Photographs of Repairs, Renovation and Painting at Arunachaleswarar Temple

Below sequence of photographs show how smart Arunachaleswarar Temple is looking now that nearly all repairs, cleaning, renovation and painting have been completed in time for Monday, February 6, 2017 Mahakumbhabhiskeham. 

Cracks on Raja Gopuram have been repaired by Civil Engineers

Statues on all Gopurams cleaned and whenever necessary repaired

All gopurams cleaned, repaired and whitewashed

Vimanas on all shrines repaired and painted

Finishing up all work before February 6 date of Mahakumbhabhishekam

Both theerthams with surrounding statues, cleaned and painted

Wherever necessary repairs made on stonework

Statues on top of shrines cleaned and painted

All clean and ready for upcoming function

Shrine at 4th Prakaram showing column of fire legend

Shrine back of 4th Prakaram fully painted

Statues in front of Mother Shrine cleaned and painted

Photograph taken from 2016 Deepam Flag Hoisting showing smartly painted statues front of Arunachaleswarar Shrine

Arunachala Pongal 2017

H  A  P  P  Y     P  O  N  G  A  L 

Best Wishes for a joyous and abundant 2017

Arunachaleswarar Temple Mahakumbhabhishekam 2017: Full Programme

The below diagram of Arunachaleswarar Temple shows the location of the venue for the upcoming Mahakumbhabhishekam Yagasalai. The venue is located top left of the diagram.

Tiruvannamalai Arulmigu Apeethakuchambal Samaida Arunachaleswarar Temple 

Ashtabundana Swarnabundana Mahakumbhabhishekam Invitation Festival 

Arunachaleswarar is one of the most famous temple in India with Annamalai and Unnamulai and other murtis in the temple. 

To this Ashtabunda, Swarna Kumbhabhishekam will be done to all gopurams and all renovated vimanas. 

On February 6, 2017 Monday morning from 9.05 a.m. to 10.30 a.m. Mahakumbhabhishekam will be observed. On that same day in the night, Swami’s marriage and procession of the panchamoorthies will occur. God’s vahana will be the Silver Rishaba. 

P R O G R A M M E

January 26, 2017 Thursday 

Mangala music and Sridurgai Amman Utsavam at 6.15 p.m. 

January 27, 2017 Friday 

7 p.m. Sri Pidari Amman Utsavam 

January 28, 2017 Saturday 

7.30 a.m. Sri Vighneswara puja. Dhana puja. Sri Ganapati homam. Lakshmi Homam. Navagraha Homam. Gaja Puja. Go Puja. Annam Puja. 

Saturday Night 7 p.m. Rakshana Homam. 

January 29, 2017 Sunday 

8.30 a.m. Srimoorthi Homam. Skanda Homam. Purnaharti Deeparadhana. 

Sunday evening 7 p.m. Vastu Shanti 

January 30, 2017 Monday 

9.05 a.m. Dhisa homam. Samhita homam. Purnaharti Deeparadhana. 

Monday evening 5 p.m. Miruthsangkirahinam 

January 31, 2017 Tuesday 

8.30 a.m. Shanti Homam. Agni Homam. Theerthavari for moorthies. Ashtabundanam. Purnaharti Homam. Deeparadhana. 

Tuesday evening 5 p.m. Kumbha Alangaram Yartra Homam, Yatra Dhanam. Yagasalai Pravesum. 1st Kala Yaga puja. Purnaharti Deeparadhana. 

February 1, 2017 Wednesday

2nd Kala Yaga puja. Purnaharti Deeparadhana. 

Wednesday evening 4.30 p.m. 3rd Kala Yaga puja. Purnaharti Deeparadhana. 

February 2, 2017 Thursday 

5 a.m. Parivara Yagasala Puja 

8.05 a.m. Kala Yaga Puja. Purnaharti Deeparadhana. 

9-10.30 a.m. Parivara Devathas Kumbhabhishekam. 

Thursday Evening 4.30 p.m. 5th Kala Yaga puja. Purnaharti Deeparadhana. 

February 3, 2017 Friday 

8.30 a.m. 6th Kala Yaga Puja. Purnaharti Deeparadhana. 

Friday Evening 4.30 p.m. 7th Kala Yaga Puja. Moolasthanam Arunachaleswarar and Apeethakuchambal. Astabandanam. Purnaharti Deeparadhana. 

February 4, 2017 Saturday 

8th Kala Yaga puja. Purnaharti Deeparadhana. 

Saturday evening 4.30 p.m. 9th Kala Yaga puja. Purnaharti Deeparadhana 

February 5, 2017 Sunday. 

10th Kala Yaga Puja. Purnaharti Deeparadhana 

Sunday evening 4.15 p.m. 11th Kala Yaga puja. Purnaharti Deeparadhana Tatvarchana. 

February 6, 2017 Monday

3 a.m. 12th Kala Yaga puja. 

6.30 a.m. Mahapurnaharti 

7.15 a.m. Yatra Dharnam starting Kadam 

9.15 a.m. Raja Gopuram Moolasthanam other vimanas kumbhabhishekam. 

10.05 am Moolasthanam Mahakumbhabhishekam 

4.30 p.m. Mahabhishekam 

8.30 p.m. Tirukalyanam (marriage) 

10.00 p.m. Panchamoorthies procession

2017 Arudra Darshanam and Nataraja Abhishekam

Arudra Darshan is observed in the Tamil month of Margazhi (December–January). It takes place on the full moon night (along with Arudra Birth Star) and is the longest night of the year. In 2017, Arudhara Darshan was observed on Wednesday, January 11. 

It celebrates the cosmic dance of Lord Shiva, which is represented by the Nataraja form. The term 'Nataraj' means 'King of Dancers' (nata = dance; raja = king). Arudra denotes a red flame and Lord Siva has also a name called "Semporjyoti" or "Golden Red Flame," and thus Nataraja is the manifestation of Siva as a Light. 

The cosmic dance of Lord Shiva represents five activities–Creation, Protection, Destruction, Embodiment and Release–thereby representing the continuous cycle of creation and destruction. It is believed that the energy from this dance of bliss (Ananda Tandavam) sustains the cosmos, and when Siva is finished with this dance, the Universe will end and a new one will begin. 

In this festival at Arunachaleswarar Temple, Abhishekam of Lord Nataraja takes place early in the morning and He and the Goddess then come outside amongst  devotees. Only a few times a year is the statue of Lord Nataraja brought out of its permanent home at the 2nd Prakaram of Arunachaleswarar Temple. 

Below are photographs of the abhishekam which was performed on Lord Nataraja and the Goddess at the 1000 Pillar Hall on Wednesday, January 11, 2017.

After completion of abhiskeham the Gods are taken out of the 1000 Pillar Hall and after turning right (in front of the Murugan Shrine) proceed through the gardens to the Thirumanjana Gate (South Side) and exit Arunachaleswarar Temple on the start of circumambulation of the mada veedhis (perimeter streets) of Arunachaleswarar Temple. 

Lord Shiva as Nataraja (Lord of the Dance) performs the Tandava–the dance in which the Universe is created, maintained, and resolved. The five places where Lord Nataraja performed His Tandavam are collectively known as Pancha Sabhas meaning Five Assembly Halls of Lord Nataraja. 

Dancing with Shiva 

"The world is seen as it truly is—sacred—when we behold Siva's cosmic dance. Everything in the universe, all that we see, hear and imagine, is movement. Galaxies soar in movement; atoms swirl in movement. All movement is Siva's dance. When we fight this movement and think it should be other than it is, we are reluctantly dancing with Siva. We are stubbornly resisting, holding ourselves apart, criticizing the natural processes and movements around us. 

It is by understanding the eternal truths that we bring all areas of our mind into the knowledge of how to accept what is and not wish it to be otherwise. Once this happens, we begin to consciously dance with Siva, to move with the sacred flow that surrounds us, to accept praise and blame, joy and sorrow, prosperity and adversity in equanimity, the fruit of understanding. We are then gracefully, in unrestrained surrender, dancing with Siva. The Vedas state, "The cosmic soul is truly the whole universe, the immortal source of all creation, all action, all meditation. Whoever discovers Him, hidden deep within, cuts through the bonds of ignorance even during his life on earth." 

[By Satguru Sivaya Subramaniyaswami] 

Pradosham Tuesday January 10, 2017: Arunachaleswarar Temple

The below photographs were taken on Pradosham as observed at Arunachaleswarar Temple, Tiruvannamalai Tuesday, January 10th, 2017. 

When Pradosham Vrat falls on Tuesday, it is known as Bhaum Pradosham. The benefit of Bhaum Pradosh Vrat is believed to give relief from health problems and enhance physical health. It also brings prosperity. 

Aarti at Periyar Nandi 5th Prakaram

Devotees watching Periyar Nandi Aarti, 5th Prakaram

Large crowd of devotees gathered for Tuesday Pradosham

Aarti at Kodi Kampathu Nandi,Third Prakaram

The next pradosham to be observed at Arunachaleswarar Temple will be on Wednesday January 25, 2017.

February 6, 2017 Mahakumbhabhishekam at Arunachaleswarar Temple

The below photographs were taken on November 21, 2016 during the "Kumbabisheka Yakasalai Panthakal" function. The function is the precursor of the Mahakumbhabhishekam that will take place at Arunachaleswarar Temple on Monday, February 6, 2017. 

 

Regular visitors to Arunachaleswarar Temple will have noticed renovation and restoration work being undertaken throughout the Temple since 2015. Gopurams, shrines and stonework have been cleaned, repaired and restored and in the case of the Raja Gopuram (Temple East Gate) cracks in the tower were recently repaired by civil engineers. 

Gopurams and stonework have been cleaned, restored and whitewashed, however Vimanas on all shrines, statues at front and top of shrines, and some smaller shrines in the west 4th Prakaram have been painted. 

The most recent of previous Mahakumbhabhishekams at Arunachaleswarar Temple took place in 1918, 1944, 1976 and 2002. 

2017 Uttarayana Kala Flag Hoisting

Today, Thursday January 5th, 2017 marks flag hoisting at Arunachaleswarar Temple heralding the Uttarayana Festival. As this Festival follows so soon after Karthigai Deepam, it is not followed as lavishly compared to some other major Temples in Tamil Nadu. However at Arunachaleswarar Temple in the evenings a special puja is observed at the Siva Sannidhi, which is then daily followed by the Gods on procession around the Temple perimeter streets (mada veddhis). 

Uttarayana and Dakshinayana are each comprised of six months. Uttarayana means the northern movement of the sun. The period starting from Capricorn Zodiac (Makara Rashi) up to Gemini Zodiac (Mithuna Raasi) is Uttarayana. The period when Sun leaves Gemini Zodiac is known as Kataka Sankramana and this marks the end of the Uttarayana period. This happens annually on July 15th or 16th. 

“In terms of sadhana, Dakshinayana is for purification. Uttarayana is for enlightenment. Particularly, the first half of Uttarayana (until the equinox in March) is a period where a maximum amount of grace is available. This is the period of receptivity, of grace and enlightenment, of attainment of the ultimate. This is the time to harvest, and it is also the reason agricultural harvests begin during this period. Pongal is the harvest festival. So it is not only the time of harvesting food grains, but also the time to harvest human potential.” 

Pongal was originally a Festival for the farming community but nowadays it is celebrated by all. It follows the solar calendar and is celebrated on the same days each year. At Tiruvannamalai (and throughout Tamil Nadu) the four consecutive days of Pongal are: 'Bhogi' January 13th, 'Pongal' January 14th, 'Maattuppongal' January 15th and 'Thiruvalluvar Day' on Jan 16. 

Lord Chandrasekhara and Goddess Parakashakti

Flag Hoisting at Arunachaleswarar Temple

Devotees watching the flag hoisting ceremony at Arunachaleswarar Temple

Lord Chandrasekhara being taken on procession

Wishing All—Peace, Joy and Merriment in 2017

Pradosham Monday December 26, 2016: Arunachaleswarar Temple

Soma Pradosham was observed at Arunachaleswarar Temple on Monday, December 26, 2016.

Significance of Monday Pradosham

Lord Shiva is also known as Chandrasekhara, which literally refers to the 'Person who wears the moon'. In some cultures the appearance of the new crescent moon has been celebrated as a return of the moon from the dead. This celestial body is a powerful influence on the human psyche. Its influence which is always available at Arunachala is celebrated in disparate ways during Sivaratri and Poornima. It is also recognised in all Pradoshams that fall on Mondays, as did today’s Pradosham Monday December 26, 2016. To read more about the significance of Soma Pradosham go to this link here.

All of the below five Temple Nandis receive abhishekam and aarti on 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 

Aarti being offered at Periyar Nandi, 5th Prakaram

Milk Abhishekam being offered to Kodi Kampathu Nandi, 3rd Prakaram

Tumeric abhishekam offered to Kodi Kampathu Nandi

Aarti at Nandi, 3rd Prakaram

The Lord on golden Rishaba, 3rd Prakaram with Arunachala background

Merry Christmas

 

Mookupodi Swami Current Location

I’ve recently received many requests about how to connect with Mookupodi Swami. In this respect a few days back I received a comment from SOURI KB on a very interesting and informative posting relating to Mookupodi Swami (at this link here) about the current whereabouts of the Saint. 

“Hello every one, if you want to have the darshan of MPS. Please visit the Hanuman Temple near the High School on the girivalam path. Nowadays he is staying there. Recently I had his darshan. Every day after the breakfast swami will do girivalam in an auto in anti-clockwise (opposite to how we do) between 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. and rest at the Hanuman Temple. Happy darshan.” 

I have made a number of postings on Mookupodi Swami on two of my blogs; Arunachala Grace and Arunachala Mystic. But to those unfamiliar with this Saint, am below posting a short narrative about some of my own experiences with Mookupodi Swami.

Mookupodi Swami at Deepam Hotel in 2007

Swami at Hotel 2007

Mookupodi Swami at High School, Girivalam Roadway, 2009

I first met Mottayan Swamiji (now more commonly known as Mookupodi Swami) in 2007. He moved to Tiruvannamalai some 40 years ago and although he occasionally disappears—after a short time returns. He has been known in Tiruvannamalai for many years by traders, merchants and devotees. It used to be Swamiji’s custom to habituate a particular shop or restaurant for months at a time and then suddenly, for no apparent reason, leave the spot and take up residence at some other place. Wherever he remains, its always with the grateful thanks of the owner of whatever establishment Swamiji has selected. In much the same way Sri Seshadri Swamigal’s nomenclature was “golden hand” because he imbued everything he touched with auspiciousness, Mottayan Swami is also believed to bring good fortune to those he moves with. 

When I met him in 2007 his abode was the restaurant Hotel Deepam on Car Street (near Arunachaleswarar Temple). He would sit quietly in the same corner and rarely notice or look at anyone. And yet he was sought by many. Devotees and visitors would come, sit at a table nearby hoping for a glance, blessing or some sort of signal or recognition. He would not receive offerings of food instead when he wished to eat he would command whoever he choose to ‘bring me food’. At night he slept on the restaurant floor. Sometimes he would get up and wander about the town. About three times a week Swami ordered an auto rickshaw driver to take him around the Hill—but always in an anti-clockwise direction. I’ve heard of several saints and sages who also habitually travel anti-clockwise around the Hill. 

For many years Swamiji has been offered expensive clothes and gifts, but rarely accepts anything, preferring instead to remain in his own well worn rags. The Hotel manager told me a story of a rich devotee who offered Swamiji a fabulously expensive embroidered shawl. Swami accepted the shawl and proceeded to drop it onto the filthy street, stomp on it and only after ingraining it with dirt, put the shawl around his shoulders. 

Many locals believe Mottayan Swamiji is some kind of Avadhuta much in the same way as Shirdi Sai or Seshadri Swami. He was born in East Rajapalayam, near Salem with the name of Mottayan Gaunder, and hailed from a farming community. In his youth Mottayan Gaunder spent most of his time at the Veerapathiran Temple performing pujas and making garlands for the God statues. He was 25 years old when his family arranged his marriage to a girl named Chadachi. The couple had a son Periyarswamy but shortly after the birth of the child, Mottayyan Gaunder left his birth village, only to return twelve years later a few days before the death of his wife. 

Swami is now commonly known as Mookupodi Swami (Siddhar) because of his habit of using snuff. Over the last years he has spent most of his time in spots around the Hill; including Rajarajeshwari Temple, Adiannamalai Temple, Hanuman Shrine and more recently the Navagraha Shrine close to the Ner Temple off the girivalam roadway. 

In much the same way the actions of Seshadri Swamigal were believed to always be in the devotees best interest—so too, Mookupodi Swami’s actions of shouting at devotees, sometimes threatening or beating them with a stick, are also attributed to his teachings and blessings. His actions are ever random and unpredictable. He may command a visitor to give him money which he proceeds to put inside a towel and then wrap the towel around his head or some other part of his body. After some time he might give the money to a different person nearby. In such incidences both the giver and receiver feel blessed—the giver believes Mookupodi Swami (by taking the money) has taken off bad karma, and the receiver feels the gift from the saint will bring auspiciousness and good fortune into their life. In many of my earlier postings on Mookupodi Swami, people have replied with comments telling of their own extraordinary experiences with him.