2016 Mahashivaratri Pictorial Report

Disappointingly because of work currently underway at Arunachaleswarar Temple in the way of restoration, cleaning and renovations, and according to the Sastras, certain traditions usually observed in these parts during Mahashivaratri, had to be dropped. In this respect the lighting of the 1000 jyothis around the Temple tanks and compound floors did not occur as it was felt that there was a fire hazard with the many flammable materials around the Gopurams and Shrines. 

Also as work is currently underway at the Temple's major Shrines, this year the tradition of the giant salt crystal Kolams on the Temple Compound Floor was also postponed. Happily after the upcoming Mahakumbhabhishekam Function scheduled for June 2016, the traditions of Festivals will once again be observed at Arunachaleswarar Temple. 

Early on March 7, crowds start milling around at Temple Flagstaff

Devotees queuing to enter the Shiva Sannidhi for darshan

Devotees performing puja on "floating lingam" on plinth outside Siva Sannidhi

Although the 1,000 jyothis around the Tanks and Temple floors were not allowed this year, some devotees lighting their individual jyothis near Flagstaff outside the Siva Sannidhi

As the day of March 7 develops into dusk the queues for Lord Siva's darshan extend into the 4th Prakaram

 

Dusk descending and the night of Mahashivaratri commences

Cultural program inside the 3rd Prakaram

Varied and inspirational devotional music and singing throughout the night

Young girls performing Bharat Natyam dancing in cultural programme

In evening the Gods on procession giving darshan

Outside Flagstaff at Siva Sannidhi

Renovations at Arunachaleswarar Temple 2016

Renovations and restorations continue at Arunachaleswarar Temple in preparation for the Mahakumbhabishkem which is scheduled for June, 2016. 

The Vimanas on top of Shrine, and attendant Nandis are all being painted

Progress can be seen at the Temple by the rate the scaffolding is coming down around the Shrines and Gopurams

Lord Ganesha Shrine in the 4th Prakaram

Very handsome Nandi on wall of the Brahma Theertham, 4th Prakaram

On top of the Brahma Lingam (five-faced Lingam) at the 4th Prakaram

Painting of Vimana and statues on top of Brahma Lingam completed

Restoration work on some Gopurams has already been completed and scaffolding removed

View of Brahma Teertham and the Bhairavi Shrine

March 6, 2016 Pradosham Arunachaleswarar Temple

2016 Mahashivaratri Temple Invitation

Below an invitation from Arunachaleswarar Temple with details of the upcoming 2016 Mahashivaratri programme at the Temple over March 7-8, 2016, including details of the cultural programme at that time. 

2016 Mahashivaratri Programme, Arunachaleswarar Temple

Monday, March 7th - Tuesday, March 8th, 2016 

During the day of Monday March 7, devotees of different satsang groups will be creating giant-sized Kolams on the floors of the Temple Compound. As is usual, the Kolams are not made from powders but from dyed salt crystals. 

Kolams made of crystal salt rock will be on Temple Compound floors

As the day progress into dusk on the evening of March 7, devotees will light clay deepam lights and place them all around the edges of the Temple Theertham. The gates of the Theertham for this reason are kept open on this day. 

Arunachaleswarar Temple (including the Siva Sannidhi and Mother’s Shrine) will also remain open for a period of 24 hours during Mahashivaratri. 

Cultural Programme and Devotional Songs: 

In the evening of March 7th, poems, devotional songs and cultural programmes will take place in front of the Mandapam outside the Rajagopuram (East Gate) of the Big Temple.

Inside the Temple at the Auditorium located in the 4th Prakaram, cultural programmes and devotional singing will take place from 6 p.m. on Monday, March 7. 

Devotees' lamps will surround Temple Theertham

Pujas and Worships: 

Special Abhishekam: 

Lakshana Archana will commence on Monday March 7, 2016 at the Siva Sannidhi, Arunachaleswarar Temple 

Night of Mahashivaratri: 

March 7-8 at 12 midnight. Commencement of the Sri Lingodbhavamurti (at back of Siva Sannidhi) 

Mahashivaratri Night Puja Programme: 

1st Kala Puja 8.30 p.m. March 7 

2nd Kala Puja 11.00 p.m. March 7 

3rd Kala Puja 2.00 a.m. March 8 

4th Kala Puja 4.00 a.m. March 8 

Padma and Torsten, Arunachala March 2016

Currently, Padma and Torsten, two satsang teachers from Germany, are visiting Tiruvannamalai with an International Retreat group comprised of devotees from Denmark, Germany, Holland and the United States. 

It is the ninth time that Padma and Torsten have brought an International group on pilgrimage to these parts. As devotees of Sri Ramana Maharshi they disseminate the teaching of self-inquiry to their students. They feel at the foot of Arunachala, the blissful energy of Sri Ramana Maharshi nourishes their Retreat Group. 

Torsten says: “The Old Hall of Ramanashram is probably one of my favourite places on this planet . . . there is this mysterious power of silence radiating directly into my heart from the sofa where Ramana used to sit.” 

Torsten and Padma will be offering open satsangs this coming week at Sri Nannagaru Ashram. Check above for timings. 

Sri Arunachala Cane Furniture

A number of followers of Arunachala Grace have requested contact information of the Cane Furniture Shop in Tiruvannamalai. As I am a big fan of this shop and myself have lots of their furniture at my house, have compiled the following narrative with photographs of Sri Arunachala Cane Shop.

The opening hours of Sri Arunachala Cane Furniture are 8.30 a.m. to 8.30 p.m. 7 days a week. Closed on certain holidays like: Deepavali, Deepam, Pongal etc. 

Contact Information: 

C.M. Arumugam, Cane Master 

Sri Arunachala Cane Furniture 

No. 84/15 Chengam Road NH66 
Near Yama Lingam

Tiruvannamalai, Tamil Nadu 606601

Phone: +919443033046, +919003414994 

Email: arumugam@yahoo.co.in 

The photograph below is of Arumugam, Owner and Proprietor of Sri Arunachala Cane Furniture shop. He is currently in his mid 40’s, and has been working with cane since his very early teens. 

Sri Arumugam

He learnt his skills in his native village of Walajapet, where he trained under Cane Masters (hailing from Chennai). Once sufficiently skilled Arumugam shifted to Tiruvannamalai and worked creating Cane Furniture under the auspices of a Master at Shantimalai Trust at their facility which at that time was located at Athiyandal Village, Tiruvannamalai. 

After a number of years and with the financial sponsorship and support of Shantimalai Trust, Arumugam opened his own Cane shop. His first shop was located in Ramana Nagar opposite the old Post Office. When that area started to be developed, Sri Arunachala Cane shifted to a site near Seshadri Ashram also in Ramana Nagar. Recently Sri Arunachala Cane Furniture moved to its present (and third) location near the Yama Lingam off Chengam Road. 

Currently Sri Arunachala Cane Furniture has 6 apprentices and 6 experienced cane workers and 2 carpenters who incorporate cane work in traditional almirahs and dressers. 

Below are photographs of different types of cane furniture made at Sri Arunachala Cane facility. However Arumugam, the proprietor and Cane Master of the Shop has a large collection of photo albums of many extraordinary styles and types of cane furniture he will make to order. So make sure when visiting to view the photographs of the full compilation of furniture he creates. 

Baskets above  made by  local group of handicraft ladies and up for sale at Sri Arunachala Cane Shop

Parihara Puja Ayyankulam Tank: February 12, 2016

As readers will already know an incident sadly occurred at the Ayyankulam Tank, Tiruvannamalai, on the morning of February 8 during the Mahadhaya Maha Punniya Kalam 2016 ceremonies. In that incident four people drowned in the Theertham and a number of others were injured when devotees jostled to bathe in the Tank on the auspicious occasion of Mahodaya Amavasya. 

‘Mahodhaya Punniya Kaalam’ is when the below attributes align together in a single day, an event which occurs only about once every 30 years. 

Thithi: Amavasya 

Nakshathiram: Thiruvonam 

Yogam: Vyathi Patham 

Month: Thai 
Vaaram: Soma (Monday) 

Ceremony at Siva Shrine, Arunachaleswarar Temple

Parihara Puja was performed at the Ayyankulam Theertham yesterday Friday, February 12, 2016 in connection with the recent tragedy at that place. 

The meaning of “parihara” is the removing, averting, remedying and clearing away of difficulties and troubles. 

Ceremony at Ayyankulam Tank

It is stated in the Veda Sastras, that the remedy for “parihara” can be divided into three parts. 

Sulabha-Sadhya: Problems can be removed with simple “pariharas” (remedies) such as going to Temple, lighting lamps, Navagraha pradhakshina, Navagraha archana, reciting slokas-mantras and dhaana (gifts and donations) done daily and frequently. 

Kasta-Sadhya: Problems have to be removed with a more concentrated and strong effort, as they cannot be removed with simple “pariharas”. To remove Kasta Sadhya such focussed long term efforts as intense recitation of Japa and performance of Homas is required. 

Asadhya: These are problems which cannot be removed with any of the above “pariharas”. The problem just has to be undergone and experienced. It is estimated that around five percent of problems fall in this category. 

My personal opinion in connection with the drownings at the Theertham is: if one considers the ways in which people meet their end; to die by water in the consecrated waters of the Indira Theertham, next to the Holy Sulam of Lord Shiva, under the auspices of Arunachala on one of the most sacred days of the last 30 years, seems more like a blessing than a tragedy. 

Further, in the words of one of the people connected with this event: 

 "We don't feel sad because it was very peaceful and we didn't even know till after the function what had happened. One victim was a Temple Gurukkal and the other three were devotees who have done excellent service over the years to the Temple Gods. It was such a big, important day and what happened was like God just silently taking them home." 

Circumambulation of the Gods of 5 Temples

Following from a previous posting, after giving darshan at the Ayyankulam Theertham, the Gods of 5 Arunachala Temples gave darshan to devotees whilst on their palanquins outside Arunachaleswarar Temple and later by circumambulation of the big Temple on the Mada Veedhis. 

The Five Temple Gods being: 

Arunachaleswarar Temple (Siva Temple) 

Kumarakovil (Murugan Temple) 

Angalamman Temple (Amman Temple) 

Sri Mariamman Temple (Amman Temple) 

Sri Pachaiamman Temple (Amman Temple) 

Sri Arunachaleswarar

Sri Amman

On Sannidhi Street on way from Ayyankulam Street to Arunachaleswarar Temple

Sri Angalamman

Sri Mariamman

Lord Murugan

Sri Pachaiamman

Sri Arunagirinathar Temple Theerthavari Ceremony

As part of the Mahadhaya Maha Punniya Kalam 2016 ceremonies, Theerthavari was performed in the Ayyankulam Tank in the early morning of February 8, 2016. 

While Sulam immersion and subsequent puja was being observed at the Theertham, the Gods of 5 Arunachala Temples gave darshan to devotees whilst on their palanquins outside Sri Arunagirinathar Temple. 

The Five Temple Gods being: 

Arunachaleswarar Temple (Siva Temple)

Kumarakovil (Murugan Temple)

Angalamman Temple (Amman Temple)

Sri Mariamman Temple (Amman Temple)

Sri Pachaiamman Temple (Amman Temple) 

Sri Arunachaleswarar and Sri Amman

Gods from Kumarakovil Temple (left) and Angalamman Temple (right)

Sri Arunachaleswarar on palanquin back to Big Temple

Sri Amman following Sri Arunachaleswarar Palanquin

I hope to post more photographs of the procession of the Gods of the 5 Temples within the next few days. Please check back.