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| New Temple at junction of girivalam roadway and Kanji Road |
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| Ashram on the right side of the Temple land |
When the photographs of each day of this Festival are uploaded to the Arunachala Samudra website, I will provide a link here on Arunachala Grace.
Vasantha Utsavam is
a ten day Festival observed at Arunachaleswarar Temple, Tiruvannamalai which
celebrates the arrival of the spring season and depicts the blossoming of love.
It also re-enacts the famed legend of the burning into ashes of Kama, the God
of Love and the resurrection of Kama out of the burnt ashes. The festival
generally occurs between the end of March and during part of April. In 2021 the
date of this festival ran from Saturday April 17 to Monday April 26.
The deity of this festival is Lord Somaskanda, a form of Shiva and Parvathi, whose shrine is located in the south-west corner, second prakaram of the Siva Sannidhi Temple. Traditionally during this Festival, the Gods are gorgeously decorated and with great ceremony taken upon Mahapradakshina i.e. round the sacred Mahila Maram (trees) within the Third Prakaram—ten times every night for ten days = 100 times. The significance of the "Makila Maram" comes from the Tamil verb which means to enjoy and denotes joy and exultation. In addition the word makila is often pronounced makuta which means crown and refers to the coronation of Lord Shiva as the sovereign of the universe.
The third day of Vasantha Utsavam is designated as the day of the birth of Manmatha, also known as Kama the God of love. At 9 p.m. on the fifth and eighth days the Temple lights are switched off so that the procession is in the dark. After going around the sacred Mahila Maram ten times the lights are switched back on to great rejoicing.
During this sacred Festival the Jumbo Keswara Lingam, that is set in stone on the raised platform in the midst of the sacred trees is filled to capacity with water. Plants and flowers are placed to float inside the recess of the Lingam, appearing to make the Lingam levitate and blossom.
Kamdev and Rati
interrupt Shiva's meditation
Kama, The God of
Love
When Lord Siva saddened
by the death of his wife Sati decided to renounce the world, the Devas became
afraid for the fate of the universe. The Gods went to Brahma and said,
"Our foes, the Asuras have once again become powerful. It has been
foretold that only the son of Siva can lead us to victory. The Lord has lost
his wife and has become a hermit, forsaking us all. We dare not approach him,
but it is absolutely essential that he wed again, and beget a son who will be
our savior. What should we do?"
Brahma replied that Sati had reincarnated as the daughter of the Himavan king of the mountains and that she had resolved to obtain Siva for a husband and for this purpose had been performing severe penance. To ensure a meeting between the two, the Gods arranged for Parvati to serve Siva while he was performing his austerities.
However Indra became impatient and sent for Kama, the God of love and said, "O Kama, only you can save the Devas. For our welfare, it is required that Siva marry Parvati. She is at present waiting on Siva, but the Lord has not even noticed her presence. Go immediately and make him fall in love with her."
Kama went to the desolate forest where Siva was deep in meditation. He was accompanied by spring, and in an instant the entire forest was transformed into a beautiful garden. The time was ripe and Kama fitted one of his flower-arrows into his bow of sugarcane and let the arrow fly, aiming at the heart of Lord Siva. The arrow struck its target and Siva opened his eyes. He instantly fell in love with Parvati. However, his anger rose when he realized that Kama had interfered. Siva then opened his third-eye, and gazed with blazing anger at Kama, the God of love. Such was the potent power of Siva's gaze that Kama was instantly reduced to ashes.
Seeing her husband's death, Rati fell at the feet of Siva and beseeched him to spare her husband. At last, moved by her desperate pleas, Siva relented and brought Kama back to life but declared that Kama would thereafter be formless.
From that day on, Manmatha has not had a physical form. Neither Gods nor mortals can perceive him. He does his work unobserved, aided by his flower tipped arrows of love.
The death and resurrection of Kama represent the spiritual truth of how after the ego is destroyed, one is reborn as pure eternal Being. The fact that the flames from the third eye of Shiva burn Kama signifies that the third eye of Jnana (knowledge) in one’s heart must be opened in order for the ego (ignorance) to be destroyed for no darkness can prevail when the light of knowledge shines.
Kama the God of Love
Kama the God of Love
is also known as Manmatha, one of the mind-born son of Lord Brahma Dev. Some
accounts say he was the mind-born son of Lord Vishnu. Rati was his consort.
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| Kama directing arrow at Lord Siva |
Kamadeva is represented as a young, handsome winged man with green skin who wields a bow and arrows with a parrot as his vehicle. His bow is made of sugarcane with a string of honeybees, and his arrows are decorated with five kinds of fragrant flowers.
The flowers on his arrows are: Aravinda (White Lotus), Ashoka, Cuta (Mango Flower), Navamalika (Jasmine) and Nilotpala (Blue Lotus). Also known as Unmada, Tapana, Shoshana, Stambhana and Sammohana.
Kamadeva has five arrows which are sometimes associated with five effects that desire has on one afflicted by it. Kamadeva's five arrows are said to be fascination, disturbance, burning, desiccation and destruction.
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| White Lotus |
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| Ashoka Flower |
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| Mango Flower |
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| Jasmine Flower |
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| Blue Lotus |
The Tiruvannamalai district administration announced devotees would not be allowed to go on Chitra Poornima girivalam on April 26 and 27.
According to a press release, every Chitra Poornima (full moon day), more than 10 lakh devotees visit the Tiruvannamalai Arunachaleswarar temple and circumambulate the hill.
The State government introduced new restrictions in regards to the pandemic, which are in force till April 30. This includes night lockdown from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. and full lockdown on Sundays.
An official stated that, "Since girivalam for Chitra Poornima is scheduled between 12.16 p.m. on April 26 to 9.59 a.m. on April 27, devotees will not be allowed to circumambulate the hill."
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Its disappointing devotees will not allowed to perform
circumambulation of Arunachala during the 2021 Chitra Poornima as after Karthigai
Deepam Poornima, Chitra Poornima is traditionally the most popular and best frequented
Arunachala Poornima of the year.
Below is information about the significance and legends attached to this special time.
Chitra Poornima, 2021
Chitra Poornima is dedicated to Chitragupta, the keeper of deeds in the house of Yama, (God of death) and to Indra, the leader of the Devas. This full moon observance of girivalam at Arunachala, is usually the most heavily attended of the year (other than Karthigai Mahadeepam Poornima).
Chitra Poornima is a day sacred to Chitra Gupta, the Keeper of Deeds. Lord Brahma created Chitragupta through the Sun God and is considered to be the younger brother of Lord Yama. Chitragupta (Chitra means picture, Gupta means hidden) represents the hidden picture of life that is vital, yet unknown.
Chitragupta, Keeper of the Register
Chitragupta keeps the good and bad registry of every birth and according to ancestral belief, it is he who tallies a person's positive karma against their negative karma and declares the result to the Judge on High. It is believed to be the right time to gain blessings to wash away sin and gain virtue.
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Legend of Chitra Poornima
Brihaspati was the Guru of Indra, the King of the Gods. When Indra disobeyed Brihaspati, Brihaspati relinquished his role of instructing and guiding Indra. Consequently during the period of the Guru's absence, Indra committed many evil acts. When the compassionate Guru resumed his role, Indra wanted to know what he should do to expiate the wrongs he had done in his Master’s absence. Brihaspati asked Indra to undertake a pilgrimage.
One day during this pilgrimage, Indra had the sudden realisation that he had been redeemed from his sins. He looked around and noticed a Shiva Lingam under a Kadamba tree. Feeling sure that it was Lord Shiva who had helped him alleviate his sins, he worshipped the Lingam. Suddenly golden lotuses appeared in a nearby pond as a manifestation of God’s pleasure and blessing. This legend is ascribed to have occurred on the day of Chitra Poornima, at Madurai, Tamil Nadu.
This special day has come to be known in Tamil Nadu as Chitra Poornima. It is advised that during Chitra Poornima one should remember this story. With intense faith and a contrite heart it is believed that if one admits to one’s sins and resolves never to commit such errors in the future and also pledges to always obey the Guru, then one’s previous sins will be forgiven.
Today, April 14 is the traditional observance of the
Tamil New Year. On this morning the reading of the Panchangam (Tamil New Year
Almanac) in front of the shrine of Sambandha Vinayaka occurs. This reading of
the Almanac by a Senior Priest of Arunachaleswarar Temple is primarily in
relation to the confirmation of Festival Dates at the Temple throughout the
coming year.
Outside the Sambandha Vinayaka Shrine 
2021 Tamil New Year Darshan of Sambandha Vinayaka 
Senior Priest examining the 2021 Tamil Almanac
The
Ner Annamalaiyar Lingam Shrine and Mandapam is located on the Arunachala
girivalam roadway in an exact axial line opposite to Arunachaleswarar Temple on
the other side of the Hill.
The
early morning sun on Tamil New Year i.e. April 14 first falls directly onto the
Lingam in this Shrine. This phenomenon can only be viewed on this day.
Traditionally each year on the day, large crowds gather at this Temple for
this special Surya darshan.
Axial line in Blue 
First light shining on Lingam 
Tamil New Year illumination
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| Aarti at daybreak on Tamil New Year, Arunachala Girivalam Roadway |
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| Devotees taking darshan of Divine Light on Tamil New Year daybreak |
Most
devotees are familiar with the legend of the manifestation of Lord Siva as an
effulgent column of light without beginning or end, as represented in the
Skanda Purana. Below is the legend as represented slightly differently in the
Siva Purana.
The Karuna Society for Animals and Nature has been established in Puttaparthi, Andhra Pradesh, South
India since 2000. The Karuna Society (Karuna = compassion) works for animal
welfare and the environment by providing free medical care and shelter for
sick, injured, abandoned and abused animals. Since 2002 Karuna has rescued more
than 700 cows, buffaloes, donkeys and horses.
Around a decade ago, 35 cows suddenly came into Karuna
Society's care—when one cow died unexpectedly, a post-mortem examination
revealed a huge amount of plastic and other garbage in its stomach. Further
surgeries on the remaining animals found that all had plastic in their abdomens.
Since then Karuna Society has performed rumenotomies on around 60 cows.
An estimated five million cows roam India's cities,
with many gorging on the vast amounts of plastic litter on the streets. There
is no official, nationwide data on how many cows die every year from ingesting
plastic. But in 2017, a Times of India report cited veterinary officials and
animal welfare groups estimate, that around 1,000 cows die annually just in
the city of Lucknow from eating plastic.
A case In Faridabad,
North India highlights the country's twin problems of pollution and stray
cattle. A cow was rescued after a road accident by the People For Animals Trust
Faridabad. A vet soon noticed the pregnant bovine was struggling. In a
four-hour operation, vets found nails, plastic, marbles and other garbage in
its stomach. Vets at that organisation attempted to induce
labour of the pregnant cow but were unable to save her calf—three days later the mother cow also died.
The Karuna Society have produced a documentary entitled The Plastic Cow about animal rights, which looks at the impact of
man's dependence on plastic and how it is used and carelessly discarded each
day. Not only is this plastic an environmental threat, it also ends up in the
stomach of discarded cows; who have to fend for
themselves by foraging for food from community garbage dumps and the streets.
Below is a posting on Swami Narayana I previously made
on Arunachala Grace. At the end I have added an additional narrative on Swami found
online that gives a little more information about this saint of which little is
known or remembered.
Swami Narayana, also known as Hill Swami, lived continuously on the top of Arunachala for over 16 years. On April 19th, 2005; Swami was asked to shift from Arunachala summit in response to new regulations regarding Arunachala. Consequently he descended the Hill and relocated to the grounds of the Vignesh Polytechnic some 5-6 kms from the base of the Hill.
However in response to public opinion Swami was awarded special dispensation by the Authorities to continue with his vigil on the Hill summit and within a week of his enforced departure, Swami was helped by his devotees to ascend the Hill to the same meditation spot on the summit of Arunachala.
However shortly after on July 17, 2005, Swami Narayana became ill and had to be helped down Arunachala Hill by devotees. He was admitted to Rangammal Hospital, Tiruvannamalai. Whilst at the hospital Swami received treatment and physiotherapy for arthritic knee joints, a condition brought about by his intense tapas over the previous sixteen years meditating on the summit of Arunachala Hill. Swami, who was attended by several devotees, and accommodated in a private bungalow on the Hospital grounds, maintained almost total silence during his stay and took no food, choosing to subsist entirely on milk.
Before his departure from Rangammal Hospital on July 29th, 2005, Swami remarked:—
"I have been sitting on Arunachala Hill for all these years allowing people to serve me, now it is time for me to stand up and serve others."
At his departure Swami raised both hands in blessing and uttered the word, "Narayana". These few words were almost his total communication during his twelve day Hospital stay. After his discharge Swami left the Arunachala area and moved near Tuticorin with some close devotees.
Swami subsequently returned sporadically to Tiruvannamalai and after each short visit returned to Kerala. When visiting he stayed at Vignesh Polytechnic Hostel on the Thandrabuthi Road near the Tamari Nagar Housing Colony where twice a day he gave darshan to his Indian devotees.
