2021 Karthigai Deepam Arunachaleswarar Temple—Theppal Thirthotsavam

 

Day 1:  Sri Chandrasekhara Theppal

Day 2:  Parashakti Theppal

Day 3:  Lord Subramanya Theppal

 

Brahmostavam is intended to teach us the way to divine self-realisation. One of the last celebratory observances during Karthigai Festival is known as Thirthotsavam which means 'water festival'. Three days are allocated at the end of Karthigai to celebrate this 'water festival'. The 'water festival' is representative of a sadhaka’s plunge into the higher realms of consciousness—and typifies an entering into samadhi—the goal of religious aspiration.

 

Ordinarily the 'water festival' is celebrated at Ayyankulam Tank (in front of Arunagirinathar Temple—the third oldest Shiva Temple at Arunachala). This year, due to the restrictions imposed because of health reasons, the 3-day 'water festival' was not conducted at the Ayyankulam Tank but at the Brahma Tirtham located inside Arunachaleswarar Compound.

 

The Theppals for the Gods are floating structures made up of drums and timber and decorated with flowers, religious paintings and silken buntings. Lights are installed around the perimeter of the tank and focus lights placed at strategic points. When the murtis of the Gods come to the Tirtham, they are placed lovingly on the float which then pushes off and completes an allocated number of turns upon the Temple Tank.

 

Devotees sit on the steps of the tank to take darshan of the God on the Theppal. Thereafter the deity of the day's Theppal is taken in procession around Arunachaleswarar Temple.

 

 Constructing the Theppal

 

 

2020 Karthigai Deepam Arunachaleswarar Temple: Theppal Thirthotsavam

 

Day 1:  Sri Chandrasekhara Theppal

Day 2:  Parashakti Theppal

Day 3:  Lord Subramanya Theppal

 

Brahmostavam is intended to teach us the way to divine self-realisation. One of the last of the celebratory observances during Karthigai Festival is Thirthotsavam which literally means "water festival". Three days are allocated at the end of Karthigai to celebrate this "water festival".

Ordinarily the "water festival" is celebrated at Ayyankulam Tank (in front of Arunagirinathar Temple—the third oldest Shiva Temple at Arunachala). The "water festival" is representative of a sadhaka’s plunge into the higher realms of consciousness—and typifies an entering into samadhi—the goal of religious aspiration.

This year, due to the restrictions imposed because of the current pandemic, the 3-day "water festival" was not conducted at the Ayyankulam Tank but at the Brahma Tirtham located inside the Arunachaleswarar Compound.

The Theppals for the Gods are floating structures made up of drums and timber and decorated with lights, flowers, religious paintings and silken buntings. Lights are installed around the perimeter of the tank and focus lights placed at strategic points. When the murtis of the Gods come to the Tirtham, they are placed lovingly on the float which then pushes off and completes an allocated number of turns upon the Temple Tank.

Devotees sit on the steps of the tank to take darshan of the God on the Theppal. Thereafter the deity of that day is taken in procession of Arunachaleswarar Temple.

 

Below are photographs of the Lord Murugan Theepal, celebrated on the third day of the "water festival".

 

 

 

 

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.

 

 

 

 

10th Day of 2018 Vasantha Utsavam Festival at Arunachala: Teerthavari

10th Day of Vasantha Utsavam Festival at Arunachala

The below is a pictorial report of the tenth day of the recently concluded 2018 Vasantha Utsavam Festival at Tiruvannamalai.

Day 10: Sunday 29 April, 2018  

Morning: Ayyankulam Tank. Theertavari 

Night: Special puja at Gopala Vinayaka Temple (near Thrishul Hotel) 

Night: Temple Manmatha firing after 11 p.m. 

On the the tenth and final day of this Festival, Lord Somaskanda and the Goddess go outside the temple on procession in palanquins. The procession completes at the Ayyankulam Tank in front of Arunagirinathar Temple (the third most famous Siva Temple at Arunachala). It is here where Teerthavari will be observed. 

After the ceremony and attendant rituals are complete, the Gods return to Arunachaleswarar Temple. 

The Gods in Mandapam at Ayyankulam Tank

Lord Somaskanda

Post-2016 Karthigai Deepam Festival: Day 3 Theepal—Lord Subramanian

During the evening of Thursday, December 15, Lord Subrahmanian gave His devotees darshan on Day 3 of Theepals on the Ayyankulam Tank in front of the Sri Arunagirinathar Temple. 

Lord Subramanian (with wives) alangaram

Lord Subramanian being carried to Ayyankulam Tank on palanquin

The Lord being carried onto Theepal

Lord Subramanian on Theepal

Lord Subramanian gives darshan on theepal, Ayyankulam Tank in front of Arunagirinathar Temple

Post-2016 Karthigai Deepam Festival: Day 2 Theepal—Sri Amman

During the evening of Wednesday, December 14, Sri Amman gave Her devotees darshan on Day 2 of Theepals on the Ayyankulam Tank in front of the Sri Arunagirinathar Temple. 

Sri Amman

Sri Amman Theepal on Ayyankulam Tank. Wednesday December 14, 2016

Post-2016 Karthigai Deepam Festival: Day 1 Theepal—Sri Chandrasekhara

Brahmotsavam is intended to teach us the way to divine self-realisation. The last of the celebratory observances during Karthigai Festival is Thirthotsavam which literally means “water festival”. Four days are allocated at the end of Deepam to celebrate the water festival at Ayyankulam Tank in front of Arunagirinathar Temple (the third oldest Shiva Temple at Arunachala). The water festival is representative of the sadhaka’s plunge into the higher realms of consciousness – and typifies an entering into samadhi... an end of religious aspiration. 

The Theepal for the Gods are floating structure made up of drums and timber and decorated with lights, flowers, religious paintings and silken buntings. Lights are installed around the perimeter of the tank and focus lights placed at strategic points. When the murtis of the Gods come to Ayyakulam Tank they are placed lovingly on a float and then the float pushes off and completes an allocated number of turns upon the Temple Tank. Devotees sit on the steps of the tank to take darshan of the God on the Theepal. Thereafter the deity of that day is taken in procession around the four Mada Streets (perimeter streets) surrounding Arunachaleswarar Temple. 

During the evening of Tuesday, December 13, Sri Chandrasekhara gave His devotees darshan on Day 1 of Theepals on the Ayyankulam Tank in front of the Sri Arunagirinathar Temple. 

Lord Chandrasekhara

The Lord gives darshan on Theepal, Ayyankulam Tank

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.

2015 Deepam Festival. Day Fourteen--Night: Chandikeswarar on Theepal

Last night was Day 14 of the 2015 Karthigai Deepam Festival. And it was the turn of Chandikeswarar on Theppal at the Ayyankulam Tank. 

The Mahadeepam on Arunachala was lit on November 25, and is expected to remain so for at least the next 10 days . . . so we still have wonderful darshan of the Hill with Beacon everynight -- even though the Festival Functions are now over. 

Chandikeswarar Theepal Alangaram

The steps at the left of the wall, are those upon which devotees sit to watch the Theepals on the Tank

Across from the tank, is Arunagirinathar Temple which is less known than other major Temples, but very special

2015 Deepam Festival. Day Eleven--Night: Lord Chandrasekhara on Theepal

The last of the celebratory observances during Karthigai Festival is Thirthotsavam which literally means “water festival”. Four days are allocated at the end of Deepam to celebrate the water festival at Ayyankulam Tank in front of Arunagirinathar Temple (the third oldest Shiva Temple at Arunachala). The water festival is representative of the sadhaka’s plunge into the higher realms of consciousness – and typifies an entering into samadhi... an end of religious aspiration. 

Lord Chandrasekhara Alangaram

The Theepal for the Gods are floating structure made up of drums and timber and decorated with lights, flowers, religious paintings and silken buntings. Lights are installed around the perimeter of the tank and focus lights placed at strategic points. When the murtis of the Gods come to Ayyakulam Tank they are placed lovingly on a float and then the float pushes off and completes an allocated number of turns upon the Temple Tank. Devotees sit on the steps of the tank to take darshan of the God on the Theepal. Thereafter the deity of that day is taken in procession around the four Mada Streets (perimeter streets) surrounding Arunachaleswarar Temple. 

Preparing the gods on their Float

Ready to push over from the bank of the Theertham

Crowds sitting on the steps of the Tank

Many devotees who attend the Theepal ceremonies at Ayyankulam Tank, take the opportunity to visit the adjacent Arunagirinathar Temple, which is the third oldest and most significant Shiva Temple at Tiruvannamalai -- and for many visitors a great favourite. 

2015 Chittarai Vasantha Ursavam

Currently underway at Arunachaleswarar Temple is Vasantha Utsavam; a ten day festival depicting the blossoming of love between Lord Shiva and the Goddess. The Festival this year started on April 23, 2015 and will complete with special functions on Saturday May 2, 2015. 

Chittarai Vishakam Festival 

Day 1: Thursday 23rd April, 2015 

Day 10: Saturday 2nd May, 2015 

To those hoping to attend the last day of the Festival at Arunachaleswarar Temple, the schedule for Day 10 will be: 

Morning: Bath of the Gods at Ayyankulam Tank (Outside Arunagirinathar Temple) 

Evening: Special Puja and Abhishekam at Gopal Vinayaka Temple (near State Bank of India) 

Night: Around 10.00 p.m. at Flagpost, Siva Sannidhi, Arunachaleswarar Temple. Manmathan Dhaganam Function with crackers and fireworks 

To read the legend about this festival and functions celebrated at this time go to these links here, here, here and here. 

Chittarai Poornima crowd in an earlier year

Chittarai Poornima girivalam (May 3rd, 2015) after the Festival will be the most heavily attended poornima girivalam (after Karthigai Deepam) of the year’s calendar at Arunachala. It will be VERY CRUSHED. 

Chittarai 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. Lord Brahma created Chitragupta through the Sun God and He is considered as the younger brother of Lord Yama. Chitragupta (Chitra=picture, Gupta=hidden) represents the hidden picture of life that is vital, yet unknown. 

Chitragupta keeps a register of every birth (good or bad) and according to ancestral belief, it is he who tallies one’s positive karma against one’s 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 accrue virtue. 

Photographs of 2015 Mahashivaratri at Arunachaleswarar Temple

The below photographs are of the recent 2015 Mahashivaratri function celebrated at Arunachaleswarar Temple at Tiruvannamalai. To learn more about the legends and significance of Mahashivaratri as is observed at this place go to this link here.

The first photograph is of devotees performing worship by lighting camphor outside the main Raja Gopuram East Gate of the Temple. 

Main Temple Gate on Night of 2015 Mahashivaratri

Devotees going through the Temple Vallala Maharaja Gopuram

Generally both Theerthams inside the Temple Compound are closed to devotees, but on the evening of Mahashivaratri around 6 p.m. the gates of the Brahma Theertham traditionally open to allow devotees entry to light and place their individual Deepamas at the side of the tank. 

Lights around Brahma Lingam Tank, Arunachaleswarar Temple

Throughout the Temple Compound various groups of devotees engage in their own devotions throughout the evening of Mahashivaratri -- one of the Festivals celebrated at Arunachaleswarar Temple during which the Temple gates stay open all night. 

At the auditorium some devotees are watching cultural programmes. In the Moolasthanam others are attending the Kala Pujas and later on the Lingodhavamurti Puja. Other devotees are silently sitting in quiet spots in meditation. In the below photograph a small group of devotees are gathered in front of the Brahma Lingam Shrine in satsang and are observing the night of Mahashivaratri, singing bhajans dedicated to Lord Shiva. 

Singing bhajans in front of the Brahma Lingam Shrine

Devotees coming up from Tank after lighting their Deepam

Cultural Programme, Arunachaleswarar Temple Auditorium

Traditionally large kolams created by using salt rock crystals are made in the morning of the first day of the Festival. After their creation, devotees place small clay deepams around the kolam perimeters. The below depicts Saint Arunagirinathar -- who has many legends associated with this Temple. 

Arunagirinathar Kolam

Lingodbhavamurti Puja 

On the Night of Mahashivaratri, which in 2015 was observed on February 17th-18th, an abhishekham and puja ritual commenced at 12 midnight at the Sri Lingodbhavamurti. 

The manifestation of Shiva in a column of fire, carved in stone is known as the Lingodbhavamurti. It is always enshrined in the rear niche of a Shiva Lingam sanctum. Since most temples face east, the Lingodbhava faces West. The non-anthropomorphic form of the Shiva Lingam is a representation of this infinite cosmic column of fire, whose origins were not traceable by Brahma or Vishnu. The Shiva Lingam is the centre of reverence and worship in all Saivite temples. 

2015 Lingodbhavamurti Puja, Arunachaleswarar Temple

Lingodbhavamurti located outside the back of the Moolasthanam

Arti at 2015 Mahashivaratri Puja at Lingodbhavamurti

To learn more about the Lingodhavamurti at this Temple, and the legend of the Ketaki flower and why it is only used in Shiva worship one time a year -- i.e. the night of Mahashivaratri, visit my earlier posting at this link here.