A R U N A C H A L A S A M U D R A - Big Temple - Kumbabhishekam at Arunachaleswarar temple - 2017

2017
Mahakumbhabhishekam is held either to formally consecrate a new Temple or reconsecrate an old one. In the case of reconsecration, this ceremony often occurs at twelve-year intervals - following renovation, extensive cleaning and renewal. The rites culminate with the priests' pouring sanctified water over the Temple spires, each of which resembles an inverted pot, or kumbha.

At Arunachaleswarar Temple recently held Kumbhabhishekams occurred in the years: 1903, 1944, 1976, 2002 and in 2017.

The Kumbhabhishekam ceremony is believed to have an everlasting effect on society. The Agama Sastras state that it is conducted with the sole purpose of eradicating illness, obtaining good benefits from various Yagas, deriving rich benefits for the well being of all, health propagation of progeny and prosperity to society as a whole.

At Arunachaleswarar Temple, the Raja Gopuram symbolically represents the feet of the deity. A devotee bows at the feet of the Lord at the entrance as he steps into the Temple and proceeds towards the sanctum sanctorum, leaving behind the world of worries. On a cosmic level, Temple towers (being the highest structure in the area), are thought to have acted as lightning conductors in olden days. Towers on top of altars where deities are installed, are comparatively shorter than the Raja Gopuram and are called Sannidhi (Altar) Gopurams or Vimanas.

Kalasams which are usually made of an alloy of five metallic elements, such as Copper, Gold, Silver, Brass and Lead, are a set of concentric cone, cylindrical and globe-like shaped metallic structures installed on the top of Gopurams. The Vimanas (Sannidhi Gopurams) have just a single Kalasam, whereas the Raja Gopuram has multiple Kalasams.

According to a statement released by the District administration - financing for Temple renovation works came to around Rs 7.2. A crack found in the stone beam at the base of 217-feet-high Raja Gopuram and other minor cracks found in the Gopuram were fixed using anchor assemblies. The work was undertaken by a specialist engineering team who flew in from the U.K. All Temple Gopurams and Vimanas were painted. The 1000-pillared mandapam (main Temple hall) was cleaned. Pillars of the central mandapam were decorated with gold-coated iron plates and Temple utensils were scrubbed and polished.

The Temple administration arranged an accident insurance policy from the National Insurance Company by paying a premium of Rs.64,170/-, for coverage in the case of compensation in the case of untoward incidents during the Festival. Holiday was declared for schools and colleges in the District.

As a prelude to the festival Durgai Amman Utsavam and Pidari Amman Utsavam were held in their respective Temples on Thursday and Friday. The first rite performed was that of honouring Lord Ganesha followed by prayers to the earth (bhumi puja) for the support and blessing of the yagasala.

Consecration rites extended over a number of days and an inaugural puja was held in the specially constructed yagasala (House of the Fire Offerings) after which during the next six days, grand homas (fire ceremonies) were conducted at agni kundams (fire pits) built inside the yagasala just for this purpose. The Yagasala housed 108 yaga kundams for the performance of 12 kala homams which began January 31, 2017.

Homams were performed by offering ghee, grains and spices to the fire accompanied by the chanting of mantras. The major Homams conducted were: Ganapati Homam (to remove all obstacles), Sudarsana Homam (for peace and victory over negative energies), Navagraha Homam (to alleviate malefic effect of Navagrahas and to appease the Navagrahas), Vaastu Shanti Homam (for the worship of the elements of nature and balance the forces that control the flow of energies) and the Moola Mantra Homam (oblations to the deities residing in the Temple by chanting the Moola Mantra of each deity).

Each of these homas were dedicated to a God or Goddess - Annamalai, Amman, Vinayagar, Murugan, Somaskander and Venugopal and to Parivara Devathas (saints devoted to Lord Siva). Surrounding the fire altars were hundreds of kumbhas, or copper pots - and each pot sat in a bed of rice, topped with mango leaves and a coconut.

Sivacharyas, oduvars (traditional Temple singers) and Vedic scholars from all over India orchestrated the homas while tavil players (Temple drummers) and nadaswaram masters (Temple horn players) provided appropriate festival music. At the brick fire altars sat acharyas who stoked the fires and made offerings and libations into them. They chanted mantras and sacred texts to invoke the Divine presence to the fire and to the pots of water to be consecrated. The Homams were conducted according to the agamas and performed by acharyas (priests) in the specially created Yagasala in the Temple compound. It is through these mantras, that the Divine is made present. The "root mantras" (mula mantras) are different for each deity installed in the Temple.

Along with the offerings of words - offerings of grain, flowers, spices, honey, and many other substances are poured forth. All are fed into the sacred flames along with ghee (clarified butter). When the offerings are complete and all the mantras have been uttered, the priests and the community stand for the purnahuti, the ritual of completion from the Isha Upanishad.

That Beyond is Fullness.
This here is Fullness.
From Fullness comes Fullness
Drawing out the Fullness of the Fullness
Fullness yet remains.
Om, peace, peace, peace.

On a day at the designated auspicious time, when the Kumbha is bathed with the charged and sanctified holy waters contained in the sacrificial pots, consecrated and sanctified pranic powers trickle down a silver wire and enter the Deity installed inside the Sanctum Sanctorum of the Temple. After the consecration of the Vimanas on top of the Temple, worship was then specifically performed inside the Sanctum Sanctorum in which further pranic powers were transferred to the Deities

Approximately 1,780 special buses operated to Tiruvannamalai for the consecration of Sri Arunachaleswarar Temple on February 6, 2017. Around 20 huge LED screens were placed inside the Temple and in significant spots about Tiruvannamalai (including the Bus Stand) to enable devotees to see live streaming of the Kumbhabhishekam ritual. Arrangements were made to provide drinking water for devotees throughout Girivalam roadway. 85 drinking water outlets were arranged in the Temple. Sprinklers were set up to spray holy water on devotees during Kumbhabhishekam. 25 lakh devotees were estimated to have attended the Festival. The Postal department released a commemorative cover to celebrate the grand occasion.