2012 Arunachala Mahashivaratri Festival

Arunachaleswarar Tiruvannamalai Mahashivaratri Festival
Invitation

Tamil Year (Thiruvalluvar) 2043

On 20.02.2012 Monday

Below is an English translation of the invitation's essential details:-

On behalf of Shivaratri 20.02.2012 Monday from morning 5 a.m. in the Mulasthana, Laksharchana will be done and cultural programmes will be performed in the Temple Compound.

Darshan tickets for the Laksharchana puja are available in the Temple Office priced at Rs.100/- per person. Puja will last from 5 a.m. in the morning of February 20th till 2.00 p.m. of the same day.


In the night for the Mulasthana Lingam 4 times pujas with abhiskeham will be performed

1st Kala Puja Night (20th February) 8.30 p.m.
2nd Kala Puja Night (20th February) 11.00 p.m.
3rd Kala Puja Morning (21st February) 02.00 a.m.
4th Kala Puja Morning (21st February) 04.00 a.m.


At 12 midnight on the 20th February there will be a special puja and alankaram performed on the Lingodbhava behind the sanctum of the Mulasthana Lingam.


Cultural Programmes to be performed in the evening of February 20th at the Temple Cultural Hall (near Rukku the Elephant) as follows:-

5.00 p.m. – 6.00 p.m. Devaram Music

6.00 p.m. – 6.30 p.m. Bharatnatyam Dance from the Tiruvannamalai Nataya Sabha by Mrs. Meenakshi Angapam Group

6.30 p.m. – 7.30 p.m. Bharatnatyam Dance by Tiruvannamalai Kala Ratana Nataya Sabha by Kalaiselvi Subramanian

7.30 p.m. – 8.30 p.m. Puppet Dance based on the story of Thiru Kurippu Thonda Nayanar by Kumbakonam Sri Murugan Sangeeta Puppet Dance Group

8.30 p.m. – 9.30 p.m. Bhakti Speech (in Tamil) on Anmegya Nandhavanam By K.R. Singamurtul

Maharadham - Big Chariot

To watch a short video of this year's Maharadham procession, check out the below video. Gents pull the chariot from the right, and ladies from the left.







So how does it all work? First off we have the sweet Rukku, the Temple elephant surveying the area. She precedes many of the chariot processions and activities throughout the Deepam Festival.






From early morning, devotees have lined up, in order to enter the top of the Big Chariot, so that they may take darshan of the gods Annamalaiyar and Unnamulai. To reach the Gods, devotees have to climb to the top of a connecting building and cross a tunnel that leads directly into the top of the Big Chariot.





In the below photograph, you can see the yellow building connecting to the Big Chariot and the tunnel corridor leading from one to the other.




Devotees are milling about on Car Street around the chariots. But it will be hours before the Big Chariot is ready to move.






The photographs give one an idea of the vast size of the chariot.The devotees at the top of the chariot with their backs to us, are facing the murtis and taking their darshan.





The massive chains that will be used to pull the vast vehicle are lying on the pavement ahead of the Chariot.





Gents will be pulling the chariot from the right side, and ladies from the left side.




The chariot needs help, specifically when going around corners. So to control the direction of the vehicle, wooden chocs are placed under the massive wheels, and a number of lads and young men, jump up and down on wooden levers.




The levers themselves are heavy, solid planks of wood, so to move them under the wheels, a system of ropes and pulleys has been devised.





Progress around the outside of the 26 acre perimeter of the Arunachaleswarar Temple, is very slow, and it will be late in the night when the Big Chariot has completed its circumambulation of the Big Temple.

2011 Karthigai Mahadeepam

Right click on photos to see enlargement

First sight of the Deepam of the 2011 Karthigai Deepam Festival from the Samudram Erie. The sounds of cheers and fireworks ring through the air.




As dusk quickly falls, the light on Arunachala becomes easier to see.




And now, even in the light of the moon that tomorrow will be full, the Deepam on top of Arunachala blazes like a beacon for miles around.




HAPPY AND BLESSED DEEPAM TO ONE AND ALL


Will soon post photographs of the actual cauldron Deepam lighting at the top of Arunachala, do check back.

Bharani Deepam 2011, Arunachala

Right click on all photographs to view enlargements


Preparations for this day begin one month in advance with the local administration, revenue department, police and temple authorities. Since early morning, temple staff and volunteers have been carrying five-gallon containers of ghee and large pots of thick, braided cloth wicks to the top of Arunachala mountain.

As you are reading this, town's people and pilgrims from far afield, are climbing Arunachala some in order to secure a good viewing point for the evening's lighting of the 2011 Deepam cauldron and others so that they can personally deliver their ghee offerings to top of Arunachala.

Just after the early morning temple ceremony, five earthern pots were lit. These ghee-filled pots, represent the sacred elements earth, air, fire, water and ether. As these five flames loom up with red-yellow light, the famous festival of Karthigai Deepam officially begins.

A single flame is then taken from the pots and kept burning in the Temple throughout the day as a symbol of the merging of manifestation back into God, the one source of all. This single flame is referred to as the Bharani Deepam.


Five Earthernware Pots














Significance

"There is immense significance in this ceremony called Bharani Deepam. At this time, the universal Lord manifests as the five elements, which will later fully merge to become one when the Krittika Deepam flame is lit in the evening. From one to many and many to one. This is the whole essence of Saivism and the meaning of Krittika Deepam."

Around 10:00 a.m. this Bharani morning, a group of fishermen were blessed by a priest in a ceremony at the Temple. Amidst ringing bells and temple music, the priest gave the fishermen a lamp that has been lit from the Bharani Deepam in the Temple. This lamp, also called Bharani Deepam, is currently being taken to the top of the Hill by fishermen from hereditary fishing families. Others of the same hereditary fishing family will remain at the Temple and this evening light the Deepam flame outside the Arunachaleswarar Siva Sannidhi.

One of the reasons that fishermen and not Brahmin priests are traditionally given the privilege of carrying the Bharani Deepam up the mountain and lighting the Krittika Deepam in the evening both on Arunachala and outside the Arunachaleswarar Siva Sannidhi, is because according to a myth, Parvati (the wife of Lord Siva) was born in a fishing family.

Ardhanarishvara at Deepam

Right click on all photographs to view enlarged version

There are many subtleties and esoteric meanings connected with the mythology and legends of Arunachala. One of the most famous being that of Ardhanarishvara - a form of the divine which is particularly celebrated at Arunachala and not more so than during the festival of Deepam and on the day of Bharani Deepam.

At the mystic hour of dusk (pradosham), when thousands have gathered in the courtyards and roofs of the Temple, waiting since early morning, the pancha murtis, are carried out into the courtyard in a fast running motion, sitting in their golden palanquins covered with festoons. The deities are placed in a Mandapam (ceremonial pavilion) opposite the entrance to the Arunachaleshwara's temple and facing the holy mountain.
















At that time also the deity Ardhanarishvara is brought out and placed on the stairs of the temple close to the big Deepam. This is the only day of the year that this particular Deity is ever moved. It is most auspicious.







In the Deepam Festival is also reflected the union of Shiva and Parvati in the deity Ardhanarishvara. Once the goddess in play covered the eyes of her Lord Shiva with her hands, and thus the whole world was plunged into darkness. However, Shiva opened his third eye on the request of the gods, and the light was restored.

Uma was ashamed of her childish behaviour, and she retired from Mount Kailasa to Kanchipuram to do penance and purge herself of her sin. Shiva then directed her to go to Tiruvannamalai to worship him there. Mother Uma became an anchorite and did hard penance, going around Arunachala hill with deep concentration on the holy name of the Lord.

Shiva was pleased with her, and told her that she was now relieved of her sin which was causing the untimely pralaya (destruction of the world). He blessed her and said, 'Come and unite with me,' and disappeared in the hill.

Then on Kartikeya day the Lord appeared as a blazing light, a jyoti on the top of the hill, and asked Mother Uma to circumambulate the hill. So she did, and when she rounded the western side of the hill, Shiva appeared on his white bull and blessed her. When she rounded the hill on the north-western side he absorbed her into the left half of his body. Thus came into being the form of Ardhanarishvara, the deity that is represented as half male and half female.












To learn more about the 'Legend of Ardhanarishvara' at Arunachala go to this link here:

http://arunachalagrace.blogspot.com/2007/12/ardhanarishvara-at-arunachala.html

2010 Deepam

If you look through the archives of Arunachala Grace, you will find many posts and photographs of previous Deepams.

Will be posting photographs of 2010 Deepam, so check back regularly over these days of Deepam Festival.

For the time being am posting a short narrative on the Greatness and relevance of Deepam.



Greatness of Deepam Festival

Sage Gowthama said: “I shall describe to you the glory of that which liberates people from all sins and bestows all prosperity. In the mount of Karthika, on the day of the star Krittika during pradosha (i.e. thirteenth day country from the new moon/full moon) the fortunate ones who perform giripradakshina are not born again. All karmas are destroyed on performance of giripradakshina. ‘It is customary to circumambulate the Hill for a Mandela or forty days. One who is not able to do this may perform giripradakshina at least for eleven days. If even this is not possible, then one should go round the Hill on the day of Deepam. This is equivalent to performing crores of Yagnas. (one crore 10 million). He who worships the Deepam lit atop the Hill derives countless blessings. A person residing elsewhere may light lamps in front of any shrine of Siva, atop His temple towers or on the peaks of other hills and he will be blessed. Whatever may be the attitude of the devotee, the mere lighting of the lamp on this day with any type of oil available confers great merit on him.

He who has darshan of this light on Arunachala Hill acquires the merit of having performed great charity and of having bathed in the sacred rivers. Who can express in words the benefits enjoyed by the one who has darshan of the peak of Arunachala with the beacon light glowing?’

The Glory of Arunachala
[Skanda Upapuranam]




Deepam Festival – Another Legend:

Long ago, King Vajresan of Panchala who was childless, was blessed with a son after having darshan of the Arunachala Deepam in the month of Kartika. The son was named Shatrujith. The prince grew up to be lecherous man. He once eloped with the wife of a Vedic scholar and came to Tiruvannamalai and entered the Temple of Arunachaleswarar.

It was the day of the festival of the beacon. The paramour made a wick out of her sari and lit the lamp with castor oil. At that moment the Vedic scholar came there and in a fit of rage stabbed his wife and the prince. And in turn the prince killed him.

Since it was a gruesome murder committed in the sacred precincts of the Temple the three were about to be taken to hell by the messengers of Yama, lord of death. At that moment the messengers of Siva intervened and claimed the prince and the woman as their own and took them to the abode of Siva. Their blasphemous acts were condoned by Arunachala Himself because the wife made a wick and the prince helped her to light the lamp for the Supreme Lord.

But the Vedic scholar was puzzled, as he was held by the messengers of Yama. The prince, moved by the plight of the Vedic scholar, ordered the vessel used for lighting the Karthika lamp to release the scholar. Immediately the Vedic scholar was liberated. Thus all the three, despite their misdeeds, were taken to the abode of Siva, as the merit gained by the simple act of lighting a lamp on Kartika day in his Temple outweighed their devilish acts.

The Glory of Arunachala
[Skanda Upapuranam]

Mahashivaratri 2010

Mahashivaratri in Tamil Nadu is traditionally celebrated in Maasi Month -- not Thai. This is based on astrology connected with both the sun and month. Working on these calculations Mahashivaratri will be celebrated at Arunachaleswarar Temple on March 13, March 14 NOT in February.

That means the Temple will NOT be open all night in February BUT will be opened and all accompanying functions and pujas will be held through the night of March 13, March 14.

All Shiva Temples in Tiruvannamalai will follow the lead of Arunachaleswarar Temple. Today spoke with the Chief Priest of Adi Annamalai Temple and he tells me that Kapaleswarar Temple in Mylapore, Chennai will also be celebrating Mahashivaratri on March 13, 14. Word has it that Chidambaram Temple and Kalahasti Temple will also be having functions for Mahashivaratri in March (although Chidambaram might also in addition be already committed to February).

Will be posting more information on Mahashivaratri 2010, in the coming days.

Arunachala Countryside

Been having some nice jaunts into the surrounding Arunachala countryside over the last few weeks. And the below photographs are of the peaceful existence away from the ever sprawling metropolitan area of Tiruvannamalai.

The below is of the cowshed.

And here is the one-week old little calf, Ramana --- ahhh!

A wonderful home-made outside cooker. Which I can tell you from experience works really well.

And some chickens hanging out trying to pick up scraps and tidbits.

And below are the lovely rustic farmers who actually belong to the farm next door - but were just visiting. As most readers will know, its unusual for couples to hold hands in public in this country -- except perhaps for College kids in Bangalore or Chennai etc. However this lovely couple, once my back was turned, were actually holding hands - so sweet.

And the next photograph is of the rustic farmhouse.

I took the next photograph of the tiled roof simply because I like the traditional roof so much.

The fields have been sewn with paddy, and everything looks supernaturally green, the hay is piled up for livestock, irrigation ditches have been cleaned out and repaired, Arunachala is hiding behind the trees - and everything is ready to move right along. Good times are here.

If you are interested in finding out more about the availability of agricultural or rural land around Arunachala, check out this link here.

Rural Tiruvannamalai

Yesterday was a sleepy pretty day and I decided to walk back home after visiting some folk living several kilometres away off the Perumbakkam Road. It was lunchtime and quite hot, below is the view of Arunachala from where I started off. It is also the view from outside the Lord Ayyappan Grove.

To learn more about the legend and story of Lord Ayyappan visit this link here and for information on Sacred Groves here.

After stopping off at the Grove I continued walking northwards on the Perumbakkam Roadway.

And wherever possible both creatures and people were having a nice snooze during the hot midday sun.

Farmers below having their conference under a tree's shade.

A couple more agriculturists below having a good chat.

Ancient beautiful tamarind trees have survived the inroads of road modernisation and still line many of the roads and avenues around Tiruvannamalai.

And below perilously close to the roadway, rustic thatched country cottages line both sides of Perumbakkam Road.

An enjoyable, pretty walk that gave me the opportunity to remind myself just how sweet it is in these parts.