees; the God returns these presentations in the form of prasad. These ceremonial exchanges affirm the God’s sovereign status, and they also express the bonds of social rank and primacy which are continually being built up and recorded among his devotees.” 

[Saints, Goddesses and Kings by Susan Bailey] 

The pink structure next to the Maharadham is from where people cross over into the Maharadham

Maharadham on its procession route passing through Car Street

After having turned the corner of Car Street Street the Maharadham proceeds up the slope of Tiruvoodal Street

2016 Arunachala Karthigai Festival: Day 1. Evening—Athikara Nandi Vahana

Yesterday evening the Lord's vehicle was the Athikara Nandi. As this is one of my own favourite vahanas, think it might be interesting to give more information about this lesser known aspect of Nandi. 

There are two types of Nandi statues at Siva Temples, the more common is that of the recumbent bull (Vrsabha) and the other is that of Adhikara Nandi. In the case of Arunachaleswarar Temple, the Adhikara Nandi of last night’s function is in the form of a bull-headed human standing on two legs. 

Adhikara Nandi's two back hands hold a parasu (battle axe) and mrga (antelope) and the two front hands are folded on the chest in a pose of obeisance. Since he is the chief of the ganas (retinues) of Siva, exercising his authority (adhikara) over them, he is christened as ‘Adhikara Nandi.’ 

The white bull—Nandi—is the divine vehicle of Lord Shiva, the Destroyer. He is the chief of the ganas, Shiva’s attendants. Nandi means ‘happy’. 

Nandikeshvara, Lord of happiness, was one of Shiva’s ganas and was fond of dance and music. He was born of the Divine progenitor Kashyapa and Divine cow Surabhi. He married Suyasha, the daughter of the Maruts. As his life was coming to an end, he prayed to Shiva to lengthen his life. Shiva granted him both immortality and the chief position over his ganas. He was given the title “Adhikara Nandi” (or “authoritative Nandi’), for it is only with Nandi’s grace and permission that one can enter the temple of Shiva. Adhikara Nandi took on a human form as a bull-headed human standing on two legs (or in some instances a bull standing erect on his rear legs). 

Nandi is more than Shiva’s vahana or vehicle. As the chief of Shiva’s attendants, he is also the guardian of all four-legged animals. Nandi is essential to every Shiva Temple—the sanctum sanctorum of each Temple, where the deity may be in a human or linga form, has an image of Nandi facing the shrine. 

There is a story that Vrishabha Deva or Nandi was very proud of his role as the vehicle of the Supreme Lord Shiva himself. To teach him a lesson, Shiva placed a lock of his hair on the bull, who was unable to bear the weight. Realising that he had been arrogant, Nandi begged Shiva’s pardon. Shiva forgave him and initiated him into divine knowledge. 

Nandi completes the image of the happy family. In days gone by, people depended on the bull for transportation. The bull was thus the vehicle both for Shiva and people. He is also a symbol of how a powerful animal, imbued with Divine authority, is also a gentle and humble worker, of help to the Gods and man. 

Athikara Nandi

Alangaram of the panchamoorthies

Panchamoorthies give darshan in front of the Alankaram Mandapam

The Lord on Athikara Nandi Vahana in procession of Mada Veddhis

Procession in evening of Day 1. 2016 Arunachala Karthigai Festival