2015 Deepam Festival. Day Three—Night: Simha Vahanam

During Festivals the Deities are taken in procession around the Temple. Sometimes, the deity is shown mounted on or riding their vehicle, while at other times, the vahana is shown by the Deity’s side. Many times, this vahana (vehicle) is also represented by way of symbolism, as a divine attribute. Though the vahana appears to be independent, it is part and parcel of the deity’s presence and has an meaning to it. 

The Gods receiving aarti in the Temple Mandapam

In the case of the Lord on the Simha (lion) vehicle; the creature represents lordly power in general and the power of the wild beast in particular. The Lion, which is regarded as a royal beast represents the best in the animal creation. However, it can also represent greed for food and for objects of enjoyment --  which invariably leads to lust. The Simha Vahana as a vehicle of the Divine, represents the control of the Lord over a human being's animal instincts.

The Panchamoorthies giving darshan, Alankaram Mandapm

Gods returning from Temple circumambulation

Lord Arunachaleswarar on the Simha (lion) Vahanam

The golden skinned Lion is an archetypal symbol for the golden rayed sun; the lord of the day, whose appearance kills the demonic forces of the night. The Lion has always been important in mythology in India as it symbolises the solar and luminous principles of life and knowledge. 

The lion also expresses the heroism and prowess necessary to defeat asuric forces and represents the heroism and strength required to walk the spiritual path. 

2015 Deepam Festival. Day Three—Day: Chandrasekarar on Bootha Vahanam

On the morning of Day 3 of the 2015 Karthigai Deepam Festival at Arunachala the procession of Lord Chandrasekhara on the Bootha Vahanam is observed. 

With this and other processions throughout the Festival, the Panchamoorthies are: Vinayagar, Lord Annamalaiyar, Goddess Unnamulaiyar, Lord Subramanya and Sri Chandikeswarar (representing all devotees). 

Lord Chandrasekarar Alangaram at Temple Mandapam

Bootha Vahana

The Vahana for Lord Arunachaleswarar on the 3rd Morning of the 2015 Deepam Festival is the Bootha Vahanam. Botha represents earth as one of the five manifestations of nature; air, water, fire, land and sky. The Lingam to which it is associated is the Prithivi Lingam of the Ekambareswarar Temple, Kanchipuram.

Last minute touch ups on Car Street

Ladies with very large child on Karumbu Thottil

An increasingly popular element of the Deepam Festival, is that of the ritual of ‘karumbu thottil’ (i.e. sugar-cane cradle). This involves the fulfilment of a vow by parents, who previously promised Lord Arunachaleswarar that if granted a child, that they would return after its birth and circumambulate the Temple with the child in a 'sugar-cane cradle'. 

Sometimes the parents are not able to return to Arunachala for a long time in order to fulfil their vow. Possibly this is the case of the young lad (in the above photograph) being carried by his family—or it just might be the most comfortable way for him to travel. Generally the most popular day for this ritual is the 7th day i.e. the pulling of the Maharadham (giant chariot). 

Lord Arunachaleswarar on the Bootha Vahanam

The Lord travelling on Car Street

In the above photograph, it is easy to discern the green darghar of the Sufi Saint, Syedini Bibi. A story relates that during a Karthigal Festival (around 130 years previously) when the Madha Radham passed the shrine, its huge wheels accidentally knocked the side of Sydedini Bibi’s tomb and the Maha Radham burst into flames. To read about this Sufi Saint and the full narrative of the Radham, go to this link here.

Lights and Colour of Nights 1 and 2: 2015 Karthigai Festival

The crowds throughout the Karthigai Deepam Festival are huge and energetic. Processions, music, street programmes, cultural programmes, illuminations all add to the fervour and excitement of these times. 

Below are photographs from the first two evenings of the 2015 Karthigai Deepam Festival. 

Musicians add to the energy and excitement of the processions

Illuminations and lights throughout Arunachaleswarar Temple

The Gods beautifully illuminated at an Arunachaleswarar Temple Theertham

In the below photograph the vahanam of Adhikara Nandi (of the first evening), is waiting at the Alankaram Mandapam outside the main east gate of the Raja Gopuram of Arunachaleswarar Temple, to be decorated and receive its Gods.

Adhikara Nandi Vahanam

The Vahanam decorated and ready for circumambulation of the Temple

The below photograph is of the Indira Vahanam of the 2nd Night of the Festival, awaiting to be decorated and receive its God.

Indira Vahanam at Alankaram Mandapam

While at Alankaram Mandapam priests prepare the Vahanam

Beautifully illuminated and decorated Vahanam

Indira Vahanam ready for Temple Circumambulation

Lord Arunachaleswarar on Indira Vahanam

2015 Deepam Festival. Day Two—Night: Indira Vahanam

The Vahanam of Lord Arunachaleswar on the Night of Day Two of the 2015 Arunachala Karthigai Deepam Fesitval is that of Lord Indra (King of the Gods and ruler of the heavens). 

Lord Indra is the God of thunder and rain and a great warrior, a symbol of courage and strength. He wields a lightning thunderbolt known as the vajra, rides on a white elephant known as Airavata and also has a golden chariot drawn by ten thousand horses. 

Aarti in Mandapam

Circumambulation inside Temple

Although formidable in the guise of the imposing figure of a thunderbolt-wielding Indra, he is generally benevolent, generous to his worshippers and guaranteeing peace and prosperity while delivering beneficial rainstorms to end droughts. He can also be called upon in times of war to give support with his divine weapons and favourable intervention. 

The Panchamoorties (Five Gods) giving Darshan

Lord Indira Chariot—Vahanam for Lord Arunachaleswarar

At Arunachala this God has a special significance as he associated with the Asta Lingam with the cardinal direction of east. The Indra lingam is dominated by the Navagrahas, Lord Surya and Lord Shukra (Venus). Devotees are blessed with long life and prosperity on worshipping the Indra lingam. 

Lord Arunachaleswarar on Indira Vahanam

2015 Deepam Festival. Day Two—Morning: Surya Perai Vahanam

On the Morning of Day Two of the Karthigai Deepam Festival, the mount of Lord Arunachaleswarar is the Surya Perai Vahanam (also known as Vaghanam). 

Lovely Rukku getting her procession exercise

During each procession the Gods are seated on their respective Vahana. The word “Vahana” denotes “that which carries, that which pulls” and signifies the mount of the God. These mounts represent a Divine attribute associated with the God.

Lord Arunachaleswarar on Surya Vahana at Alankaram Mandapam

The deity may be seen sitting or standing on the vahana. Alternatively the Deity may be sitting on a small platform called a “howdah”, or riding on a saddle or bareback. Positive aspects of the vahana are often emblematic of the Deity that it carries. However, the vehicle animal can also symbolise the evil forces over which the deity dominates. 

God's Darshan 2nd Day Morning

The Surya Vahana in the morning of Day Two of the Karthigai Festival, is the representation of Fire (or Agni) as the fourth element of the Panchabhutas. The essential character of Fire is to generate heat and according to Hindu Mythology, Agni is one of the Eight Guardians that guard our Universe and are known as Asta-dik-palakas. 

Circumambulation of the Mada Veedhis

In Indian mythology there are mentions of various types of fires. The four important ones are fire of the earth, fire of the sky, fire of the stomach (can mean hunger and digestive power as well) and the fire we commonly use. 

Lord Arunachaleswarar on Surya Perai Vahanam

There is a wealth of mythology attached to Arunachala connected to its association with fire and what is related to fire i.e. light and the sun. To read more go to this link here.

2015 Deepam Festival. Day One—Evening: Adhikara Nandi Vahana

After Alangaram and aarti the Gods are carried out of the Kalyana Mandapam eventually leaving the Temple grounds to give darshan at the Alankaram Mandapam outside the Big Temple east side. 

Preparation for Aarti Ceremony

Thereupon the five Gods (panchamoorthies) on their separate vahanas are pulled by tractor through the perimeter streets (mada veedhis) surrounding Arunachaleswarar Temple. 

Carrying Gods out of Mandapam

In the evening programme on the 1st day of the 2015 Deepam Festival, the vahana for Lord Arunachaleswarar is the anthropomorphic aspect of Nandi i.e. Nandikesvara. There are two types of Nandi (Nandikeśvara) statues at Siva Temples, the more common is that of the reclining bull (Vrsabha) and the other is that of Adhikara Nandi. In the case of Arunachaleswarara Temple the Adhikara Nandi aspect is in the form of a bull-headed human standing on two legs. 

Panchamoorties at Alankaram Mandapam

Adhikara Nandi's two back hands hold a parasu (battle axe) and mrga (antelope) and the two front hands are folded on the chest in a pose of obeisance. Since he is the chief of the ganas (retinues) of Siva, exercising his authority (adhikara) over them, he is christened as ‘Adhikara Nandi.’ 

Adhikara Nandi vahana for Lord Arunachaleswarar

 

There are different accounts as to the origin of this manifestation. Desirous of a son, a sage named Salankayana, propitiated Lord Vishnu and was granted his wish of producing a boy exactly resembling Siva from the right side of his body. He was named Nandikesvara. According to another account, a sage called Nandi obtained the status of Deva and the headship of the ganas of Siva by propitiating him. A third account depicts Adhikara Nandi as emerging from the yagasala (sacrificial shed) of the blind sage Silada, in the form of a young lad resembling Siva, thus bringing ‘nandi’ or joy to him. Therupon the Sage Silada adopted him as his son. 

Adhikara Nandi Vahana

Day 1 Morning Procession of the Panchamoorties

After completion of the Flag Hoisting ceremony; later in the morning of November 15, 2015 (Day One of Karthigai Festival), the five Gods are worshipped inside the Temple and then taken outside through the Thittivasal gate. 

The Thittivasal gate is by the side of the Raja Gopura and is used as a departure and access point for the deities during Festivals. 

As Murtis (idols of the Divine) are taken to represent sukshma sarira (i.e. the subtle body) they are not taken through the Eastern Gopura as that represents the sthoola sarira (i.e. the gross body). In earlier times the Thittivasal was also used by royalty and important personages. 

Thittivasal Gate from Inside Temple

1949 Photo of Thittivasal Gate outside Temple

Gods coming out of the Thittivasal Gate into the street outside Temple

Gods giving Darshan in front of the Alankaram Mandapam

Once outside the Temple the Gods receive darshan of devotees and pilgrims at the Alankaram Mandapam (located front of the east Raja Gopura). 

Thereupon the Gods are taken out to circumabulate the 4 perimeter streets (Mada Veddhis) surrounding the Temple. 

4 Perimeter Circumambulation Streets of Temple

Lovely Rukku was out on the streets on the morning of the 1st Day

She will have lots of walking and attention throughout the Festival

During all the processions musicians are out in force

Talking of Elephants, here is Vinayagar in the morning procession

Lord Arunachalewarar in procession

To the left of the Lord Arunachaleswarar Radham, is the parked giant Maharadham, which is traditionally used on the 7th Day of the Festival. The yellow building to the left of the Maharadham is the access point to the top of the multi-storey Radham, which on the morning of the 7th day pilgrims are allowed to traverse and go onto the plinth of the Madharadham and take darshan of the God.

Tractors pull the giant Radhams along the perimeter streets

Always colour and crowds surrounding the streets of the Temple

2015 Karthigai Deepam Flag Hoisting Ceremony

Lord Arunachaleswarar and Goddess Unnamulai 

The commencement of the utsavam or festival is marked by a ceremony called the Dhwajarohanam or the hoisting of the flag. Dwajasthambam literally means "flag pole." Comparing the Temple structure to the human body; the main sanctum is the head, Mahamandapam, the central portion is the body and the Rajagopuram represent the feet. 

At Arunachaleswarar Temple the flag post is located outside the Shiva Sannidhi and is made of wood with an overlay of brass and a gold coating.

Raising of the Flag

A cloth flag is hoisted during Temple Festivals (Brahmostavam) according to the rules of Agama. The flag tree is representative of Lord Shiva, the flag tree cloth marks Shakti, the flag marking represents the soul and the thread of the flag marks grace. 

Dhwajarohanam is a public act of sankalpa (action made to impress an idea on the mind) which indicates a vow undertaken (in this case) by the people of the town to celebrate Brahmostavam. Hence no-one present within the town limits on the occasion of the Dhwajarohanam is expected to leave the town or do any other thing such as marriage etc., until the Festival is over. The close of the Festival is marked by the Dhwajavarohanam or the lowering of the flag. 

Offical beginning of 2015 Karthigai Deepam Festival

Between the raising and lowering of the flag, Arunachaleswarar Temple will be host to two kinds of activity during the day. Each morning and evening the five deities; Siva, Sakthi, Subrahmanya, Ganapati and Chandikesvara go around the perimeter streets of the Temple. Before leaving the Temple, the Gods are worshipped in the mandapam hall where a homam is performed twice a day, and thereupon the Gods receive on their foreheads a black spot made of ash (vibhutti) mixed with ghee. On the seventh day the same deities, each on a wooden radham, are led around the Temple perimeter streets in a day long procession 

Devotees attending the Flag Hoisting Ceremony

During this 2015 Karthigai Deepam Festival the Gods of Arunachaleswarar Temple will be taken out seated on differently built Temple vehicles (vaghanams) like Rishaba (Bull), Elephant, Cow (Kamadhenu—a mythical animal), palanquins, chariots or Radhams (Thers).