Karthigai Deepam falls in the Tamil month of Karthigai
when the constellation of Krittika is in conjunction with the moon. It
is the most significant Festival celebrated on the Hill and at
Arunachaleswarar Temple. This year's Karthigai Deepam fell on 8th
December 2011.
The Festival is
preceded by three days of ceremonies and concluded by another three days
during which the deities are taken out on a float (theppam) upon the
waters of the Ayyankulam tank.
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The first day of
Karthigai Deepam Festival (November 29, 2011) begins with the hosting of
the flag (Dwajaroghanam) signifying the commencement of the Festival.
At this ceremony Lord Arunachaleswarar is brought out from the Temple
and placed in front of the flagpole to witness the proceedings. The flag
is hoisted amongst Vedic chanting and nagaswara music (drums and
cymbals). The priests then invite the sacred rivers, deities and rishis
to come and witness the occasion.
After conclusion of the
ceremony the statue of Lord Arunachaleswarar is taken around the main
streets, and then installed in the Kalyana Mandapam which is located in
the third prakaram of Arunachaleswarar Temple.
In this and other
processions throughout the Festival, the Panchamurthis are: Lord
Arunachaleswarar, Unnamulai Ambal (Parvati), Vinayagar, Murugan and
Chandeswarar. These processions are carried out on different vahanas
after Deeparadhana is done at the Kalyana Mandapam.
The second day of Karthigai Deepam Festival (November 30, 2011)
commences with Lord Panchamurthigal upon the chariot of Lord Indra.
During the third day of Karthigai Deepam Festival (December 1,
2011) there is a night procession with Lord Panchamurthigal coming in
procession on the Simha Vahana (lion chariot).
On the fourth day of Karthigai Deepam (December 2, 2011) a
ceremony commences when Lord Panchamurthigal comes in a night procession
starting with the Kamadhenu Vahana. The auspicious tree Kalpavriksha
(which is believed to grant the wishes of devotees) is also part of the
evening ceremonies.
On the fifth day of Karthigai Deepam Festival (December 3,
2011) at night is the procession of the enormous Silver Rishaba Vahana.
The vahana is some 25 feet tall and covered with a giant umbrella of
some 17 feet in diameter.
The sixth day of Karthigai Deepam Festival (December 4, 2011)
commences with a night procession of Lord Panchamurthigal on a silver
chariot.
The seventh day of Karthigai Deepam Festival (December 5,
2011) is of the wooden Maha Ratham (great chariot car) when Lord
Arunachala and Goddess Unnamulai are taken around the main streets along
with the other deities each in their own chariot. The smaller vehicles
preceded by the Temple Elephant Rukku, are taken in procession first,
while the imposing, majestic chariot of the Lord is slowly hauled around
the outside perimeter of the Temple throughout the day and evening.
The eighth day of Karthigai Deepam Festival (December 6, 2011)
begins at night with Lord Panchamurthigal going out on procession on a
huge horse vahana of which all four legs of the horse are in the air.
On the ninth day of Karthigai Deepam Festival (December 7,
2011) devotees can witness Lord Panchamurthigal going out procession on
the Kailasa Vahana.
The tenth day of Karthigai Deepam Festival (December 8, 2011)
starts at around 4.00 a.m. when the Bharani Deepam is lit at the Temple.
At dusk (around 6.00 p.m.) a Deepam is lit at the Temple which is
synchronised with the lighting of a Mahadeepam on the top of Arunachala.
The night procession starts with Lord Periya Nayagar on a Golden
Rishaba Vahana.
Following the 10 days of procession, there are three days of
Theppam, at the Ayyankulam Tank (located outside Arunagirinathar Temple,
the third oldest Shiva Temple at Tiruvannamalai). The three days of
Theppam in which the Lords are taken out in floats on the waters of the
tank are thus:
Lord Chandrasekhar - December 9, 2011
Lord Parasakthi - December 10, 2011
Lord Subramanian - December 11, 2011
On December 10, Lord Arunachaleswarar performs girivalam (pradakshina) of Arunachala.
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