31 December 2017
26 December 2017
2019 Full Moon Dates and Timings: Arunachala Pradakshina—Significance of Girivalam
Sacred Power—Girivalam
The Significance of Girivalam (Circumambulation)
[The below narrative is taken from my website dedicated to Arunachala and available at this link].
One of the thousand and eight names given to Arunachala by Adi Shankara is giripradakshinapriya – the Lord who loves giripradakshina.
'Be they of lowly birth, without the advantage of learning, unable to practise the virtue of liberality, it is of no account. Those who perform pradakshina of holy Aruna, the Supreme, submit to his rule and become his devotee, will excel even amongst the most excellent . . .'
[Arunagiri Antadi]
Arunachala photo taken from back of Samudram Eri during rainy season |
At most holy places located on hills, the Deity is found at the summit of the Hill. But here at Tiruvannamalai, the Hill itself is the Deity (Lord Annamalaiyar) and one of the ways in which it is propiated and worshipped is by its circumambulation.
In Sanskrit this going around the Hill is called 'giripradakshina' (giri=mountain and pradakshina: Prada=giver of boons; Kshi=destroyer of Karma; Na=giver of Jnana. Also, Pra-Dakshina=going around with centre kept to the right).
In Sanskrit this going around the Hill is called 'giripradakshina' (giri=mountain and pradakshina: Prada=giver of boons; Kshi=destroyer of Karma; Na=giver of Jnana. Also, Pra-Dakshina=going around with centre kept to the right).
'Pradakshina (the Hindu rite of going round the object of worship) is "All is within me." The true significance of the act of going round Arunachala is said to be as effective as a circuit round the world. That means that the whole world is condensed into this Hill. The circuit round the temple of Arunachala is equally good; and self-circuit (i.e. turning round and round) is as good as the last. So all are contained in the Self.
Says the Ribhu Gita: "I remain fixed, whereas innumerable universes becoming concepts within my mind, rotate within me. This meditation is the highest circuit (pradakshina).'
Says the Ribhu Gita: "I remain fixed, whereas innumerable universes becoming concepts within my mind, rotate within me. This meditation is the highest circuit (pradakshina).'
[Ramana Maharshi: Talks with Sri Ramana Maharshi]
In the Tamil language, this process of going around, is called 'giri valam' (giri=mountain and valam=right side), inferring that one should keep the Hill to the right when circumambulating.
The Arunachala Puranam declares that:
'the holy Arunachala is the primal, Adi linga. The path around its base is the sacred Yoni. Pradakshina of the Hill is therefore pradakshina of the source of all lingas! So one goes round keeping to the left-edge of the path. A mere step taken, confers the benefit of a Yaga, sacrifice; two steps, the fruit of Rajasuya Yaga; and three that of Asvamedha Yaga. Going round the hill one gains in health and vigour. The hill abounds in rare herbs sought by traditional herbalists and the breeze carries the salubrious wafts from these siddha herbs to the one doing the holy round. The dust from the feet of such a person, carried and deposited in towns far away effects immeasurable purification.'
The Asta (8) Lingams plus the additional Surya and Chandra Lingams i.e. Dasa Lingams (10) are underlined in the above map of the 14 km outer Girivalam Arunachala pathway |
The circumambulation path is 14 kilometres (8½ miles). Tradition has it that even today a number of siddhars are living on the hill.
There are eight lingams located at the eight directions, which provides an octagonal structure to the town of Tiruvannamalai. The eight lingams are: Indra Lingam, Agni Lingam, Yama Lingam, Niruthi Lingam, Varuna Lingam, Vayu Lingam, Kubera Lingam and Esanya Lingam. To find out more about the esoteric signifiance of the Asta Lingams around the octagonal perimeter of Arunachala which reflects the geometry of a Cosmogram, go to this link here.
To learn more about the Dasa Lingams and their relevance to the geometry to both Arunachala and also Arunachaleswarar Temple Siva Sannidhi Shrine go to links on Surya Lingam and Chandra Lingam.
There are two pathways around the Hill, the outer pathway which is the most commonly travelled and which contains Temples, the Asta Lingams, Tirthams and Shrines. And the inner pathway which winds its way through the countryside at the feet of Arunachala.
According to scriptures, the walk around the Hill should be conducted at a slow pace either in silence, reciting mantras or chanting sacred songs. As to the ritual of the spiritual round; one should abjure all thought of the opposite sex on the day of pradakshina. After bathing one wears clean white clothes, applies vibhutti and proceeds, giving alms but without accepting any. Free from fear, anger, irritation or sorrow one walks on bare feet, without using vehicles or carrying an umbrella. Without swinging one's arms about, and with a silent soft tread, one saunters like a queen in her 'tenth-month'. One bows, first to the holy Hill from each of the eight cardinal directions, and then to the Lord of that direction enshrined in the linga there. One bows mentally to the incorporeal gods and siddhas going the rounds and keeps to the side. One could keep silence of speech and mind; or one could allow thoughts to flow on to the Hill of Fire; or one could sing and listen to songs of devotional praise.
In the company of those of lofty character, one is able to halt here and there and enjoy a feast of fruit and milk. Otherwise, simple food free of flesh can be taken.
Certain days are regarded as particularly auspicious for circumambulation:-
The fruit of a Sunday pradakshina is Siva's abode (enter the solar region and attain Liberation);
that of Monday is merger in Siva-form (live happily in a world free from senility and death);
that of Tuesday is termination of debt and cyclic death (freed from all doubts and becomes Emperor);
that of Wednesday is divinity through skill in philosophy and art (attain Wisdom and Omniscience);
that of Thursday is lordship over gods and god-men (venerated by all Devas and may even become a renowned Guru);
that of Friday is lordship of the Lotus Lady (may hope to reach Vishnu's abode).
A Saturday pradakshina confers the astronomical benefits of a nine-planet conjunction in the Eleventh House (worldly success and protection against planetary influences).
The above effects are magnified if circumambulation is done on Sivaratri, New-year day, or during the three months, mid-October to mid-January. The fruits are believed to increase by a factor of one crore if done on the two solstices; or on the day the moon is in the Magha asterism during February-March; or during the pre-dawn hour; or during solar eclipse or Vidhipaada Yoga.
It is also regarded as particularly auspicious to perform "Girivalam" during every Full moon day (poornima) to coincide with siddhars' movements, and the heady perfumes of herbal plants surrounding the Hill.
Once a sadhu who went regularly around the Hill, requested Sri Ramana for a Vedantic text. A devotee casually remarked, "He only goes round the Hill. What will he do with any Vedantic text?" To which Sri Ramana retorted, "What better sadhana can there be than going round the Hill?"
Hindu mythology also explains the significance of circumambulation, in a narrative relating that the Goddess Parvati on the advice of Sage Gautama circumambulated the Hill everyday in order to have her desires fulfilled.
Another legend says that Sage Durvasa, who cursed two vidyadharas stated that:-
"The curse cannot be lifted by any act except that of circumambulating the Arunachala Hill."
He then proceeded to relate what Siva Himself had declared in an assembly of devas and others:
"He who circumambulates with devotion the Arunachala Hill which is my form, attains a form like mine. He becomes the Lord of the entire world and reaches the highest state".
The two vidyadharas then advised King Vajrangada who was suffering,
"The Lord of Aruna Hill is a repository of compassion and His glory is great. Circumambulate the Aruna Hill on foot as a means of release from suffering".
24 December 2017
6 December 2017
2017 Arunachala Karthigai Festival: Mahadeepam Day on Arunachala
This year certain restrictions were put in force regarding people
climbing the Hill on the day of Mahadeepam (i.e. December 2, 2017).
Specifically only 2,500 devotees were given ticketed access to climb the Hill
in order to make their offerings of ghee directly into the Deepam Cauldron.
Tickets were issued from 6 a.m. that morning and devotees were allowed access
to climb Arunachala from 10 a.m. via the pathway opposite Arunchaleswarar
Temple Pey Gopuram. Ticketed devotees had to return down the Hill and be back
at the ingress point by 6 p.m.
To find out more about the reasons why such unique restrictions
regarding climbing the Hill on Mahadeepam Day were implemented this year, go to
this earlier link here.
Every year during Deepam five earthen-pot lighted lamps, representing
the five elements, provide the flame for the single Bharani Deepam which
fisherman carry to the top of the mountain for use as the source-light for the Karthigai
Deepam. It is also they who are entrusted with carrying the Deepam Cauldron up
to the top of the Hill prior to the day of Mahadeepam.
Carrying the 2017 Cauldron up Arunachala prior to the day of Mahadeepam |
The Deepam cauldron is hauled up the slopes of Arunachala supported by
poles inserted into the cauldron’s rings. The unique privilege for taking the
flame (source-light) and cauldron up the Hill and also for the actual lighting
of the Deepam Flame is always given (for as long as the Hill’s recorded history)
to men of the fishing caste.
Members of the Parvatha Raja light the cauldron on the summit of
Arunachala. According to local belief, the Parvatha Raja clan are descendants
of a king who had been blessed by Lord Shiva to light the cauldron in order to
ward off a curse. The clan has three sub-divisions: Unnamulai Priyan, Pennattu
Priyan and Vathathi Priyan. The menfolk from the three sub-classes take turns
every year to light the cauldron.
The clansmen are honoured with ‘Parivattam' on the morning of Karthigai
Deepam Day at the temple.They use `Ezhalal' (a long bamboo stick with the wick
at one end) to light the cauldron. The lamp is lit at 6pm when the idol of
Arthanareswarar is taken on a procession around the sanctum of the Arunachaleswarar
temple. Around 600kg of ghee, 100 metre of cloth and over 4 kg of camphor will
be used each day for the 13 days of 2017 Deepam.
The reason for the extraordinary grace shown to the fishing clan is
explained by a famous legend of the time the Goddess Parvati was adopted by the
king of the fishermen. A version of the story appears below.
Becoming a Fisherman
"Once, the Lord was explaining to the Goddess the secret import of
the Vedas. However, the Goddess who was listening to the Lord, seemed to be
beset with some anxiety and was otherwise engrossed. It was, therefore,
apparent that She was listening in name only. The Lord noticed this and said
that as She was not paying full attention to the important things discoursed by
Him that in retribution She should be born in the fisherman’s community.
The Goddess lamented and the Lord assured Her that She would be born to
the king of fishermen and that He (The Lord) would in due course come to wed
her.
Ganapathi and Subrahmanya, the sons of the Lord were greatly perturbed
by this and in their frenzy, considering the books of the Vedas to be the cause
of the trouble, threw the offending books into the sea. The Lord took
Nandikeswara to task for having allowed Vinayaka and Subrahmanya to go to Him
without knowing His convenience and cursed him to become a shark in the sea.
Any curse on Ganapathi would recoil on Him (the Lord) and hence the Lord did
not impose any curse on the elephant God, however, Subrahmanya was cursed to
become the dumb son of a merchant.
There was a place called Pakam on the eastern seashore of the Pandya
Kingdom which was inhabited by fishermen and their king of the great fisherman
clan of Paravar, was a great devotee of Lord Siva. The king had no children and
one day, when he went to the sea for fishing, found a crying female child lying
under a Pinnai tree (or Punnai, Calophyllam Inophyllam) on the seashore. He
picked the child up with great joy and handed it to his wife saying that it was
a gift of the Lord. His wife brought up the child very affectionately and
adorned it with various jewels. The child grew to be a girl who constantly
meditated on Lord Siva.
As ordained by the Lord’s curse, Nandikeswara became a shark and caused
havoc to the fishermen’s boats sailing in the sea. The king of the fishermen
took considerable pains to catch the shark—but all was in vain. The king
therefore announced that he would give his daughter in marriage to any person
who would catch the shark.
The Lord appeared in the guise of a young fisherman and the king was
struck with the personality and bearing of the young newcomer. To the king’s
enquiry the young man replied that he was a fishermen and could net any big
fish or shark. The king told him of the prize offered for netting the shark
infesting the area. The newcomer went to the sea and in no time netted the
shark.
The king and his men were astonished at the feat. And happily gave to
the newcomer his daughter in marriage and celebrated the wedding immediately.
The bride and bridegroom immediately appeared as Siva and Parvati on their
Vrishabha mount and the shark also appeared as Nandikeswara.
The king of the fishermen extolled the God for the great kindness shown
to an ordinary and illiterate man. The Lord told him that as he had been
yearning for a child, He sent Parvati to be his daughter and He came himself
came to wed Her. The Lord also blessed the king to have all prosperity and at
the end of his life to become a denizen of Sivaloka. Then the Lord instructed
Parvati about the secret import of the Vedas and She eagerly and earnestly
listened to the discourse."
Ticketed devotees climbing Hill |
Many are carrying ghee offerings to put directly into the Cauldron |
More ambitious devotees bypassing the single-file ascending the Hill |
Ropes in particularly difficult areas to climb were added for this year's Deepam |
Almost symbolically the soldier has his hand over the muzzle while next to the Bonnet Macque |
Devotees at the top of the Hill with their ghee offerings |
Medical assistance was available on the Hill |
Arunachaleswarar Temple from Arunachala as dusk slowly emerges |
Lighting the 2017 Arunachala Karthigai Cauldron |
Some devotees were allowed to remain on the Hill summit during the lighting |
Arunachala Karthigai Deepam will remain alight for 11 days
this year. The last day being Wednesday, December 12, 2017.
3 December 2017
2 December 2017
2017 Arunachala Karthigai Festival. Day Ten—Early Morning: Bharani Deepam
As these five flames loom up with
red-yellow light, the famous South Indian festival of Karthigai Deepam
officially begins. A single flame is then taken from the pots and kept burning
in the Temple throughout the day as a symbol of the merging of manifestation
back into God, the one source of all. This single flame is referred to as the
Bharani Deepam.
Significance:
"There is immense significance in this ceremony called Bharani
Deepam. At this time, the Universal Lord manifests as the five elements, which
will later fully merge to become one when the Krittika Deepam flame is lit in
the evening. From one to many and many to one. This is the whole essence of
Saivism and the meaning of Krittika Deepam."
1 December 2017
2017 Arunachala Karthigai Festival: Online Streaming and Live TV Coverage—December 2, 2017
Karthigai
Deepam will be lit on the top of the holy mountain Arunachala at Tiruvannamalai
around 6 pm on December 2, 2017 and be visible from a radius of about 35km.
Live online streaming of the 2017 Arunachala Karthigai Deepam can be viewed on the links listed below:-
DD
Podhigai: www.ddpodhigai.org.in/live.html
Thanthi
TV: www.thanthitv.com
Jaya
TV News: www.jayanewslive.com
Sun
News: www.sunnewslive.in
News7
Tamil: www.ns7.tv
Polimer
News: www.polimernews.com
Live coverage of the 2017 Arunachala Karthigai Deepam can also be viewed on the below Tamil TV stations:-
Jaya TV
DD Podhigai
Thanthi TV
Sun News
Vasanth TV
Polimer News
News7 Tamil
Sri Sankara TV
Kalaignar Seithigal
Captain News
Makkal TV
Mega TV
Raj News
Lotus News
Zee
Tamil
2017 Arunachala Karthigai Festival: Day 9. Day—Lord Chandrasekhara on Purusha Meruga Vahana
On the morning of the 9th day of
the 10-day Karthigai Deepam Festival Lord Chandrasekhara is mounted on the
Purusha Meruga Vahana.
This vahana known in Tamil as
“Purushamirugam” (man-beast) has the body of a lion and the head of a human
being. The sphinx-like creature supposedly has the power to avert evil
influences and bad luck. It is also believed to be able to take away the sins of
devotees when they enter a Temple and for this reason is often found in a
strategic position at Temple gateways and near entrances to the inner shrine.
The form of the “purushamirugam”
adorns lamps used in puja ceremonies (deeparadhana) and plays an important role
in daily and yearly rituals in Shiva temples.
2017 Arunachala Karthigai Festival: Day 9. Early Morning—Cauldron Puja
Early this day—Friday 1st December 2017, Puja was performed on the
Deepam Cauldron in the 4th Prakaram of Arunachaleswarar Temple. Rukku was in attendance.
After the Cauldron was blessed, it was lashed up to poles and then carried out
of the Temple by (as tradition dictates), men of the fishing caste.
Ghee and consecrated cloth for wicks have already been taken to the Hill Summit and will continue to taken up
regularly to the top of the Hill (throughout the days the Deepam is alight) to replenish the Cauldron.
Repair and painting completed on the Cauldron |
Early this morning 9th Day of Deepam (December 1, 2017) puja was performed of the Cauldron with our Rukku and a Cow from the Goshala in attendance |
Rukku at morning Puja |
Some of the consecrated cloth to be used as wicks in the Cauldrons (on the Hill and in the Temple) |
2017 Arunachala Karthigai Festival: Day 8. Night—Lord Somaskanda on Big Horse
In Hindu iconography, positive
aspects of the vahana (vehicle) are emblematic of the Deity that it carries. In
this procession as well as the Lord having the horse as his vahana, each of the
panchamoorthies also carry a whip in their hand.
The main characteristic of the
horse is its loyalty, industriousness and swiftness. It is symbolic of energy
and effort and also symbolises the air or prana which runs through the channels
of the body and is the vehicle of the mind. That means, with God as driver,
there is the possibility of controlling the mind and guide it in any direction and at any speed. The neigh of a horse is also symbolic of
the power to awaken the tamasic mind for the practice of sadhana and
righteousness.
Throughout the Deepam Festival preparations for decorating Temple Shrines, Deities and Vahanas continue |
Banana Trees for decorating a Shrine |
Alangaram Aarti on Day 8. Night of the Panchamoorthies |
The Panchamoothies being carried on palaquins around the Siva Shrine (3rd Prakaram) |
Lord Somaskanda at the Yagasala Shrine (3rd Prakaram) for adornment of Pottu |
The Panchamoorthies giving darshan at the Alankaram Mandapam in front of the Temple and adjacent to Car Street |
Lord Somaskanda on Big Horse |
30 November 2017
2017 Arunachala Karthigai Festival: Day 8. Day—Lord Chandrasekhara on Horse
The morning of the 8th day of the
10 Day Karthigai Deepam Festival belongs to Lord Chandrasekhara on horse vahana
accompanied by Vinayaka on rat vahana.
After giving darshan in front of
the Alankaram Mandapam Lord Chandrasekhara visits the Maharadham (His wooden
chariot vahana of the previous day). During His visit puja is performed in the
front of the Maharadham by Brahmin Priests. After completion, paste is taken
from the puja residue, and a priest thereupon climbs onto the horse vahana
platform and applies it to the forehead of Lord Chandrasekhara. After which a
transfer of Darba Grass is made from the Maharadham to Lord Chandrasekhara on
horse vahana.
Significance of this ritual is
that power accumulated in the vast Maharadham the previous day is transferred
back to its originator—Lord Chandrasekhara.
2017 Arunachala Karthigai Festival: RESTRICTIONS climbing Arunachala on Deepam 2 December, 2017
This is
unedited, unformatted feed from the Press Trust of India wire
The Madras High Court today directed authorities to permit only 2,500 devotees atop the Annamalai Hill in Thiruvannamalai during the December 2 Karthigai Deepam festival.
Justice K
Ravichandrabaabu said passes for the devotees will be distributed at special
counters on first come first serve basis from 6am on Saturday. The judge passed
a direction to this effect on a petition filed by devotees assailing the
district collector's decision not to permit any devotee to climb atop the holy
hill this year.
Justice
Ravichandrabaabu commended advocate-general Vijay Narayan for coming out with a
suggestion to allow 2,000 devotees and then revising the number to 2,500.
It, however, laid
down conditions for pass holders undertaking the uphill trek during the
festival.
One of the
conditions was that they should not light the deepam in any place atop the
hill, except pouring the ghee at the designated Kopparai where the Karthigai
deepam is lit.
The devotees
should not carry camphor, crackers and other inflammable materials.
The 2,500
passes will not include VIP passes, the judge said, adding that the district
administration should open special counters to distribute them to devotees who
must come in queue.
The judge
directed the district administration to deploy adequate number of police
personnel atop the hill to see that no untoward incident took place during the
festival.
Suitable
arrangements must be made without giving room for any complaint from any
quarters, the judge added.
The devotees
took exception to the collector's order that no devotee would be allowed to
climb the hill during the Deepam festival, because previous festivals had seen
loss of lives, accumulation of garbage and spoiling of flora and fauna, thereby
causing pollution and threat to ecology.
In the
petition, the devotees said the centuries-old practice of climbing the holy
hill to light the Deepam should not be curtailed all of a sudden, that to
without getting the views and opinions of devotees and general public.
Justice
Ravichandrabaabu pointed out that sentiments of devotees and threat to
environment were at loggerheads and the court needed to decide the issue with
great care and caution.
The judge
praised the advocate-general for having come up with a solution.
"The
fair, impartial and balanced role played by the advocate-general is deeply
appreciated and recorded," the judge added.
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