Sani Pradosham Arunachaleswarar Temple: Saturday, 26 November, 2016

The below is a pictorial report of the Karthikai Maatha Amavasai Sani Prathosam at Arunachaleswarar Temple which took place on Saturday, November 26, 2016. 

Abhishekam of Periyar Nandi, Arunachaleswarar Temple

Periyar Nandi, 5th Prakaram, Arunachaleswarar Temple

Aarti at Periyar Nandi, Saturday 26 November, 2016 Pradosham

Closer look at aarti at Big Nandi, Pradosham

Crowds were huge at the Big Temple watching the abhishekam of Periyar Nandi

Large crowd in the 5th Prakaram for the Amavasi Sani Pradosham

Sani Pradosham, Big Temple

Aarti at Nandi at Flagpost, Arunachaleswarar Temple

Devotees in 3rd Prakaram watching circumambulation of Gods on Sani Pradosham

Pictorial Report: 2016 Adi Puram Arunachaleswar Temple -- Firewalking Ceremony

The last part of the 2016 Adi Pooram festivities observed at Arunachaleswarar Temple was the Firewalking ceremony conducted in front of the Mother’s Shrine in the Temple’s 3rd Prakaram. Devotees prepare for their firewalk at the Temple’s Theertham. Great logs are burnt down and the burning embers laid in front of the Mother’s Shrine at Arunachaleswarar Temple. The Mother is brought out by palanquin from Her shrine to watch Her devotees perform their firewalk, as a test and celebration of their devotion to the Divine. 

I have written at length about the symbolism and unique significance of this firewalk ceremony at Arunachaleswarar Temple—a Shiva Sthalam. For more information please refer to an earlier posting at this link here. 

Logs being prepared for the firewalk ceremony

Mother being brought to the front of her Shrine to watch the Ceremony

Specially approved Devotees who will be undertaking the firewalk ceremony

Burning embers placed in front of the Mother's Shrine: 3rd Prakaram

Devotees rushing over the burning embers

2016 Adi Pooram Firewalking Ceremony: Arunachaleswarar Temple

Pictorial Report: 2016 Adi Puram Arunachaleswar Temple -- Vallaikappu Ceremony

Abhishekam was performed on the Goddess Parashakti Amman at the Vallaikappu Mandapam in the 5th Prakaram of Arunachaleswarar Temple in the evening of Adi Pooram, Friday 5th August, 2016. This was followed by distribution of bangles at 5 p.m. Around 6 p.m. Goddess Parashakti Amman was carried in procession from the Mandapam and returned Her Shrine at the 3rd Prakaram. 

On this day of Adi Pooram glass bangles are offered to Ambal and then distributed to devotees. These bangles are said to provide offspring and generally protect one from evils. In addition Valaikaappu is a Festival during which a pregnant woman wears glass bangles, the sound of which is said to protect her and the child from evil forces. 

Abhishekam of the Goddess at the Valaikappu Mandapam, Big Temple

Crowds of ladies watching the Abhisekam of the Goddess

The Goddess with her glass bangles at the Mandapam

Goddess Parashakti Amman after Abhishekam at Mandapam

Pictorial Report: 2016 Adi Puram Arunachaleswar Temple -- Theerthavari Ceremony

The below photographs are of the morning of the Adi Puram festival as celebrated at Sri Arunachaleswarar Temple on Friday, 5th August, 2016. The Goddess Parashakti Amman was carried by palanquin to the Shivagangai Theertham for theerthavari. The bath in the Theertham occurred at around 12.30 p.m. 

Afterwards, Goddess Parashakti Amman was carried by palanquin to the Vallaikappu Mandapm. In the afternoon a special abhishekam was performed which wasfollowed by distribution of bangles at 5 p.m. By about 6 p.m. Goddess Parashakti Amman is carried in procession from the Mandapam and returned Her Shrine in the 3rd Prakaram. 

Mother being carried to the Sivagangai Theertham

Theertham at the Sivagangai Tank

Priests with Sulam inside Sivagangai Tank

Puja being performed on Sulam side of Tank

Divine Mother being brought to the Valaikappu Mandapam, 5th Prakaram

Night Seven: Vasantha Urchavam 2016

Lord Somaskanda being carried out of Temple on palanquin

Leaving the Siva Sannidhi on palanquin

The Gods first receive worship in Pandal opposite the Main Shrine

Gods then moved to Paneer Mandapam where they are feted with flowers by a Gandharva Kanni (celestial nymph)

Celestial Nymph offering her flowers to the Gods

Our own sweet Rukku a major part of the festivities throughout the 10 days of the Vasantha Urchavam Function

Night Six: Vasantha Urchavam 2016

Vasantha Urchavam (also known as Vasantha Utsavam) is the Spring Festival held in the season of Vasantha (Spring). It is also commonly known as the Festival of Love as it re-enacts the Love of Shiva and Parvathi and the burning of Manmatha by the piercing look of the Lord’s third eye. 

Lord Somaskanda (a form of Shiva and Parvathi) is the deity of this Festival. For nine consecutive nights after being carried in state out of his shrine, Lord Somaskanda is installed in a pandal facing the main shrine. After receiving due reverence with flowers and light to accompanying musicians playing on their mridangam and nathaswaram, the God is moved by palanquin to the Paneer (rose-water) Mandapam. 

At the Paneer Mandapam diparadhana is performed. Afterwhich the Gods re-enact a dance in front of a mirror placed nearby while musicians accompany them. After the dance, a representation of a Gandharva Kanni (celestial nymph) travels down a rope from a nearby gallery. Once the laps of the Gods are covered with flowers, the priest on the pandal pours a pot of water with five vilva leaves in front of the Gods and then performs aarti. 

Rukku our Temple Elephant is an important part of these ceremonies and on each of these nine consecutive nights, stands adjacent to the Paneer Mandapam during these functions. 

Afterwards the Gods on their palanquin led by Rukku perform circumambulation ten times of the Mahila Marams (Temple Trees). This procession is accompanied by musicians, singers and devotees. At the completion of each circumambulation a re-enactment of the God’s dance is performed in front of the mirror in a gallery adjacent to the Paneer Mandapam. 

Gandharva Kanni (celestial nymph) with offering of flowers

The nymph on her  journey to the Gods under the Paneer Mandapam

Offering her flowers to the Gods

Palanquin returning to the Paneer Mandapam

Beautifully lit and decorated Paneer Mandapam

Sixth Night Vasantha Urchavam Festival, Arunachaleswarar Temple

Night Five: Vasantha Urchavam 2016

Below is a pictorial report of Night Five of the Vasantha Urchavam 2016 Festival. Special Night pujas and accompanying functions occur at the Big Temple each night from the 2nd to the 9th night inclusive of this Festival. 

The Gods exiting the Siva Sannadhi

Being carried by palanquin on their way to the Paneer Manadapam

Gods resplendent under Paneer Mandapam receiving flower tributes from a Gandharva Kanni (a celestial nymph)

Gandharva Kanni coming down from the Gallery on way to the Paneer Mandapam

"At 9 p.m. on the fifth and eighth days the Temple lights are switched off so that the procession is in the dark. After going around the sacred Mahila Maram ten times the lights are switched back on to great rejoicing."

Gods circumambulating the Mahila Trees in 3rd Prakaram

Lord Dakshinamurti under the Mahila Trees is decorated splendidly each night of this Festival

Night Four: Vasantha Urchavam 2016

To read more about this Festival of Love, go to an earlier link here 

Rukku is an important part of each evening of the Vasantha Urchavam Festival

The Gods under the Paneer Mandapam on the Fourth Night of Festival

Gandharva Kanni (celestial nymph) with bucket of flowers ready to sprinkle on the Gods under the Mandapam

Gods performing circumambulation inside the 3rd Prakaram

Night Three: Vasantha Urchavam 2016

“Vasantha Utsavam is a ten day Festival depicting the blossoming of love. During this sacred event, Swami and Amman are gorgeously decorated with jewels. With the Temple Elephant fanning the Divine Couple with Shamara grass, they are taken with great ceremony in Mahapradakshina round the sacred Mahila Maram (trees) within the Third Prakaram . . ." 

Gods seated under Paneer Mandapam located in the 3rd Prakaram

This is the Paneer Mandapam when not being utilised in Festivals

Sweet Rukku getting lots of exercise during the Festival functions each night

A Celesital Virgin Nympth (Gandharva Kanni) being sent down line from Gallery to sprinkle flowers on the Gods

The place on the Gallery from where the Gandharva Kannis are sent down

Gandharva Kanni reaches the Gods and sprinkles them with flowers from her bucket