ARUNACHALA GRACE

6 August 2016

Pictorial Report: 2016 Adi Puram Arunachaleswar Temple -- Firewalking Ceremony

The last part of the 2016 Adi Pooram festivities observed at Arunachaleswarar Temple was the Firewalking ceremony conducted in front of the Mother’s Shrine in the Temple’s 3rd Prakaram. Devotees prepare for their firewalk at the Temple’s Theertham. Great logs are burnt down and the burning embers laid in front of the Mother’s Shrine at Arunachaleswarar Temple. The Mother is brought out by palanquin from Her shrine to watch Her devotees perform their firewalk, as a test and celebration of their devotion to the Divine.

I have written at length about the symbolism and unique significance of this firewalk ceremony at Arunachaleswarar Temple—a Shiva Sthalam. For more information please refer to an earlier posting at this link here.

Logs being prepared for the firewalk ceremony

Mother being brought to the front of her Shrine to watch the Ceremony

Specially approved Devotees who will be undertaking the firewalk ceremony

Burning embers placed in front of the Mother's Shrine: 3rd Prakaram

Devotees rushing over the burning embers

2016 Adi Pooram Firewalking Ceremony: Arunachaleswarar Temple

Pictorial Report: 2016 Adi Puram Arunachaleswar Temple -- Vallaikappu Ceremony

Abhishekam was performed on the Goddess Parashakti Amman at the Vallaikappu Mandapam in the 5th Prakaram of Arunachaleswarar Temple in the evening of Adi Pooram, Friday 5th August, 2016. This was followed by distribution of bangles at 5 p.m. Around 6 p.m. Goddess Parashakti Amman was carried in procession from the Mandapam and returned Her Shrine at the 3rd Prakaram.

On this day of Adi Pooram glass bangles are offered to Ambal and then distributed to devotees. These bangles are said to provide offspring and generally protect one from evils. In addition Valaikaappu is a Festival during which a pregnant woman wears glass bangles, the sound of which is said to protect her and the child from evil forces.

Abhishekam of the Goddess at the Valaikappu Mandapam, Big Temple

Crowds of ladies watching the Abhisekam of the Goddess

The Goddess with her glass bangles at the Mandapam

Goddess Parashakti Amman after Abhishekam at Mandapam

Pictorial Report: 2016 Adi Puram Arunachaleswar Temple -- Theerthavari Ceremony

The below photographs are of the morning of the Adi Puram festival as celebrated at Sri Arunachaleswarar Temple on Friday, 5th August, 2016. The Goddess Parashakti Amman was carried by palanquin to the Shivagangai Theertham for theerthavari. The bath in the Theertham occurred at around 12.30 p.m.

Afterwards, Goddess Parashakti Amman was carried by palanquin to the Vallaikappu Mandapm. In the afternoon a special abhishekam was performed which wasfollowed by distribution of bangles at 5 p.m. By about 6 p.m. Goddess Parashakti Amman is carried in procession from the Mandapam and returned Her Shrine in the 3rd Prakaram.

Mother being carried to the Sivagangai Theertham

Theertham at the Sivagangai Tank

Priests with Sulam inside Sivagangai Tank

Puja being performed on Sulam side of Tank

Divine Mother being brought to the Valaikappu Mandapam, 5th Prakaram

2 August 2016

Morning walk under Arunachala's Loving Eyes

Even though there is ongoing development throughout the Tiruvannamalai area, still some lovely spots exist in which one can relax and enjoy. The bottom photographs are of a morning's excursion with my doggies at the Samudram Eri. As previously mentioned in many earlier postings, over the last eight years industrial level sand quarrying is being undertaken in many areas of the 750 acre Eri.

About a month ago a halt was made to the sand quarrying, whether this is a temporary or permanent halt, only time will tell. But the halt has already been long enough for life to calm down after years of continuous noise and noxious fumes from the many sand diggers and heavy truck earth movers that have been infesting the Eri. So lets just enjoy the peace and see what happens.

Nearby State Reserve Forest adjacent to the Eri

Acres of undisturbed Reserve lands

Artifical lakes have been created by the sand digging which are now hugely popular with both domestic and migratory birds

Fabulous Banyan Tree on Bund of Arunachala Eri

My little Holly lost in all the greenery

Magnificient darshan of Holy Arunachala

Darshan of the Arunachaleswarar Temple's Raja Gopuram bottom of Hill slope

Numerous artifical lakes and ponds have created by sand exacuvations. My doggie Max having a leisurely swim!

Parvathamalai Hill in background. Hope to be visiting and performing the 25 km girivalm soon. Will post photos

Large number of Fork Tail Kites on the Eri in the mornings

White doggie Max, black doggie Winnie, manoeuvring for stick rights!

Side of Eri: Preparing fields in the old fashioned way for Paddy planting!!!

Shantimalai Handicrafts Development Shop

The Shantimalai Research and Development Trust, a charitable organisation founded by Doctor Hugo Maier in 1986, includes villages around Tiruvannamalai. The Handicrafts section of the Trust provides more than 300 women with training and work in traditional handicrafts. These skills include palm leaf weaving, leaf-painting, tailoring, bag production, handcrafted dolls, embroidery, handloom and batik and block printing.

Many finished items are sold in a shop at Ramana Nagar, Tiruvannamalai named “Shantimalai Handicrafts Development,” located on the side of Chengham Road (NH66), after Nilgris Supermarket and just before the Arts College Compound.

In addition to the many wonderful handicraft items on sale at the shop, there are also many beautiful items from throughout India. This Aladdin Cave of a shop is popular with many visitors to Tiruvannamalai and sells highest quality products . . . whether regional or from further afield.

For a short synopsis of Hugo Maier to go this link here. To read a fascinating personal narrative of Hugo Maier go to this link here.

Entrance to Compound on Chengham Road, Tiruvannamalai

Authentic murals throughout painted on Compound Walls

Murals by Sivakumar (local painter and animal activist)

Handsome elephant guarding the entrance to the shop

Several rooms filled with pure, handloom cottons

High quality cottons

Many locally produced items

Other items from further afield

Favourite Aladdin's Cave for visitors wanting to purchase souvenirs from India

Everything of good quality and reasonable prices

Personally liked the pair of elephants with their silver masks and bells

Pink laundry baskets (on left) made locally by palm weaving

Visit this beautiful shop while in Tiruvannamalai and thereby support local Women's organisations in the District which are creating these products.

1 August 2016

Aadi Pooram Brahmotsavam 2016: Arunachala

Aadi Pooram Brahmotsavam is currently being observed at Arunachaleswarar Temple and Sakthi Temples at Arunachala. The Festival started on 27th July, 2016 and will culminate on Friday, August 5th, 2016.

As can be viewed in the below programme, at Arunachaleswar Temple everyday in the morning and evening, Lord Ganesha and the Divine Mother are coming out in procession during the days of this Festival.

Programme for Festival

Adi Pooram Brahmotsavam is celebrated in all Hindu temples in Southern India in the month of Adi, which corresponds to the English months of July-August, when the asterism Pooram (Delta Leonis) is in the ascendancy. It is observed to propitiate the Sakti Goddess who is said to have come into the world on this occasion to bless all. She is thus worshipped in order that one may secure happiness for oneself and for loved ones.

Aadi Pooram is also dedicated to the birth of Goddess Andal, who is believed to be an incarnation of Goddess Lakshmi. Pooram or Puram is one among the 27 Nakshatras in Hindu Astrology.

*****************************

The climax of Aadi Pooram Brahmotsavam at the Big Temple, will be celebrated on August 5th, 2016. The schedule for that day will be approximatelty as follows:

5.00 a.m. Amman Abhishekam

6.00 a.m. Alangaram

6.30 a.m. Flag Hoisting at Mother’s Shrine

8.00 a.m. Amman from Sannadhi to Vallaikappu (bangle) Mandapam

4.00 p.m. Amman in Vallaikappu and the worship of Amman by ladies

4.00 p.m. Abhishekam

6.00 p.m. Valaikappu (bangle)

8.00 p.m. Amman goes around the Temple and returns to Vallaikappu Mandapam

12.00 p.m. Adi Pooram firewalking preparation

1.30 p.m. Fire walking

Fire walk at Temple in a previous year

Fire or Agni is 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.

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.

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.

One such legend is the one in which Lord Surya estranged from his wife Chayadevi visited Arunachaleswarar Temple to propitiate the Lord. A Tamil legend narrates another legend concerning Singavaram and a Temple dedicated to Sri Ranganadha. Here a king named Kandhan, after suffering a defeat, performed a fire walking ceremony in worship of Draupadi (from the Mahabharata). Draupadi, pleased with the worship, appeared before the king and promised that whoever should worship her as he had done would remain unscathed and also obtain whatever they prayed for. From that day onwards the fire-walking festival is observed with great enthusiasm in Tamil Nadu.

Walk will be performed by approved devotees: front of Mother's Shrine

A special association of Arunachala as Agni Kshetra, is that of fire walking which will be observed this year on the late night of Aadi Pooram i.e. 5th August, 2016. The festival is called Theemithi Utsavam in Tamil Nadu. On the night of this Festival, devotees will walk on burning embers. This is not observed at Arunachaleswarar Temple as per agamic rules. On the night of Aadi Pooram (Pushya) star, the function will be observed immediately in front of the Unnamulai Shrine, 3rd Prakaram of Arunachaleswarar Temple.

*****************************

Sri Rajarajeshwari Temple on Girivalam Roadway, will be holding a bangle ceremony on August 5th, 2016, at their Temple followed by puja and worship of the Goddess dressed in her most resplendent best. For darshan of this Divine Goddess and to avoid crowds, you can visit the Temple after 8 p.m. on Friday, 5th August, 2016.

Sri Rajarajeshwari on a previous Aadi Pooram

She will be the most beautifully adorned and adored Goddess at Arunachala

Pradosham Arunachaleswarar Temple: Sunday, 31 July 2016

Below photographs of the most recent pradosham i.e. Sunday, 31 July 2016, observed at Arunachaleswarar Temple.

Big Nandi, 4th Prakaram

Devotees watching abhshikeham of Big Nandi, 3rd Prakaram

Aarti of Nandi at Flagpost

31 July 2016

Communal Kuthuvilakku Puja: July 29, 2016

In the month of Aadi, communal pujas such as the Kuthuvilakku Puja are performed on Tuesdays and Fridays at various Shakti Temples throughout the State. The pujas are performed for the well being of home and family or sometimes for the fulfilment of individual desires, such as a young girl wanting a husband or desiring children in a marriage.

The most common among all lamps is the Kuthuvilakku. The name is derived from the fact that these lamps were originally spiked into the ground. They are now stand-alone pieces with ornate decorations, but the name has remained through the ages. The lamp has five bowls on the top and there is a trim pedestal fixed firmly on a heavy circular base.

These lamps are used in common households and are also used on ceremonial platforms. The Kuthuvilakku is usually decorated on the top with structures of the "hamsa" (mythical swan) or with other religious symbols.

The photographs in this posting, are of the Kuthuvilakku Puja performed on Friday, 19th July 2016 in the Kalayana Mandapam, 3rd Prakaram of Arunachaleswarar Temple.