ARUNACHALA GRACE

30 November 2017

2017 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 Chandrasekhara 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 onto the horse vahana platform and applies it to the forehead of Lord Chandrasekhara. After which 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 Maharadham the previous day is transferred back to its originator—Lord Chandrasekhara.

Lord Chandrasekhara and Lord Vinayaka stop at Yagasala Mandapam for adornment and aarti

Lord Chandrasekhara on Horse Vahana

2017 Arunachala Karthigai Festival: RESTRICTIONS climbing Arunachala on Deepam 2 December, 2017

This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Press Trust of India wire

The Madras High Court today directed authorities to permit only 2,500 devotees atop the Annamalai Hill in Thiruvannamalai during the December 2 Karthigai Deepam festival.

Justice K Ravichandrabaabu said passes for the devotees will be distributed at special counters on first come first serve basis from 6am on Saturday. The judge passed a direction to this effect on a petition filed by devotees assailing the district collector's decision not to permit any devotee to climb atop the holy hill this year.

Justice Ravichandrabaabu commended advocate-general Vijay Narayan for coming out with a suggestion to allow 2,000 devotees and then revising the number to 2,500.

It, however, laid down conditions for pass holders undertaking the uphill trek during the festival.

One of the conditions was that they should not light the deepam in any place atop the hill, except pouring the ghee at the designated Kopparai where the Karthigai deepam is lit.

The devotees should not carry camphor, crackers and other inflammable materials.

The 2,500 passes will not include VIP passes, the judge said, adding that the district administration should open special counters to distribute them to devotees who must come in queue.

The judge directed the district administration to deploy adequate number of police personnel atop the hill to see that no untoward incident took place during the festival.

Suitable arrangements must be made without giving room for any complaint from any quarters, the judge added.

The devotees took exception to the collector's order that no devotee would be allowed to climb the hill during the Deepam festival, because previous festivals had seen loss of lives, accumulation of garbage and spoiling of flora and fauna, thereby causing pollution and threat to ecology.

In the petition, the devotees said the centuries-old practice of climbing the holy hill to light the Deepam should not be curtailed all of a sudden, that to without getting the views and opinions of devotees and general public.

Justice Ravichandrabaabu pointed out that sentiments of devotees and threat to environment were at loggerheads and the court needed to decide the issue with great care and caution.

The judge praised the advocate-general for having come up with a solution.

"The fair, impartial and balanced role played by the advocate-general is deeply appreciated and recorded," the judge added.

2017 Arunachala Karthigai Festival: Day 7. Procession of The Goddess and Chandikeswarar

This day all the panchamoorthies participate in the procession, each in their own wooden chariot. The first two chariots are those of Lord Vinayaka and Lord Murugan (with both His wives). The third chariot procession is that of Lord Chandrasekhara and is known as the Maharadham (Wooden Chariot).

The last two chariots to proceed around the perimeter streets of Arunachaleswarar Temple are those of the Goddess, and Chandikeswarar (Chandesa) i.e. steward to the Gods.

The final two chariots of the panchamoorthies arrived at their starting place on Car Street just before 10 p.m. yesterday night, Wednesday 29 November, 2017.

The Giant chariots on Car Street awaiting the return of the last two Chariots of the panchamoorthies

The Maharadham returned to its spot on Car Street at the end of its procession

Large crowds of devotees engaged in bringing home the last two Chariots

Late on the night of Wednesday, 29 November, 2017

29 November 2017

2017 Arunachala Karthigai Festival: Day 7. All Day—Maharadham

This day all the panchamoorthies participate in the procession, each in their own wooden chariot. The third chariot to start on procession is that of Lord Chandrasekhara and is known as the Maharadham (Wooden Chariot).

The last two chariots to proceed around the perimeter streets of Arunachaleswarar Temple are those of the Goddess, and Chandikeswarar (Chandesa) i.e. steward to the Gods.

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]

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The first picture below is a map of the mada veedhis (perimeter streets) of Arunachaleswarar Temple. Processions go clockwise starting at the East side. All the five wooden chariots of the 7th day are permanently stationed on Car Street close to the Alankaram Mandapam (marked on map).

The Chariots are permanently stationed on Car Street near the Alankaram Mandapam

From early morning pilgrims have crowded around the Chariots on Car Street before the start of processions

Maharadham positioned in front of the loading mandapam and ready to start off

Maharadham on Thiruvoodal Street

Maharadham with ladies; pulling on the Chariot's left and gents on the Chariot's right

The chariot has nearly come to the top of Thiruvoodal Street

The chariot has left Thiruvoodal Street and has now turned right and proceeding on the West Side of the Temple on Pey Gopura Street

2017 Arunachala Karthigai Festival: Day 7. Procession of Ters (Radhams)

The 7th day of the Arunachala Karthigai Deepam Festival is probably the most popular of all the ceremonial processions of the Deepam Festival. It is the day the Radhams are hauled by devotees around the mada veedhis of Arunachaleswarar Temple.

This day all the panchamoorthies participate in the procession, each in their own wooden chariot. The first two chariots are those of Lord Vinayaka and Lord Murugan (with both His wives).

The first Radham to start on procession of the mada veedhis is that of Lord Vinayakar which is followed by that of Lord Murugan

Here the chariot has reached Pey Gopuram Street (West Side of Temple)

This year devotees carrying children in sugarcane cradles accompanied the chariots on part of their parade

Sugarcane cradles (Karambu Thuttis) with the child in the sling, being carried by parents and relatives

2017 Arunachala Karthigai Festival: Day 6. Night—Silver Chariot

The below pictorial report is of the night procession of the sixth day of the 2017 Arunachala Karthigai Deepam Festival with the Lord in his processional Silver Chariot.

Aarti is performed to the panchamoorthies in the Kalyana Mandapam (3rd Prakaram)

The Panchamoorthies are carried in palanquins around the outside of the Siva Shrine to the Yagasala Shrine (3rd Prakaram)

At the Yagasala Shrine ceremonial markings and pottu are added to the foreheads of the Deities

After the markings and pottu have been added, the Deities are then carried away from the Shrine through the Temple, exiting via the Thitti Vassal gate next to the Raja Gopuram (5th Prakaram)

The Gods are then carried across Car Street to the Tank next to Siva Sannidhi Street

Moving towards the loading mandapam

From the loading mandapam (yellow building) the God is then transferred into the Silver Chariot

Priests and attendants seating in front of the Lord on top of the Silver Chariot

The Lord in Silver Chariot leads the procession, the other Deities follow in their own conveyances

2017 Arunachala Karthigai Festival: Photographs of Deepam Festival

Cultural Programmes regularly held in Auditorium, 4th Prakaram

Dance academies in Tamil Nadu send Bharat Natayam dancers to perform

Dance and Music programmes are very professional

Illuminations throughout the Temple and around the Temple Tanks

This large illumination outside the Alankaram Mandapam off Car Street

Traditional musicians playing in front of processions and on the streets of Tiruvannamalai

Relations come to perform circumambulation of the Temple with baby in a cotton cradle (Karumbu Thutti)

The Deepam Cauldron created in 2016, has now been repaired and repainted and awaits in the 1000 Pillar Hall to be soon carried to the top of Arunachala

Ghee awaits in one of the Temple rooms, also to be transported to the top of Arunachala

2017 Arunachala Karthigai Festival: Day 6. Day—Chandrasekhara on Silver Elephant: 63 Nayanars

In the festivities of the morning of the sixth day, a glorious Silver Elephant, leads a procession of the great Shiva devotees, the 63 Nayanars.

The Nayanars are remembered as a group of 63 saints (poets) of the 6th to 8th century who were devoted to Lord Shiva. It was they who influenced the Bhakti movement in Tamil Nadu. The names of the 63 saints were first compiled by Sundarar and the list was expanded by Nambiyandar Nambi during his compilation of material for the famed Tirumurai.

Out of the 63 Nayanars, the four Saiva Samaya Acharyas are remembered best of all. Those four are: Tirugnasambandar, Tirunanvukkarasar (Appar), Sundarar and Manikkavasagar.

The principal teachings of the four Saiva Samaya Acharyas is of love and surrender to God; and of service to God and godly men. That love, devotion, and service to God is the only way one can obtain His Grace. God is One and He is Shiva. That man must get over his bonds which keep him in ignorance and obtain inseparable union with Shiva through the Lord's Grace.

Lord Chandrasekhara on Silver Elephant

Lord Chandrasekhara on Silver Elephant on Car Street

Lord Vinayakar on Silver Rat Vahana

The saints being carried in Palanquins

School Children carrying the Saints in Palanquins

63 Nayanars in Palanquins, Car Street

Four Saiva Samaya Archaryas

28 November 2017

2017 Arunachala Karthigai Festival: Day 5. Night—Big Silver Rishaba

Big Silver Rishaba

"The Festival begins nine or ten days before Deepam. Each evening there are solemn processions round the Temple, which are over and above the regular worship and the private offerings of puja which go on through the day.

The day comes to its climax with the procession of the panchamoorthies in the evening, which lasts almost until midnight . . . .

It was recommended not to miss the night of the silver bull, and I had accordingly arrived in very good time . . . . in the Kalyana Mandapam, ‘the portico of weddings,’ the priests were busy decorating the murtis, using silk and gold brocade, flowers and valuable jewels. Meanwhile the cars were standing outside the Temple, and on them also ornaments were being loaded. All this seemed to go on interminably; but at last there was a sudden blare of trumpets form the inner courtyard, their sound re-echoing loudly from the high enclosure walls. Accompanying the trumpets was the low drone of the tamburas, while the silvery melody of flutes pierced though the noise of the crowd.

Now the file of moorthies with their attendants emerged from their shrines, and when they passed under porticos or gopurams the echo from the low vaults become deafening. Soon they came to the Vallalla Gopuram where were standing. In front were the torch-bearers, next the musicians, and last the palanquins, carried on the bare shoulders of devotees. On either side was the tightly-packed crowd with outstretched arms, giving cries of fervent devotion. Somewhere breaking coconuts on the ground, while others held out at arm’s length gilded trays of burning camphor. The enthusiasm spread, swelled, multiplied itself irresistibly. Light, heat, scents, sounds, bodies and souls too, all were weeded together into a single vast and vibrant outpouring of love in honour of the Lord of Arunachala.

We followed behind the procession, crossed the outermost courtyard, passed under the huge gopuram over the East Gate and reached the long colonnade which adjoins it on the east, where the cars were waiting. The moorthies were installed on the cars; and once again the work of decoration was resumed with renewed zeal; flowers, jewels, lights in even greater quantity. The crowd was now more tightly packed than ever. The friend who was guiding me managed to open a path for me immediately in front of the chief car, where the palanquin of Shiva Annamalaiyar was mounted on the silver bull.

Over him was held a huge ceremonial umbrella which touched the roof overhead. Behind the car was a trailer with a dynamo, and thousands of electric bulbs sparkled all over the palanquin, the platform, the decorations, among the jewels, silks and flowers which adorned the statue. A devotee, who was standing near, was so moved that he cried out: "How can one doubt any longer that it is the Lord himself upon his car, who presents himself for our adoration!"

[Edited Narrative By Swami Abhishekananda 1970]