Procession of Panchamoorthies during Deepam Festival

To view interactive maps of the various Prakarams of Arunachaleswarar Temple, visit my Website Arunachala Samudra at this link here. 

This posting is in response to a reader who wants to know more about what happens on each day of the Deepam Festival. What Gods go on procession, what time do they give darshan, what is the route of their procession etc. Hope this posting gives enough information for readers who will be visiting Arunachala during this Festival to better understand the wonderful pomp and majesty of Arunachala Karthigai Mahadeepam.  

Below is a Map of the Third Prakaram of the Temple showing the sequence in which Aarti is performed to the Panchamoorthies inside Arunachaleswarar Temple before they begin their circumambulation of the mada veedhis (perimeter streets) around the Big Temple. 

The sequence of the five aartis are indicated by the numbering 1 to 5. 

Map showing the 5 Aartis during Deepam Processions 

Aarti to the Gods during the Deepam Festival

1. The beginning spot is at the back plinth in the Kalayana Mandapam. First Aarti.

2. The Panchamoorthies are then carried out of the front entrance of the Kalyana Mandapam, go left in the corridor between the outside of the Mandapam and the Shiva Sannidhi. Second Aarti.

3. At the end of the corridor, the procession turns right and the aarti is then performed in front of the Gods as they are facing the Hill (near the Arunagiri Mandapam). Third Aarti.

4. Continuing clockwise the procession passes the Shrine to the Goddess on its left until it reaches the Yagasala Mandapam. Where the fourth aarti is performed. Fourth Aarti.

5. The Panchamoorthies are then carried out through the various Prakarams and exit Arunachaleswarar Temple through the Thittivasal Gate. Inside the Alankaram Mandapam the Gods are decorated and put on their respective Vahanas. Afterwhich they receive their 5th Aarti. Fifth Aarti.

Thereupon the Panchamoorthies on their vahanas are pulled by tractor (except in the case of the Maha Radham i.e. giant wooden chariot which is pulled with chains by devotees . . . gents on the left and ladies at the right) around the perimeter streets of Arunachaleswarar Temple.

Aarti at back of Kalyana Mandapam, Arunachaleswarar Temple

Aarti at Yagasala, Arunachaleswarar Temple

Aarti at Alankaram Mandapam, outside Raja Gopuram, Arunachaleswarar Temple

Processions during Deepam Festival 

On Day One of the Deepam Festival, all 5 Gods (Panchamoorthies) come out in procession. Afterwhich, in the daytime -- only Lord Chandraskehara and Lord Ganesha come out in procession. The timing of day processions vary and for more specific information check at Big Temple. 

In the evenings all 5 Gods (i.e. Lord Shiva, Parashakti, Lord Ganesha, Lord Murugan and Chandikeswarar) begin their procession of the Temple Mada Veedhis. Starting from the Alankaram Mandapam (in front of the Raja Gopuram – East Gate) at approximately 10.30 p.m. It takes approximately 2-3 hours for the Panchamoorthies to perform circumambulation of the Temple Mada Veedhis. 

Arunachaleswarar Temple has 7 Prakarams, each of which is associated to a specific centre (chakra) of the body. 

1st and 2nd Prakarams (Central Shrine): The 2 contiguous Prakarams of the Central Shrine of Lord Annamalaiyar 

3rd Prakaram: Includes Deepa Darshana Mandapam, Pidari Shrine, Temples dedicated to the Elements, Kalyana Mandapam, Unnumulai Shrine (Mothers Shrine) 

4th Prakaram: Includes Shrine of the powerful Sri Kala Bhairava, Brahma Teertham, Puravi Mandapam with Ruku the Temple Elephant, unique Adi Mudi Shrine, Cultural Auditorium, famed Kili Gopura. 

5th Prakaram: Contains Raja Gopuram main entrance to Temple, 1000 Pillar Hall, 2 shrines dedicated to Lord Murugan, Sivagangai Teertham, a large monolithic Nandi and the Temple Sthala Vriksha – the Banyan Tree. 

6th Prakaram: The sixth Prakaram considered to be the mada veddhis (perimeter streets) of Arunachaleswarar Temple. These mada veddhis are: Car Street (east), Thiruvoodal Street (south), Pey Gopura Street (west), and Big Street (north) 

7th Prakaram: The seventh Prakaram regarded as the 14 km girivalam roadway that circumscribes Arunachala Hill 

Arunachaleswarar Temple Puja Timings

Renovation work at Arunachaleswarar Temple is going well. Most of the green cloth has been removed from the Temple Gopurams, and much of the painting work throughout the Temple has already been completed. 

As of this date there has been no official announcement of the 2017 Arunachaleswarar Temple Mahakumbhabhishekam Function (it is believed that it will be sometime in February 2017). However a new Puja schedule has been set. From what has been said it appears that this new schedule will be in place both before and after the Mahakumbhabhishekam Function however there may be changes in the schedule during Poornimas (full moon).

New Puja Timings at Arunachaleswarar Temple

Green protective cloth has been removed from Gopurams

Temple statues have been repaired and repainted throughout

Work prior to 2017 Mahakumbhabhishekam is proceeding well

Path to Vairakal Murugan Temple from Girivalam Roadway

In an earlier post about the Vairakal Murugan Temple on top of an Arunachala spur, I gave directions of how to reach the Temple (situated at the top of a hillock) by going through Rajiv Gandhi Nagar. Below is an alternative pathway you can take to reach the Temple via the Girivalam Roadway. 

Take NH66 (Chengham Road i.e. Girivalam Road) leading out of Tiruvannamalai. About one kilometre from Ramana Nagar on the right side is the Simha (Lion) Theertham. Walk past the Tank and about 500 yards further down the road, third path on the left after the Tank, is a roadway which has been created for construction material to be taken up the hillock to the Temple.

Simha (Lion) Tank on NH66 (Girivalam Road)

At the entrance to this roadway is a Temple board. Take this roadway and after a short distance it starts to climb up into the hillock. Follow this path direct to the Temple. 

Sign at pathway leading to the Vairakal Temple

Pathway leading up the Hillock

Closeup of rocky cluster surrounding Temple on Hillock

Construction roadway leading up to top of Hillock

2016 Major Karthigai Deepam Functions

Below is the programme of the upcoming 2016 Karthigai Deepam at Arunachala which lists the most famous and what will be the best attended major functions over the Festival period. 

To view the complete programme of the upcoming 2016 Karthigai Festival (as celebrated at Tiruvannamalai) please go to my previous posting at this link here. 

Major Functions of 2016 Mahadeepam Festival

The below photographs are of a previous Arunachala Karthigai Festival and show the fervour and excitment of the crowds during various major Festival functions.

Raising of the flag will occur Saturday, December 3, 2016

Wish-Fulfilling Tree will occur on Tuesday, December 6, 2016

Kamadhenu (Wish-Fulfilling Cow) will occur on Tuesday, December 6, 2016

Silver Rishaba Vahanam will occur on Wednesday, December 7, 2016

Maharadham Function will occur on Friday, December 9, 2016

Mahadeepam Function inside Temple Compound will occur on Monday, December 12, 2016

Arunachala Mahadeepam will occur at approximately 6 p.m. on Monday, December 12, 2016

If you wish to learn more about the Arunachala Karthigai Festival visit my website Arunachala Samudra at the Karthigai section on the site's browser to view archives including narratives and photographs of previous Deepams. 

Sprucing Things Up

Lots of activity in and around Arunachaleswarar Temple sprucing up, repairing and renovating the Radhams and Vahanas that will be used in the upcoming Mahadeepam Festival. 

On Car Street outside the Raja Gopuram

Looking at Radhams parked on the side of Car Street

Photographs below of the Vahanas being repaired and painted in time for the 2016 Mahadeepam Festival.

Vairakal Murugan Temple, Arunachala Spur

There is a very nice Murugan Shrine situated on top of a spur of Arunachala Hill. The Vairakal Murugan Temple is known to locals in the area and is becoming increasingly popular with visiting devotees during Poornima and festivals. Currently several times a year evening functions with singing are conducted at the Shrine, which is brightly lit up for these occasions. So much so that from my house I can easily see the lights on those evenings coming from the Arunachala Hill spur. Lights on the Hill are put up for the night of Mahadeepam, Chitra Poornima and Panguini Utthirham. The Temple is expecting devotees to come for puja and watch the lighting of the Arunachala Mahadeepam from the Hillock. 

Around one year back, the Murugan statue which had been on the top of the Hillock for over 30 years was damaged. When this became known, many local villagers gave donations to pay for the creation of a new statue of Lord Murugan and to help finance the construction of a larger Shrine. Until the Shrine is complete, the new statue of Lord Murugan will remain in an adjacent shed (see below photographs). Kumara Swami who lives on the Hillock, is maintaining the performance of regular puja for both the Murugan Statue and Shiva Lingam. Special pujas are being performed on Tuesdays, Fridays and Poornimas. A beautiful function on the evening of December 12, 2016, the night of Mahadeepam is planned. 

To assist in bringing material up to the top of the Hillock, the excellent Shantimali Trust helped the Shrine finance the creation of a pathway for construction vehicles, the digging of a water borewell and is currently also active in supporting the development of the Lord Murugan Shrine. 

There was no thought other than creating a Shrine to house the new Murugan Statue, however a devotee felt a strong impulse to give money for the creation of Shiva Lingam to be housed in a cave situated in a rocky cluster at the top of the Hillock. It is planned that after the Lord Murugan Shrine is complete, a shrine dedicated to Lord Shiva will be created inside a nearby cave in which devotees will be allowed to meditate. 

Circle shows location of Vairakal Murugan Temple. Arunachala background

The photograph above indicates how to get on the pathway leading to top of spur. The pathway to top of Hillock is located at back of Cow Sheds

Arunachala darshan from the location of the Vairakal Murugan Temple on Hillock

Easy walk up Hillock to the Murugan Shrine

Way to the top

Murugan Shrine at top of Hillock

Stone known as Anjaneya Rock, next to the Shrine

Villagers believe that the spirit of Lord Anjaneya resides at the top of the Hillock in the form of this guardian rock

This is the old Murugan Shrine which is being replaced by a larger Shrine that is nearly complete

Larger Vairakal Murugan Temple nearly complete

As construction is underway completing the Shrine, statue of Murugan is being kept in adjacent white shed. Puja is being regularly performed.

Lingam has been specially created. Will be later moved to its new home

Cave located in rock cluster on top of Hillock

There had been no intention to create a Shrine dedicated to Lord Shiva on the top of the Hillock. However when a person visited the Shrine and unexpectedly gave a large donation for the creation of a Shiva Lingam, it was decided that after completion of the Murugan Shrine, a Shrine will be created for Lord Shiva and located in a cave situated in a rock cluster (above photograph) at the top of the Hillock.

Shrine for Lord Murugan with adjacent shed housing new statue. Lingam in front of Shrine

On top of Hillock

Kumara Swami has been living at top of Hillock for the past year, conducting regular pujas to the new Lord Murugan statue and Shiva Lingam

One view from the Hillock overs the 750 acre Samudram Eri (lake) which fills with water during the Monsoon season

View from top of Hillock

Beautiful views and darshan from top of Hillock