Animal Girivalam

Those that have been following Arunachala Grace, already know of my great love for animals. I have six of my own doggies and also daily feed dinner to a number of local doggies -- much to the intense jealous rivalry of my own brood.

As well as having my own doggies, I also feed hundreds of birds who daily visit my garden compound which is located adjacent to the wilderness area of the Samudram Eri. So the below Animal Girivalam -- is all about my love of animals.

Over Deepam Festival I was asked by Yoges, a good friend in Malaysia to look after two of her compatriots, who needed a mentor during their stay at Tiruvannamalai.

On one day during their stay, we rented an auto rickshaw for 4-5 hours to enjoy a nice leisurely auto hill round. During the hill round made sure to stop off at some special Temples to explain to my visitors the mythology connected with the Temple and sometimes just talked about local gossip surrounding various Temple compounds.

Although I had my camera, wasn't really in the mood to take many snaps, except for the below photographs which were of animals we saw at some of the Temples we visited.

Right click to see nesting birds: Adiannamalai Temple

The below extract is from my posting on Adiannamalai Temple on my website Arunachala Samudra.

"Birds nesting at Adi Annamalai Temple 

When entering the Temple Compound of Adi Annamalai during bird nesting season, you will often be met with clouds of parrots and doves on fly-past. And looking up you will spot the occasional sleepy looking owl standing sentry at the doorway of its nest.

With careful attention to detail during renovation of Adi Annamalai Temple, the little openings at the top of the compound walls surrounding the Temple were preserved so they could continue to remain as nesting places for: parrots, doves, pigeons, sparrows, owls and bats."

Mating Rose Ringed Parakeets: Adiannamalai Temple

To read more about the Rose Ringed Parakeet which is found in abundant numbers in the countryside around Arunachala, please visit my Arunachala Bird Blog, at this link here.

Its been a long time since I visited the developing Balaji Temple (Lord Venkateshwara) near the Kubera Lingam on the South East side of Arunachala. It is the perfect place to bring young children, because as well as enormous statues of various Gods housed in individual shrines throughout the grounds of the Temple, the Temple is also home to a donkey and horse sanctuary. Below a lovely new-born at the beginning of his sweet life.

Ohhhhh!!!!!

Best place for junior -- right next to Mum

Another Temple which has a fascinating history and mythology is the recently remodelled Pachaiamman Koil. On a personal note, I preferred the Temple previous to its remodelling -- but obviously I am in a minority, as the Temple is very popular as a wedding venue for local couples. Which was delightful for all the local monkeys, as it meant plenty of snacks and fruit for the day.

For a fascinating narrative on the history of this Temple, visit my website at this link.

Monkeys in the Shade!

Munishwaras (Guardians)

Excerpt from my Website Narrative

 

"A legend of Pachaiamman (an aspect of Parvati) has it that after completing her penance at Kanchi, the Goddess started off for Arunachala. She travelled with 7 rishis and 7 virgins (Sapta Kanniyars) as part of a protective entourage. Halfway from Kanchi to Arunachala, the entourage stopped and made camp at the village Vazhapanthal. At that place the local king tried to molest the Goddess and the 7 rishis became as munishwaras (guardians) and killed the king. 

In the Pachaiamman Compound there are 14 statues of Pachaiamman’s warrior guardians set out in two lines, with two representations of each warrior." 

--- oOo ---

With our Animal Girivalam complete, my two ladies from Malaysia and I continued on our auto hillround and stopped off at several other fascinating, mythology-rich Temples - and a very nice time we had of it!

Rukku Goes on Holiday

The first photograph below is of a lovely parade of nine elephants being taken from Palayamkottai on Saturday November 24 for their annual rejuvenation camp to be held at Mettupalayam. The camp lasts for 48 days and is the precious time in the year that elephants that serve in Temples in Tamil Nadu, return to their forest roots. 

Elephants going on Holiday

Rukku getting onto the Truck

Our own Rukku who lives at Arunachaleswarar Temple at Tiruvannamalai was held back by Deepam Festival duties, so her holiday was delayed by several days. But the next two photographs, show her in the truck that will take her to the Mettupalayam forest, which is in fact the place where she was born. 

On my way to the Forest -- Hooray!

Hope that the authorities in charge notice the careful security planning of the trucks in the first photograph – and apply it in future to our own precious Rukku’s safety both when she travels in trucks and also during her time here at Arunachala – we want to keep her SAFE AND HAPPY.

Deepam Festival 2012, Ayyankulam Tank

After the night of the lighting of the Deepam on the top of Arunachala, there are several subsequent days celebrated at Tiruvannamalai which are also part of the Deepam Festival. For three consecutive evenings after the lighting of the Arunachala Deepam, the Gods are taken upon the Ayyankulam Tank upon beautifully decorated floats. 

Also during one of the days after Mahadeepam the Gods perform a grand circumambulation of Arunachala, stopping at many spots along the way, allowing devotess to make offerings to the Gods, and for the attendant priests to perform aarti. 

Ayyankulam Tank in the daytime

First Evening Lord Chandrasekhara

Crowds at Tank Edge, First Evening

Second Evening, Amman Theppal

Amman

Gods on Circumambulation

Stopping whenever requested

Lakhs Witness Karthigai Deepam

The below photograph is a view of the Deepam on Arunachala from the Temple yesterday evening immediately after the lighting of the Flame. 

A National Newspaper reported of the evening as follows: 

"Lakhs witness Karthigai Deepam Lakhs of devotees witnessed the lighting of the Karthigai Maha Deepam on the Tiruvannamalai hill on Tuesday. The ten-day Karthigai Deepam festival, which began with hoisting of the flag at the Sri Arunachaleswarar temple on November 18, culminated with this ritual. 

 Crowds had begun pour into the town from daybreak for performing ‘girivalam’ or circumambulation of the holy hill. Setting stage for the final event in the evening, the Barani Deepam was lit inside the sanctum of the temple in the early hours as thousands of devotees watched. 

At 6 p.m. the ‘Deepa Nattars’, who hail from fishermen community, lit the Maha Deepam atop the hill. The Maha Deepam is a huge cauldron filled with three tonnes of ghee, with the wick made of several hundred meters of cotton cloth. 

As the huge flame became visible from the hill top, lamps were lit in the temple and across the temple town and surrounding villages." 

Night of Deepam, The Golden Bull

After the lighting of the Deepam yesterday evening there was a wonderful procession of the Golden Bull, followed by Kamadhenu (the wish fulfilling cow). Depending upon astrological computations made by the Temple priests, the Deepam on top of Arunachala will stay alight from anywhere from a minimum of seven nights to a maxium of thirteen nights. 

As well as the Deepam on Arunachala, over the next several days in the evening the Gods will be put on floats on the Ayyankulam Tank located in front of the third most major Shiva Temple in Tiruvannamalai, Arunagirinathar Temnple. 

Golden Bull

Circumambulation of the Big Temple

Gods in concourse front of Big Temple Raja Gopuram

Lighting 2012 Arunachala Mahadeepam

Right Click on Photographs Below for Enlargements

Bharani Deepam 2012

The below photographs are of 2012 Bharani Deepam performed at the Arunachaleswarar Temple, Tiruvannamalai. 

"The chief priest has just finished a simple ritual called bharani deepam and now ceremoniously waves a huge camphor flame in the direction of nearby Arunachala mountain. Although he is chanting Sanskrit slokas, he cannot be heard amidst the deafening furor of devotion that surrounds him. Finally, he touches the flame he is holding to the wicks of five huge, earthen, ghee-filled pots, representing the sacred elements earth, air, fire, water and ether. 

As these five flames loom up with red-yellow light, the famous, one-day, South Indian festival of Krittika Dipam 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." 

 Right click on below photographs to view enlargements

2012 Arunachala Mahadeepam Online Streaming

There will be a live feed coming from Arunachaleswarar Temple for live telecasts and live streaming on the internet. 

Coverage starts from about 4.30 p.m. (IST) at this Vasanth TV link and the Arunachaleswarar Temple at this link here. 

For Ramana Maharshi devotees, the Ramana Maharshi ashram will be running a live feed between 4.30 and 6.30 p.m. today, on their website of a Deepam function to be held at their Ashram, which will include film of Arunachala from a distance with the deepam on top. 

 

 

2012 Arunachala Maha Deepam Live Streaming and Live Telecast

A website at this link has posted the below information regarding Live Streaming of the 2012 Karthigai Arunachala Mahadeepam:-

"Thiruvannamalai Maha Deepam 2012 Live Streaming and Live Telecast: 

The Thiruvannamalai Maha Deepam 2012 will be aired live on following TV Channels – Jaya TV, Raj TV, Vasanth TV, Podhigai TV, Zee Tamil, SVBC TTD TV, Sri Sankara TV, etc. 

Live Streaming of Thiruvannamalai Maha Deepam 2012 will also be available on Ustream.com and Justin.tv"

 --- oOo ---

Last year Vasanth TV as well as having a live TV Telecast also had a wonderful live online streaming of Bharani Deepam from 3 am or 3.30 am in the morning and a live telecast of Maha Deepam from 4.00 pm in the evening 

The photograph is of last year’s live feed from the inside of the Arunachaleswarar Temple Compound. It is expected that Vasanth TV will also have a live stream this year 2012 at this link, (I hope to confirm that early tomorrow morning). 

For Ramana Maharshi devotees, the Ramana Maharshi ashram will be running a live feed on their website of a Deepam function to be held at their Ashram, which will include film of Arunachala from a distance with the deepam on top. 

2012 Mahadeepam Cauldron

Below are photographs of the cauldron that will be used for the 2012 Arunachala Mahadeepam. By the time the Festival is over and the Deepam flame is extinguished, the bright and beautiful cauldron will be blackened by soot and smoke. 

The giant tub in front of the cauldron, is that which will be used inside the Temple near the flagstaff in front of the Siva Sannidhi. The giant tub, will also be filled with a ghee saturated wick, and then lit at around 6.02 p.m. (time of dusk) Tuesday evening. The fishermen at the top of the Hill will be looking down at the Temple compound and as soon as they are given the sign of the lit deepam down below, will then light the cauldron at the top of the Hill.

The Gents Painting the Cauldron

Cauldron for the Hill, Tub for the Temple

Just a small amount of the Ghee that will be used

Early this morning there was a puja inside the Temple blessing the cauldron, and at which the Temple elephant and one of the cows from the Temple goshala, were present. 

Blessings Abound

Immediately after the Temple puja, the fishing family set off from Arunachaleswarar Temple with the precious Cauldron, on their way to the passage opposite the Temple which winds its way past Virupaksha and other Caves and onwards and upwards right to the Hill Summit. 

Leaving the Temple on its journey upwards

Already a huge amount of ghee, and cloth wicks have been carried to the top of the Hill in preparation for the lighting of the flame Tuesday evening. 

From early morning tomorrow, it will be easy to see with the naked eye, hundreds of pilgrims climbing the Hill on their way to the top of Arunachala, in order to claim as close a vantage point as possible from which they can watch the lighting of the Deepam in the evening. 

 Many other pilgrims will be walking up the Hill tomorrow and throughout the period that the Deepam flame will be alight, in order to offer their ghee personally onto the flame. 

Cauldron on the start of its journey to the Hill Summit

Deepam 2012 Sixth Night Silver Ratham

As its starts getting closer to November 27, 2012, the day of Mahadeepam, processions around the perimeter of Arunachaleswarar Temple are beginning to become more elaborate. On the evening of the sixth night of this year's Deepam Festival, it was the evening of the Silver Ratham. 

Even though there was a sprinkling of rain on the sixth evening, there was a surging crowd both in the Temple and on the concourse outside the Raja Gopuram. 

Right Click to view photo enlargements

Arathi to the Gods

Carried on palanquin perimeter of Siva Sannidhi

Darshan in concourse outside Temple Raja Gopuram

Large crowds lining the streets

Gods on Silver Ratham on Thiruvoodal Street

Gods on procession Car Street

Deepam festival 2012, Fifth Night

The below photographs are of the fifth night of the Deepam Festival, 2012 dedicated to the Risabha (bull) Vahanam and accompanying Panchamoorthigal Purappadu. 

Enjoy these wonderful photographs taken by an official press photographer inside the Temple during the preparation and puja of the Gods, and later of the huge crowds overflowing the concourse outside the Raja Gopuram of Arunachaleswarar Temple. 

Right click on all photographs to view enlargements. 

After Deepam I will be posting an in-depth narrative on my website Arunachala Samudra, with photographs of the 2012 Karthigai Deepam, which will give more insight into the more esoteric meanings of the Gods on their varieties of Vahanam. To view details of the 2011 Karthigai Deepam on Arunachala Samudra, go to this link here. 

Karthigai Tiruvannamalai Special Trains, Buses

SPECIAL TRAINS TO TIRUVANNAMALAI

To get information of unreserved special trains to Tiruvannamalai to clear the extra rush for “Karthigai Deepam” festival go to this link here. 

Special buses to Tiruvannamalai

The Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation (Madurai Region) has proposed to operate special buses to Tiruvannamalai on November 27 and 28 for the benefit of devotees to offer darshan on Thirukarthikai and Pournami from Madurai, Theni, Dindigul and Virudhunagar respectively.

According to a press release, apart from regular and special service, the Corporation would ply buses on “contract” basis to public who were willing to book the seats in bulk and in advance.

Depending on the need, the officials at the Commercial wing would work out modalities and arrange for the trips to suit their timings.

The public can contact deputy manager (commercial, Madurai) at 94875 99022, for Dindigul and Theni they can contact 94875 99103 and for Virudhunagar at 94875 99133.