Big Silver Rishaba
"The Festival begins nine or
ten days before Deepam. Each evening there are solemn processions round the
Temple, which are over and above the regular worship and the private offerings
of puja which go on through the day.
The day comes to its climax with
the procession of the panchamoorthies in the evening, which lasts almost until
midnight . . . .
It was recommended not to miss
the night of the silver bull, and I had accordingly arrived in very good time .
. . . in the Kalyana Mandapam, ‘the portico of weddings,’ the priests were busy
decorating the murtis, using silk and gold brocade, flowers and valuable
jewels. Meanwhile the cars were standing outside the Temple, and on them also
ornaments were being loaded. All this seemed to go on interminably; but at last
there was a sudden blare of trumpets form the inner courtyard, their sound
re-echoing loudly from the high enclosure walls. Accompanying the trumpets was
the low drone of the tamburas, while the silvery melody of flutes pierced
though the noise of the crowd.
Now the file of moorthies with
their attendants emerged from their shrines, and when they passed under
porticos or gopurams the echo from the low vaults become deafening. Soon they
came to the Vallalla Gopuram where were standing. In front were the
torch-bearers, next the musicians, and last the palanquins, carried on the bare
shoulders of devotees. On either side was the tightly-packed crowd with
outstretched arms, giving cries of fervent devotion. Somewhere breaking
coconuts on the ground, while others held out at arm’s length gilded trays of
burning camphor. The enthusiasm spread, swelled, multiplied itself
irresistibly. Light, heat, scents, sounds, bodies and souls too, all were
weeded together into a single vast and vibrant outpouring of love in honour of
the Lord of Arunachala.
We followed behind the
procession, crossed the outermost courtyard, passed under the huge gopuram over
the East Gate and reached the long colonnade which adjoins it on the east,
where the cars were waiting. The moorthies were installed on the cars; and once
again the work of decoration was resumed with renewed zeal; flowers, jewels,
lights in even greater quantity. The crowd was now more tightly packed than
ever. The friend who was guiding me managed to open a path for me immediately
in front of the chief car, where the palanquin of Shiva Annamalaiyar was
mounted on the silver bull.
Over him was held a huge
ceremonial umbrella which touched the roof overhead. Behind the car was a
trailer with a dynamo, and thousands of electric bulbs sparkled all over the
palanquin, the platform, the decorations, among the jewels, silks and flowers
which adorned the statue. A devotee, who was standing near, was so moved that
he cried out: "How can one doubt any longer that it is the Lord himself
upon his car, who presents himself for our adoration!"
[Edited Narrative By Swami
Abhishekananda 1970]
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| Panchamoorthies give darshan outside the Alankaram Mandapam |
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| The Lord on his Vahana, the Big Silver Rishaba |
