2014 Deepam Festival. Day Two - Morning: Surya Perai Vahana
This morning was the Surya Perai Vahana procession.
Vahana on its way through the Temple
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God on the Sun Vehicle
Procession on its way down Car Street
2014 Deepam Festival. Day Two - Night: Indra Vahana
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 and favourable intervention.
At Arunachala this God has a special significance 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). Devotees are blessed with long life and prosperity on
worshipping the Indra lingam.
Arunachaleswarar
Panchamoorthies giving darshan outside Temple
Sri Indra with Lord Arunachaleswarar
2014 Deepam Festival. Day Three - Day: Bootha Vahana
On the morning of Day 3 of the 2014 Karthigai Deepam Festival at
Arunachala was the procession of Lord Chandrasekhara on the Bootha
Vahana.
Lord Chandrasekhara Alangaram
The Lord on the Bootha Vahana
In this and other processions throughout the Festival, the
Panchamoorthies are: Vinayakar, Lord Arunachaleswarar, Goddess
Parashakti, Lord Subramanya and Sri Chandikeswarar (representing all
devotees).
Lord Ganesha on his Vahana
Lord Chandrasekhara rounding Arunachaleswarar perimeter streets
2014 Deepam Festival. Day Three - Night: Simha Vahana
During the Festival the panchamoorthies are taken in procession around
the Temple. Sometimes, the deity is shown mounted on or riding their
vehicle, while at other times, the vahana is shown by the Deity's side.
Many times, this vahana (vehicle) is also represented by way of
symbolism, as a divine attribute. Though the vahana appears to be
independent, it is part and parcel of the deity's presence and has an
meaning to it.
In the case of the Lord on the Simha (lion) vehicle; the creature
represents lordly power in general and lordly power of wild beasts in
particular. Lion, the royal beast represents the best in animal
creation. It can also represent greed for food and hence the greed for
other objects of enjoyment, which invariably leads to lust. And as God's
vehicle represents His control of animal instincts in human beings
The golden skinned lion is an archetypal symbol for the golden rayed
sun, the Lord of the day, whose appearance kills the demonic forces of
the night. The lion has always been important in Indian mythology as it
symbolises the solar and luminous principle of life and knowledge.
The lion also expresses the heroism and prowess necessary to defeat
asurik forces and represents the heroism and strength required to enter
the spiritual path.
Alangaram left to right: Karthikeya, Shiva, Goddess
Panchamoorthies outside Arunachaleswarar Temple
Lord Arunachaleswarar on Simha Vahana
Simha Vahana
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