2016 Arunachala Karthigai Festival: Deepam at Yogi Ramsuratkumar Ashram

I have previously made a number of postings about Yogi Ramsuratkumar Ashram at Tiruvannamalai. The most recent of which was about their wonderful Navatri Kolu doll display inside the Samadhi auditorium. 

Many devotees unfamiliar with this place never get to discover the charm, peace and uplifting spiritual energy of this favourite Arunachala Ashram. 

As is there tradition this Ashram creates their own representation of Arunachala during the Karthigai Festival and every evening light the deepam at the top of their Hill. 

Below are photographs of Saturday 17 December, 2016 at Yogi Ramsuratkumar Ashram. 

The Ashram's own Hill is adjacent to the samadhi auditorium entrance

A specially created Arunachala at Yogi Ramsuratkumar Ashram

Front of the Hill adorned with Gods

Left Subhramanya, right Anjaneya

Left the Goddess and right Lord Arunachaleswarar

Deepam on top of their own Arunachala

Devotees present for the deepam lighting each evening. This continues for the same amount of time the deepam remains on the Arunachala summit. This year that time will be 11 days.

The Ashram's own Deepam aligned to that on Arunachala itself

2016 Arunachala Karthigai Festival: Extraordinary Grace Given to Fishermen

Every year during Deepam five earthen-pot lighted lamps, representing the five elements, provide the flame for the single Bharani Deepam which fisherman carry to the top of the mountain for use as the source-light for the Krittikai Deepam. It is also they who are entrusted with carrying the Deepam Cauldron up to the top of the Hill prior to the day of Mahadeepam. 

The Deepam cauldron is hauled up the slopes of Arunachala supported by poles inserted into the cauldron’s rings. The unique privilege for taking the flame (source-light) and cauldron up the Hill and also for the actual lighting of the Deepam Flame is always given (for as long as the Hill’s recorded history) to men of the fishing caste. 

Parvtha Raja clan of fisherman light the 2016 Deepam Cauldron

This year 52 year old K Subramanian and his relatives of the Parvatha Raja clan lit the cauldron on the summit of Arunachala on Monday, December 12, 2016. According to local belief, the Parvatha Raja clan are descendants of a king who had been blessed by Lord Shiva to light the cauldron in order to ward off a curse. The clan has three sub-divisions: Unnamulai Priyan, Pennattu Priyan and Vathathi Priyan. 

The menfolk from the three sub-classes take turns every year to light the cauldron. This year it is the Unnamulai Priyan division. 

The clansmen are honoured with ‘Parivattam' on the morning of Karthigai Deepam Day at the temple.They use `Ezhalal' (a long bamboo stick with the wick at one end) to light the cauldron. The lamp is lit at 6pm when the idol of Arthanareswarar is taken on a procession around the sanctum of the Arunachaleswarar temple. Around 600kg of ghee, 100 metre of cloth and over 4 kg of camphor will be used each day for 10 days. 

The reason for the extraordinary grace shown to the fishing clan is explained by a famous legend of the time the Goddess Parvati was adopted by the king of the fishermen. A version of the story appears below. 

Becoming a Fisherman 

"Once, the Lord was explaining to the Goddess the secret import of the Vedas. However, the Goddess who was listening to the Lord, seemed to be beset with some anxiety and was otherwise engrossed. It was, therefore, apparent that She was listening in name only. The Lord noticed this and said that as She was not paying full attention to the important things discoursed by Him that in retribution She should be born in the fisherman’s community. 

The Goddess lamented and the Lord assured Her that She would be born to the king of fishermen and that He (The Lord) would in due course come to wed her. 

Ganapathi and Subrahmanya, the sons of the Lord were greatly perturbed by this and in their frenzy, considering the books of the Vedas to be the cause of the trouble, threw the offending books into the sea. The Lord took Nandikeswara to task for having allowed Vinayaka and Subrahmanya to go to Him without knowing His convenience and cursed him to become a shark in the sea. Any curse on Ganapathi would recoil on Him (the Lord) and hence the Lord did not impose any curse on the elephant God, however, Subrahmanya was cursed to become the dumb son of a merchant. 

There was a place called Pakam on the eastern seashore of the Pandya Kingdom which was inhabited by fishermen and their king of the great fisherman clan of Paravar, was a great devotee of Lord Siva. The king had no children and one day, when he went to the sea for fishing, found a crying female child lying under a Pinnai tree (or Punnai, Calophyllam Inophyllam) on the seashore. He picked the child up with great joy and handed it to his wife saying that it was a gift of the Lord. His wife brought up the child very affectionately and adorned it with various jewels. The child grew to be a girl who constantly meditated on Lord Siva. 

As ordained by the Lord’s curse, Nandikeswara became a shark and caused havoc to the fishermen’s boats sailing in the sea. The king of the fishermen took considerable pains to catch the shark—but all was in vain. The king therefore announced that he would give his daughter in marriage to any person who would catch the shark. 

The Lord appeared in the guise of a young fisherman and the king was struck with the personality and bearing of the young newcomer. To the king’s enquiry the young man replied that he was a fishermen and could net any big fish or shark. The king told him of the prize offered for netting the shark infesting the area. The newcomer went to the sea and in no time netted the shark. 

The king and his men were astonished at the feat. And happily gave to the newcomer his daughter in marriage and celebrated the wedding immediately. The bride and bridegroom immediately appeared as Siva and Parvati on their Vrishabha mount and the shark also appeared as Nandikeswara. 

The king of the fishermen extolled the God for the great kindness shown to an ordinary and illiterate man. The Lord told him that as he had been yearning for a child, He sent Parvati to be his daughter and He came himself came to wed Her. The Lord also blessed the king to have all prosperity and at the end of his life to become a denizen of Sivaloka. Then the Lord instructed Parvati about the secret import of the Vedas and She eagerly and earnestly listened to the discourse." 

Post-2016 Karthigai Deepam Festival: Day 3 Theepal—Lord Subramanian

During the evening of Thursday, December 15, Lord Subrahmanian gave His devotees darshan on Day 3 of Theepals on the Ayyankulam Tank in front of the Sri Arunagirinathar Temple. 

Lord Subramanian (with wives) alangaram

Lord Subramanian being carried to Ayyankulam Tank on palanquin

The Lord being carried onto Theepal

Lord Subramanian on Theepal

Lord Subramanian gives darshan on theepal, Ayyankulam Tank in front of Arunagirinathar Temple

Post-2016 Karthigai Deepam Festival: Day 2 Theepal—Sri Amman

During the evening of Wednesday, December 14, Sri Amman gave Her devotees darshan on Day 2 of Theepals on the Ayyankulam Tank in front of the Sri Arunagirinathar Temple. 

Sri Amman

Sri Amman Theepal on Ayyankulam Tank. Wednesday December 14, 2016

2016 Arunachala Karthigai Festival: Lord Arunachaleswarar Girivalam

After completion of the 10 day Arunachala Karthigai Festival, Lord Arunachaleswarar performs girivalam of the 14 km roadway around the perimeter of the Hill. This girivalam of Swamy gives an opportunity to devotees to take His darshan who are otherwise unable to view Him at Arunachaleswarar Temple. The only other time each year that Swamy performs Arunachala girivalam is during the January Pongal Festival. 

The Lord performing girivalam of Arunachala on December 14, 2016

The Lord stops constantly on the girivalam to receive offerings from devotees and also to perform aarti

Swamy giving darshan on NH66 part of the Girivalam Roadway

Post-2016 Karthigai Deepam Festival: Day 1 Theepal—Sri Chandrasekhara

Brahmotsavam is intended to teach us the way to divine self-realisation. The last of the celebratory observances during Karthigai Festival is Thirthotsavam which literally means “water festival”. Four days are allocated at the end of Deepam to celebrate the water festival at Ayyankulam Tank in front of Arunagirinathar Temple (the third oldest Shiva Temple at Arunachala). The water festival is representative of the sadhaka’s plunge into the higher realms of consciousness – and typifies an entering into samadhi... an end of religious aspiration. 

The Theepal for the Gods are floating structure made up of drums and timber and decorated with lights, flowers, religious paintings and silken buntings. Lights are installed around the perimeter of the tank and focus lights placed at strategic points. When the murtis of the Gods come to Ayyakulam Tank they are placed lovingly on a float and then the float pushes off and completes an allocated number of turns upon the Temple Tank. Devotees sit on the steps of the tank to take darshan of the God on the Theepal. Thereafter the deity of that day is taken in procession around the four Mada Streets (perimeter streets) surrounding Arunachaleswarar Temple. 

During the evening of Tuesday, December 13, Sri Chandrasekhara gave His devotees darshan on Day 1 of Theepals on the Ayyankulam Tank in front of the Sri Arunagirinathar Temple. 

Lord Chandrasekhara

The Lord gives darshan on Theepal, Ayyankulam Tank

2016 Arunachala Karthigai Festival: Cattle Fair

Traditionally a Cattle Fair takes place during the Arunachala Karthigai Deepam Festival. Generally cows, horses and sheep are brought to the Fair Grounds (located off the NH 66 Chengam Road near the Arts College) a couple of days before Mahadeepam—this year Monday, 12 December, 2016. Because of the financial burden of the ongoing “monetisation” programme in India, it is estimated that this year the Cattle Fair was fifty percent down compared to previous years.

Below is a report of the Cattle Fair during the 2016 Karthigai Deepam Festival that appeared in local newspapers. As there are lots of interesting information, am reproducing the article in full.

“Twenty three people from Kallampuli village in Kadaiyanallur taluk of Tirunelveli district have come to Tiruvannamalai Karthigai Deepam Cattle Shandy to purchase a set of bullocks for their village temple.

Asked why they came all the way from Kadaiyanallur, travelling 470 km to buy a pair of bullocks, Ramar, one of the villagers, said: “We want to buy it from Tiruvannamalai Deepam, a sacred festival in a sacred place. Although we purchase the cattle a day earlier, we won’t untie the cattle until we have a glimpse of the Mahadeepam.”

Diraviyam, another person from the team, said: “We want to buy ‘Ottan Kalai’ that is more powerful than others. This breed is not available in our place. That is also one reason why we come this far.” He was referring to a breed called ‘Merkathi’ or ‘Osur’ in the local parlance. The shandy used to be famous for native breeds such as this.

Despite the sentiment and breed-specific significance attached to this shandy, business was poor this year. “Only about 40 to 50 per cent of heads of cattle came this year,” said Palani, a cattle trader from Arani who has been in the business for the last 40 years.

“Neither traders don’t have money to buy nor do our customers have money to buy from us. I myself purchased 13 bullocks from Andhra Pradesh to sell them in this shandy. Because of the goodwill I enjoy, considering the money crisis they sold them on credit to me. Every trader cannot get credit,” Mr. Palani added.

“Not only the number of heads of cattle, but species specific slump is also palpable here. ‘Osur’ and ‘Tiruvannamalai’ breeds have arrived in very low numbers. Because of depletion of local breeds, their prices go up,” says a writer and former agricultural journalist.

Even the low number of heads of cattle have very few takers. The sellers are even prepared to accept old notes of Rs. 500 or Rs. 1,000 for a portion of the price. “But still there are very few takers,” said a seller.

Apart from directly affecting the purchasing power of farmers, the demonetisation has hit the shandy in many ways. “No rains. Even the farmers who want to take up farming despite lack of water could not do so because they could not buy inputs for the cultivation and pay wages because of demonetisation. When there is no farming who will come to buy cattle, other than a few men looking for carts,” asks Murugan, a seller.

Although there is no palpable slump in the number of horses that came for sales, only very few are sold. Siva, a jockey from Tiruvannamalai, said on Sunday: “As far as I know, only four horses were sold from yesterday”. Several allied trades like horse hair pruning, bull horn sharpening, shops that sell ornaments, and accessories for cattle were dull.” 

Rows of stalls selling various bullock and horse related items

Plenty of food stalls throughout the girivalam roadway

Lots of colourful stalls on the side of the girivalam roadway

Even if one doesn't have a bullock, nice to check out the stalls

Lots of folk moving about after some wet and soggy days

Lots of very interesting ornaments made up with sea-shells

And lots of bells. Many cattle pass by my house and I can tell them apart just by listening to the sound of their bells

These two are happy looking bullocks

Very handsomely done up with lots of ornaments

A matched pair busy have a nice chomp down

Compared to previous years very small turnout of Bulocks

Both people and cattle just happy to bask in welcome sunshine

This bullock is not ill. Just enjoying the lovely sun after a couple of wet soggy days

Horses next to nicely painted carts

Many horses brought to the Cattle Fair this year

Hello you!!!

And Hello to you Mister Curious!

Just makes you want to adopt all of them. So nice.

[Photographs by Professor Hari Prasad]

2016 Arunachala Deepam Festival. Day Ten—Night: Golden Rishaba

Late in the night of the 10th day of the 2016 Karthigai Deepam Festival, after both the Hill Deepam and Temple Deepam have been lit, Lord Arunachaleswarar gives darshan to all devotees on his vahana the golden Rishba (the golden bull).

The golden Rishaba was presented to the Temple by a devotee in 2015, at a cost of Rs.20 Lakhs. The 2016 Karthigai Deepam Festival is the second time this Golden Rishaba has been used.

The Golden Rishaba

Golden Rishaba in front of the the Alankaram Mandapam

Panchamoorthies giving darshan in front of the Alankaram Mandapam on the night of the 10th Day of the Karthigai Deepam Festival

2016 Arunachala Deepam Festival. Day Ten—Mahadeepam photographs Hill and Temple

Monday, December 12, 2016 was wet and rainy and made conditions both in the Temple and on the Hill difficult. However in spite of windy sleeting rains both the Deepams in the Temple and on the Hill were lit at dusk (approximately 6 p.m.) that evening.

Below are photographs of both Deepams. The Deepam in the Temple was lit first and as soon as a lookout on the Hill was notified that the Temple Deepam is afire, then the Deepam on Arunachala is set alight.

2016 Karthigai Deepam at Arunachaleswarar Temple

2016 Karthigai Deepam on Arunachala Hill

2016 Arunachala Deepam Festival. Cauldron on Summit—Thursday December 15

Have lots more news and photographs of the 2016 Arunachala Deepam Festival to post but for the moment a beautiful photograph of the Arunachala cauldron on the Summit taken this day. 

2016 Arunachala Deepam

2016 Arunachala Deepam Festival. Day Ten—6 p.m. Mahadeepam

Strong winds and rains on the day of Mahadeeepam, Monday December 12, 2016, did not prevent a large number of devotees travelling to Tiruvannamalai to witness this great event. In spite of cold, wet conditions many devotees braved the climb to the summit of Arunachala to view the lighting of the deepam first hand. In addition from early Monday morning throngs of people performed girivalam around the 14 km perimeter of the Hill. 

Ceremonies for the final day of the festival began shortly after 4 a.m., on December 12, 2016. Priests started the rituals by lighting the Barani Deepam (five earthen lamps marking the five elements, but merged into a single lamp to mark the convergence of the five elements) at Arthamandapam. 

To read about the events in the evening proceed below to a beautiful narrative of an earlier Mahdadeeam by Swami Abhisktananada. 

----- oOo -----

"Towards five the singing stopped, as a procession emerged from the Kalyana Mandapam. It was the five murtis (Ganapati, Subramaniyar, Lord Shiva, Parvati,  and representative of all devotees Chandiswarar) which were now coming attired in their most splendid garments and covered with flowers, to mix with the crowd so that they might have the darshan of the Holy Light. Immediately in front of the porch of the sanctuary stands a mandapam which was built in 1202 by Mangayarkarasi to provide a shelter for the Lords of the Temple during this annual function. The murtis passed through the crowd in their palanquins carried on the shoulders of the Brahmins. Once they were in their place, everyone’s attention was once more turned towards the Mountain and the chanting of mantras began again. 

The atmosphere became more and more tense. . . The great moment was drawing near for which everyone was waiting—the appearance of the Flame. Expectation filled every heart and showed on every face. It increased in harmony with the rhythm of the cosmos itself; as slowly beyond the horizon the moon rose into the sky, while in the depths of space the constellation of the Pleiades, of Krittika, appeared in the same direction. 

Suddenly there was the sound of an explosion, like a gunshot. Young Brahmin torch-bearers came running out of the inner sanctuary, brandishing their lighted torches at arm’s length. Priests offered the flame of the arati before the murti of Arunachala at its space under the mandapam. In front of the main gate a huge bronze cauldron, filled with oil, camphor and clarified butter, burst into a giant flame. 

And from the peak of the Mountain also, - on which all eyes had been fixed for the last full hour, not only in the Temple and the town, but in the whole countryside around to a distance of many leagues—the flame mounted up, manifesting both outwardly and in the heart of the faithful, the mystery of Light which from the beginning has at the same time hidden and revealed itself in Arunachala. 

That is all. The Flame has been seen. Joy and grace have filled all hearts. The crowd immediately begins to disperse, though it will be more than two hours before the Temple courts are completely empty. Each one as he leaves, goes to the bronze cauldron and casts into it his offering of camphor or of oil to be burnt up in the one great flame - a symbol of his own departure into the mystery of the Flame. 

Meanwhile the bearers up above begin their slow and difficult descent from the Mountain. They had climbed up early that morning in the first light of dawn, carrying jars of oil and clarified butter. The worthiest of their number were entrusted with bearing the sacred fire, taken from each of the Temple shrines, in order to light the Thibam flame. This had to be done at the very moment when, from their lofty observatory, they saw simultaneously the red sun disappearing in the west while the moon’s dish came over the horizon in the east. 

As soon as I left the Temple precincts amid the crowd of faithful, I joined with many others in once more following the circular road round Arunachala . . . as I stepped into the cool air of the night . . . all the detailed features of the Mountain had disappeared. There was nothing to be seen but the sharp outline of its mystic triangle sketched against the sky. As the moon climbed majestically towards the zenith, it shed over it its silvery light, while all around was spread a mysterious shadow. 

The Mountain had become an immense lamp, from the top of which glittered the bright Fame. OM.” 

Alangaram of Ardhanarishvara

Ardhanarisvara being taken by palanquin out of Temple

Amidst devotees in 3rd Prakaram, panchamoorthies in Mandapam at right

Lighting the Deepam at Arunachaleswarar Temple

Lighting the Deepam on Arunachala

With the storm and cloudy weather finally over, darshan of Arunachala Deepam on Wednesday December 14, 2016