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.

 

Indira Vimana, Night 2, Deepam 2012

The second night of Deepam celebrations is of the resplendent Indira Vimanam. As always the chariots perform a full rounding of the Temple outside its perimeter wall. The chariots are being pulled by tractor, it is not until later in the week that the chariots are pulled by devotees.

Chariots outside Raja Gopuram concourse

Alangaram at Temple Tank

Indira Vimanam

2012 Deepam Flag Hoisting

The first day of Karthigai Deepam Festival (November 18, 2012) begins with the hoisting of the flag (Dwajaroghanam) signifying the commencement of the Festival. At this ceremony Lord Arunachaleswarar is brought out from the Temple and placed in front of the flagpole to witness the proceedings. The flag is hoisted amongst Vedic chanting and nagaswara music (drums and cymbals). The priests then invites the sacred rivers, deities and rishis to come and witness the occasion.

Crowds for the Flag Hoisting

Function was well attended

The Flag Hoisting

After conclusion of the ceremony the statue of Lord Arunachaleswarar is taken around the main streets, and then installed in the Kalyana Mandapam which is located in the third prakaram of Arunachaleswarar Temple.

Lord Arunachaleswarar

Blessing from the Gods

This year a huge garland was placed upon the Raja Gopuram of Arunachaleswarar Temple. 

Deepam Temple Lights 2012

On this day of the Festival of Lights, Deepavali, what could be more fitting than posting photographs of the nine gopurams of Arunachaleswarar Temple lit up in full splendour for the 2012 Deepam.

Right click on below photographs for enlargements. 

Bharani Deepam Meaning

Below is a rare photograph of the 2011 Bharani Deepam flame which was taken directly outside the Siva Sannidhi at Arunachaleswarar Temple.


Right Click below photograph to view enlargement

The below narrative is an extract explaining Bharani Deepam.

To read the full report go to this link here:

Bharani Deepam in 2011

“The all-pervading quiet of early morning is suddenly disrupted by a mad clamor of thunderous sound. Ringing bells, pounding drums and piercing nagaswarams (temple horns) almost overpower the belting voices of hundreds of devotees who are singing songs in praise of Siva, the Lord of Arunachala. It is 4:30 am on the 8th December, 2011, and the main sanctum sanctorum of the massive Tiruvannamalai Siva temple in Tamil Nadu is packed with souls who have been waiting all night for this moment.

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.

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 in a protected container that has been lit from the Bharani Deepam in the Temple.

This lamp, also called Bharani Deepam, is 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.”

Siva Sannidhi Annexe

The new annexe at Siva Sannidhi will be completed by Deepam and will be welcoming guests after this December 2nd, 2012. The new facility will offer a quiet respite close to Arunachala and is also very conveniently located at a two minute walk from Ramana Ashram.

The new annexe adds an additional forty rooms to Siva Sannidhi, of which twenty rooms will be available to outside guests. As you can see from the below photographs, painting and finishing work is still underway. Each room has two single cots, an attached western style bathroom and a small alcove with wash basin. 

The rooms are bright and cheery and have a very nice cool tiled floor. The rooms are spread out over three floors. The second floor is more suitable for groups who need a large area for meetings. 

The direct south view of Arunachala from the roof of Siva Sannidhi is spectacular. 

To make enquiries and/or reservation you can get in touch with me direct at my email address located at the top left corner of this page. 

Standard room with 2 single beds

Bedroom with alcove beyond with bathroom

Separate washing area in alcove

Attached Bathroom, Western Style with Shower

Painting and Finishing Work Underway

Walls are Bright and Fresh

Second Floor with Rooms

Second Floor Suitable for Groups

View of Arunachala from Roof

Spectacular Darshan of Arunachala from Roof

Deepam 2012 Ghee Offerings

Am posting this information because I know many readers will wish to make a ghee offering to the Deepam Cauldron, and thereupon receive prasad taken directly from the inside of the Deepam Pot after the Festival is concluded. Tickets in payment of the ghee offering will be available from the Temple from November 10, 2012. The prasad is a black sticky residue packed individually in small plastic sleeves. 

“Devotees are welcomed to pay and send their offerings towards "Ghee Pots". Devotees can arrange Rs.200/- for a half kg (500gms), Rs.100/- for 250 gms and Rs.50/- for a small offering, in person or through DD (Demand Draft) or MO (Money Order) or Bank Cheque in favour of; "Executive Officer, Sri Arunachaleswarar Temple, Tiruvannamalai" Landline: (0)4175-252438. 

The devotee should include their proper contact address. Devotees who send a Ghee Pot offering will receive the Deepam Cauldron prasad through the post after the Aarudhra Festival which is celebrated during the Tamil month Maarghai (i.e. will be mailed around mid-January).” 

I regularly participate in the Ghee Pot scheme, however I have never done so by post, so cannot give any specific information as to how efficiently the Temple runs the prasad postal scheme. But the ghee will be purchased and offered into the Cauldron. 

The Deepam will be lit at dusk (around 6.00 p.m.) on the evening of November 27, 2012 and thereupon it will be kept alight for between 7 and 13 days (the exact time is calculated by the priests). 

Below are photographs of the preparation of the Deepam pot in the morning of the 2011 Deepam. 

 

Vintage Arunachala Photographs

The below photographs show a relatively recent Arunachala and surrounds, but one which looks very deserted and empty. 

Arunachaleswarar Temple taken from the Hill

The Gods performing Girivalam of Arunachala

Young lad standing in front of Adi Annamalai Temple

Walking to Skanda Ashram before reforestation

Annabhishekam at Arunachaleswarar Temple

Annabhishekam is held only once a year on the Full Moon day in the seventh month of the Tamil year i.e. Aippasi (October/November). This year Annabhishekam was performed during the full moon which fell on October 29th, 2012. 

Annabhishekam which is performed at Shiva Temples, is connected to the rice harvesting time. It is performed at the time of the Full Moon as it is considered to have the enegies of bounty, abundance and expansion. This festival gives an opportunity to people, who believe that God is the creator of food and life, to show gratitude for the bounty they have received. 

The following photographs of the recently performed annabhishekam at Arunachaleswarar Temple were taken of the annabhishekam performed upon the Shiva Lingam at the Kalyana Sundareswarar Sannathi. This Sannathi is located opposite the Periyar Nandi Statue and stands at the southern side of the broad flight of stone stairs leading up to the Vallala Maharaja Gopuram. 

2012 Karthigai Deepam Arunachala

Throughout the Festival, there will be processions in the daytime circumambulating the Arunachaleswarar Temple. In addition throughout the Deepam Festival there are scheduled singing and dancing programmes inside the Temple Compound. 

Tickets can be purchased which allows access to the Temple Compound on the day of Maha Deepam. However, tickets are limited in number, so one should make enquiries as early as possible through the Arunachaleswar Temple office. 

Flag Hoisting at Arunachaleswarar Temple is on November 18th, however the Festival actually starts three days earlier at the Durga Amman Temple (which has its own schedule of events) on November 15th at 7.00 p.m. 

Right click on programme for enlargement: 

Festival Programme

18th November, 2012 
Morning: Dwajaroghanam (Hoisting of festival flag) 
Evening: Panchamoorthies Five Deities Silver Chariot 

19th November, 2012 
Day: Chandrasekhar on Surya Prabhi Vahanam 
Evening: Panchamoorthies Silver Indra Vimana 

20th November, 2012 
Day: Chandrasekhar on Pootha Vimana 
Evening: Panchamoorthies, Simha Vahana (Lion Chariot), Velli Anna Vahana 

21st November, 2012 
Day: Chandrasekhar on Naga Vimana 
Evening: Kamadhenu (wish fulfilling cow) and Kapalavriksha (wish fulfilling tree) 

22nd November, 2012 
Day: Chandrasekhar on Kanadi (mirror) Vimana 
Evening: Panchamoorthies, Velli Mushigam, Velli Mayil, Velli Big Rishaba Vahanas 

23rd November, 2012 
Day: Chandrasekhar on Yani (elephant) Vimana with 63 Nayanars 
Evening: Panchamoorthies in Silver Chariot, Indira Vimana and other Silver Vimanas 

24th November, 2012 
Day: Panchamoorthies Wooden Chariots start Temple circumambulation 
Afternooon: Maha Radham (Big Wooden Chariot) starts circumambulation of Temple Perimeter 

25th November, 2012 
Day: Chandrasekhar on Horse 
Evening: Panchamoorthies start with Horse Vahanams. Pichandavar in Golden Meru 

26th November, 2012 
Day: Chandrasekhar on Purusha Miruga (Rishi in Lion Body) Vimana 
Evening: Kailasa Vahana (10 headed Ravana) 

27th November, 2012 
Morning 3 a.m: Bharani Deepam Temple, Theerthavaari Brahma Theertham 
Evening 6 p.m: Maha Deepam on the top of Arunachala. Panchamoorthies, Golden Rishaba Vahana 

28th, 29th, 30th, November, 2012 
Evening 6 p.m: 
On Consecutive days the Gods on Floats, Ayyankulam Tank