2016 Arunachala Deepam Festival. Day Ten—Early Morning: Bharani Deepam

As these five flames loom up with red-yellow light, the famous South Indian festival of Karthigai Deepam officially begins. A single flame is then taken from the pots and kept burning in the Temple throughout the day as a symbol of the merging of manifestation back into God, the one source of all. This single flame is referred to as the Bharani Deepam.

Significance: 

"There is immense significance in this ceremony called Bharani Deepam. At this time, the universal Lord manifests as the five elements, which will later fully merge to become one when the Krittika Deepam flame is lit in the evening. From one to many and many to one. This is the whole essence of Saivism and the meaning of Krittika Deepam."

2016 Arunachala Deepam Festival. Day Nine—Night: Kailasa (Ravana) Vahana.

On the night of the 9th day of the 10-day Karthigai Deepam Festival Lord Chandrasekharar is mounted on the Kailasha (Ravana) Vahana. 

Kailasha (Ravana) or Ravananugraha-murti ("form showing favour to Ravana") is a benevolent aspect of Lord Siva who is depicted seated on his abode Mount Kailash with the Goddess Parvati with the rakshasa Ravana below trying to shake the mountain. 

The legend recorded in the Ramayana goes like this: 

The ten-headed, twenty-armed mighty King Ravana defeated and looted the city of Alaka (which belonged to his step-brother and God of wealth, Lord Kubera). After the victory, Ravana was returning to Lanka in the flying chariot stolen from Kubera, when he spotted a beautiful place which his chariot could not fly over. 

Ravana met Shiva's bull-faced dwarf attendant Nandikeshvara and asked the reason for his chariot's inability to pass over the place. Nandi informed Ravana that Siva and Parvati were enjoying dalliance on the mountain and no one was allowed to pass. 

Ravana mocked Siva and Nandi. Enraged by the insult to his Lord, Nandi cursed Ravana that monkeys would destroy him. In turn, Ravana decided to uproot the mountain Kailash, infuriated by Nandi's curse and his inability to proceed further. He put all his twenty arms under Kailash and started lifting. However, the omniscient Shiva realized that Ravana was behind the menace and pressed the mountain into place with his big toe, trapping Ravana beneath it. Ravana gave a loud cry in pain. Advised by his ministers, Ravana sang hymns in praise of Shiva for a thousand years. Finally, Siva forgave Ravana and granted him an invincible sword. Since Ravana cried, he was given the name "Ravana" – one who cried. 

The Lord on Kailasa (Ravana) Vahana

Kailasa Ravana Vahana

The crowd watching procession on night of Day Nine

 

The Tamil version of the legend narrates that imprisoned under Kailash, Ravana cut off one of his heads and built a veena from it. He used his tendons for the strings and began singing the praises of Siva which pleased the Lord so much that he bestowed a powerful linga to be worshipped by Ravana at Lanka.

 

Ravana Vahana

Vahana shows Tamil version with Ravana's head back of Veena

2016 Arunachala Deepam Festival. Day Nine—Day: Chandrasekhara on Purusha Meruga Vahana

On the morning of the 9th day of the 10-day Karthigai Deepam Festival Lord Chandrasekharar is mounted on the Purusha Miruga Vahana. 

This vahana known in Tamil as Purushamirugam (man-beast) has the body of a lion and the head of a human being. The sphinx-like creature supposedly has the power to avert evil influences and bad luck. It is also believed to be able to take away the sins of devotees when they enter a Temple and for this reason is often found in a strategic position at Temple gateways and near entrances to the inner shrine. 

The form of the purushamirugam adorns lamps used in puja ceremonies (diparadhanas) and plays an important role in daily and yearly rituals in Shiva temples. 

After giving darshan, Lord Chandrasekhara on Purusha Meruga Vahana starts off on the beginning of His procession around the Temple perimeter streets

As is usual in morning processions, Lord Chandrasekhara is accompanied by Vinayaka on His procession around the Temple

Lord Chandrasekhara on Purusha Meruga Vahana

2016 Arunachala Karthigai Festival: Day 8. Night—Lord Arunachaleswarar on Big Horse

In Hindu iconography, positive aspects of the vahana (vehicle) are emblematic of the Deity that it carries. In this procession as well as the Lord having the horse as his vahana, each of the panchmoorthies also carry a whip in their hand. 

The main characteristic of the horse is its loyalty, industriousness and swiftness. It is symbolic of energy and effort and also symbolises the air or prana which runs through the channels of the body and is the vehicle of the mind. That means, with God as driver, we have the possibility of controlling the mind and wind and guide it towards any direction and at any speed that we wish. The neigh of a horse is also symbolic of the power to awaken the sleepy mind for the practice of sadhana and righteousness. 

In this post, I am posting below the alangarams of each of the panchamoorthies  because they are just so lovely. Especially the alangarams of the Goddess Parashakti and Lord Murugan.

Alangaram of Lord Vinayaka

Alangaram of Lord Murugan (with both wives)

Alangaram of Lord Arunachaleswarar with whip in hand

Alangaram of Goddess Parakshakti

Alangaram of Chandikeswarar

Panchamoorthies giving darshan to devotees in front of the Alankaram Mandapam

Lord Arunachaleswarar mounted on his Big Horse

Procession of the panchamoorthies on the mada veedhi (perimeter streets) of Arunachaleswarar Temple

2016 Arunachala Karthigai Festival: Day 8. Day—Lord Chandrasekhara on Horse

The morning of the 8th day of the 10 Day Karthigai Deepam Festival belongs to Lord Chandrasekahara on horse vahana accompanied by Vinayaka on rat vahana. 

After giving darshan in front of the alankaram mandapam Lord Chandrasekhara visits the Maharadham (His wooden chariot vahana of the previous day). During His visit puja is performed in the front of the Maharadham by Brahmin Priests. After completion paste is taken from the puja residue, and a priest thereupon climbs up the horse vahana and applies pottu to the forehead of Lord Chandrasekhara. Afterwhich a transfer of Darba Grass is made from the Maharadham to Lord Chandrasekhara on horse vahana. 

Significance of this ritual is that power accumulated in the vast Vahana the previous day is transferred back to its originator Lord Chadrasekhara. 

 

Lord Chandrasekhara moving away from the front of the Alankaram Mandapam

Will soon visit the Maharadham of previous day

Lord Chandrasekhara on Horse Vahana

The Lord on Horse Vahana visiting Maharadham

Lord Chandrasekhara on Horse at Maharadham

Priest at Lord Chandrasekhara on Horse to serve in facilitating return of power from Maharadham

After residual power in the Maharadham has been gathered back by the Lord, He proceeds at the start of His procession of the mada veedhis

Lord Vinayaka on rat vahana in foreground, Lord Chandrasekhara on horse vahana at back

2016 Arunachala Karthigai Festival: Cauldron and Wicks To Arunachala Summit

Early this morning after puja was performed on the Arunachala Mahadeepam Cauldron, men from the fishing caste left the Temple by the Amman Ammani Gopuram carrying the Cauldron and made their way to the entry point of the track leading up to the summit of Arunachala from the east side of the Hill.

Men from the fishing caste carry the Cauldron to the Arunachala summit

In spite of the back-breaking work, absolutely no shortage of volunteers eager to participate in carrying the Cauldron to the top of Arunachala

In Big Temple cloth (to be used as wick in the Cauldron) waits to be carried to the top of Arunachala

Devotees wait to make donations towards Ghee for the Cauldron during the Festival

2016 Arunachala Karthigai Festival: Online Streaming and Live TV Coverage—December 12, 2016

Karthigai Deepam will be lit on the top of the holy mountain Arunachala at Tiruvannamalai around 6 pm on December 12, 2016 and be visible from a radius of about 35km.

Arunachala Deepam from a previous year

Live online streaming of the 2016 Arunachala Karthigai Deepam can be viewed on the links listed below:-

DD Podhigai: www.ddpodhigai.org.in/live.html 

Thanthi TV: www.thanthitv.com 

Jaya TV News: www.jayanewslive.com 

Sun News: www.sunnewslive.in 

News7 Tamil: www.ns7.tv 

Puthiya thalaimurai TV: www.puthiyathalaimurai.tv 

Polimer News: www.polimernews.com 

Deepam at Arunachaleswarar Temple with Arunachala background from a previous year

Live coverage of the 2016 Arunachala Karthigai Deepam can also be viewed on the below Tamil TV stations:-

Jaya TV 
DD Podhigai 
Thanthi TV 
Sun News 
Vasanth TV 
Puthiya Thalaimurai TV 
Polimer News 
News7 Tamil 
Sri Sankara TV 
Kalaignar Seithigal 
Captain News 
Makkal TV 
Mega TV 
Raj News 
Lotus New

2016 Arunachala Karthigai Festival: Day 8. Early Morning—Cauldron Puja. Cauldron Taken To Top Of Arunachala

Early this morning Saturday, December 10, 2016, Puja was performed on the Deepam Cauldron in the 4th Prakaram of Arunachaleswarar Temple. Lovely Rukku was in attendance. After the Cauldron was blessed, it was lashed up with poles and then carried out of the Temple by (as tradition dictates), men of the fishing caste. 

Lovely Rukku in attendance at the early morning puja

2016 Arunachala Deepam Cauldron

Cauldron tied to poles and carried by men of the fishing caste

Cauldron leaving Arunachaleswarar Temple

Crossing Pey Gopuram Street and on the other side of the street (under the white banner) will start their ascent of Arunachala

2016 Arunachala Karthigai Festival: Day 7. All Day—Maharadham Procession: Amman and Chandikeswarar

With the arrival of the Amman and Chandikeswarar Radhams, all the panchamoorthies have completed their procession of the mada veedhis (perimeter streets) of Arunachaleswarar Temple and have now returned to their permanent spots on the sides of Car Street (east side of Temple).

The Amman Radham having completed its procession around the perimeter streets of the Temple, has now returned to Car Street

The last Radham of the panchamoorthies to complete the circumambulation of the Temple streets, is that of Chandikeswarar

2016 Arunachala Karthigai Festival: Day 7. All Day—Maharadham Procession

In an earlier post, I wrote about parents performing circumambulation of the mada veedhis (perimeter streets) of Arunachaleswarar Temple carrying their child in a "sugarcane cradle". To read more about this, go to the earlier post at this link here. 

The most popular day for performing this vrata (vow) is the day of Maharadham (giant chariot/car). From early morning parents and family members have been purchasing their sugarcane from vendors throughout Car Street. And then off they go on their Temple rounding. 

Parents with their sugarcanes near the Panchamoorthi Radhams lined up on Car Street

Endless supply of sugarcane for sale throughout Car Street

Parents with child in its sugarcane cradle start off on their circumambulation of Arunachaleswarar Temple mada veedhis

The Ter (Chariot)

“Ter-pulling Festivals are to be understood as a royal progress. In Tamil Hindu Temple rites, the “ter” is at once a war-chariot, a mobile palace and a representation of the God’s Temple. During these Festivals the God (or Goddess) is enthroned on his “ter” and vested with royal trappings; the great car is then drawn in triumph along its designated procession route. 

This route is the Deity’s symbolic kingdom. As He proceeds among His worshippers, He (or the priest-attendants who act on His behalf) receives the offerings which are presented by His subject-devotees; the God returns these presentations in the form of prasad. These ceremonial exchanges affirm the God’s sovereign status, and they also express the bonds of social rank and primacy which are continually being built up and recorded among his devotees.” 

[Saints, Goddesses and Kings by Susan Bailey] 

The pink structure next to the Maharadham is from where people cross over into the Maharadham

Maharadham on its procession route passing through Car Street

After having turned the corner of Car Street Street the Maharadham proceeds up the slope of Tiruvoodal Street