Pradosham August 20, 2021: Arunachaleswarar Temple

Below are photographs of Pradosham observed at Periyar Nandi, 5th Prakaram, Arunachaleswarar Temple on Friday, 20 August, 2021.

Pradosham July 18, 2020 Arunachaleswarar Temple

The above video is of Pradosham at the Big Temple on July 18, 2020. Usually pradosham is heavily attended at the Temple, so seeing the area around Periyar Nandi so deserted, does seem rather strange. This video was live streamed, and the Temple is putting on some very special programs at this time. So suggest you subscribe to their channel and get very nice darshan.

Periyar Nandi, 5th Prakaram

Kodi Kampathu Nandi, 3rd Prakaram

2020 Calendar Hindu Religious Days

2020 Calendar of Hindu Festivals

Tuesday, 5 April 2016: Arunachaleswarar Temple Pradosham

From east to west the five Temple Nandis are: 

Periya Nandi in front of Vallala Gopuram Fifth Prakaram. 

Chinna Nandi, Fourth prakaram 

Kodi Kampathu Nandi, Third Prakaram 

Ratha Vilaku Nandi, Second Prakaram 

Pradosha Nandi, Moolastanam 

All of these five Temple Nandis receive abhishekam and aarti at Pradosham.

Periya Nandi, 5th Prakaram

Large crowds gather to celebrate Pradosham

Kodi Kampathu Nandi, 3rd Prakaram

Ratha Vilaku Nandi, 2nd Prakaram

After worship, Lord Arunachaleswarar is taken on circumambulation in the 3rd Prakaram

The Lord on circumambulation

Going around the 2nd and 1st Prakaram of Arunchaleswarar Temple

Thursday, January 7, 2016 Pradosham

The January 7, 2016 Pradosham fell on a Thursday. All 13th Moon phase days are called Pradoshams and are opportunities to dissolve negative karma. However when Pradoshams fall on specific days of the week, additional benefits are believed to accrue. 

Monday: Soma Pradosham helps to attain good health and fulfills one's desires and wishes. 

Tuesday: Bhauma Pradosham, provides relief from disease and improves one’s financial condition. 

Wednesday: Pradosham on this day is believed to be fruitful for wisdom and knowledge. Also blesses the childless with progeny. 

Thursday: Guru Pradosham helps in achieving victory over opponents and enemies. Helps dissolve negative karma and invokes the blessings of grace from the Guru. 

Saturday: Shani or Maha Pradosham is observed by couples for a harmonious married life. 

Periya Nandi, Arunachaleswarar Temple

Abhishekam Periya Nandi, Arunachaleswarar Temple

Devotees watching the Periyar Nandi Abhishekam

The Periyar Nandi is 6 feet long with gaze directed to the west and towards the Moolasthana. Its head is slightly turned towards north while the heads of all the other Nandis at Arunachaleswarar Temple are turned slightly south.

Periya Nandi

Five Temple Nandis

From east to west the five Temple Nandis are:

Periya Nandi in front of Vallala Gopuram Fifth Prakaram.
Chinna Nandi Fourth prakaram 
Kodi Kampathu Nandi Third Prakaram 
Ratha Vilaku Nandi Second Prakaram 
Pradosha Nandi Moolastanam 

Pradosham December 23, 2015

It is believed that each day of the week has different benefits during Pradosham. On December 23, 2015 Pradosham occurred on a Wednesday. The significance of which is Blessings with children. Knowledge and education. 

The other days of the week that have special significance during Pradosham are as follows: 

Sunday: Peace to all 

Monday: Positive and clear thinking 

Tuesday: Prosperity for all 

Wednesday: Blessings with children. Knowledge and Education 

Thursday: Blessings through ancestors. Elimination of danger. 

Friday: Elimination of negative forces. 

Saturday: Return of lost wealth and prosperity 

The below sequence of photographs are of the Wednesday, December 25, 2015 Pradosham as observed at Arunachaleswarar Temple, Tiruvannamalai. 

April 1, 2015 -- Pradosham Arunachaleswarar Temple

Below are photographs of Pradosham observed at Arunachaleswarar Temple on Wednesday April 1, 2015. 

In regard to this observance the five Nandis at Arunachaleswarar Temple are: 

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 

Periyar Nandi that stands in front of the Vallala Gopuram in the Fifth Prakaram. 

Chinna Nandi, Fourth Prakaram

Kodi Kampathu Nandi, Third Prakaram

Annamalaiyar Alangaram before procession around the Shiva Sannidhi

February 16, 2015 Pradosham at Arunachaleswarar Temple

The photographs below are of Pradosham celebrated today at Arunachaleswarar Temple. Crowds were very large in spite of the building work currently going on. 

Work started recently on the refurbishment and renovation of Arunachaleswarar Temple with major focus on restoring the antiquity of the Temple by changing what was recently carried out; such as granite flooring at various spots in the complex. 

Apart from the restoration, work on all the nine Gopurams of the Temple will be repaired and re-plastered wherever required and thereafter painted. Currently several of the Gopurams are crisscrossed with bamboo scaffolding in order to facilitate this work. 

After all of the above work has been completed a grand Kumbhabhishekam will be held at Arunachaleswarar Temple.

Pradosham Arunachaleswarar Temple -- December 20, 2014

Now that the 2014 Karthigai Deepam Festival has completed, life at Arunachaleswarar Temple is back to its normal schedule. This includes its twice monthly observance of Pradosham. 

Below are photographs of Pradosham from this morning; Saturday, 20 December, 2014. 

Siva Sannidhi Flagpost, Arunachaleswarar Temple

Aarthi at the Big Nandi statue

Each month increasingly large crowds attend the Pradosham function

Circumambulation of the Siva Sannidhi, Big Temple

September 21, 2014 Temple Pradosham

Below are two very nice photographs of the recently celebrated Pradosham at Arunachaleswarar Temple on Sunday, September 21, 2014. 

January 28 Pradosham, Big Temple

Below are several photographs of the Tuesday, January 28, 2014 Pradosham performed at Arunachaleswarar Temple. 

Big Nandi

Flagpost outside Siva Sannidhi

Large crowds attend all Pradoshams at Big Temple

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 Photographs Wednesday, October 16, 2013

Below are photographs of the large crowd attending the Wednesday, October 16 2013 Pradosham at Arunachaleswarar Temple. 

Large crowd in attendance, pradosham

Puja at Periyar Nandi, Arunachaleswarar Temple

Periyar Nandi, Arunachaleswarar Temple

Pradosham August 4, 2013

There are a number of posting on Arunachala Grace relating to the significance of the twice monthly Pradosham celebrated at Arunachaleswarar Temple. In these postings there is also information about Nandi who is the mount (vahana) of Lord Siva and also gatekeeper to Siva and Parvarti. 

Stone images of Nandi (the word “Nandi” is believed to be derived from the ancient Tamil “Pandi” meaning bull), generally face the main Siva shrine in all temples dedicated to Lord Siva.

Pradosham, Arunachaleswarar Temple August 4, 2013

Aarti to Nanhi  Flagpost Arunachaleswarar Temple

“In the temple of Shiva, you find Nandi, the bull in front of the deity. The truth is that just as the Lingam is the symbol of the Lord, Nandi (the bull) is the symbol of the Jeeva (individual soul). Therefore just like Nandi, man should turn away from Prakruthi and direct all his attention towards God only. 

There are some more meanings for the symbolism. For instance, it is said that no one should stand between Eeshwara and Nandi. One should have the vision of Eeshwara by looking through the space in between the two ears of Nandi. 

The underlying idea is that through the sadhana of using the ears to listen about Eeshwara alone, the animal nature in the bull becomes transformed into Divinity and because of its merger with Ishwara it is called Nandeeshwara (Bull-God). 

Thus the lesson of the symbolism is that man should also try to merge with God, by following the example of Nandi.” 
[Source: Sathya Sai Speaks Vol. XXV; P. 169] 

Nandi anthropomorphic form c.1820 

There are five major Nandi statues at Arunachaleswarar Temple: they are; Pradosham 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. 

The below legend of the Churning of the Ocean, which appears in a number of Puranas, symbolises the protection of the Lord to the devotee who surrenders completely to him.

Lord Shiva drinking poison, Nandhi nearby

“When the positive forces, the Devas, and the negative forces, the Asuras, joined together on a rare occasion to churn the ocean with a mountain to obtain the nectar of immortality they utilized Vasuki, the serpent, as the rope. The Devas pulled from one end and the Asuras from the other. Lots of precious herbs and gems were produced during the churning and one of them was Halahala poison which became human karma. 

This "poison" was so dangerous that none of the Devas or Asuras wanted to go near it. It was extremely sticky and coming into contact with this poison, i.e., human karma, would drag the divinity down to the realms of human suffering and ego. As everyone else ran away, Lord Siva, followed by Nandi, came forward to help as he was the only one who could counteract this deadly poison.

 

Siva took the poison into his hand and drank it, the descent of the poison was in turn stopped at His throat, by His divine consort. One of Lord Siva’s name is thus Nilakantha (the blue-throated one). Nandi saw some of the poison spill out of Siva's mouth and immediately drank if off the ground. The Devas and Asuras watching were shocked and wondered aloud what would happen to Nandi. Lord Siva calmed their fears saying, "Nandi has surrendered into me so completely that he has all my powers and my protection".” 

Pradosham: "The Removal of Sins"

The below photographs are of the July 5, 2013 Pradosham as observed at the Arunachaleswarar Temple, Tiruvannamalai. 

Pradosham is a time especially meant for praying to Lord Shiva, as it is the time that Shiva absorbs devotees’ karma. Thus, it is believed that praying during the time of Pradosham will free us from sins and eventually lead to moksha. The twilight, Pradosham, marks the end of the day light and beginning of night. The day is ruled by Gods, angels and saints while night is ruled by evil spirits. 

Nandi the Bull at Big Temple Flagstaff

It was the Devas that approached Shiva during Pradosham to get relief from the demons. In their distress, Shiva and his mount Nandi assisted the Devas and from this legend has emerged the pratice of worshipping Shiva along with his sacred mount Nandi, at the time of Pradosham. 

Circumambulating the Shiva Sannidhi

For more complete information about Pradosham, please check out my earlier posts available at this link here.

To learn how to perform (during Pradosham) the special type of circumambulation called Soma Sutra Pradakshina, please view this link.