2016 Mahashivaratri Lingodbhavamurti Puja

Below are photographs of the Lingodbhavamurti puja held at Arunachaleswarar Temple on the night of the 2016 Mahashivaratri. 

The manifestation of Shiva in this column of fire in front of Brahma and Vishnu, is carved in stone, as the Lingodbhavamurti manifestation of Shiva, and is always enshrined in the rear niche of the sanctum enshrining a Shiva Lingam. Since most temples face east, the Lingodbhava faces West. 

The non-anthropomorphic form of the Shiva Lingam is a representation of this infinite cosmic column of fire, whose origins were not traceable by Brahma or Vishnu. The Shiva Lingam is the centre of reverence and worship in all Saivite temples. 

Large crowd watching the Puja

The story of Lingodbhava is that of the attempts of Vishnu and Brahma to discover the origins (the beginning Aadi and the end Antha) of Shiva, is stated in three of the Puranas - the Kurma Purana, the Vayu Purana and Shiva Purana. 

Vishnu was engaged in his yoganidhra (the slumber of yoga) at the end of a kalpa, in the waters of the great deluge, when there appeared before him, Brahma emerging from a great illumination. Brahma introduced himself to Vishnu as the Creator of the Universe, to which Vishnu replied that he was the architect of the Universe. An argument ensued between both as to their superiority over one another, when there appeared before them - a huge lingam of fire - with tongues of flames blazing out of it. 

Curious to trace the origins of this column of fire, Brahma assumed the form of a swan and flew upwards, while Vishnu assumed the form of a boar, and burrowed down into the earth. Eons of search in either direction proved futile, and hence the two Gods surrendered to this column of fire. 

The puja celebrating the legend of the Lingodbhavamurti is particularly relevant on the day of Mahashivaratri as it represents the worship of sacred Arunachala itself, which is considered to be the manifestation of this cosmic column of fire as it represents the primordial element of fire as one of the Pancha Bhuta Stalas. 

It is only on the day of Mahashivaratri (during the third Kala Puja) that the Screwpine Flower is used for the worship of Shiva. As a result of a dispute between Brahma and Vishnu, Lord Shiva declared that henceforth the flower which hitherto had adorned his head in worship would no longer be used in his adoration except on the night of Mahashivaratri. 

The Lingodbhavamurti is in a niche at the back of the Siva Sannidhi

The worship follows the proscribed order of Lingam abhishekham

Crowds had filled the space back of the Siva Sannidhi many hours before the Puja

Abhishekham complete aarti is offered to the waiting pilgrims

The top of the Lingodhava is covered with flowers, but can see the figure of Vishnu as boar at bottom of column

Ketaki flower with unopened blooms on top of Lord Shiva's head

Ketaki Flower with opened blooms

The story including the Ketaki Flower goes thus: 

In the days of antiquity a controversy arose between Brahma and Vishnu as to which of the two was greater. Brahma said to Vishnu, "I have created the five elements and all the living beings with their endless differences in form and sound. Therefore I am the Absolute God." Vishnu said, "The whole universe is but an aspect of mine. Of what use is your creation if I do not protect it? It is my thought-power that creates, sustains and destroys the whole Universe. So I am the Absolute God" Their dispute resulted in misery in the manifested world. Supreme Being Parameshwara saw this and was filled with compassion. To settle the discord and subdue their pride, Lord Shiva appeared before them in the form of blazing column of light and a voice issued from it asking them to seek its upper and lower limits and he who found either of these is the superior one. Both gods stopped fighting and decided to explore the ends. Brahma took the form of a swan and flew up to reach the top of the column of light, whereas Vishnu became a boar and started burrowing into the earth to find its base. 

A thousand years passed as Vishnu dug deep into the nether worlds and the journey seemed endless. With all this power he could not discover the base and he got lost in meditation with the result that he experienced the Supreme Light which dwells in the hearts of all. He soon realised and recognised that his true strength was derived from this Supreme Light, that is Lord Shiva. He prayed to Shiva seeking His pardon and then returned to earth. Brahman who flew up as a swan was mounting the sky and the higher he soared, the column of light rose higher before him. He was growing despondent and was about to return when he saw a fragrant flower called Ketaki (screw-pine) falling towards the earth. On asking from where it had come, the flower revealed that it had come from the crest of the fire column that was none other than Shiva himself and that it had been descending for thousands of four-fold Yugas. Brahma requested the flower to say that both of them came down after seeing the crest and thus the flower swore to Vishnu in the presence of the Column of Effulgence that Brahma had reach the summit. 

Splitting asunder the column of Light, Shiva appeared before the two Gods. When the lotus-eyed Vishnu saw him, he danced with joy. The guilty Brahma on seeing the Lord’s true form was confused and frightened. Mahadeva said, "The two of you need not be ashamed for having transcended your limits. Hari (Vishnu) pondered deeply and became enlightened. But Brahma has uttered falsehood and I now cut off his fifth head for that perjury. Brahma shall not hereafter be installed in any Temple. And this flower, which bore false witness, shall never again find a place on my head and shall not be used for my worship." After cursing Brahma and the screw-pine flower thus, Shiva turned to Vishnu and said, "Child! Be composed, I am pleased with you. You are one of my foremost devotees. You originated from me and are my sattwic part. At the end of the kalpa you shall merge in me." 

Brahma and Vishnu prayed to Shiva to abide there forever as a Tejo Lingam. In answer to their heartfelt request, Parameshwara established himself as the Arunachala Hill and also as a small Siva Lingam at the eastern foot of the Hill for the welfare of the world and for those who desire to worship Him and obtain illumination. 

[Abridged – The Glory of Arunachala] 

March 6, 2016 Pradosham Arunachaleswarar Temple

2015 Karthigai Deepam: Valampuri Sangu Homa

Arunachaleswarar Temple celebrates four major Festivals throughout the year. The name of these Festivals are Brahmotsavam with the most important one being the Karthigai Deepam Festival. 

Valampuri Sangu Homa

At the end of each of these Brahmotsavams, a Valampuri Sangu (name of the Conch) Homa and Abhishekam is performed. This Homa was recently performed outside the Siva Sannidhi at Arunachaleswarar Temple.

Visit from Russian Group to Tiruvannamalai

This week a group of 18 arrived from Russia to enjoy a 10 day stay at Siva Sannidhi here at Arunachala. Its interesting to note how representatives from so many diverse countries and cultures are nowadays arriving in even larger numbers at Tiruvannamalai. For Arunachala Grace’s Russian readers, you can view the spiritual website of the leader of this group at this link here.

The group arrived from Mahabalipuram and on the 29th of this month will leave for a visit to Auroville.

Coach Arrives at Tiruvannamalai

16 seater with two additional seats in front

Driver cab in front

Using Google Translate, the posting of the group leader’s on her website regarding their spiritual tour of India reads: “Advaita, that is not two - duality. Advaita is a Sanskrit origin, and nowadays used to refer to the One Being, Reality. 

Traveling to India and not only acquainted with the Advaita masters from different countries, touching the teachings of the master left the body, have all contributed to the fact that the experience of non-duality, unity of all things naturally manifested. 

Satori or enlightenment spilled grace in life. The unity of all existence, presence, silence filled with love, understanding and outside the mind - all this is the true nature of every living being. 

This outlook on life, read about the Masters, the experience of enlightenment, materials and written words and sounding from the very essence of life, and therefore endowed with the power and presence.” 

Russian group

Heading towards Siva Sannidhi

Arunachala Grace arranged a local coach to pick up the Russian group at Mahabalipuram for their trip to Tiruvannamalai. It is safer and no more expensive to arrange transportation originating from Tiruvannamalai to pick up visitors at arrival point in India. Several weeks ago a lady on her way to Tiruvannamalai engaged a taxi from Chennai Airport to bring her to Arunachala. The taxi was involved in a serious accident hospitalising both the passenger and driver with injuries. 

Taxi drivers resident in Tiruvannamalai drive to and from Chennai airport and other spots many times a week and know the road and routes very well. The drivers and their families are also familiar to us, so engaging a local taxi from Tiruvannamalai is not the lottery ticket of hiring a taxi from Chennai. Arunachala Grace (email at top left of this page) is always happy to arrange car and/or coach transportation on behalf of visitors and pilgrims to this place. 

Dakshinamurti and the Nalvars

While visiting Siva Sannidhi recently, I noticed two very beautiful new paintings on their wall, one which represents Dakshinamurti and the other, of the four Saiva Samaya Acharyas. Below is a short narrative explaining the significance of the two paintings. 

The acharya (spiritual teacher) has the highest place of honour in Saivism. The Sastras say that Shiva Himself appears as the acharya at the proper moment and directs the bhakta (devotee) on the godward path. 

Dakshinamurti with Rishis

Dakshinamurti is the visual representation of the Supreme Guru. Under the Kallaal (spreading Fiscus tree) in Kailas, Dakshinamurti is seated in the pose of perfect peace and bliss. His form is of a youth of sixteen years and at his feet, sit the four rishis: Sanaka, Sanandana, Sanatana, and Sanatkumara. The Lord does not utter a word but his very pose gives the Rishis instruction and they depart, enlightened with all their doubts dispelled. 

Shiva (as Dakshinamurti) is the Parama-acharya (Supreme Guru) in Kailas. In the terrestrial plane, are the four famously revered Saiva saints known as Saiva Samaya Acharyas (Naalvar): Tirugnansambandar, Tirunanvukkarasar (Appar), Sundarar and Manikkavasagar. 

Tirugnansambandar, Tirunanvukkarasar (Appar), Sundarar and Manikkavasagar

The four Saiva Samaya Acharyas lived between the 7th and 9th centuries in Tamil Nadu, and the first three: Sambandar, Appar, and Sundarar toured Saiva shrines and by their songs encouraged people to have greater faith in God and Saivism. 

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. 

[Reference narrative by Dr. T. Arunachalam]

Arunachala as Lingam

“When I approach regarding Thee as having form, Thou standest as a Hill on earth. If the seeker looks for Thy form as formless, he is like one who travels the earth to see the ether. To dwell without thought upon Thy nature is to lose one’s identity like a doll of sugar when it comes in contact with the ocean and when I come to realize who I am, what else is this identity of mine but Thee, O Thou Who standest as the towering Aruna Hill?”
[By Aquarius]

At this Shiva Sthalam Arunachala; the non-anthropomorphic form Shiva Lingam is a representation of the infinite cosmic column of fire.

The Hill itself as Lingam (and Lingam in the Shiva Sannidhi, Arunachaleswarar Temple) is authenticated in various scriptures including the Skanda Mahapurana (both sections) and the Vidyeswara Samhita of the Siva Mahapurana. The mythology of the Hill, its manifestation as a Lingam and the development of Arunachaleswarar Temple and the surrounding city of Tiruvannamalai (then known as Aruna) is traced in the following passages of the Skanda Mahapurana [.iii(U)]







Sri Siva said:

Let this perpetual and immobile Fiery Form of mine, famous as Arunadri, be present here forever.

Brahma and Vishnu said:

If it has to be so, O support of the Universe, let this mountain remain as the support of this Universe. But this brilliance is unbearable.

. . .

Hence it is better, O Rudra, that its refulgence be like that of an ordinary mountain. Let it stand with indivisible greatness. Let it be the great mine of salvation.

It discloses its own inherent brilliance and refulgence for the sake of the prosperity of this Universe once every year in the month of Kartika at the close the day of the constellation Krittika.

Although, at your bidding, O Lord, the Sondadri is the bestower of happiness on men, it cannot be worshipped by any devotee on account of its huge size.

Hence, beginning from today at our request our Lord should be present in the form of a Linga on the ground over the tableland of this mountain.

…..

Then there appeared a certain auspicious Linga there. On seeing it Mukunda and the Lotus-seated Lord (Brahma) experienced a great surprise. Bowing down repeatedly with great pleasure, they worshipped and eulogized it for a long time.

They caused a temple of the Lord of Sonagiri to be built by Visvakarma and a multitude of other craftsmen. . . . For the sake of the ablution of the Lord they caused a sacred lake to be dug there. It was fresh and full of (the water of) all the (other) Tirthas.

Nearby they built a city named Aruna for the sake of spiritual achievement.”


***************


The Lingam identical in every way to the Hill, that was thus created by the Lord is the Lingam that is now at rest inside the Siva Sannidhi of the Arunachaleswarar Temple. Over the centuries the Temple grew around the Lingam and its enveloping Sannidhi, until the present day where there is a large 26 acre Arunachaleswarar Temple compound in which inhabits a multitude of sannidhis, shrines, gardens and tirthams.

In 1938 the authorities of Arunachaleswarar Temple filed a law suit regarding the ownership of Arunachala Hill which was being claimed by the Government as Forestry Department property. The temple authorities cited Sri Ramana Maharshi as a witness. On May 9, 1938, the Court sent a Commission to record Sri Ramana Maharshi’s deposition.

In this deposition Sri Ramana Maharshi gave his own opinion as to the nature of the Hill and its association with the Temple [which housed the Lingam]:

“There is an aitikya that this hill is linga swaroopam, that is to say, that this hill itself is Swamy. This aitikya is not to be found anywhere else. That is the cause of the glory of this place. The aitikya of this place is that this hill is Easwaraswaroopam and that the Swaroopam is full of thejas. Every year Deepothsavam is celebrated in the form of Deepam. Authority for this is found in the Vedas, the puranas and stotras of devotees. Also giripradakshina is done following this aitikya that the above said hill is Siva swaroopam. I also have faith in giripradakshina and have experience of it. THERE IS NO SASTRA TO SEPARATE THE HILL FROM THE TEMPLE.”
[Ramana Maharshi]

Siva Sannidhi Accommodation Facility

Siva Sannidhi is an accommodation facility started up by Arunachala devotees from Andhra Pradesh. In total there are sixty-two rooms all with attached Western style bathroom. It was opened in time for this current season. Siva Sannidhi is located across the street from the Ramana Nagar house Yogi Ramsuratkumar lived in before shifting to his Ashram -- which is situated a five minutes easy walk away. In addition this devotional facility is only two minutes from both Ramana Ashram and Seshadri Ashram so very convenient to those who wish to spend time at those places.

The below photograph, of a mural of Shiva as mendicant receiving food, is located on one of the dining room walls. Lunch, dinner and beverages are served twice a day.

And from the roof a close and good darshan of Arunachala.

Siva Sannidhi is run by good people and is a safe and protected haven for devotees and 'quiet' visitors.

For an update of the facilities at Siva Sannidhi, read my latest posting made in November 2012 about the completion of the new, modern annexe at this link here.
 
For those who wish to make room reservations or enquire about Retreat facilities please get in touch at the contact address located at the top left corner of this page.

Big Temple Photographs

Am posting a series of beautiful photographs recently taken of Arunachaleswarar Temple. Click on the photographs to view enlarged version.

In the below the flagpole located directly infront of Siva Sannidhi, the sanctum sanctorum of the whole Arunachaleswarar Compound, and wherein is the Siva Lingam.



The next series of three photographs are taken from upstairs, a view not often seen by visitors as it is generally off limits.