2015 Deepam Festival. Day Eight—Night: Vettu Kuthirai Vahanam

The third and final procession of Day 8, of the Arunachala Karthigai Deepam Festival, is that of the Vettu Kuthirai Vahanam and which takes place at night. 

The Panchamoorties being carried out of the Kalyana Mandapam

The Panchamoorties are carried palanquin style out of the Kalayana Mandapm, around the Siva Sannidhi, up to the Yagasala and then right through the centre of the Temple, to the east side and exiting at the Thittivasal. Between all the carrying the Gods also rest at three separate stations where they need to be supported by specially constructed brackets.

Brackets at the Yagasala, 3rd Prakaram

More brackets which will be utilised to support the weight of the Gods' Palanquins

Coming out of the Kalayana Mandapam: Arunachaleswarar and Ambal

The Gods circumambulating the Madaveedhis of Arunachaleswarar Temple

The Goddess with riding crop in hand -- She looks so very nice

2015 Deepam Festival. Day Eight—Early Evening: Lord Shiva as Pichandavar

On the 8th Day of Karthigai Deepam as celebrated at the Arunachaleswarar Temple, there are traditionally three different processions. The first in the morning is that of Lord Chandrashekara on the Horse Vahanam on its circumbulation and meeting of the Maharadham. The second procession on the 8th Day is that of Lord Pichandavar (which is Lord Siva in His manifestation as a beggar). The third procession, which occurs later in the night is that of the Lord on the Vahanam of a White Horse.

Lord Shiva as Pichandavar

Pichandavar (i.e. Beggar)

Beautiful detail work on Vahanam

All night processions brilliantly illuminated

Lord Shiva as Pichandavar 

One story of Lord Shiva in the form of Pichandavar (beggar) goes like this: 

Punithavathiar as Karaikal Ammaiyar was called (the only woman saint of the 63 Nayanars), was born in a Vaisya family. Her father was Danadathan. He was a wealthy virtuous merchant. He and his dutiful wife prayed to the Lord for a child, and the child the Lord blessed them with they called Punithavathy. From her childhood, Punithavathy had an intense love for Lord Siva and His bhaktas. She was married to Paramadattan, a wealthy Vaisya. Both of them were leading an ideal householder’s life. 

To read more go to an earlier posting on Arunachala Grace at this link here. 

2015 Karthigai Deepam Festival, Maharadham -- Trying to get it to move

Karthigai Deepam 2015. 7th Day celebrates the processon of 5 chariots. The biggest of which is the giant wooden chariot i.e. Maharadham. This year's function took place in unceasing, sheeting rain. Below is a video I uploaded this afternoon unto You Tube. 

2015 Karthigai Deepam Festival, Maharadham Karthigai Deepam 2015. 7th Day celebrates the processon of 5 chariots. The biggest of which is the giant wooden chariot i.e. Maharadham. This year's function took place in unceasing, sheeting rain. In this video, boys are jumping on levers placed under the giant back wheels of the Chariot, in order to propel it forward. The excitment and energy of the huge crowd is apparent from the audio. Late in the evening, the Maharadham (and the 4 other accompanying chariots) completed their circumambulation of Arunachaleswarar Temple. 

In this video, boys are jumping on levers placed under the giant back wheels of the Chariot, in order to propel it forward. The excitment and energy of the huge crowd is apparent from the audio. Late in the evening, the Maharadham (and the 4 other accompanying chariots) completed their circumambulation of Arunachaleswarar Temple.

To ready the Arunachala Grace earlier posting on the Maharadham Procession, go to this link here.

2015 Deepam Festival. Day Eight—Day: Lord Chandrasekhara on Horse Vahana

In the previous post, I uploaded two photos of Lord Chandrasekhara on the Horse Vahanam as observed on the morning of Day Eight of the 2015 Deepam Festival. 

The below photographs show the connection between the procession of the Horse Vahanam, and that of the Maharadham. 

Musicians accompanying the procession

The Maharadham is parked in its usual spot at the side of Car Street

After circumambulation the Horse Vahanam comes to the Maharadham, which it turns towards and faces

Horse Vahanam faces the Maharadham

Temple Priests officiating a puja at a place between the two Radhams

Temple Priests

Puja performed on the street between the two Radhams

Garland placed on the Maharadham

I hope to give more information about the esoteric signficance of this puja later in my Arunachala Mystic Blog.

2015 Deepam Festival. Day Eight—Day: Lord Chandrasekhara on Horse

This day, Day Eight of the 2015 Arunachala Karthigai Festival, Lord Chandrasekhara on Horse was celebrated.

Lord on Horse Vahanam

Lord Chandrasekahara

The 2015 Arunachala Karthigai Deepam Cauldron

Early morning on the 8th day of the 2015 Karthigai Deepam Festival, puja was performed to the cauldron before it started its long journey to the top of the Hill. Lovely Rukku, our Elephant was on hand to lend her own regal blessings to proceedings. As is traditionally the case the Cauldron was taken up the Hill by locals of the Fishing Caste. 

The Cauldron after cleaning and painting

Lovely Rukku, adding her own substantial Blessings to the proceedings

After Puja, the long journey starts to the top of Arunachala

Leaving the Temple at the Pey Gopuram Gate (West Gate)

The men of the Fishing Caste on their way to the top of the Hill

Their long haul upward

The Wick for the Cauldron, at the Temple waiting to be transported up the Hilll

Just a small part of the ghee that will be used in the Cauldron over the Festival

Some devotees choose to purchase ghee directly from a Temple Shop

2015 Deepam Festival. Day Seven—Maharadham

For the last several days, it has been stormy, blustery and very wet. But nothing can dampen the enthusiasm of Lord Arunachaleswarar's devotees. The town has been packed throughout the day with thousands of devotees eager to participate and/or take darshan of the passing Maharadham (giant wooden chariot). 

Devotees milling around at the base of the Maharadham

Flower sellers out in force

Puja items for devotees wanting to perform worship in front of the Radhams

Sugar-Cane, for devotees to complete their vrata (vow) and carry their child on circumambulation

Carrying their child in sugar-cane cradles (karumbu thottil)

Devotees leaving flowers and offering at base of Maharadham

Devotees crowding around the 5 Radhams, one for each of the Gods

Lord Arunachaleswarar on the Maharadham

Rain falling heavily and the Gods waiting to set off on their circumambulation

 Radhams are moving, circumambulation of the Temple perimeter streets will take about 10 hours

Wonderful darshan of Arunachala, Temple and the Maharadham

The massive Maharadham has just turned the corner and is beginning moving up the slope of Thiruvoodal Street

Rains, storms, delays . . . nothing could curb the enthusiasm of the crowds of devotees and pilgrims attending the Maharadham Festival, on Day 7, of the 2015 Deepam Festival. 

Umbrellas proliferated and devotees kept in good cheer throughout the long, tiring day, until late in the evening the five Radhams returned to their designated areas on Car Street. 

Ordinarily in the case of pulling the Lord Arunachaleswarar Maharadham, gents are on the left and ladies on the right. As the day progressed with the rain becoming more sheeting, and conditions increasingly unpleasant in pulling the huge chariot, gents took over the duties from the ladies pulling the right side of the chariot. 

However the chariot of the Goddess Unnamulai, was exclusively pulled by women and the Radham of Chandikeswarar (steward to the Gods) pulled by youngsters. 

The long, cold, wet day did not undermine the enthusiasm of Devotees

Alangaram of the Panchamoorthies for Maharadham Procession

Below are the Alangarams of the Panchamoorthies in the Kalayana Mandapam, on the morning of November 22, 2015. After aarti, the Panchamoorties are taken to their respective Radhams (chariots) that they may perform circumambulation of Arunachaleswarar Temple on this day of the great Festival of Maharadham. 

Lord Ganesha

During functions of Deepam Festival, the panchamoorties are taken on procession. These panchamoorties are: Ganesha, Arunachaleswarar, Amman, Subramaniyar and Chandikeswarar. 

Arunachaleswarar

The Goddess

Lord Subramaniyar

Chandikeswarar

Chandikeswarar as he became to be known is one of the 63 Nayanmars. For those unfamiliar with the history of Chandikeswarar and how he gained stewardship of the Gods, the story goes as follows:- 

“Chandikeswarar,a devotee of Lord Shiva was born in the village of Seynalur on the banks of the river Manni in the Chola country, as a young lad named Vicharasarman. 

He was the son of a pious and learned Brahmin named Yajnadatta. Vicharasarman was of great intelligence. One day when the lad was going to school, he saw a cowherd brutally assaulting a cow. Angry at the behaviour of the cowherd, young Vicharasarman took upon himself the duty of tending the cows of the village, to which the villagers acceded. From that day the cows looked happier and yielded more milk. More than the cow’s udders could hold. Vicharasarman, seeing that the milk was being wasted, collected it in vessels, set up lingams made of sand and poured this excess milk to bathe the lingas with intense piety for Shiva.The cowherd who had lost position on account of this Brahmin boy, saw him in this act and found this a good cause for denouncing him. He immediately brought it to the notice of the village elders as well as Yajnadatta, Vicharsarman’s father. The father saw his son pouring milk on small sand mounds and without investigating, kicked one of the lingas in anger. Young Vicharasarmana came out of his reverie and cut off the leg of his father with an axe with which he had kicked a linga. 

Shiva was pleased with the devotion of this boy and he appeared in person along with Parvati his consort, before the boy. Shiva embraced him and made him in charge of his ganas (devotees or followers). He was also made the steward of his household, naming him Chandikeswarar.” 

Preparing the Chariots for Maharadham Day

Throughout this week preparations have been underway preparing the five radhams for the panchamoorthies for the big day of the Maharadham procession. This year the procession falls on November 22, 2015. As all five of the Radhams (wooden chariots) are so large, they each have a permanent parking spot on the side of Car Street -- i.e. the main thoroughfare running in front of the Alankaram Mandapam on the east side of the Temple. 

Yesterday (i.e. 21 November, 2015) repair and decorating crews were out in force for last minute preparations for the big day of the Maharadham Procession. 

Decorating one of the smaller of the wooden chariots

Clambering on top of a chariot

Town in constant excitement and activity throughout the Deepam Festival

Adding Buntings and Banners to the Maharadham

The Maharadham will be pulled by devotees using metal chains