Postings on my Arunachala Blogs from Tuesday, November 4, 2014 to Wednesday, December 31, 2014

This year I spent a lot of time on Deepam postings for Arunachala Grace and absolutely neglected my other Blogs: Arunachala Mystic, Arunachala Birds, Arunachala Land and Arunachala Satsang and website Arunachala Samudra. However just because I have neglected postings on my other sites doesn’t mean that I don’t have lots of fascinating narratives to upload . . . so keep checking in to all of the above. 

Regarding the Deepam postings, sometimes there was a delay in preparing photographs for each day’s functions – thus the list below which appears on Arunachala Grace, is not completely in chronological order. In the coming month, the 2014 Arunachala Mahadeepam calendar and pictorial galleries will be uploaded onto my website Arunachala Samudra. In that upload day and night functions of each day of the 2014 Karthigai Mahadeepam will be in the correct order. 

Anyhow to finish off 2014 rightly, below are links and short extracts of postings on my various Arunachala Blogs from Tuesday, November 4, 2014 to Wednesday, December 31, 2014. 

Best wishes to all the readers of my Blogs and Website for a joy-filled, auspicious 2015. 

 

Arunachala Grace 

Annamalai Swami Quotes -- Advaita app: Narrative on life of Annamalai Swami and link to an app connected with this great Saint. 

Pradosham Arunachaleswarar Temple -- December 20, 2014: Photographs of Pradosham at the Big Temple on December 20, 2014.

Arunachala Deepam Cauldron Puja: Puja on the Deepam Cauldron at the end of the 2014 Karthigai Deepam celebrations.

Karthigai Deepam Cauldron back to Temple: Photographs of the Cauldron coming back down Arunachala to the Big Temple.

2014 Deepam at Yogi Ramsuratkumar Ashram: Photographs of a very nice Deepam display created by Yogi Ramsuratkumar Ashram.

Rukku Goes on Vacation: As is becoming customary, at the end of Karthigai Deepam, our precious Rukku who is the Arunachaleswarar Temple elephant, goes on a 48 day rejuvenation camp to the forest.

Photographs -- Arunachala Karthigai Mahadeepam: December 5, 2014 Wonderful set of photographs of the night of 2014 Karthigai Deepam. 

2014 Deepam Festival. Day Nine—Night. Kailasha (Ravana) Vahanam: Kailasha (Ravana) or Ravananugraha-murti ("form showing favour to Ravana") is a benevolent aspect of Lord Siva who is depicted seated on his abode Mount Kailash with the Goddess Parvati while the rakshasa Ravana tries to shake the mountain.

Deepam Festival. Day Nine—Morning: Chandrasekhara on Purusha Muni Vahanam: Chandrasekhara on Purusha Muni Vahanam. Legend of Purusha Kapila Muni. 

Day 4 Theepal - Sri Chandikeswar. Deepam Festival December 9, 2014: Fourth and final day of the Theepal observances at the Ayyankulam Tank and part of the festivities surrounding the Arunachala Karthigai Festival.

On the Streets -- 2014 Arunachala Karthigai Deepam Festival: Photographs of some of the sights at Tiruvannamalai during the 2014 Karthigai Deepam Festival.

Day 3 Theepal - Lord Subramanya: Deepam Festival December 8, 2014. Third night of Thirthotsavam (i.e. Water Festival) Lord Subramanya (with his two wives) was taken out on a float on the Ayyankulam Tank.

Day 2 Theepal - Parashakti: Deepam Festival December 7, 2014. Goddess Parashakti was taken out on a float on the Ayyankulam Tank located in front of the Arunagirinathar Temple.

Lord Arunachaleswarar performs Karthigai Girivalam: Traditionally after Karthigai Mahadeepam Lord Arunachaleswarar performs girivalam (pradakshina) of Arunachala.

Day 1 Theepal - Sri Chandrasekaran: Deepam Festival December 6, 2014 The last of the celebratory observances during Karthigai Festival is Thirthotsavam which literally means “water festival”. 

Photographs, Video 2014 Arunachala Karthigai Mahadeepam: More photographs and video of the 2014 Karthigai Deepam celebrated at Arunachala. 

Cow Festival 2014 Karthigai Deepam Festival Tiruvannamalai: Wonderful pictorial representation of the annual Cow Festival celebrated at Tiruvannamalai during the Karthigai Festival.

Arunachala Karthigai Mahadeepam -- December 5, 2014: Photographs of Mahadeepam at Arunachaleswarar Temple, significance of Ardhanarishvara worshipped at this time. Narrative of function by Swami Abhisktananda 1970.

Bharani Deepam 2014: Photograph of the flame that will light the 2014 Karthigai Deepam on top of Sacred Arunachala

2014 Arunachala Karthigai -- Bharani Deepam: Narrative describing the function and significance of the Bharani Deepam.

Festival of Lights: Photographs of lamps of every description available for sale in the steets around Arunachaleswarar Temple. 

Deepam Puja at Sri Rajarajeshwari Temple: Puja of the Goddess at Sri Rajarajeshwari Temple the day before 2014 Mahadeepam.

2014 Deepam Festival. Day Eight—Night: Arunachaleswarar Horse Vahanam. In Hindu iconography, positive aspects of the vahana (vehicle) are often emblematic of the deity that it carries. Explanation of the horse as vahanam.

2014 Deepam Festival. Day Eight—Afternoon: Pichandavar Lord Shiva in aspect of Pichandavar (beggar) and a story about a legend of this aspect. 

2014 Deepam Festival. Day Eight—Morning: Chandrasekarar on Horse Vahanam God on his horse vahanam visits the Maha Radham which has returned to its permanent spot (near the Temple on Car Street) from its previous day's Temple circumambulation.

Carrying 2014 Karthigai Deepam pot up Arunachala: Photographs of men from the fishing caste carrying Cauldron up Hill and retelling of the legend that gave this caste the honour of charge of the Cauldron.

Puja with Rukku for 2014 Arunachala Karthigai Mahadeepam Cauldron: Puja done early morning on the 2014 Arunachala Deepam cauldron before it is carried up the Hill. 

2014 Deepam Festival. Day Seven—Full Day. Maharadham: Spectacular photographs of the procession of the huge wooden Chariot around the perimeter of Arunachaleswarar Temple.

2014 Deepam Festival. Day Four—Night: Karpavirutcham and Kamadhenu Vahanams: One of the most popular of the processions during the Deepam Festival at Arunachala, is that of the Kamadhenu, the wish fulfilling cow, and the Kalpavriksha (also known as Karpavirutcham), the wish fulfilling tree. Both of which emphasis the wish fulfilling aspect of Arunachala. 

2014 Deepam Festival. Day Six—Night: Silver Chariot: Beautiful photographs (click to enlarge) of the night procession of the Lord on His Silver Chariot.

2014 Deepam Festival. Day Six—Morning. Elephant with 63 Nayanars: A glorious Silver Elephant leads a procession of the great Shiva devotees, the 63 Nayanars.

Live TV coverage and online streaming video 2014 Karthigai Deepam: Links to live TV and online streaming videos of the lighting of the 2014 Deepam.

2014 Deepam Festival. Day Five—Night: Big Silver Rishabam: Big Silver Rishba with beautiful narrative by Swami Abhishekananda, 1970.

2014 Deepam Festival. Day Five—Day Chandrasekhara in Rishabam: Photographs of Chandrasekhara in Rishabam (bull) Vahanam. Click photos to enlarge.

2014 Karthigai Deepam Festival -- Cultural Programmes: Photographs of the cultural programme during the 2014 Karthigai Deepam celebrations.

Crowd Scenes 2014 Karthigai Deepam, Arunachala: Sequence of crowd photographs taken during the early days of the 2014 Karthigai Deepam Festival

2014 Deepam Festival. Day Four—Day: Naga Vahanam Procession of Chandrasekhara and Naga Vahanam

2014 Deepam Festival. Day Three-Night. Shima Vahanam Simha (lion): A creature that represents lordly power in general and lordly power of wild beasts in particular. 

Deepam Festival. Day Three-Day. Bootha Vahanam. Lord Chandrasekhara on the Bootha Vahanam procession.

Deepam Festival. Day Two—Night: Lord Shiva on Indira Vahanam who as God of thunder and rain and a great warrior is a symbol of courage and strength. 

2014 Deepam Festival. Day Two—Morning: Surya Perai Vaghanam Photographs of morning procession of the Lord on Surya Perai Vahanam.

2014 Deepam Festival. Day One—Evening: Adhikara Nandi Vahana Procession of Siva with his vahana of Adhikara Nandi – aspect of Nandi in the form of a bull-head human standing on two legs.

Day One 2014 Deepam Festival -- Panchamoorthy Silver Vimana procession: This procession followed the flag hoisting ceremony marking the beginning of the 2014 Karthigai Deepam.

Flag Hoisting, 2014 Arunachala Karthigai Festival: Flag Hoisting ceremony at Arunachaleswarar Temple took place, marking the first day of the 2014 Deepam Festival at Arunachala.

Vinayagar Ursavam—November 25, 2014: Celebration in evening at Arunachaleswarar Temple of the Vinayagar Ursavam.

Pidari Ursavam, 2014 Karthigai Deepam Festival: Pidari Ursavam was observed at Shrine. This Goddess is an aspect of the ferocious Goddess in a rural setting and regarded as being a consort of Siva through being an aspect of Kali. 

Durgai Ursavam—November 23, 2014: Reason for the unique connection with the Goddess at Durga Amman Temple to the Karthigai Festival

2014 Karthigai Deepam -- Temple Preparations: Last touches of preparation at Arunachaleswarar Temple for the upcoming 2014 Karthigai Deepam Festival. 

2014 Karthigai Temple -- Arunachaleswarar Temple Illumination: Beautiful photograph of the illuminated Temple during Mahadeepam. Click to enlarge.

Take a Virtual Tour of Arunachaleswarar Temple: Links of virtual tours of Arunachaleswarar Temple and some of its shrines. 

Pradosham November 19, 2014: Photographs of the recently observed Pradosham at Arunachaleswarar Temple on Wednesday November 19, 2014.

2014 Major Karthigai Deepam Functions: Major functions with photographs that will be enjoyed over the 2014 Karthigai Deepam Festival.

2014 Deepam Preparations Underway: Photographs of spring cleaning at the Arunachaleswarar Temple. 

2014 Arunachala Deepam Preparations: Photographs and preparation for Deepam with illuminations and new Theepal.

Significance of Rice Puja: During the month of Aippasi on Ashwini Star, as declared by Lord Shiva puja is performed with cooked rice and rice food items. 

Pradosham -- Tuesday November 4, 2014: Photographs were taken on Pradosham as observed at Arunachaleswarar Temple, Tiruvannamalai.

New Arunachala Blog: New Blog starts authored by an Australian lady (Apeetha Arunagiri) who lives in India each year from July to December

Sadhus and Sannyasins at Raghavendra Shrine: Arunachala Feeding of sadhus at Sri Raghavendra Shrine, Girivalam Roadway.

2014 Karthigai Deepam Arunachala Programme: Arunachaleswarar Temple Programme for 2014 Karthigai Deepam.

  

Arunachala Mystic 

Shirdi Sai Baba at Arunachala: Beautiful photographs of the Shirdi Sai Baba shrines at Arunachala. Narrative entitled ‘Complete surrender to Shri Sai Baba of Shirdi.’

Meeting of Ramana Maharsi and Paramahansa Yogananda: Information about the meeting of these two great saints.

2014 Deepam Festival. Day Eight—Afternoon: Pichandavar

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. 

One day Paramadattan sent two mangoes to his house. Punithavathy kept them safely so that she could serve her husband with them at meal-time. In the meantime, a Siva Yogi (in the form of Pichandavar i.e. Lord Shiva as beggar Avatar) appeared before her hungry and completely exhausted. Punithavathy worshipped him and offered bhiksha. As she had nothing to give except the mangoes, she gave one to the guest. At midday Paramadattan returned to his home. His wife served him with one mango, which he so enjoyed that he asked for the other. In a state of turmoil, his wife appealed to the Lord for help. 

When she finished her prayer, mysteriously a mango fell onto the palm of her hand. She gave it her husband. He noted that it was exceptionally sweet and asked her to tell him from where she got it—as he was quite sure it was not the mango he had sent. Punithavathy told him the truth. Paramadattan, however, would not believe this and challenged her to produce another. She prayed again to the Lord and another mango appeared on her palm—which she gave to her husband. But, at once it disappeared from his hand. He was astounded and finally understood his wife’s greatness. He felt that it was a great sin to live with her as her husband. On the pretext of going to a foreign country for trade, he sailed with a ship load of goods. On return, he established himself in a big city in the Pandyan kingdom, married a Vaisya girl and lived happily. He had a daughter by her who he named Punithavathy, after his first wife. 

Punithavathy’s relatives came to know of her husband’s whereabouts and took her there in a palanquin. When Paramadattan heard that Punithavathy was coming to him, he, with his second wife and child, went forward, and fell at Punithavathy’s feet. When the people demanded an explanation, he revealed that he regarded her, not as his wife, but as a Goddess. Punithavathy understood his mental condition, and prayed to the Lord: ‘In that case, Oh Lord, deprive me of my present physical charm and let me have a demoniacal form.’ Her prayer was immediately granted and her charming body was transformed into a skeleton. 

She then went on a pilgrimage to Kailasa. Feeling that it would be a great sin to place her foot on such sacred grounds, she made the last part of the journey on her head. Goddess Parvati was surprised to see Punithavathy’s strange form and her wonderful devotion. Lord Siva told her of Ammaiyar’s greatness. When she went near Him, Lord Siva welcomed her with extreme love and granted her a boon. She fell at His Feet, and prayed: ‘Oh Lord of Mercy, give me sincere, pure, unalloyed, eternal and overflowing devotion unto You. I want no more birth. If, however, I have to take birth here, grant me that I should never forget You. Whenever You dance, I must be at Your feet singing Your praise. This is my only wish.’ Lord Siva granted the boon and asked her to proceed to Tiruvalangadu to witness His dance. She went to that place and spent her life singing the praise of Lord Siva. 

A famous festival is celebrated at Karaikal, Pondicherry State which is known as Mangani (Mango) Festival in which mangoes are thrown onto the street in front of the route Lord Pichandavar (avatar of Shiva) will take in his procession during the Festival 

2014 Deepam Festival. Day Six—Morning: Elephant with 63 Nayanars

In the festivities of the morning of the sixth day, a glorious Silver Elephant, (notice the sugar cane in its mouth) leads a procession of the great Shiva devotees, the 63 Nayanars.

Glorious Silver Elephant

Lord Arunachaleswarar on the Silver Elephant

Procession starting on Car Street around the perimeter streets of Temple

On both sides of the below photograph, one can see individual palanquins of the Nayanars.

The Nayanars are remembered as a group of 63 saints (poets) of the 6th to 8th century who were devoted to Lord Shiva. It was they that influenced the Bhakti movement in Tamil Nadu. The names of the 63 saints were first compiled by Sundarar and the list was expanded by Nambiyandar Nambi during his compilation of material for the famed Tirumurai.

Message of the Nayanars

“There have been many ‘intellectuals’ even in India who have looked down upon the path of Bhakti (devotion) as something inferior to Jnana (wisdom). Their short-sightedness becomes at once apparent when we study the lives of the great Four Teachers (Appar, Sundarar, Manickavachagar and Sambandar) and realise that these great Jnanis, too, were great Bhaktas who loved to visit Temples and sing the glories of the Lord.

Love of the Lord cuts at the very root of our attachment to this world, and snaps all worldly ties, to father, mother, son, wife or relatives. As the stories of the Nayanars illustrate, the devotee is ever ready to renounce all, in favour of devotion to Lord Siva.

Let us also never forget that in the case of all the Nayanars devotion invariably meant expansion of the heart, and, therefore, service and charity. We have to take the individual tales of the Nayanars as allegories exhorting us to rout out the inner obstacles to our Sadhana.

If we approach these saints with faith and devotion in our hearts, we shall grasp the message they have for us. We shall also understand why they gave such a great place to externals like the sacred ash, Rudraksha, etc. These symbols remind one constantly of God: and, when they are said to remove our sins, they remove our sinful tendencies, too, by constantly reminding us of God, and keeping evil out of our mind.” 

[By: Venkatesananda]

* * * * * * * *

Out of these 63 Nayanars, the four Saiva Samaya Acharyas; (left to right) Tirugnansambandar, Tirunanvukkarasar (Appar), Sundarar and Manikkavasagar are remembered best of all.

The Saiva Samaya Acharyas

The principal teachings of the four Saiva Samaya Acharyas is of love and surrender to God; and of service to God and godly men. That love, devotion, and service to God is the only way one can obtain His Grace. God is One and He is Shiva. That man must get over his bonds which keep him in ignorance and obtain inseparable union with Shiva through the Lord's Grace.

2014 Karthigai Deepam Arunachala Programme

Below is the programme for the 2014 Karthigai Deepam which will be celebrated at Arunachaleswarar Temple. Amongst the functions there are major events like Maharadham (December 2) and Mahadeepam (December 5) etc., upon which I will be giving more details as we get closer to Deepam. 

Arulmigu Arunachaleswarar Tirukovil Tiruvannamalai 

Thirukarthigai Deepam Festival 2014 

23 November, 2014 

Sunday Night: Durgai Amman Urchavam 

24 November, 2014 

Monday Night: Pidari Amman Urchavam 

25 November, 2014 

Tuesday Night: Vinayaka Urchavam 

Right click for enlargement

26 November, 2014 

Wednesday Morning (early): Flag Hoisting 

Morning (late): Panchamoorthy Silver Vimana procession 

Night: Athigara Nandi Vahana 

27 November, 2014 

Thursday Morning: Chandrasekhara in Surya Perai Vahanam 

Night: Indira Vehanam 

28 November, 2014  

Friday Morning: Chandrasekhara in Bootha Vahanam 

Night: Shima Vahanam 

29 November, 2014 

Saturday Morning: Chandrasekhara in Naga Vahanam 

Night: Kamadhenu and Virikpaksha 

30 November, 2014 

Sunday Morning: Chandrasekhara in Rishabam 

Night: Big Silver Rishabam 

1 December, 2014 

Monday Morning: Elephant with 63 Nayanars 

Night: Silver chariot 

2 December, 2014 

Tuesday: Maharadham 

3 December, 2014 

Wednesday Morning: Chandrasekhara on Horse 

Evening: Pichandavar 

Late Night: Big Horse 

4 December, 2014 

Thursday Morning: Chandrasekhara on Purusha Meruga Vahanam 

Night: Kailasha (Ravana) Vahanam 

5 December, 2014 

Friday Early Morning: Bharani Deepam 4 a.m. 

Evening: Maha Deepam (6 p.m.) 

6 December, 2014 

Saturday Morning: God Girivalam 

Evening: Theepal Chandrasekhara 

7 December, 2014 

Sunday Night: Parashakti Theepal 

8 December, 2014 

Monday Night: Subrahmanian Theepal 

9 December, 2014 

Tuesday Night: Chandikashwara 

Thirujnana Sambhandar

In my previous posting, I mentioned that on May 27, 2013 there was a procession at Arunachaleswarar Temple connected with the festival of Saiva Acharya Thirujnana Sambandar. Thirujnana is regarded as one of the four great Tamil Saints, the Nalvars, comprised of: Sambandhar, Appar, Sundarar and Manikkavacakar. The below posting is a short biography of the life of the great saint and more interestingly (for us at Tiruvannamalai), his visit to Arunachala as is described in the Arunachala Mahatmyam. 

Thirujnana Sambhandar 

Sambandhar took his birth in a Brahmin family in Sirkali in the district of Tanjore which is also known by the name Brahmapuri. His parents were Sivapada Hridayar and Bhagavathiar. At that time apart from Saivism, Jainism and Buddhism were among the popular faiths in South India and both Sivapada Hridayar and his wife as ardent devotees of Lord Siva, refused to embrace Jainism and give up Saivism, even though at that time the forces of Jainism were very powerful. 

Sivapada Hridayar prayed to the Lord for the boon of a son who would re-establish Saivism. The Lord granted this boon, and soon a male child was born. One day the parents took the child, who was then around three years old, with them to the Temple tank and left him on its bank so they could bathe. In response to the child’s crying the Lord and Goddess Parvati appeared before him. The Goddess fondled the child and suckled him with her Milk of Wisdom. From that moment the child was known as “Aludaiya Pillayar” or one who enjoys the protection of the Lord: and also as “Tirujnana Sambandar” as he attained divine wisdom through the grace of Lord Siva and the Goddess Parvati. 

From the moment he drank the Milk he began to compose and sing songs in praise of Lord Siva; the collection of these songs are called Thevaram. The child, accompanied by his father, went on pilgrimage to various Temples throughout South India, where the boy would compose and sing songs of praise to Lord Shiva. 

Brahmapureeswarar Temple, Sirkali with fresco of Sambandhar’s story

Information about Sambandar comes mainly from the Periya Puranam, the eleventh-century Tamil book on the Nayanars that forms the last volume of the Tirumurai, along with the earlier Tiruttondartokai, poetry by Sundarar and Nambiyandar Nambi’s Tiru Tondar Tiruvandadi. The first volumes of the Tirumurai contain three hundred and eighty-four poems of Sambandar, all that survive out of a reputed more than 10,000 hymns. 

At his investiture with the sacred thread, at the age of seven Thirujnana Sambandhar is said to have expounded the Vedas with great clarity. Sambandar attained liberation in "Visaka Nakshtara" in the Tamil month of "Visakam" at the age of sixteen soon after his marriage ceremony. 

Thirujnana Sambandhar

Sambandhar says in one of his Padigams: “O foolish man, do not allow days to pass. Serve Lord Siva who has a blue neck. Hear His praise. Meditate on His form. Repeat always the Panchakshara. Live in the company of devotees of Siva. Serve them. His name will remove all evils and dangers . . . Worship Lord Siva, He will confer on you eternal bliss and immortality”. 

In an English translation of the Arunachala Mahatmyam, Sri Thirujnana Sambandar’s pilgrimage to Arunachala is recorded thus:- 

**************** 

Visit of Sambandha to Arunachala 

Upamanyu said: When Tirujnanasambandha (one of the four great Tamil saints) was staying at Tiruvarayaninallur (adjoining Tirukkoilur) adoring the Lord there, some of his followers pointed out Arunachala standing majestically at a distance. The child saint spontaneously composed a hymn of ten stanzas beginning with the words: “Unnamulai Umayalodum’, meaning, the Lord who is accompanied by Uma known as Unnamulai. 

Once he was looking for someone who would show him the way to Arunachala when he saw a strange looking old Brahmin gathering flowers. He was moved by the sight of the old man and asked him respectfully, in a voice choked with emotion, “where have you come from? Which is your place? Why have you come here?” The old man replied, “I have come from Arunachala. That is where I live. I have come to gather flowers for the Lord.” At this, Jnanasambandha asked him, “How far is Arunachala from here? Is it a small wood or a big forest? Kindly lead me for I do not know the way.” The old man said, “Yonder is the Hi. It is not very far. I am old but I come here everyday and return with flowers required for the morning worship of the Lord. I shall take you there quickly by a good path”

. . . . 

Sambandha followed him along with his retinue. When they reached the precincts of Arunachala the old man leading them suddenly disappeared. He was none other than Arunachala who was leading his child to His abode. 

In accordance with the Lord’s command, His bhutaganas appeared as hunters and robbed the personal possessions of Jnanasambandha and his followers. They took away the bundles and ran away from the place. 

The Saint thought: Alas! I cannot find the old Brahmin who was leading the way, our only recourse now is to pray to the Lord who grants wealth and joy. When he sang the praise of the Lord, the extremely compassionate Arunachala appeared mounted on Nandi along with His consort. When Sambandha saw the Lord, he with great devotion and overflowing love prostrated and with folded hands sang melodious hymns praising the Lord. The Lord with great affection and in a reverberating voice said: Child! Because of my love for you I wanted you to come to Arunachala which is my eternal abode. Hence I assumed the form of an old Brahmin and came to the garden at Arayaninalloor in the guise of plucking flowers for the Lord’s puja. Upon my orders, bhutaganas took away your possessions. The belongings of your followers shall be returned. A feast shall be set before you and your followers so that your hunger may be appeased. 

Sambandha and his followers got back whatever they had lost and a veritable feast was set before them. The Lord bade the child Saint to come to His temple. In ecstasy, Sambandha approached the Lord’s Temple whose mighty towers were visible from afar. 

In every house the chanting of the Vedas could be heard. Great hospitality was shown to the guests by the residents of the holy city of Arunachala as if the former were the very form of Lord Shiva. In the streets around the temple of Arunachala, the sounds accompanying the celebration of the festival for the deities could be heard. Yagas were being performed. The deities were brought out of the temple on procession accompanied by elephants, horses and chariots. Sambandha saw tapasvis who were deeply absorbed in the bliss of Siva. The city of Arunachala was a flourishing one with scholars well versed in the Vedas and sastras, their bodies radiating the glow of intense tapas, devotees with Arunachala’s name on their lips, wearing rudraksha and their frames smeared with vibhuti, jnanis who cared not for the state of Brahma or Indra and yogis who were immersed in their Heart in perfect bliss. 

After passing the streets on either side of which stood many storied buildings, Sambandha reached the Temple of the Lord. Sambandha entered the Temple which had courts and majestic walls. With profound devotion and love for Arunachala he reached the sanctum sanctorum and surrendered himself. He circumambulated the Lord and the Goddess Apitakuchamba. He adored the Lord and paid his homage by praising Him with a decad beginning with the word ‘Poovar malarkondu’. He resided in the vicinity of Lord Arunachala for a few more days singing decads praising gloriously the Lord and the Hill of Arunachala. Sambandha and his followers left Arunachala after seeking the Lord’s blessings and continued their journey. 

2012 Karthigai Deepam Arunachala

Throughout the Festival, there will be processions in the daytime circumambulating the Arunachaleswarar Temple. In addition throughout the Deepam Festival there are scheduled singing and dancing programmes inside the Temple Compound. 

Tickets can be purchased which allows access to the Temple Compound on the day of Maha Deepam. However, tickets are limited in number, so one should make enquiries as early as possible through the Arunachaleswar Temple office. 

Flag Hoisting at Arunachaleswarar Temple is on November 18th, however the Festival actually starts three days earlier at the Durga Amman Temple (which has its own schedule of events) on November 15th at 7.00 p.m. 

Right click on programme for enlargement: 

Festival Programme

18th November, 2012 
Morning: Dwajaroghanam (Hoisting of festival flag) 
Evening: Panchamoorthies Five Deities Silver Chariot 

19th November, 2012 
Day: Chandrasekhar on Surya Prabhi Vahanam 
Evening: Panchamoorthies Silver Indra Vimana 

20th November, 2012 
Day: Chandrasekhar on Pootha Vimana 
Evening: Panchamoorthies, Simha Vahana (Lion Chariot), Velli Anna Vahana 

21st November, 2012 
Day: Chandrasekhar on Naga Vimana 
Evening: Kamadhenu (wish fulfilling cow) and Kapalavriksha (wish fulfilling tree) 

22nd November, 2012 
Day: Chandrasekhar on Kanadi (mirror) Vimana 
Evening: Panchamoorthies, Velli Mushigam, Velli Mayil, Velli Big Rishaba Vahanas 

23rd November, 2012 
Day: Chandrasekhar on Yani (elephant) Vimana with 63 Nayanars 
Evening: Panchamoorthies in Silver Chariot, Indira Vimana and other Silver Vimanas 

24th November, 2012 
Day: Panchamoorthies Wooden Chariots start Temple circumambulation 
Afternooon: Maha Radham (Big Wooden Chariot) starts circumambulation of Temple Perimeter 

25th November, 2012 
Day: Chandrasekhar on Horse 
Evening: Panchamoorthies start with Horse Vahanams. Pichandavar in Golden Meru 

26th November, 2012 
Day: Chandrasekhar on Purusha Miruga (Rishi in Lion Body) Vimana 
Evening: Kailasa Vahana (10 headed Ravana) 

27th November, 2012 
Morning 3 a.m: Bharani Deepam Temple, Theerthavaari Brahma Theertham 
Evening 6 p.m: Maha Deepam on the top of Arunachala. Panchamoorthies, Golden Rishaba Vahana 

28th, 29th, 30th, November, 2012 
Evening 6 p.m: 
On Consecutive days the Gods on Floats, Ayyankulam Tank