2010 Deepam Lighting

Yesterday evening (Sunday, November 21, 2010) around dusk, approximately 6.05 p.m., the Deepam was lit on top of Arunachala.

Newspaper reports estimate that the number of devotees visiting Arunachala for the lighting of the 2010 Deepam to be around 17 Lakhs (1,700,000). With most of those devotees either viewing from Arunachaleswarar Temple, performing girivalam, climbing the Hill or attending functions at one of the many Ashrams throughout Tiruvannamalai.

This year I decided to take a nice silent Deepam and planned my evening accordingly. So around 5.00 p.m. my six doggies and I walked onto the Samudram Erie, giving a wide berth to the goats and cows grazing in the area, and headed for the spot that would give an excellent darshan of this glorious occasion.

We arrived at our 'spot' with time to spare and enjoyed the day becoming dusk and nearing the joyous moment of the Deepam lighting.








In anticipation of the moment of lighting, we could see and hear fireworks being set off throughout. Even though I was far from the crowds, I could sense a great feeling of excitement and anticipation in the air.






And the time has come, and there on top of our beautiful Arunachala, the light of the 2010 Deepam.






Shouts and cheers punctuated the dusk, and the darkening skies were momentarily lit by the light of numerous fireworks.

In the next photograph as well as fireworks, one can see in the background, the lights of the Arunachaleswarar Temple Gopuram.





And now its getting quite dark, and the Deepam light is bright in the clear skies.





And suddenly the full moon peeps out from a cloud cover, and the picture of the 2010 Arunachala Deepam, is complete.






Blessings of Arunachala Light and Grace to all. Wherever you are , may you receive its light of joyous inspiration.

Deepam Legends

The night of the lighting of the 2010 Deepam Flame on top of Arunachala, is tomorrow November 21st.

In this respect, there are two famous myths from the Puranas that describe the history behind the famous yearly Arunachala Deepam. The first legend is that of Brahma and Vishnu’s dispute over a column of light and the other is of a boon given by Shiva for Parvati’s penance in atonement for killing the demon Mahisasura, a devotee of Shiva.

It is customary to celebrate Deepam in all Shiva Shrines at the same time that Deepam is celebrated at Arunachala, however the legend for these Siva Shrines is different to that of Arunachala. One other legend goes thus:



The Ghee Lamp, Rat and King:

While Lord Shiva was seated in Mount Kailas with Devi Uma, a ghee lamp was in the process of extinction. A rat nearby approached it to drink the ghee and in that act the wick was pushed out a little, enabling the flame to brighten. This pious act though unintentional, resulted in the rat securing a human birth with huge wealth and the rank of a King.

With that prosperous boon the rat was born on earth as Mabali. Mabali, while reigning in all glory, one day wanted to worship Siva and went to a Siva shrine with all his royal paraphernalia. While in the Temple, a drop from a ghee lamp fell upon Mabali. The King got sores from that one drop and his malady continued for a long time.

It was then Lord Siva proclaimed, "King, thou art very arrogant. Hence you got this trouble through me. From this day on if you light Shiva shrines with ghee, you will be rid of your sores and live happily." Highly delighted on hearing these words the King from that day commenced lighting Shiva Temples and dark places with ghee (clarified butter) lamps. Lord Shiva looking at the king's piety, gave him liberation in the month of Kartigai on star Kartigai during poorva Paksha.

It is for the reason the Lord appeared before the King in the form of Light, that Deepam Darsan is celebrated in all Siva Shrines on this same day every year.


*****************


Some say that a spiritual significance of celebrating Karthigai Deepam, is that the ghee used in the cauldron (or lamp), symbolises one’s innate tendencies, which, is responsible for the ego to thrive. The wick is the ego. The flame of the lamp symbolises spiritual knowledge which depletes the ghee and also burns the wick, the ego (body, mind complex). Through the draining of the innate tendencies and the burning of the wick, one attains the spiritual goal, the realisation of the ultimate truth.

Arunachaleswarar Temple Flag Hoisting 2010

At the start of any Temple festival, a flag is hoisted outside the main Sannidhi to invite all to participate. As always the flag hoisting at the beginning of this year's Deepam Festival was a grand event. Below a pictorial representation of the occasion.


Right click on all photographs to view enlarged version.

Deepam Festival Lights

The beautiful Arunachaleswarar Temple resplendent with its 2010 Deepam Festival lights.


Right click to view enlarged photographs.

Rainy Days during Deepam Festival

So far 2010 Arunachala Deepam has been beset by heavy rains. Below a couple of very nice 'rainy' photographs taken during this year's Festival at one of the Arunachaleswarar Temple tanks.

Deepam Festival Preparations

Tomorrow at dusk at 6.05 p.m. (November 21, 2010) the Deepam cauldron will be lit on top of Arunachala. Below is a pictorial vignette of some of the Temple preparations preceding the Deepam Festival.

Street Processions

Below a pictorial snapshot of the first few days of 2010 Arunachala Deepam. Most days there are processions in both the morning and evening. To see the Festival schedule click on this link here.

Just to get the party going, a beautifully adorned Ruku, the lovely lady Arunachaleswarar Temple elephant.








Priests and workers in all the Arunachaleswarar Temple shrines are busier than usual maintaining puja implements.








Even though Deepam Festival is going forward nicely, there are still roadworks underway on outlying streets, in preparation for the huge crowds expected for Bharani Deepam on Sunday, November 21.






Certain towns in India were created as a consequence of the presence of a Temple. In the case of Arunachaleswarar Temple, Tiruvannamalai initially grew around it in support of the slow development of the massive 26 acre Temple compound. Originally streets surrounding Arunachaleswarar Temple were inhabited by priests, artisans, labourers and tradespeople, all working in the creation and maintenance of the Temple.

Nowadays, the surrounding streets are no longer defined by class, caste and ocupation, however the relevance of processions through town, still play an essential role in maintaining a living relationship with ordinary folk going about their business throughout the day and Temple life.

All the following photographs are of processions that have occurred in this 2010 Deepam Festival, and are all taken OUTSIDE Arunachaleswarar Temple. The photographs are of the Gods circumbulating and giving their darshan around the 26 acre perimeter of the Temple. The radhams (chariots and floats) of the Gods, stop constantly to accept offerings from pilgrims and townfolk.

Arunachala Deepam Origins and History

To read more about the traditions and mythology of Deepam as is celebrated at Arunachala, please visit the following earlier postings on Arunachala Grace.


http://arunachalagrace.blogspot.com/2008/12/arunachala-deepam-festival.html

http://arunachalagrace.blogspot.com/2008/12/bharani-deepam-2008.html



Festival of Light

Part 1
http://arunachalagrace.blogspot.com/2008/11/karthigai-deepam-south-india.html


Part 2
http://arunachalagrace.blogspot.com/2008/12/deepam-festival-part-two.html


Part 3
http://arunachalagrace.blogspot.com/2008/12/deepam-festival-part-three.html


Part 4
http://arunachalagrace.blogspot.com/2008/12/festival-of-light.html

Deepam Goddess

Deepam as celebrated at Arunachala, is traditionally connected with the Hill and Arunachaleswarar Temple, and the only other Arunachala Temple that ‘officially’ participates in the Deepam Festival Functions is the Durga Amman Koil..

Even though the flag hoisting at Arunachaleswarar Temple, which denotes the beginning of the Festival, took place this year on December 12th, the Festival, as always, was preceded by three days of functions dedicated to the Goddess Durga. Right click here, to see the full schedule of this year’s Festival.






The reason for this is believed to be because of the Goddess and the demon Mahisha:

read ‘The Fight with Mahishasura’:







In the Mahishasura legend, before fighting with the demon, the Goddess appointed four noble Bhairavis (celestial damsels) to keep watch on all four sides of Arunagiri. Ordering, that:

"Admit only those who have come to worship Arunachala and are tired, hungry and thirsty. Others should not enter. She then appointed strong men to guard the boundaries of Arunachala and continued Her penace at Her ashram."
[The Glory of Arunachala]

In accordance with the mythology of Arunachala, Durga is recognised as a Guardian of Arunachala and thus a precursor of the Deepam Festival is always a celebration of this aspect of the Goddess.

Vegetable Market, Thiruvoodal Street

On my way home from Sannidhi Street yesterday morning, decided to take a short cut through Tiruvoodal vegetable market. However the shortcut saved no time, as once in the market with its outlying provision stores, I started checking out the lovely, fresh green leaves and vegetables and ended up laden with delicious mint and wholegrain golden wheat. Definitely one of the best places in town.

To those visiting Tiruvannamalai, the vegetable market it a great place just to watch the world go by.


Right click on all photographs to view enlarged version

2010 Deepam

If you look through the archives of Arunachala Grace, you will find many posts and photographs of previous Deepams.

Will be posting photographs of 2010 Deepam, so check back regularly over these days of Deepam Festival.

For the time being am posting a short narrative on the Greatness and relevance of Deepam.



Greatness of Deepam Festival

Sage Gowthama said: “I shall describe to you the glory of that which liberates people from all sins and bestows all prosperity. In the mount of Karthika, on the day of the star Krittika during pradosha (i.e. thirteenth day country from the new moon/full moon) the fortunate ones who perform giripradakshina are not born again. All karmas are destroyed on performance of giripradakshina. ‘It is customary to circumambulate the Hill for a Mandela or forty days. One who is not able to do this may perform giripradakshina at least for eleven days. If even this is not possible, then one should go round the Hill on the day of Deepam. This is equivalent to performing crores of Yagnas. (one crore 10 million). He who worships the Deepam lit atop the Hill derives countless blessings. A person residing elsewhere may light lamps in front of any shrine of Siva, atop His temple towers or on the peaks of other hills and he will be blessed. Whatever may be the attitude of the devotee, the mere lighting of the lamp on this day with any type of oil available confers great merit on him.

He who has darshan of this light on Arunachala Hill acquires the merit of having performed great charity and of having bathed in the sacred rivers. Who can express in words the benefits enjoyed by the one who has darshan of the peak of Arunachala with the beacon light glowing?’

The Glory of Arunachala
[Skanda Upapuranam]




Deepam Festival – Another Legend:

Long ago, King Vajresan of Panchala who was childless, was blessed with a son after having darshan of the Arunachala Deepam in the month of Kartika. The son was named Shatrujith. The prince grew up to be lecherous man. He once eloped with the wife of a Vedic scholar and came to Tiruvannamalai and entered the Temple of Arunachaleswarar.

It was the day of the festival of the beacon. The paramour made a wick out of her sari and lit the lamp with castor oil. At that moment the Vedic scholar came there and in a fit of rage stabbed his wife and the prince. And in turn the prince killed him.

Since it was a gruesome murder committed in the sacred precincts of the Temple the three were about to be taken to hell by the messengers of Yama, lord of death. At that moment the messengers of Siva intervened and claimed the prince and the woman as their own and took them to the abode of Siva. Their blasphemous acts were condoned by Arunachala Himself because the wife made a wick and the prince helped her to light the lamp for the Supreme Lord.

But the Vedic scholar was puzzled, as he was held by the messengers of Yama. The prince, moved by the plight of the Vedic scholar, ordered the vessel used for lighting the Karthika lamp to release the scholar. Immediately the Vedic scholar was liberated. Thus all the three, despite their misdeeds, were taken to the abode of Siva, as the merit gained by the simple act of lighting a lamp on Kartika day in his Temple outweighed their devilish acts.

The Glory of Arunachala
[Skanda Upapuranam]

Karthigai Deepam Festival Schedule

This morning the Flag Hoisting Ceremony at Arunachaleswarar Temple marked the first day of 2010 Karthigai Deepam Festival. To those thinking of visiting Tiruvannamalai during the Festival, below is the full Festival Schedule.

Hope to post photographs from various days and functions of the Festival on Monday.

Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Festival: Sri Durgai Amman Utsavam

Evening: Vimana


Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Festival: Sri Pidari Utsavam

Evening: Simha Vahana


Thursday, November 11, 2010
Festival: Anughnai, Vigneshwara Poja, Vaasthu Shanthi Mrithsangrahanam

Evening: Sri Vinayagar Velli Mooshiga Vahana


Friday, November 12, 2010 -- Festival: 1st Day
Morning: Dwajaroghanam (Hosting of religious flag of the festival), Panchamoorthies Five Deities Silver Chariot

Evening: Panchamoorthies Mooshigam Mayil (Peacock), Silver Adihara Nandi (Bull), Hamsam and other Small Rishaba Chariots.


Saturday, November 13, 2010 -- Festival: 2nd Day
Morning: Sri Vinayagar, Sri Chandrasekara Vimana's (Chariots) and Suryapirai Vahanam

Evening: Panchamoorthies Silver Indra Vimana (Chariots)


Sunday, November 14, 2010 -- Festival: 3rd Day
Morning: Sri Vinyagar, Sri Chandrasekara Vimana’s, Boodha Vahana and 1008 Sangabhishekam

Evening: Panchamoorthies, Simha Vahana (Lion Chariot), Velli Anna Vahana


Monday, November 15, 2010 -- Festival: 4th Day
Morning: Sri Vinayagar, Sri Chandrasekara and Naga Vimana’s

Evening:Panchamoorthies, Velli Karpagha Viruksham (Auspicious tree which will fulfill your wishes), Velli Kamadhenu Vahana and other Velli Vahana’s


Tuesday, November 16, 2010 -- Festival: 5th Day
Morning: Sri Vinayagar, Sri Chandrasekara, Mushigam, Kannadi Rishaba Vahana’s

Evening: Panchamoorthies, Velli Mushigam, Velli Mayil, Velli Big Rishaba Vahana’s


Wednesday, November 17, 2010 -- Festival: 6th Day
Morning: Sri Vinayagar, Sri Chandrasekara, Mushigam, Velli Yanai, 63 Nayanmar’s Vimana’s

Evening: Panchamoorthies in Silver Chariot, Indira Vimana and other Silver Vimana’s


Thursday, November 18, 2010 -- Festival: 7th Day
Morning: Panchamoorthies in Maha Radha’s (Big wooden Chariots)

Evening: Panchamoorthies Reaching Aasthana Mandab in Chariot’s


Friday, November 19, 2010 -- Festival: 8th Day
Morning: Sri Vinayagar, Sri Chandrasekara Silver Chariot

Evening: Panchamoorthies start with Horse Vahanams. Pichandavar in Golden Meru


Saturday, November 20, 2010 -- Festival: 9th Day
Morning: Sri Vinayagar, Sri Chandrasekara Glass Vimanam

Evening: Panchamoorthies Kailasa Vahanam, Kamadenu - Cow of plenty Raveneswaram Vahanam etc


Sunday, November 21, 2010 -- Festival: 10th Day
Morning 4'o clock: Bharani Deepam in the Temple and Theerthavaari in Brahma Theertham

Evening 6'o clock: Maha Deepam on the top of the holy mountain.
Night: Panchamoorthies, Golden Rishaba Vahana’s


Monday, November 22, 2010
Festival: Theppam (Holy Boating)
Evening: At 7.00 PM Sri Chandrasekarar Theppam And Giri Pradakshanam by Sri Chandrashekara with Sri Abithakujalambal


Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Festival: Theppam (Holy Boating)
Evening: At 7.00 PM Sri Parashakthi Amman Theppam


Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Festival: Theppam (Holy Boating)
Evening: At 7.00 PM Sri Subramania Boating Festival


Thursday, November 25, 2010
Evening: Sri Chandikeswarar Festival, Sri Chandikeswarar Utsavam, Rishaba Vahanam (Silver Bull)

Deepavali Blessings from the Goddess at Arunachala

WISHING ALL, GRACE AND LIGHT DURING
THIS JOYOUS FESTIVAL

Lord Arunachaleswarar and Goddess Unamulai

Goddess Shrine at Arunachaleswarar Temple

Goddess Rajarajeshwari,
Shrine on Girivalam Roadway

Goddess Rajarajeshwari

Goddess Durga Amman Temple

Goddess Periyar Karuamman Temple

Pavala Kundru Temple, Arunachala Hill Spur

Goddess Pachaiamman Temple,
South East Arunachala