27 November 2012
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.
26 November 2012
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"
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 |
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Cauldron for the Hill, Tub for the Temple |
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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.
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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.
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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.
24 November 2012
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
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Arathi to the Gods |
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Carried on palanquin perimeter of Siva Sannidhi |
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Large crowds lining the streets |
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Gods on Silver Ratham on Thiruvoodal Street |
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Gods on procession Car Street |
23 November 2012
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.
21 November 2012
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.
20 November 2012
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.
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Chariots outside Raja Gopuram concourse |
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Alangaram at Temple Tank |
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Indira Vimanam |
19 November 2012
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.
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Crowds for the Flag Hoisting |
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Function was well attended |
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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.
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Lord Arunachaleswarar |
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Blessing from the Gods |
This year a huge garland was placed upon the Raja Gopuram of Arunachaleswarar Temple.
13 November 2012
10 November 2012
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:
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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.”
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