2014 Karthigai Deepam Arunachala Programme

Below is the programme for the 2014 Karthigai Deepam which will be celebrated at Arunachaleswarar Temple. Amongst the functions there are major events like Maharadham (December 2) and Mahadeepam (December 5) etc., upon which I will be giving more details as we get closer to Deepam. 

Arulmigu Arunachaleswarar Tirukovil Tiruvannamalai 

Thirukarthigai Deepam Festival 2014 

23 November, 2014 

Sunday Night: Durgai Amman Urchavam 

24 November, 2014 

Monday Night: Pidari Amman Urchavam 

25 November, 2014 

Tuesday Night: Vinayaka Urchavam 

Right click for enlargement

26 November, 2014 

Wednesday Morning (early): Flag Hoisting 

Morning (late): Panchamoorthy Silver Vimana procession 

Night: Athigara Nandi Vahana 

27 November, 2014 

Thursday Morning: Chandrasekhara in Surya Perai Vahanam 

Night: Indira Vehanam 

28 November, 2014  

Friday Morning: Chandrasekhara in Bootha Vahanam 

Night: Shima Vahanam 

29 November, 2014 

Saturday Morning: Chandrasekhara in Naga Vahanam 

Night: Kamadhenu and Virikpaksha 

30 November, 2014 

Sunday Morning: Chandrasekhara in Rishabam 

Night: Big Silver Rishabam 

1 December, 2014 

Monday Morning: Elephant with 63 Nayanars 

Night: Silver chariot 

2 December, 2014 

Tuesday: Maharadham 

3 December, 2014 

Wednesday Morning: Chandrasekhara on Horse 

Evening: Pichandavar 

Late Night: Big Horse 

4 December, 2014 

Thursday Morning: Chandrasekhara on Purusha Meruga Vahanam 

Night: Kailasha (Ravana) Vahanam 

5 December, 2014 

Friday Early Morning: Bharani Deepam 4 a.m. 

Evening: Maha Deepam (6 p.m.) 

6 December, 2014 

Saturday Morning: God Girivalam 

Evening: Theepal Chandrasekhara 

7 December, 2014 

Sunday Night: Parashakti Theepal 

8 December, 2014 

Monday Night: Subrahmanian Theepal 

9 December, 2014 

Tuesday Night: Chandikashwara 

Postings on my Arunachala Blogs September 7, 2014 to October 30, 2014

Below are links and short extracts of postings on my various Arunachala Blogs from Sunday, September 7, 2014 to Thursday, October 30, 2014:- 

Arunachala Grace 

Anna Anbhishegam November 5, 2014 -- Festival Invitation  Invitation for puja to be performed at Arunachaleswarar Temple as declared by Lord Shiva; puja is to be performed with cooked rice and rice food items. 

Pradosham -- October 21, 2014  Photographs of the Tuesday October 21, 2014 Pradosham as observed at the Arunachaleswarar Temple, Tiruvannamalai 

Parvathamalai Hill and Temple  Legends and narrative about the famous Parvathamalai Hill and Temple just 25 kms from Tiruvannamalai. Photographs of the ascent and of the sacred and powerful Mallikarjuna Temple on the summit. View of Javadhu Hill and Arunachala in the distant

October 2014 Poornima, Arunachala  Photographs of the crowds of pilgrims both at the Arunachaleswarar Temple and performing girivalam during the October 2014 Poornima at Arunachala 

October Pradosham Arunachaleswarar Temple  Photographs of the Monday October 6, 2014 Pradosham at Arunachaleswarar Temple, Tiruvannamalai 

2014 Karthigai Deepam Panthakal  Photographs and information about the Panthakal ceremony. Blessings in front of the recently completed renovation on the Maharadham which will be used during the 2014 Karthigal Deepam celebrations 

2014 Panthakal Invitation, Arunachaleswarar Temple  Invitation and details of the event of the Panthakal Ceremony at the front of Arunachaleswarar Temple which marks the official beginning of the 2014 Karthigai Deepam Festival

Sing to the Mountain  Video of song to the mountain. Extract from the Green Ant Ceremony at Uluru, Australia

2014 Navratri at Ramana Ashram  Photographs and links to video and information about the 2014 Navratri Festival as celebrated at Ramana Ashram, Tiruvannamalai 

Reunion Beat X Band, IIT Madras  Information about the Renunion Beat Band at Madras, with band member on the drums being Ramana Ashram Library’s Chief Librarian J Jayaraman. Photographs and Video

Alangarams Shakti Temples 2014 Navratri  Narrative explaining the origins and traditions of the Navratri Festival. Photographs of alangarams at major Shakti Temples at Tiruvannamalai

2014 Navaratri Kolu Display at Yogi Ramsuratkumar Ashram   Beautiful pictorial representation of the elaborate Kolu (Golu = doll) displays during the 2014 Navaratri at Yogi Ramsuratkumar Ashram

September 21, 2014 Temple Pradosham  Photographs of the recently concluded Pradosham at the Arunachaleswarar Temple, Tiruvannamalai

2014 Navaratri Function at Arunachaleswarar Temple Invitation and information about the Navaratri Functions which will take place during the 2014 Festival at the Big Temple

Relocation of Swami Nithyananda Primary Ashram  Report about the relocaction of Swami Nithyananda primary ashram from Bidadi, Karnataka to Tiruvannamalai

Development of Arunachala Samudra Website Information about sections under development on our website Arunachala Samudra 

Arunachala Mystic 

Thavathiru Veera Vairakiya Moorthy Swamigal and Parvathamalai  Story about the great saint Veera Vairakiya Moorthy Swamigal, his life on Parvathamalai and his miracles at Arunachaleswarar Temple 

Jerzy Grotowski's Journey to Arunachala  Narrative of famed international Theatre Director Jerzy Grotowski and how his life led him to his final resting place at Arunachala

Vedic Birthday Mobile App.  A Vedic Birthday mobile app brought out by the Vedic Society, Pondicherry that calculates one’s Vedic birthday

Help from Yogi Ramsuratkumar  Information about the statute and power of Yogi Ramsuratkumar at his Ashram in Tiruvannamalai. Photographs. 

A Meeting with Mookupodi Swamiyar  Fascinating narrative submitted by a reader about his meeting and experience with the Arunachala living siddhar Mookupodi Swamiyar 

Shani Pradosham September 6th, 2014   Photographs and narratives of the Shani Pradosham celebrated at Arunachaleswarar Temple on Saturday, September 6, 2014 

Arunachala Birds 

Indian Pitta (Pitta Brachyura) Narrative with photographs and video of the Indian Pitta (Pitta Brachyura) known in Tamil Nadu as Arumani Kuruvi (the six-o’clock bird)

Arunachala Land 

57 Cent Parcel near Vediappanur road   A 57 cent (just over half an acre) parcel of agricultural land up for sale at Kottangal Village near Vediappanur Road at Tiruvannamalai. Beautiful darshan of Arunachala

Beautiful parcel of land at Devanandal  Information and photographs about a beautiful 1.75 acre parcel of land avalable for purchase at Devanandal at Arunachala

Steps in Buying Property  Information and narrative with link about the steps necessary in buying property in Tamil Nadu

Anna Abhishegam November 5, 2014 -- Festival Invitation

Arulmigu Arunachaleswarar Tirukovil Tiruvannamalai 

In worship of Shiva on each Tamil month pujas based on stars (nakshatras) with respect to materials belonging to each star are performed to Lord Shiva. 

In continuation of this in the month of Ippasi on Ashwini Star, as declared by Lord Shiva puja is to be performed with cooked rice and rice food items. 

As by Lord Siva’s words:

“I myself like this food as it gives energy to the whole Universe and goodness to all. Do puja to me with this food and don’t forget food is my special roopam (i.e. form).” 

A person who performs abhishegam and pujas will derive all goodness as said in the “Siva Kamam”. 

On November 5, 2014 Wednesday evening at Arunachaleswarar Temple abhishegam will be done with special pujas and alankaram. 

All are Invited

Pradosham -- October 21, 2014

Below are very nice photographs of yesterday’s Amavasya Pradosham (Tuesday -- October 21, 2014) as observed at Arunachaleswarar Temple. 

Parvathamalai Hill and Temple

[I hope to be soon posting additional information of this Hill and also uploading photographs of Parvathamalai taken from Arunachala] 

Parvathamalai is located near Thenmadimangalam Village, 20 kms from Polur. It is part of Javadhi Hills and accessible through Kadaladi village 25 kms north of Tiruvannamalai or through Thenmadimangalam. Parvatham means mountain and Parvatha Malai as it is called, connotes “Hill of Hills” or “Queen of Hills”. Parvathamalai presents eight different shapes from eight directions around the hill. 

At the summit of the Hill is the Mouna Guruswamy Ashram and more importantly a very powerful Temple at which resides the Siva aspect in the form of Lord Mallikarjuna (i.e. White Jasmine) and the Sakthi aspect in the form of Parvatha Rani or Parvathammal. Parvathammal is also called Lordess Brahmarambika (and Maragathambika). Inside the sanctum sanctorum there are also idols dedicated to Sri Ganesha and Lord Murugan. 

Parvathamalai, Temple and Ashram on top

A Temple at this site is believed to have existed for the last 2000 years although it is not known exactly when the current Temple was constructed at the top of Parvathamalai. However a record (Malai Padu Kadaam) shows that King Maa Mannan who was ruling that area, during the year 300 A.D used to visit a Temple (at this site) frequently and worship Lord Shiva and the Goddess. It is said that 2000 years ago great yogis (Siddhas) constructed a Temple at the top of the hill for doing meditation. 

Reaching the top of Parvathamalai is an arduous task. It is a vertical mountain over 4,000 feet in height that has iron rod steps, track steps, ladder steps, and sky steps (agayapadi) not found at other such sacred mountains. The Kadapaarai Padhai section of the climb up the Hill is considered to be the toughest part of the trek. This part which is punctuated by iron rods drilled into the rocks and chains to assist during the sharp ascent is also only wide enough to accommodate one-way traffic. Thus one has to raise one’s voice voice from the bottom of this section and wait for acknowledgment from the other end before starting to climb the Kadapaarai Padhai section. 

One of the legends associated with Parvathamalai states that when Lord Hanuman carried Sanjeevini hill to revive Laxman a piece of Sanjeevenimalai fell at this spot. For this reason this particular area is famous for various herbs and shrubs which can cure the deadliest diseases. It is not just herbs that can cure disease but it is thought that the breeze alone from the Hill wafting through the plants and shrubbery is enough to help cure illnesses. 

Kadapaarai Padhai section of climb

There is a legend at Parvathamalai associated with the two saints Guru Namasivayam and Guhai Namasivayam—who were to later reside on caves on Arunachala Hill. However when Guru Namasivayam and Guhai Namasivayam stayed on Parvathamalai, they accidentally cooked and ate an unknown herbal leaf (known as ‘Karunochi – Siddha Medicine’) and regained their youth forever. 

Another legend associated with this sacred site recounts that when Lord Siva returned from the Himalayas to South India, He stepped on Parvathamalai on His way to Arunachala. 

The history of Parvathamalai is interconnected with that of the famed Sri Mallikarjunar Temple at Srisailam, Andhra Pradesh. The encompassing legend goes so: 

“Sage Siladha performed severe penance on Lord Shiva seeking a boon to have children. Two sons were born to him, Nandhi and Parvathan. Sanakadhi Rishi called on the sage and said that Nandhi would live on earth only for a short while. As a result of this prophecy Siladha fell into grief. Nandhi assured his father by saying that he would win over death by his penance on Lord Shiva.

Temple at Parvathamalai

Pleased with Nandhi’s penance, Lord Shiva appeared and made the young child His vahana (vehicle) and passed the order that devotees should come to Him only after being allowed by Nandhi. Nandhi’s place of penance at the foot of the hills at Sri Mallikarjunar Temple at Srisailam is also known as “Nandiyal”. His brother Parvathan also performed penance on Lord Siva and became the hill – Parvatha Hill – i.e. Parvathamalai”. 

This sacred place as it is under 30 kms from Arunachala is also infused with Arunachala’s radiating spiritual power. Sri Sankaracharya of Kanchipuram saw the hill in the shape of a Siva Lingam. Increasingly as the fame of Parvathamalai spreads, many devotees and pilgrims visit and climb the hill to worship at the Temple on the summit in order that they may attain bliss and enlightenment. One of the unique features of the Temple on Parvathamalai is that all may enter the inner shrine (sanctum sanctorum) in order to perform their own puja to Lord Shiva, His Goddess, Sri Ganesha and Lord Murugan. The busiest times at Parvathamalai are the days of full moon, no moon and new moon. 

Lord Mallikarjuna

It is reputed that there are Siddhars who have made this Hill their home and who keep their presence a secret only choosing to reveal themselves to few devotees of the Divine. It is believed that these Siddhars visit the Temple on the top of Parvathamalai at midnight to worship the presiding deities there. Though no one can or have seen them in physical bodies, Villagers around ‘Parvathamalai’ down below say that they can clearly hear the sound of ringing bells, blowing conch and beating drums exactly at midnight when pujas are performed by siddhars. Devas and spiritual beings from other lokas are also believed to worship on the Hill every night. 

"Siddhars have spoken volumes about Pancha Nathana Nataraja. They say that this deity is such a rarity in the Universe that even the Devas would give anything just for the chance of worshipping him. They say that on the Nataraja Abisheka days which occur in certain Tamil months (Chitra, Aani, Aavani, Purattaasi, Margazhi and Maasi), the Devas perform their worship to this deity in subtle form. This kind of worship is similar to the sookshma worship done by the Devas at the peak of the Arunachala Hill and on the Parvathamalai Hill." 

Sri Brahmaraambika

It is reported by visitors that at night many paranormal activities occur on Parvathamalai. That it is possible to experience both Jyoti Darsanam at night and also to imbibe an almost other-worldly intoxicating scent of flowers. The Goddess idol at the Temple has a dazzling smile and Divine light can often be seen on her face and cheeks. When the devotee walks away from Goddess Brahmarambika in the sanctum sanctorum, the size of the deity instead of diminishing, appears to increase in size and it seems as if the Goddess steps forward and approaches the devotee. 

View from Parvathamalai of Javadhi Hills

This place is filled with stories of miracles witnessed in one form or another. Devotees often report seeing images of both the snake and trishulam when lighting camphor in front of Lord Shiva. Some devotees have seen a nine foot King Cobra visiting the Sanctum Sanctorum for the worship and others have sight of three eagles circling the top of Parvathamalai. 

View of Arunachala from summit of Parvathamalai

For information and photographs about ascending Parvathamalai go to this link here 

October 2014 Poornima, Arunachala

If you want an easy wait-free darshan at Arunachaleswarar Temple best to avoid visiting Arunachala during Poornima as the number of pilgrims visiting Tiruvannamalai is noticeably increasing in size month after month. The line, in the photographs, extends out of the Sannidhi to crowd barriers in the outlying courtyard.

Waiting in line for darshan of Lord Annamalaiyar, Big Temple

Pilgrims performing girivalam around the 14 km perimeter of Arunachala arrive during the 24 hour poornima period. In this photograph taken near the Sri Seshadri Ashram and the opposite Kali Temple, the crowds are only just beginning to build up. 

Pilgrims taking darshan at Lord Dakshinamurti Shrine on Chengham Road

October Pradosham Arunachaleswarar Temple

Below are photographs of Pradosham at Arunachaleswarar Temple on Monday October 6, 2014. 

2014 Karthigai Deepam Panthakal

The below photographs are of the Panthakal Function which was performed this morning (Monday October 6th, 2014) at Arunachaleswarar Temple to mark the official beginning of the rituals and ceremonies preceding the Karthigai Festival (Mahadeepam is Friday, December 5th, 2014). 

As well as blessing the front of the Temple, outside the Raja Gopuram, the priests also blessed the newly renovated Maharadham chariot and other vehicles which will be used during processions in the upcoming 2014 Karthigai Deepam Festival. 

2014 Panthakal Invitation, Arunachaleswarar Temple

Arulmigu Arunachaleswarar Temple, Tiruvannamalai. 

At Tiruvanamalai in the form of Agni and among the panchabhuta sthalams with the blessings of Arulmigu Annamalaiyar and Unnamulai 

from Sunday 23rd November 2014 to Tuesday 9th December 2014 

Thirukarthigai Deepam Festival is going to celebrated. 

Right Click to enlarge

In connection with this on Monday 6th October, 2014 in the morning between 5.30 a.m. and 6.45 a.m. during the kaniyar lagnam, Panthakal Muhurtham is going to be conducted. 

At that time at the Arulmigu Samanthar Vinayakar Sannadhi, a special abhiskekam and aradhana will be performed as marking the start of the Festival. 

All are invited. 

Sing to the Mountain

This video entitled, "Sing to the Mountain" makes me recall a famous saying of an Aboriginal elder at Uluru about the green ant ceremony. I am trying to find an audio of at least part of the actual green ant ceremony (which is referred to in this post). 

An observer of the green ant ceremony at Uluru writes: 

"The metallic humming of dijeridoos and the click-clack clapping of clap-sticks infuse the air with the trance of the aboriginal dream-time. Everyone here is busy learning their place. The whites are learning the ways of the aborigine. The aboriginals are learning the law of the mountain. The mountain is absorbing the interstellar beam of galactic information now arriving direct from the galaxy’s core at twenty-seven degrees Sagittarius." 

"This is the working of the ceremony to save the green ants, the aboriginal people and the dreamtime that holds the world together. The white people are too young to know this and too old to understand. Yet, you must listen to these words now and hear with your hearts, the singing of the mountain. 

The mountain sings. It sings like it has never sung before; it is singing now for you, for us, for every living creature on this beautiful Earth. The mountain sings its first and last song. The music comes from far, far away yet; it is inside you, inside the mountain, inside the trees, inside the rising sun, inside the stars, inside the little pebbles in the river, inside the kangaroo, inside the green ants, inside your mother, inside your father; the song is singing by itself inside every living thing. Now, the mountain sings to keep the world alive. When you hear the song inside your hearts, sing back to the mountain. Sing back to the mountain ... sing back to the mountain." 

[Invocation of a Chief Uluru Aboriginal Elder] 

2014 Navratri at Ramana Ashram

Every year Ramana Ashram celebrates the Navratri Festival with its beautiful types of alangarams of the Goddess. The photographs on this posting are of Sesha Sayanam on the sixth day of the Navratri Festival as celebrated at Ramana Ashram. A video of the puja was posted at this link here.

Devotees watching the puja inside the Shrine at Ramana Ashram

Each evening between 6.30 p.m. and 7.30 p.m. (IST) a live webcast of the Navaratri Celebrations as observed at Ramana Ashram are being posted at this link here. Such live video coverage of the Festival will continue until Vijayadasami on October 3rd, 2014.

Young boys studying at the Ashram Veda Patasala

To view earlier photographs of the Festival as celebrated at Ramana Ashram, you can visit their official website at this link here.

Sesha Sayanam, 6th Day of Navratri Festival

Reunion Beat X Band, IIT Madras

Most of those who regularly visit Tiruvannamalai and Ramana Nagar will probably have met J Jayaraman, the Librarian of the Ramana Ashram Library who is in addition to other things, also a writer, editor, musician and authority on many spiritual topics. 

Ramana Ashram Library

J Jayaraman who plays a number of musical instruments has participated in several musical evenings here at Tiruvannamalai at such venues as Ramana Ashram and Arunai Anantha Hotel. 

On September 21, 2014, the Reunion Beat X Band (of which he is a member) starred as the main attraction at the “Mardi Gras 2014” function at the Open Air Theatre, IIT Madras. To find out more about the history of the Reunion Beat X Band, go to this link here. 

J Jayaraman

Below is a You Tube video of one of the songs played in the evening, entitled A Taste of Honey (a Herb Alpert version). 

J Jayaraman is on the drums at the back right of the video.