2017 Arunachala Karthigai Festival: Day 8. Day—Lord Chandrasekhara on Horse

The morning of the 8th day of the 10 Day Karthigai Deepam Festival belongs to Lord Chandrasekhara on horse vahana accompanied by Vinayaka on rat vahana.

After giving darshan in front of the Alankaram Mandapam Lord Chandrasekhara visits the Maharadham (His wooden chariot vahana of the previous day). During His visit puja is performed in the front of the Maharadham by Brahmin Priests. After completion, paste is taken from the puja residue, and a priest thereupon climbs onto the horse vahana platform and applies it to the forehead of Lord Chandrasekhara. After which a transfer of Darba Grass is made from the Maharadham to Lord Chandrasekhara on horse vahana.

 

Significance of this ritual is that power accumulated in the vast Maharadham the previous day is transferred back to its originator—Lord Chandrasekhara.

Lord Chandrasekhara and Lord Vinayaka stop at Yagasala Mandapam for adornment and aarti

Lord Chandrasekhara on Horse Vahana

2017 Arunachala Karthigai Festival: Day 6. Day—Chandrasekhara on Silver Elephant: 63 Nayanars

In the festivities of the morning of the sixth day, a glorious Silver Elephant, leads a procession of the great Shiva devotees, the 63 Nayanars.

The Nayanars are remembered as a group of 63 saints (poets) of the 6th to 8th century who were devoted to Lord Shiva. It was they who influenced the Bhakti movement in Tamil Nadu. The names of the 63 saints were first compiled by Sundarar and the list was expanded by Nambiyandar Nambi during his compilation of material for the famed Tirumurai.

Out of the 63 Nayanars, the four Saiva Samaya Acharyas are remembered best of all. Those four are: Tirugnasambandar, Tirunanvukkarasar (Appar), Sundarar and Manikkavasagar.

The principal teachings of the four Saiva Samaya Acharyas is of love and surrender to God; and of service to God and godly men. That love, devotion, and service to God is the only way one can obtain His Grace. God is One and He is Shiva. That man must get over his bonds which keep him in ignorance and obtain inseparable union with Shiva through the Lord's Grace.

Lord Chandrasekhara on Silver Elephant

Lord Chandrasekhara on Silver Elephant on Car Street

Lord Vinayakar on Silver Rat Vahana

The saints being carried in Palanquins

School Children carrying the Saints in Palanquins

63 Nayanars in Palanquins, Car Street

Four Saiva Samaya Archaryas

2017 Arunachala Karthigai Festival: Day 4. Night—Kalpavriksha and Kamadhenu Vahanas

One of the most popular processions during the Arunachala Deepam Festival, is that of Kalpavriksha (also known as Karpavirutcham), the wish-fulfilling tree and Kamadhenu, the wish-fulfilling cow. Both of which emphasis the wish-fulfilling aspect of Arunachala.

The Kalpavriksha is a mythological Divine tree said to fulfill all desires. Its mythology narrates that the wish-fulfilling tree originates from the churning of the ocean of milk after which the god Indra, returned with the tree to his paradise. During the Deepam Festival on the Fourth Night the Lord is seated under the Kalpavriksha Tree.

The second major Radham appearing on that night is that of Kamadhenu (literally meaning; the cow; "from whom all that is desired is drawn", or “the divine cow providing for all needs”). The Kamadhenu is a divine cow-goddess described in mythology as the mother of all cows who provides the owner with whatever is desired.

It is often the wish fulfilling aspect of Girivalam that brings many pilgrims each Poornima (Full Moon) to the Hill, whatever the difficulty or weather, to perform girivalam. In fact many pilgrims prefer it when the conditions are extreme (cold, heavy sheeting rain, previous tapas such as fasting and mortification etc) as they believe that the greater the difficulties they overcome in performing girivalam, the greater will be the focus of their sankalpa (intention) and success of their wish.

The now deceased Annamalai Swami explains the power of the Hill as thus:-

“. . . It is not an ordinary hill. It is spirituality Itself. It has a powerful, magnetic pull to the Self. Seekers who come to this place with the intention of realizing the Self will have untold benefits to do pradakshina on a full moon.

In the proximity of this holy hill the presence of the Self is more powerful and more self-evident than anywhere else. Indian mythology speaks of a wish-fulfilling tree. If you find this tree and tell it what you want, your wish will be granted.

Arunachala also has this reputation. This is why so many people come here on a full moon night and walk around it. But very few people come here and ask for their complete freedom, for undisturbed peace.

Arunachala is a light. It shines. It is the light of the Self, and the light of the Self will continue to shine on you whether you believe it or not. Arunachala is greater than all other religious places. There are other holy, powerful places in the world, but none have the power of Arunachala . . . There is a huge amount of shakti, or spiritual energy, here.”

Aarti to the Panchamoorthies' Alangarams

The Lord being prepared on his Vahana inside the Alankaram Mandapam (outside Raja Gopuram)

Frenetic activity preparing all of the panchamoorthies outside the Alankaram Mandapam

Kalpavriksha: The Wish Fulfilling Tree

2017 Arunachala Karthigai Festival: Day 4. Day—Lord Chandrasekhara on Naga Vahana

On the morning of Day 4 of the 2017 Arunachala Karthigai Festival, the vahana for Lord Chandrasekhara is the naga.

The use of the word naga usually refers only to mythological serpents while snakes living in nature are called sarpas. However the word naga is also used to represent the cobra.

The cobra which is seen coiled around the neck of Lord Shiva, represents power over destruction and creation. It primarily represents rebirth, death and mortality—due to the casting of its skin thus being symbolically "reborn". The snake also represents Kundalini Shakti and as a vahana of Lord Shiva depicts desires kept under control of the Divine.

Alangaram of Lord Chandrasekharar

Lord Chandrasekharar on his Naga Vahana

Procession of the mada veedhis (perimeter streets of Arunachaleswarar Temple)

Procession of the Panchamoorthies

Large crowds of pilgrims are attending each function

Drummer on Big Street (in front of the Alankaram Mandapam)

2017 Karthigai Deepam Festival Day One—Flag Hoisting: Thursday November 23, 2017

The Flag Hoisting ceremony which took place at Arunachaleswarar Temple this morning on Thursday, 23 November, 2017 marks the first day of the 2017 Karthigai Deepam Festival at Arunachala.

Symbolically, hoisting the flag suggests setting out to conquer—and  a devotee comes to the Temple to conquer his ego and gain control over his baser nature with the help of the Supreme Being. The Sanskrit word for the flag is ‘Dhvaja’ and it means whatever is raised. In the religious sense, whatever raises man to a higher level of understanding and activity is a ‘Dhvaja.’ The flag also suggests hope and desire to overcome ignorance. A Temple visit invigorates the devotee, recharging him with strength and bravery to face hardships knowing that ultimately those who have surrendered to the will of God find victory.

Kings of old in order to exhibit their Lordship over their kingdom and proclaim their continuing rulership would hoist a flag above their battlements or palace. The Dhvaja which suggests the victory of good over evil is a symbol of victory and superior wealth. It signifies commanding respect, patriotism and kingship. The flag nowadays is raised to honour God who is seen as the King of Kings—the  Supreme Power.

The history of a Temple flag on the Dwajasthambam (Dwajasthambam—Flag Pole) is that it marks an inauguration of a major Utsava at the Temple. The flag also serves as a signal to indicate to the people and visitors of the town that an Utsava is underway. Dhwajarohanam is a public act of sankalpa (an action made to impress an idea on the mind) which indicates a vow undertaken (in this case) by the people of the town to celebrate Brahmostavam.

Old customs dedicated that no-one present within the town limits on the occasion of the Dhwajarohanam was expected to leave the town or do any other thing such as marriage etc., until after the end of the Festival. The close of the Festival is marked by the Dhwajavarohanam or the lowering of the flag.

Crowd gathering to view the Flag Hoisting ceremony

Lord Arunachaleswarar coming out of the Siva Sannidhi

Sakthi Amman being carried on palanquin to the ceremony

The God and Goddess positioned to view the hoisting of the flag

August 5, 2017 Shani Pradosham: Arunachaleswarar Temple

Shani Pradosham occurs when the 13th Moon-day falls on a Saturday. As Lord Shiva has greater influence over Saturn on this day, Saturn can be led to loosen and release some of our karmic bonds.

Shani can bless with both good and bad and for this reason a prayer to him, especially on Saturdays, is said to mitigate devotee’s hardships. He is ruled by Lord Yama. Saturn ensures happiness.

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At a village called Surutapalli, (nearly 60 kms from Chennai), Pallikondeswarar Temple is located which is home to a recumbent Siva (Sayana Sivan i.e. Sleeping Siva).

Story about Saturday Pradoshams

The story goes that during the churning of the ocean, when Lord Siva swallowed poison spewed from the seas, his neck turned blue. Goddess Parvati rushed forward and held his neck so that the poison would not spread to the rest of his body. This Shiva is represented at the Pallikondeswarar Temple by the image of the Lord sleeping on the lap of the Goddess Parvathi.

The Gods came down from heaven to have darshan of the Lord but were stopped by gatekeeper Nandi, who asked them to return after Shiva was fully rested. When the Lord woke, he was filled with happiness and danced the “Ananda Thandavam”. The day the Gods came to have darshan of the Lord is reputed to have been a Saturday.

Pradosham Abhishekams at Arunachaleswarar Temple

Abhishekam is performed on the five major Nandi statues at Arunachaleswarar Temple on the occasion of each Pradosham. 

From east to west the five Temple Nandis are: 

Periyar 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 

Worship of Periyar Nandi, 5th Prakaram

Large Nandi

Devotees in 5th Prakaram watching abhiskekam of Lord Nandi

Kodi Kampathu Nandi, 3rd Prakaram (Flagpost)

Rathu Vilaku Nandi, 2nd Prakaram

Abhishekam of the Lord with his Consort

Alankaram of the Gods

Procession of the Gods at Arunachaleswarar Temple

Circumambulation of the Shiva Shrine, Arunachala background

2016 Arunachala Karthigai Festival: Extraordinary Grace Given to Fishermen

Every year during Deepam five earthen-pot lighted lamps, representing the five elements, provide the flame for the single Bharani Deepam which fisherman carry to the top of the mountain for use as the source-light for the Krittikai Deepam. It is also they who are entrusted with carrying the Deepam Cauldron up to the top of the Hill prior to the day of Mahadeepam. 

The Deepam cauldron is hauled up the slopes of Arunachala supported by poles inserted into the cauldron’s rings. The unique privilege for taking the flame (source-light) and cauldron up the Hill and also for the actual lighting of the Deepam Flame is always given (for as long as the Hill’s recorded history) to men of the fishing caste. 

Parvtha Raja clan of fisherman light the 2016 Deepam Cauldron

This year 52 year old K Subramanian and his relatives of the Parvatha Raja clan lit the cauldron on the summit of Arunachala on Monday, December 12, 2016. According to local belief, the Parvatha Raja clan are descendants of a king who had been blessed by Lord Shiva to light the cauldron in order to ward off a curse. The clan has three sub-divisions: Unnamulai Priyan, Pennattu Priyan and Vathathi Priyan. 

The menfolk from the three sub-classes take turns every year to light the cauldron. This year it is the Unnamulai Priyan division. 

The clansmen are honoured with ‘Parivattam' on the morning of Karthigai Deepam Day at the temple.They use `Ezhalal' (a long bamboo stick with the wick at one end) to light the cauldron. The lamp is lit at 6pm when the idol of Arthanareswarar is taken on a procession around the sanctum of the Arunachaleswarar temple. Around 600kg of ghee, 100 metre of cloth and over 4 kg of camphor will be used each day for 10 days. 

The reason for the extraordinary grace shown to the fishing clan is explained by a famous legend of the time the Goddess Parvati was adopted by the king of the fishermen. A version of the story appears below. 

Becoming a Fisherman 

"Once, the Lord was explaining to the Goddess the secret import of the Vedas. However, the Goddess who was listening to the Lord, seemed to be beset with some anxiety and was otherwise engrossed. It was, therefore, apparent that She was listening in name only. The Lord noticed this and said that as She was not paying full attention to the important things discoursed by Him that in retribution She should be born in the fisherman’s community. 

The Goddess lamented and the Lord assured Her that She would be born to the king of fishermen and that He (The Lord) would in due course come to wed her. 

Ganapathi and Subrahmanya, the sons of the Lord were greatly perturbed by this and in their frenzy, considering the books of the Vedas to be the cause of the trouble, threw the offending books into the sea. The Lord took Nandikeswara to task for having allowed Vinayaka and Subrahmanya to go to Him without knowing His convenience and cursed him to become a shark in the sea. Any curse on Ganapathi would recoil on Him (the Lord) and hence the Lord did not impose any curse on the elephant God, however, Subrahmanya was cursed to become the dumb son of a merchant. 

There was a place called Pakam on the eastern seashore of the Pandya Kingdom which was inhabited by fishermen and their king of the great fisherman clan of Paravar, was a great devotee of Lord Siva. The king had no children and one day, when he went to the sea for fishing, found a crying female child lying under a Pinnai tree (or Punnai, Calophyllam Inophyllam) on the seashore. He picked the child up with great joy and handed it to his wife saying that it was a gift of the Lord. His wife brought up the child very affectionately and adorned it with various jewels. The child grew to be a girl who constantly meditated on Lord Siva. 

As ordained by the Lord’s curse, Nandikeswara became a shark and caused havoc to the fishermen’s boats sailing in the sea. The king of the fishermen took considerable pains to catch the shark—but all was in vain. The king therefore announced that he would give his daughter in marriage to any person who would catch the shark. 

The Lord appeared in the guise of a young fisherman and the king was struck with the personality and bearing of the young newcomer. To the king’s enquiry the young man replied that he was a fishermen and could net any big fish or shark. The king told him of the prize offered for netting the shark infesting the area. The newcomer went to the sea and in no time netted the shark. 

The king and his men were astonished at the feat. And happily gave to the newcomer his daughter in marriage and celebrated the wedding immediately. The bride and bridegroom immediately appeared as Siva and Parvati on their Vrishabha mount and the shark also appeared as Nandikeswara. 

The king of the fishermen extolled the God for the great kindness shown to an ordinary and illiterate man. The Lord told him that as he had been yearning for a child, He sent Parvati to be his daughter and He came himself came to wed Her. The Lord also blessed the king to have all prosperity and at the end of his life to become a denizen of Sivaloka. Then the Lord instructed Parvati about the secret import of the Vedas and She eagerly and earnestly listened to the discourse." 

2016 Arunachala Deepam Festival. Day Ten—6 p.m. Mahadeepam

Strong winds and rains on the day of Mahadeeepam, Monday December 12, 2016, did not prevent a large number of devotees travelling to Tiruvannamalai to witness this great event. In spite of cold, wet conditions many devotees braved the climb to the summit of Arunachala to view the lighting of the deepam first hand. In addition from early Monday morning throngs of people performed girivalam around the 14 km perimeter of the Hill. 

Ceremonies for the final day of the festival began shortly after 4 a.m., on December 12, 2016. Priests started the rituals by lighting the Barani Deepam (five earthen lamps marking the five elements, but merged into a single lamp to mark the convergence of the five elements) at Arthamandapam. 

To read about the events in the evening proceed below to a beautiful narrative of an earlier Mahdadeeam by Swami Abhisktananada. 

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"Towards five the singing stopped, as a procession emerged from the Kalyana Mandapam. It was the five murtis (Ganapati, Subramaniyar, Lord Shiva, Parvati,  and representative of all devotees Chandiswarar) which were now coming attired in their most splendid garments and covered with flowers, to mix with the crowd so that they might have the darshan of the Holy Light. Immediately in front of the porch of the sanctuary stands a mandapam which was built in 1202 by Mangayarkarasi to provide a shelter for the Lords of the Temple during this annual function. The murtis passed through the crowd in their palanquins carried on the shoulders of the Brahmins. Once they were in their place, everyone’s attention was once more turned towards the Mountain and the chanting of mantras began again. 

The atmosphere became more and more tense. . . The great moment was drawing near for which everyone was waiting—the appearance of the Flame. Expectation filled every heart and showed on every face. It increased in harmony with the rhythm of the cosmos itself; as slowly beyond the horizon the moon rose into the sky, while in the depths of space the constellation of the Pleiades, of Krittika, appeared in the same direction. 

Suddenly there was the sound of an explosion, like a gunshot. Young Brahmin torch-bearers came running out of the inner sanctuary, brandishing their lighted torches at arm’s length. Priests offered the flame of the arati before the murti of Arunachala at its space under the mandapam. In front of the main gate a huge bronze cauldron, filled with oil, camphor and clarified butter, burst into a giant flame. 

And from the peak of the Mountain also, - on which all eyes had been fixed for the last full hour, not only in the Temple and the town, but in the whole countryside around to a distance of many leagues—the flame mounted up, manifesting both outwardly and in the heart of the faithful, the mystery of Light which from the beginning has at the same time hidden and revealed itself in Arunachala. 

That is all. The Flame has been seen. Joy and grace have filled all hearts. The crowd immediately begins to disperse, though it will be more than two hours before the Temple courts are completely empty. Each one as he leaves, goes to the bronze cauldron and casts into it his offering of camphor or of oil to be burnt up in the one great flame - a symbol of his own departure into the mystery of the Flame. 

Meanwhile the bearers up above begin their slow and difficult descent from the Mountain. They had climbed up early that morning in the first light of dawn, carrying jars of oil and clarified butter. The worthiest of their number were entrusted with bearing the sacred fire, taken from each of the Temple shrines, in order to light the Thibam flame. This had to be done at the very moment when, from their lofty observatory, they saw simultaneously the red sun disappearing in the west while the moon’s dish came over the horizon in the east. 

As soon as I left the Temple precincts amid the crowd of faithful, I joined with many others in once more following the circular road round Arunachala . . . as I stepped into the cool air of the night . . . all the detailed features of the Mountain had disappeared. There was nothing to be seen but the sharp outline of its mystic triangle sketched against the sky. As the moon climbed majestically towards the zenith, it shed over it its silvery light, while all around was spread a mysterious shadow. 

The Mountain had become an immense lamp, from the top of which glittered the bright Fame. OM.” 

Alangaram of Ardhanarishvara

Ardhanarisvara being taken by palanquin out of Temple

Amidst devotees in 3rd Prakaram, panchamoorthies in Mandapam at right

Lighting the Deepam at Arunachaleswarar Temple

Lighting the Deepam on Arunachala

With the storm and cloudy weather finally over, darshan of Arunachala Deepam on Wednesday December 14, 2016

2016 Arunachala Deepam Festival. Day Nine—Night: Kailasa (Ravana) Vahana.

On the night of the 9th day of the 10-day Karthigai Deepam Festival Lord Chandrasekharar is mounted on the Kailasha (Ravana) Vahana. 

Kailasha (Ravana) or Ravananugraha-murti ("form showing favour to Ravana") is a benevolent aspect of Lord Siva who is depicted seated on his abode Mount Kailash with the Goddess Parvati with the rakshasa Ravana below trying to shake the mountain. 

The legend recorded in the Ramayana goes like this: 

The ten-headed, twenty-armed mighty King Ravana defeated and looted the city of Alaka (which belonged to his step-brother and God of wealth, Lord Kubera). After the victory, Ravana was returning to Lanka in the flying chariot stolen from Kubera, when he spotted a beautiful place which his chariot could not fly over. 

Ravana met Shiva's bull-faced dwarf attendant Nandikeshvara and asked the reason for his chariot's inability to pass over the place. Nandi informed Ravana that Siva and Parvati were enjoying dalliance on the mountain and no one was allowed to pass. 

Ravana mocked Siva and Nandi. Enraged by the insult to his Lord, Nandi cursed Ravana that monkeys would destroy him. In turn, Ravana decided to uproot the mountain Kailash, infuriated by Nandi's curse and his inability to proceed further. He put all his twenty arms under Kailash and started lifting. However, the omniscient Shiva realized that Ravana was behind the menace and pressed the mountain into place with his big toe, trapping Ravana beneath it. Ravana gave a loud cry in pain. Advised by his ministers, Ravana sang hymns in praise of Shiva for a thousand years. Finally, Siva forgave Ravana and granted him an invincible sword. Since Ravana cried, he was given the name "Ravana" – one who cried. 

The Lord on Kailasa (Ravana) Vahana

Kailasa Ravana Vahana

The crowd watching procession on night of Day Nine

 

The Tamil version of the legend narrates that imprisoned under Kailash, Ravana cut off one of his heads and built a veena from it. He used his tendons for the strings and began singing the praises of Siva which pleased the Lord so much that he bestowed a powerful linga to be worshipped by Ravana at Lanka.

 

Ravana Vahana

Vahana shows Tamil version with Ravana's head back of Veena

2016 Arunachala Karthigai Festival: Day 8. Day—Lord Chandrasekhara on Horse

The morning of the 8th day of the 10 Day Karthigai Deepam Festival belongs to Lord Chandrasekahara on horse vahana accompanied by Vinayaka on rat vahana. 

After giving darshan in front of the alankaram mandapam Lord Chandrasekhara visits the Maharadham (His wooden chariot vahana of the previous day). During His visit puja is performed in the front of the Maharadham by Brahmin Priests. After completion paste is taken from the puja residue, and a priest thereupon climbs up the horse vahana and applies pottu to the forehead of Lord Chandrasekhara. Afterwhich a transfer of Darba Grass is made from the Maharadham to Lord Chandrasekhara on horse vahana. 

Significance of this ritual is that power accumulated in the vast Vahana the previous day is transferred back to its originator Lord Chadrasekhara. 

 

Lord Chandrasekhara moving away from the front of the Alankaram Mandapam

Will soon visit the Maharadham of previous day

Lord Chandrasekhara on Horse Vahana

The Lord on Horse Vahana visiting Maharadham

Lord Chandrasekhara on Horse at Maharadham

Priest at Lord Chandrasekhara on Horse to serve in facilitating return of power from Maharadham

After residual power in the Maharadham has been gathered back by the Lord, He proceeds at the start of His procession of the mada veedhis

Lord Vinayaka on rat vahana in foreground, Lord Chandrasekhara on horse vahana at back