14 April 2016
13 April 2016
Chittirai Vasantha Urchavam Invitation 2016
Arulmigu Arunachaleswarar Temple, Tiruvannamamalai
Chittirai Vasantha Urchavam
Invitation
From 12 April, 2016 Tuesday
The 10 day Vasantha Urchavam Festival is going to occur at Arunachaleswarar Temple In regard to this Monday, 11 April with Panchami Tithi with Rogini star
Evening 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. at Sannidyar Ganesha Temple Puja Urchavam will start
Right click Invitation below to view enlargement
Invitation to Vasantha Urchavam 2016 |
Day 1: 12.4.2016
Night: special puja
Day 2: Day 3: Day 4: Day 5: Day 6: Day 7: Day 8: Day 9: Special Night Pujas
Day 10: 21.4.2016 Thursday
Morning: Iyyankulam Tank. Theertavari
Night: Special puja at Gopala Vinayaka Temple (near Thrishul Hotel)
Night: Temple Manmatha firing after 11 p.m.
“Vasantha Utsavam is a ten day Festival depicting the blossoming of love. During this sacred event, Swami and Amman are gorgeously decorated with jewels. With the Temple Elephant fanning the Divine Couple with Shamara grass, they are taken with great ceremony in Mahapradakshina round the sacred Mahila Maram (trees) within the Third Prakaram – ten times every night for ten days = 100 times.
On the third day of Vasantha Utsavam is the birth of Manmatha, also known as Kama the God of love (lust). Manmatha is depicted looking for Siva.
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.
Lord Shiva opens His third eye on the final days of the Festival and the burning of Manmatha takes place.
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.
Sri Appar Swami’s birthday takes place on Satyam Natchatram day. Sri Appar Swami is taken on a chariot round the Maha Veedi – Seventh Prakaram.”
[The Light of Arunachaleswarar]
Kamadeva: God of Love |
The Story of Kama The God of Love
“When Shakti became Parvati, daughter of the king of Himalayas, She was doing tapas for Lord Shiva. At the same time the great sages, the four sons of Brahma, Sanakar, Sanandanar, Santanar, Sanatkumarar came to Lord Shiva for enlightenment. The Lord gave them enlightenment in the form of Lord Dakshinamurti. Who are the cause as well as the energy for the whole world are into yoga, the whole world got more inclined to yoga and life sustenance was in trouble.
Meanwhile the Devas, who were tortured by the Surapadma and his brothers Taraka, Simhamukha, knew that those demons can be killed only by the son of Lord Shiva and Shakti. Disappointed that both God and Goddess were doing yoga instead of marrying, they asked cupid to disturb the meditating Lord Shiva with his arrows in order to induce lust for Parvati. When desperation sets in, reasoning gets pushed down. Can the Supreme be induced with lust by anybody? The cupid refused since he knew that it would be fatal for him. But the other Devas threatened to curse him if he didn't obey. Saying that it is better to be killed by the God of gods than by the curses of Devas, he went with his wife, Rati, to the abode of Shiva where He was in meditation.
The cupid shot the flower arrow on the Lord. The next moment the fire from the eye in the forehead of the Lord burnt the cupid. Undisturbed He continued His meditation. The cupid is of the reputation that his arrows never fail. But well, it can apply to others, can it be for the Almighty? His arrows were useless in front of the Lord and he too became just a heap of ash!
Shocked by the death of cupid all the Devas realised their plots would not work out with God. They understood that only sincerity can get showers of His grace and any other pressure can have no affect upon the Lord. They surrendered themselves in front of the Lord and pleaded for mercy. The Lord forgave them and married Parvati and gave Subrahmanya for the destruction of the demons. On their request He also bring back to life Kama, however he would be visible only to his wife and not to others. Because of this reason Kamadeva is called ananga (one without limbs).”
6 April 2016
Tuesday, 5 April 2016: Arunachaleswarar Temple Pradosham
From east to west the five Temple Nandis are:
Periya Nandi in front of Vallala Gopuram Fifth Prakaram.
Chinna Nandi, Fourth prakaram
Kodi Kampathu Nandi, Third Prakaram
Ratha Vilaku Nandi, Second Prakaram
Pradosha Nandi, Moolastanam
All of these five Temple Nandis receive abhishekam and aarti at Pradosham.
Periya Nandi, 5th Prakaram |
Large crowds gather to celebrate Pradosham |
Kodi Kampathu Nandi, 3rd Prakaram |
Ratha Vilaku Nandi, 2nd Prakaram |
After worship, Lord Arunachaleswarar is taken on circumambulation in the 3rd Prakaram |
The Lord on circumambulation |
Going around the 2nd and 1st Prakaram of Arunchaleswarar Temple |
29 March 2016
Yogi Ramsuratkumar Ashram Mahakumbhabhishekam: March 25, 2016
Ramsuratkumar was born in 1918 as Ramsurat Kunwar at Nardara, a small village along the stretches of river Ganges. After his intermediate education, he went in search of spiritual enlightenment. On that quest he visited three important saints of South India — Ramana Maharishi at Tiruvannamalai, Sri Aurobindo in Pondicherry and Papa Ramdas of Kerala.
Yogi Ramsuratkumar later moved to Tiruvannamalai and asked people to turn inward for spiritual enlightenment. He was hailed as the ‘God Child of Tiruvannamalai’, and renowned as a mystic saint. Many devotees consider him a Siddha Purushar (mystic) in the tradition of the Tamil Nadu Saivite Siddhars.
Thoughout his life at Tiruvannamalai he lived like a beggar. Dressed in simple clothing and generally with a palm leaf fan he was called Visiri Saamiyaar in Tamil. He would also carry a coconut shell in his hand, wear a green shawl and live very simply.
To read the biography of this great saint visit my website Arunachala Samudra at this link here.
Bhagavan Ramsuratkumar died at his Tiruvannamalai Ashram on 20th February 2001. Mahakumbhabhishekam of the then newly consecrated Adhishtanam of Bhagavan Yogi Ramsuratkumar was celebrated on 27th June 2004. Subsequently Mahakumbhabhishekam of Bhagavan Yogi Ramsuratkumar was also celebrated this year at his Tiruvannamalai Ashram on Friday, 25 March, 2016.
Programme of the 2016 Mahakumbhabhishekam Programme |
To watch videos of the complete 2016 Mahakumbhabhiskeham programme please visit the official Yogi Ramsuratkumar You Tube channel at this link here.
Yogi Ramsuratkumar |
Below are photographs of part of the celebratory programme recently observed at the Ashram.
Wonderful decorations welcoming devotees to the Ashram |
Specially constructed hall for the yagasalai programme |
Main entrance to the Hall |
Inside the Hall |
Statue of Yogi Ramsuratkumar |
It is the experience of many that this statue of Yogi Ramsuratkumar has a powerful energy and a particularly blessed place to visit if one needs help and inspiration in one’s life. To read more visit this link here.
Story of the Statue |
Sri Yogi Ramsuratkumar Mahasamadhi |
Daily Programme:
Bhajans 10 a.m. to 12 Noon and 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Pooja and Abishekam for the Sivalingam morning and evening.
Temple open from 5 a.m. to 12 Noon and 4 p.m. to 8p.m.
Special Poojas on Thursdays and Festivals
Group of Senior Devotees |
As always the devotees of Yogi Ramsuratkumar created a beautiful, loving function dedicated to his name. The decorations and facilities at the Ashram for visiting Pilgrims were excellent.
This Ashram always creates wonderful Divine Displays and Functions during Festivals and Holy Times. In particular the Kolu displays during the Navaratri Festival and the representation of Arunachala Hill during Mahadeepam are always special and should be visited by Arunachala pilgrims.
Line for Meals during the Festival |
Great attention was given to the comfort and care of visiting devotees |
Shamiana tents specially built for visitors during the Mahakumbhabhishekam Functions |
You can visit the Official Website dedicated to Yogi Ramsuratkumar at this link here.
To watch a video of Yogi Ramsuratkumar giving darshan please watch the below.
To watch a video of Yogi Ramsuratkumar giving darshan please watch the below.
28 March 2016
Thirukalyanam Festival: March 28, 2016 – Special Puja
As appeared in an earlier posting setting out the programme for the Thirukalyanam Festival, the function which occurred around 12 noon today March 28, 2016 was a special puja held at the Tamari Tank with later aarti at the Kumara Kovil.
Below are photographs of this afternoon’s puja and worship:-
Labels:
2016,
arunachala,
March 28,
special puja,
tamari nagar tank,
thirukalyanam festival,
worship
27 March 2016
24 March 2016
2016 Panguni Uthiram -- Celestial Wedding at Arunachala
At Arunachaleswarar Temple a Marriage Festival is celebrated.
The first day of Panguni Uthiram which was celebrated at Arunachaleswarar Temple yesterday (Wednesday March 23, 2016) is known as the time of celebration of the Celestial Wedding of Lord Siva and Goddess Parvathi.
In the evening the Gods came in procession and an exchange of garlands took place.
Arunachaleswarar and Parashakti after exchanging garlands were both moved to the Kalyana Mandapam.
Inside the Kalayana Mandapam (Thirukalyanam Mandapam), the Thirukalyanam (Wedding) Festival occurred.
Gods Alangaram |
Outside the Shiva Sannidhi |
Exchange of Garlands |
----- oOo -----
Arunachala Spur with Murugan Shrine on top |
The Panguni Uthiram Festival is also the celebration of the Celestial Wedding of Lord Murugan and his Goddess Devayani. As well as the carrying of Kavadis, devotees of Lord Murugan also hold separate functions for their God at various Lord Murugan Temples and Shrines throughout Tiruvannamalai.
The hillside shrine on a small spur south of Arunachala is holding a two day long celebration of the Celestial Wedding. On the night of the 23rd March, 2016, the whole top of this spur was decorated and illuminated with lights.
23 March 2016
Panguni Utthiram – Thirukalyanam Festival
Arunachaleswarar Temple, Tiruvannamalai
Panguni Uttiram – Marriage Festival
Invitation
From March 23, 2016 to March 28, 2016
Panguni Uthiram is celebrated during Panguni Month (March-April) during Uthiram Nakshatra day.
Panguni Uthiram (Falgun Purnima) full moon day is known as the time of the celebration of the Celestial Wedding of Lord Siva and Goddess Parvathi; Lord Muruga and His consort Goddess Devayani and Lord Vishnu and His consort Goddess Andal. This day also celebrates the Divine Wedding Day of Lord Rama and the Goddess Sita.
This celebration of Divine marriage is intended to emphasis the glory of married life for householders and to protect their union from separation. It is believed that offering prayers to God at this time gives good mental equilibrium to couples and bestows them with strength, love, affection and understanding.
Devotees visiting Lord Murugan Temples on Panguni Uthiram day carry Kavadis and many devotees choose to have their heads shaved and observe austerities at this time.
Invitation |
During Panguni month on the 23.3.2016, Wednesday on Full Moon morning 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. in the Arunachaleswarar Moolasthana the Wedding Ceremony of Sri Annamalaiyar and Unnamulaiyar will occur. In the evening of that day, a procession starts from the Flagpost and then night at 11 p.m. reaches the Kalyanamandapam. At the Mandapam the Thirukalyana Festival will happen. In this regard the following Programmes are scheduled in the coming days. All devotees are invited.
Programme of Thirukalyanam Functions |
23.3.2016 Wednesday
11 a.m. to 12 p.m. Thirukalyana Ucchavam at Moolastahana.
Evening 6 p.m. Ambal procession starts from Kumara Kovil to Big Temple.
Evening 8 p.m. Near Flagpost Garland exchange between Shiva and Shakti. Then reaching Thirukalyana Mandapam.
11 p.m. onwards. Marriage Festival.
12 midnight onwards Golden Rishaba procession outside Temple.
24.3.2016 Thursday
8 p.m. Swami and Ambal going to Kilnaathur for special puja.
25.3.2016 Friday
Night. In Thirukalyana Mandapam Naalagu Festival. (3 days).
26.3.2016 Saturday
Morning special Homam.
Night. In Thirukalayana Mandapam Unjal Urchavam.
27.3.2016 Sunday
Morning Thirukalyana Mandapam Homam
Night Thirukalyana Mandapam Unjal Urchavam.
28.3.2016 Monday
12 Noon In Tamari Tank special puja.
Aarti at Kumara Kovil.
12 Midnight Special music function. Swami and Ambal go to Kamakshi Amman Temple (Thirumanjana Street) and from there goes on procession on the Mada Veedhis
Panguni Pradosham 2016
On Sunday, 20 March 2016 Panguni Pradosham was observed at Arunachaleswarar Temple.
Aarti at Nandi, Siva Sannidhi, Arunachaleswarar Temple |
The Gods ready for procession |
Circumambulation of the Siva Sannidhi |
Circumambulating outside the 2nd and 1st Prakarams |
Pey Gopuram and Kattai Gopuram with Arunachala in Background |
Completion of circumambulation of Siva Sannidhi, now moving through Temple towards the Thitti Vasal |
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)