Day 4. Daytime. Deepam 2020: Arunachaleswarar Temple

Day 3. Evening. Deepam 2020:Arunachaleswarar Temple

 

Because of complications connected with pandemic restrictions, the 2020 Karthigai Deepam Festival currently underway at Tiruvannamalai, is being celebrated only in the confines of Arunachaleswarar Temple. There are no processions on the Mada Veedhi Streets, there will be no Maharadham circumambulation on the Deepam 7th Day, and Theppal celebrations will take place at Brahma Teertham inside the Big Temple rather than its traditional venue i.e. Ayyankulam Tank in front of Arunagirinathar Temple (the 3rd most famous Shiva Temple at Tiruvannamalai).

 

Traditionally each day and night during the Deepam Festival is dedicated to a specific God's Vahana, this year that is not the case probably because some Vahanas are too large or ungainly to navigate the restricted spaceways inside the Temple Prakarams.

 

Shortly after completion of this year's Festival, an archive of the whole of the 2020 Karthigai Deepam will be posted on Arunchala Samudra website. In the meantime you might like to refer back to an archive (posted on Arunachala Samudra) of the Karthigai Deepam Festival and review a more traditional observance of this Festival with information about the significance of each day.

 

 

 

 

High Court Ruling: 2020 Karthigai Deepam Festival

 

I am posting below an article from The Hindu regarding "High Court says no to modifying restrictions imposed on Tiruvannamalai Karthigai Deepam festival".

 

"High Court says no to modifying restrictions imposed on Tiruvannamalai Karthigai Deepam festival

 

The Madras High Court on Wednesday refused to interfere with any of the restrictions imposed by the Tiruvannamalai district administration with respect to conduct of the Arunachaleswarar Temple's 17-day Karthigai Deepam festival which began on Tuesday and is scheduled to end on December 3.

 

Justices M. Sathyanarayanan and R. Hemalatha took judicial notice of numerous lives that had been lost due to COVID-19 and also the fact that lakhs of devotees congregate in the temple every year to witness various rituals associated with the annual festival. They felt that it would be very difficult to follow the COVID-19 standard operating procedures.

 

Disposing of a public interest litigation petition filed by V. Sakthivel, State vice-president of Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), the Bench observed that people in such gatherings generally lack self discipline and hence relaxing any of the restrictions might make it difficult for the police to control the crowd and lead to other complications.

 

Though the petitioner's counsel insisted that the Urchavamoorthy must be taken in a temple car on the four Mada Veethis around the temple on November 26, the judges said they were not inclined to interfere with the decision taken by the district administration as well as temple management to take the Panchamoorthigal only on the fifth Pravesam within the precincts of the temple to avoid gathering of large crowd to witness the car festival.

 

The judges hoped that the restrictions imposed on the festival would be for this year alone and normalcy would be restored from next year. The observation was made since the petitioner feared that permitting any change to the mode of conduct of the festival would become a new normal and the temple management might not revert to old practices thereafter.

 

Explaining the restrictions imposed, advocate AK Sriram, representing the temple management, told the court that only 800 devotees would be permitted inside the temple every two hours after insisting upon wearing of masks, checking their body temperature and so on. The devotees would be allowed inside the temple only till November 28.

 

The Bharani Deepam would be lit at 4 am and the Maha Deepam at 6 pm on November 29 when no devotee would be allowed inside the temple. "We will not be able to control the crowd, if we allow devotees inside the temple on that day. When it comes to the question of health, we must strike a balance between it and the need to follow religious practices and rituals," he said.

 

The counsel added that the Theppa Utsavam would generally be conducted at Ayyankulam which was about two kilometres away from the temple. However, this year, it had been decided to conduct the ritual in the Brahma Theertha Kulam inside the temple. Only those required to conduct the Utsavam would be allowed inside the temple on that day and entry shall be barred for devotees. The entire festival would come to an end with the Sandikesavar Urchavam on December 3".

Flag Hoisting Ceremony: 2020 Arunachala Karthigal Festival

 

The below sequence of photographs are of the flag hoisting ceremony at Arunachaleswarar Temple denoting the beginning of the 2020 Arunachala Karthigal Mahadeepam Festival. To learn the significance of this flag hoisting ceremony, visit this link here. 

Now that devotees carrying the Palanquins of the Gods seem to be exempt from wearing masks, I will try and post a good selection of upcoming functions. 

 

 

 

Flag Hoisting at Arunachaleswarar Temple: November 20, 2020

Flag Hoisting Ceremony, Arunachaleswarar Temple

 

Dhvaja Stambha (flagstaff), Arunachaleswarar Temple

 

Official Video of Flag Hoisting Ceremony, Arunachaleswarar Temple, 2020 Deepam Festival

 

 

 

3 Celebratory Days pre-Deepam Festival, 2020

 

There are three celebratory days before the start of the 10 Day Deepam Festival. 

On the first of these three days, Durga Amman is worshipped at the Durga Amman Temple. 

On the second day the Goddess Pidari is worshipped at the 3rd Prakaram, Arunachaleswarar Temple. 

On the third day Lord Ganesha is worshipped at the 3rd Prakaram, Arunachaleswarar Temple. 

This year a very limited version of the Deepam Festival is being observed at Tiruvannamalai. I am receiving photographs of the various functions, but plan to post only the more natural ones that do not show devotees wearing masks. In this respect devotees carrying the Gods on palanquins are all wearing masks.

However priests performing Ursavam on the Gods and accompanying them upon processional chariots around the Temple Compound are not wearing masks. 

 

Durgai Amman Alangaram, 2020 Deepam Festival

 

Pidari Amman Alangaram, 2020 Deepam Festival

Lord Vinayakar Alangaram, 2020 Deepam Festival

Lord Vinayakar procession Temple compound, 2020 Deepam Festival

There is an excellent write up and explanation of the above  functions held on the three consecutive days prior to the commencement of the 10-day Deepam Festival, at this link here.

Arunachaleswarar Temple Karthigai Deepam Restrictions UPDATE

 

In a recent press release, Arunachaleswarar Temple authorities has informed that they will be allowing devotees in "batches" of 800 to visit the Big Temple during the Karthigai Deepam festival, from November 17, to November 28, 2020. 

 

“Devotees will be permitted from 8 a.m. at a two-hour interval. Entry closes by November 28. No devotee will be permitted inside the temple from November 29 during Bharani Deepam and Maha Deepam. 

 

The entry would be restricted to temples of Annamalaiyar and Unnamalai. The car festival would be conducted only on the temple premises." 

 

 

Deepam will be alight for 11 days

 

 

Please be informed that the 2020 Arunachala Karthigai Mahadeepam will be lit on November 29, 2020 around 6 p.m. and will remain alight for 11 days. 

 

 

2019 Lighting of Arunachala Karthigai Mahadeepam

 

 

Arunachaleswarar Temple Lights: 2020 Karthigai Deepam Festival

 

 

Posting below a selection of photographs of the lights of Arunachaleswarar Temple. 

 

 

 

2020 Arunachala Karthigai Deepam Update

 

For information about the upcoming Karthigai Mahadeepam celebrations at Tiruvannamalai please read my earlier post links here and here.

Subsequent to these posts, here is additional information regarding the observance of the Festival. Entry to the Temple throughout the Festival (November 17-28, 2020) will only be allowed to ticketed devotees. If you wish to apply for a ticket please get in touch direct with Arunachaleswarar Temple at this link here.

No tickets will be available for November 29, the day of Karthigai Mahadeepam. Girivalam of the Hill is prohibited on November 29. Annadham will not be distributed on the day of the Festival.

Arunachaleswarar Temple is posting live streaming videos of functions at the Temple at their channel at this link here.

In addition live streaming functions at the Temple on the day of Karthigai Deepam, i.e. November 29 will also be available on their You Tube channel.

 

 

 

Arunachaleswarar Temple Pradosham November 12, 2020

 

When pradosham falls on Thursday it is known as Guru Pradosh—pradosham on this day is regarded as ideal for propitiating Lord Siva and getting wishes fulfilled. 

 

 

2020 Deepam Festivities at Arunachaleswarar Temple

 

 

After the relaxation of pandemic regulations, around 4,000 devotees have been daily visiting Arunachaleswarar Temple (however during their visit, devotees are not allowed to sit or stand anywhere inside the compound).

 

Arunachaleswarar Temple is currently working on a set of guidelines outlining celebrations inside Temple prakarams for the 2020 Karthigai Deepam. Such arrangements will include the procession of deities inside the Temple with a limited number of persons allowed inside to watch these functions.

 

The decision regarding the exact number of devotees allowed inside the Temple grounds during the Karthigai Deepam Festival is expected to be announced shortly.

 

Because of the ongoing Pandemic, Arunachala girivalam on the day of Karthigai (Sunday, November 29, 2020) is  banned. There will be no processions of the Gods around the Mada Vedhis (perimeter streets) on any of the Festival days.

 

Specifically regarding November 29, 2020 MahaDeepam inside the Temple (both in the early morning and evening) will be observed but open ONLY to special invitees, VIPs, Donors and those connected with the Temple. The lighting of MahaDeepam on top of Arunachala will occur but only participants and special invitees will be allowed to the summit of the Holy Hill.

 

Arunachaleswarar Temple has created a You Tube channel which broadcasts live streaming of certain functions inside the Temple Compound. One of these functions is Pradosham pujas performed at Periya Nandi inside the Temple Fifth Prakaram. 

 

Periya Nandi Puja, 5th Prakaram, Arunachaleswarar Temple

  

In previous years, a number of TV channels have broadcasted Karthigai Deepam festivities. This year, Arunachaleswarar Temple will also be live streaming Karthigai Deepam festivities.

Their channel is at this link here.

 

 

Arunachaleswarar Temple Tour: November 2020

 

 

We are currently creating a 1.5 hour video of Arunachala Girivalam. The video starts with this tour of Arunachaleswarar Temple. It is expected that the complete Girivalam video will be posted on Arunachala Grace later in the month.

Arunachala Karthigai 2020 Information

 

Information has been released that girivalam of Arunachala on the day of Karthigai (Sunday, November 29, 2020) will be banned because of the ongoing Pandemic. 

There will be no processions of the Gods around the Mada Vedhis (perimeter streets) on any of the Festival days. The observation of MahaDeepam inside the Temple (both in the early morning and evening) will be observed but will be open only to special invitees, VIPs, Donors and those connected with the Temple. The lighting of the MahaDeepam on top of Arunachala will occur but only participants and special invitees will be allowed to the summit of the Holy Hill.

It is expected that Bharani and Karthigai Deepam will be live streamed from the Temple on Sunday, November 29, 2020. We hope to provide links in order that you may access Live Stream programmes.

Will update on this blog when new information is provided. Currently devotees are allowed inside the Temple Grounds, it is not yet known what regulations will be set in place regarding visiting Arunachaleswarar Temple during the 10 day Festival. At this time there is a stall outside the Raja Gopuram, East Gate, of the Temple which is the Donation Centre for Deepam Ghee.

 

Deepam Ghee Donation Center Raja Gopuram, Big Temple

Annabishegam Big Temple: Friday October 30, 2020

 

On Friday October 30, 2020  Annabishegam took place at the Kalyana Sundareswar Shrine located in the Temple's Fifth Prakaram.

 

Significance of Rice Puja

Aippasi (the sixth month of the Tamil solar calendar) begins with the Sun's entry into Libra (Thula Rasi). When the Moon is in the constellation of Ashwini Nakshatra on the full-moon day, that month is denoted as Aippasi Masam. The duration of the day and night time is equal during this month, hence it is named as Thula masa—thula means balance (weighing scale). 

During the month of Aippasi on Ashwini Star, as declared by Lord Shiva puja is performed with cooked rice and rice food items. Rice cultivation has existed in South India since 1400 BC. Details about rice have been found in the Yajur Veda and is frequently referred to in many Sanskrit texts. Rice is often directly associated with prosperity and fertility and therefore it is customary used during weddings and other religious ceremonies. 

 

 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).” 

As per the Agama Sastra, on paurnami day (full-moon) when it coincides with Ashwini Nakshatra during the month of Aippasi, offering rice annam to Lord Shiva will help yield good crop production, promote economic progress and thus help with the development of the nation. 

Hence Annabishekam (special abishekam with cooked rice) an annual affair during the full moon day of the Tamil Month Aippasi was performed this year on Friday October 30, 2020 at the Kalyana Sundareswarar Shrine at Arunachaleswarar Temple. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Arunachala Girivalam, Chitra Pournami: May 7, 2020

 

I recently found the below video on You Tube. The video, which lasts 28 minutes is of Girivalam performed on the day of Chitra Pournami, May 7, 2020. 

Its interesting to note that in other years, Chitra Pournami is always the second most attended Girivalam of the year—and only comes after the huge number of devotees of Karthigai Deepam in volume. 

Its an informative video that shows alot of the recent roadworks, new construction, and Temple renovations along the girivalam roadway. 

 

 

Arunachala Jigsaw Puzzles and Kolams

Have uploaded a new section onto the website Arunachala Samudra entitled "arts and crafts". The first offering is nine jigsaw puzzles of Arunachala scenes. 

The second offering is a history of Kolams (Rangoli in North India) and a page of 13 instructive animations showing, step by step how to make Kolams. 

Hope you enjoy.

Nine jigsaw puzzles on the Arunachala Samudra Website

13 Kolams. Animated kolam on left, completed pattern on right

Shirdi Sai Baba Bhajans at Tiruvannamalai

As well as the reopening of Arunachaleswarar Temple at Tiruvannamalai, a number of other spiritual venues have also opened their doors to devotees. In this regard Shirdi Sai Baba bhajans at the venue of a mandapam next to Durga Amman Temple, started their Thursday Bhajan sessions on September 3rd. 

The photos below are of their Thursday September 10, Bhajan session. I would expect as people start getting used to moving about again, there will be a larger presence at these Bhajan sessions, which previous to the start of the pandemic in March, used to far exceed the mandapam's capacity. 

Currently there are two Shirdi Sai Baba Temples at Tiruvannamalai, both located on the left side of the girivalam roadway near Surya Lingam and Varuna Lingam.