Night Eight: Vasantha Urchavam 2016

The deity of this festival is Lord Somaskanda, a form of Shiva and Parvathi, usually found in a shrine on the south-western corner of the main temple of Lord Arunachala. From the first day of the festival up to the ninth, every night around 10 o’clock, the gods are brought outside to the third courtyard of the temple, installed in a special palanquin and there ensues elaborate processions. 

Yesterday evening the 8th day of this Festival, Lord Somaskanda appears in a special Spring costume. The lights of the Temple were switched off and the Gods make a special tour of the 3rd Prakaram using light from torches made of plaited straw shaped into rings. These rings represent the olivu-vattam, "circle of light" i.e. the moon (Soma). 

The Lord under the mandapam

Lord Somaskanda

During this sacred Festival much attention is paid to the Gods under the Makila Trees in the 3rd Prakaram. This is also the time of the year that the Jumbo Keswara Lingam which is set in stone on a raised platform in the midst of the Makila Marams is filled with water. Plants and flowers are placed to float inside the recess of the Lingam. The illusion of the water and flowers makes the Lingam appear to levitate.

The giant lingam set in stone appears to be floating in water

Flaming torches representing Olivu-Vattam

The Gods on Circumambulation

Lord Somaskanda in Spring attire

Large crowd gathered to take darshan of Lord Somaskanda in front of Lord Vinayakar's Shrine

The God illuminated by the Olivu-Vattams

Gods re-enacting their dance in front of mirror

In front of this mirror, located in a gallery adjacent to the Paneer Mandapam, every evening of the Festival the God’s re-enact their dance while accompanied by musicians, singers and devotees.

Chithirai Pournami 2016 Girivalam Map and Information

The full moon girivalam this month (i.e. Chithirai Pournami 2016) will be the busiest girivalam of this year (excluding that of the full moon circumambulation during the Mahadeepam Festival). For this reason be aware crowds will be HUGE. So make sure that you have no important deadlines to catch . . . as once you start the girivalam there really will be no way back -- can't go against the tide of humanity coming towards you.

There will be many Ashrams and Temples giving prasad off the girivalam roadway . . . so no reason to take food. But if you have problem feet don't be shy to put your sandals in a bag to take along and put on if necessary. Many devotees wearing shoes will be performing girivalam. The roadway is not the idyllic one of yesteryear with cooling grass and soft earth to protect one's feet. Nowadays the pathway will be hot, dirty and gravel crusted.

Also please understand that bad people as well as good people visit pilgrim areas, especially during times of heavy crowds and special functions. Do NOT carry unnecessary valuables and cash with you. There will be many thieves on the roadway to relieve you. This applies to women as well as men. I myself was robbed by women while pulling the Maharadham Chariot one Mahadeepam Festival. My handbag (which was tucked tightly under my arm) was slit from behind with a razorblade. Luckily the inner lining of the bag prevented the robber taking my valuables.

Chithirai Pournami is a wonderful celebratory occasion. The Municipality has made great and loving effort in providing extra facilities for visiting Devotees. Please ensure by using commonsense that your visit is wonderful. 

The below map of facilities, first aid stations etc., are listed in this map which the Thiruvanamalai Municipality has released especially for this Chithirai Pournami. 

Chithirai Pournami Arunachala Timings 

Start: 21 April, 2016 9.54 a.m. 

Complete: 22 April, 2016 11.53 a.m. 

Right click to view enlargement previous to downloading

Chithirai Pradosham: Tuesday 19 April, 2016

Today Chithirai Pradosham was observed at Arunachaleswarar Temple. Pradosham on Tuesdays is also known as Bhauma Pradosham and is renowned for providing relief from disease and improving one’s financial situation. As always the crowds were large at the Temple on this special Chithirai Pradosham day. 

Kodi Kampathu Nandi, Third Prakaram

Aarti at the Kodi Kampathu Nandi

Observance of Pradosham at Chinna Nandi, Fourth Prakaram

Night Seven: Vasantha Urchavam 2016

Lord Somaskanda being carried out of Temple on palanquin

Leaving the Siva Sannidhi on palanquin

The Gods first receive worship in Pandal opposite the Main Shrine

Gods then moved to Paneer Mandapam where they are feted with flowers by a Gandharva Kanni (celestial nymph)

Celestial Nymph offering her flowers to the Gods

Our own sweet Rukku a major part of the festivities throughout the 10 days of the Vasantha Urchavam Function

Night Six: Vasantha Urchavam 2016

Vasantha Urchavam (also known as Vasantha Utsavam) is the Spring Festival held in the season of Vasantha (Spring). It is also commonly known as the Festival of Love as it re-enacts the Love of Shiva and Parvathi and the burning of Manmatha by the piercing look of the Lord’s third eye. 

Lord Somaskanda (a form of Shiva and Parvathi) is the deity of this Festival. For nine consecutive nights after being carried in state out of his shrine, Lord Somaskanda is installed in a pandal facing the main shrine. After receiving due reverence with flowers and light to accompanying musicians playing on their mridangam and nathaswaram, the God is moved by palanquin to the Paneer (rose-water) Mandapam. 

At the Paneer Mandapam diparadhana is performed. Afterwhich the Gods re-enact a dance in front of a mirror placed nearby while musicians accompany them. After the dance, a representation of a Gandharva Kanni (celestial nymph) travels down a rope from a nearby gallery. Once the laps of the Gods are covered with flowers, the priest on the pandal pours a pot of water with five vilva leaves in front of the Gods and then performs aarti. 

Rukku our Temple Elephant is an important part of these ceremonies and on each of these nine consecutive nights, stands adjacent to the Paneer Mandapam during these functions. 

Afterwards the Gods on their palanquin led by Rukku perform circumambulation ten times of the Mahila Marams (Temple Trees). This procession is accompanied by musicians, singers and devotees. At the completion of each circumambulation a re-enactment of the God’s dance is performed in front of the mirror in a gallery adjacent to the Paneer Mandapam. 

Gandharva Kanni (celestial nymph) with offering of flowers

The nymph on her  journey to the Gods under the Paneer Mandapam

Offering her flowers to the Gods

Palanquin returning to the Paneer Mandapam

Beautifully lit and decorated Paneer Mandapam

Sixth Night Vasantha Urchavam Festival, Arunachaleswarar Temple

Night Five: Vasantha Urchavam 2016

Below is a pictorial report of Night Five of the Vasantha Urchavam 2016 Festival. Special Night pujas and accompanying functions occur at the Big Temple each night from the 2nd to the 9th night inclusive of this Festival. 

The Gods exiting the Siva Sannadhi

Being carried by palanquin on their way to the Paneer Manadapam

Gods resplendent under Paneer Mandapam receiving flower tributes from a Gandharva Kanni (a celestial nymph)

Gandharva Kanni coming down from the Gallery on way to the Paneer Mandapam

"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."

Gods circumambulating the Mahila Trees in 3rd Prakaram

Lord Dakshinamurti under the Mahila Trees is decorated splendidly each night of this Festival

Night Four: Vasantha Urchavam 2016

To read more about this Festival of Love, go to an earlier link here 

Rukku is an important part of each evening of the Vasantha Urchavam Festival

The Gods under the Paneer Mandapam on the Fourth Night of Festival

Gandharva Kanni (celestial nymph) with bucket of flowers ready to sprinkle on the Gods under the Mandapam

Gods performing circumambulation inside the 3rd Prakaram

Night Three: Vasantha Urchavam 2016

“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 . . ." 

Gods seated under Paneer Mandapam located in the 3rd Prakaram

This is the Paneer Mandapam when not being utilised in Festivals

Sweet Rukku getting lots of exercise during the Festival functions each night

A Celesital Virgin Nympth (Gandharva Kanni) being sent down line from Gallery to sprinkle flowers on the Gods

The place on the Gallery from where the Gandharva Kannis are sent down

Gandharva Kanni reaches the Gods and sprinkles them with flowers from her bucket

Night Two: Vasantha Urchavam 2016

Below is a pictorial report of Night Two, of the 2016 Vasantha Urchavam. 

Lord Arunachaleswarar

Taking the God out of the Siva Sannidhi

Representation of a Gandharva Kanni (celestial virgin nymph) approaches the Lord with flowers

Gandharva Kanni carrying a bucket of flowers to offer the Lord

Rukku, is getting plenty of exercise promenading during the evening functions

Close up of Gandharva Kanni (celestial virgin nymph) carrying a bucket of flowers

Devotees high on the gallery in charge of the ropes and pulleys moving representation of the Gandharva Kanni

The evening function heralded by the sound of conch shells

Reading of Panchangam: Tamil New Year 2016

At the time of each Tamil New Year, the reading of the Panchangam (Tamil New Year's Almanac) occurs. This reading of the Almanac by senior Priest of Arunachaleswarar Temple is primarily in relation to the confirmation of Festival Dates at the Temple throughout the coming year. 

Priests near Flagstaff at Siva Sannidhi, Arunachaleswarar Temple