Showing posts with label report. Show all posts
Showing posts with label report. Show all posts

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]




Panchamoorthies give darshan outside the Alankaram Mandapam

The Lord on his Vahana, the Big Silver Rishaba

25 November 2017

2017 Arunachala Karthigai Festival: Day 3. Day—Lord Chandrasekharar on Bootha Vahana



On the morning of Day 3 of the 2017 Karthigai Deepam Festival at Arunachala the procession of Lord Chandrasekhara on the Bootha Vahana is observed.

Bootha represents earth as one of the five manifestations of nature; air, water, fire, land and sky. The Lingam to which it is associated is the Prithivi Lingam of the Ekambareswarar Temple, Kanchipuram.

During Grand Festivals at Arunachaleswarar Temple, alangaram is performed at the Kalyana Mandapam. The Gods then leave by the front door of that Mandapam, perform circumambulation of the Siva Sannidhi and then stop at the Yagasala Mandapam for adornment and aarthi performed by the priests.


Deities in front of the Yagasala Shrine

 Deities carried through Temple towards egress of Thitti Vassal Gate

Lord Vinayaka on Vahana

Lord Chandrasekharar on Bootha Vahana in procession of mada veedhis

2017 Arunachala Karthigai Festival: Day 2. Night—Silver Indra Vahana



Lord Indra has a special significance with Arunachala, as He is associated with the Asta Lingam with the cardinal direction of east. The Indra lingam is dominated by the Navagrahas, Lord Surya and Lord Shukra (Venus) and devotees are blessed with long life and prosperity on worshipping it.


Indra is the King of the Gods and ruler of the heavens. He is the God of thunder and rain and a great warrior, a symbol of courage and strength. He wields a lightning thunderbolt known as the vajra, rides on a white elephant known as Airavata and also has a golden chariot drawn by ten thousand horses.


The formidable thunderbolt-wielding Indra strikes an imposing figure but as king of the Gods he is generally benevolent, being generous to his worshippers, guaranteeing peace and prosperity and delivering beneficial rainstorms to end droughts. He can also be called upon in times of war to give support with His Divine weapons, thus assuring a favourable intervention and outcome.


Lord Arunachaleswarar and Sakthi Amman being carried through Temple

The Lord mounted on Silver Indra Vimana

Young lad on horn

Process of the panchamoorthies through Tiruvannamalai

Large number of pilgrims attending all functions

24 November 2017

2017 Arunachala Karthigai Festival: Day 2. Morning—Surya Perai Vahana



On the morning of Day Two of the Karthigai Festival, Surya Perai is the Vahana for the Lord. Surya is the representation of Fire (or Agni) and 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 (known as Asta-dik-palakas).

During each procession the panchamoorthies are seated on their respective Vahana. The word “Vahana” denotes “that which carries, that which pulls” and signifies the mount of the God. The mount represents a Divine attribute associated with the God.

Arunachala is replete with mythology connected with the Surya, the Sun God. To find out more about Surya’s connection with the Hill, go to this link.




The Panchamoorthies being carried through the Temple

The Gods being moved away from the front of the Alankaram Mandapam

Darshan of the Lord on Surya Perai Vahana

Rukku next to her own, Lord Ganesha

Procession of the Gods through Tiruvannamalai

The Lord on His Surya Perai Vahana

2017 Arunachala Karthigai Festival: Day 1. Evening—Adhikara Nandi Vahana



Yesterday evening the Lord's vehicle was the Adhikara Nandi. There are two types of Nandi statues at Siva Temples, the more common is that of the recumbent bull (Vrsabha) and the other is that of Adhikara Nandi. In the case of Arunachaleswarar Temple, the Adhikara Nandi of last night's function is in the form of a bull-headed human standing on two legs.

Adhikara Nandi's two back hands hold a parasu (battle axe) and mrga (antelope) and the two front hands are folded on the chest in a pose of obeisance. Since he is the chief of the ganas of Siva, exercising his authority (adhikara) over them, he is christened as 'Adhikara Nandi.'

The white bull—Nandi—is the divine vehicle of Lord Shiva, the Destroyer. He is the chief of the ganas, Shiva's attendants. Nandi means 'happy'.

Nandikesvara, Lord of happiness, one of Shiva's ganas was fond of dance and music. He was born of the Divine progenitor Kashyapa and the Divine cow Surabhi. He married Suyasha, the daughter of the Maruts. As his life was coming to an end, he prayed to Shiva to lengthen his life. Shiva granted him immortality and leadership over His ganas. He was given the title “Adhikara Nandi” (or “authoritative Nandi'), for it is only with Nandi's grace and permission that one can enter the temple of Shiva. Adhikara Nandi took on a human form as a bull-headed human standing on two legs (or in some instances a bull standing erect on his rear legs).

Nandi is more than Shiva's vahana or vehicle. As the chief of Shiva's attendants, he is also the guardian of all four-legged animals. Nandi is essential to every Shiva Temple—the sanctum sanctorum of each Temple, where the deity may be in a human or linga form, has an image of Nandi facing the shrine.

There is a story that Vrishabha Deva or Nandi was very proud of his role as the vehicle of the Supreme Lord Shiva himself. To teach him a lesson, Shiva placed a lock of his hair on the bull, who was unable to bear the weight. Realising that he had been arrogant, Nandi begged Shiva's pardon. Shiva forgave him and initiated him into divine knowledge.

Nandi completes the image of the happy family. In days gone by, people depended on the bull for transportation. The bull was thus the vehicle both for Shiva and man. He is also a symbol of how a powerful animal, imbued with Divine authority, is also a gentle and humble worker and helper to both the Gods and man.




Panchamoorthies giving Darshan


Adhikara Nandi Vahana before decorating

Adhikara Nandi Vahana on Procession

Goddess Parashakti on Her Vahana the mythological bird Annapakshi

9 December 2016

2016 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. 


Message of the Nayanars 

“There have been many ‘intellectuals’ even in India who have looked down upon the path of Bhakti (devotion) as something inferior to Jnana (wisdom). Their short-sightedness becomes at once apparent when we study the lives of the great Four Teachers (Appar, Sundarar, Manickavachagar and Sambandar) and realise that these great Jnanis, too, were great Bhaktas who loved to visit Temples and sing the glories of the Lord. 

Love of the Lord cuts at the very root of our attachment to this world, and snaps all worldly ties, to father, mother, son, wife or relatives. As the stories of the Nayanars illustrate, the devotee is ever ready to renounce all, in favour of devotion to Lord Siva. 

Let us also never forget that in the case of all the Nayanars devotion invariably meant expansion of the heart, and, therefore, service and charity. We have to take the individual tales of the Nayanars as allegories exhorting us to rout out the inner obstacles to our Sadhana. 

If we approach these saints with faith and devotion in our hearts, we shall grasp the message they have for us. We shall also understand why they gave such a great place to externals like the sacred ash, Rudraksha, etc. These symbols remind one constantly of God: and, when they are said to remove our sins, they remove our sinful tendencies, too, by constantly reminding us of God, and keeping evil out of our mind.” 
[By: Venkatesananda] 



The Lord on his beautiful silver Elephant


Moving away from the front of the Alankaram Mandapam, and proceeding  around the mada veedhis (perimeter streets) of Arunachaleswarar Temple

Palanquins each carrying individual Nayanars

The Saiva Samaya Acharyas


Out of the 63 Nayanars, the four Saiva Samaya Acharyas; (left to right) Tirugnasambandar, Tirunanvukkarasar (Appar), Sundarar and Manikkavasagar are remembered best of all. 

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. 


Beautiful Rukku, our own Arunachala elephant, making sure that in spite of ornate, ceremonial silver elephants, she ALWAYS takes pride of place!

28 November 2012

Lakhs Witness Karthigai Deepam



The below photograph is a view of the Deepam on Arunachala from the Temple yesterday evening immediately after the lighting of the Flame. 




A National Newspaper reported of the evening as follows: 

"Lakhs witness Karthigai Deepam Lakhs of devotees witnessed the lighting of the Karthigai Maha Deepam on the Tiruvannamalai hill on Tuesday. The ten-day Karthigai Deepam festival, which began with hoisting of the flag at the Sri Arunachaleswarar temple on November 18, culminated with this ritual. 

 Crowds had begun pour into the town from daybreak for performing ‘girivalam’ or circumambulation of the holy hill. Setting stage for the final event in the evening, the Barani Deepam was lit inside the sanctum of the temple in the early hours as thousands of devotees watched. 

At 6 p.m. the ‘Deepa Nattars’, who hail from fishermen community, lit the Maha Deepam atop the hill. The Maha Deepam is a huge cauldron filled with three tonnes of ghee, with the wick made of several hundred meters of cotton cloth. 

As the huge flame became visible from the hill top, lamps were lit in the temple and across the temple town and surrounding villages."