Deepam Festival. Day Four - Day: Naga Vahana
On Day Four was the procession of Chandrasekhara on the Naga (snake)
Vahana. The first photo in his gallery is of the newly renovated and
plated Naga Vahana.
Naga Vahana recently refurbished
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Lord Arunachaleswarar on Naga Vahana, 2014 Deepam
Lord Arunachaleswarar in Mandapam outside Temple Rajagopuram
Procession Panchamoorties Temple perimeter Streets
2014 Deepam Festival. Day Four - Night: Kalpavriksha and Kamadhenu Vahanas - Wish Fulfilling Tree and Cow
One of the most popular of the processions during the Deepam Festival at
Arunachala, is that of the Kalpavriksha (also known as Karpavirutcham),
the wish fulfilling tree and Kamadhenu, the wish fulfilling cow. Both
of which emphasis the wish fulfilling aspect of Arunachala.
Lord Karthikeya, Lord Arunachaleswarar and Goddess Saraswathi
The Kalpavriksha is a mythological divine tree said to fulfil all
desires. Its mythology narrates that the wish-fulfilling tree originates
from the churning of the ocean of milk after which the god Indra,
returned with the tree to his paradise. During the Deepam Festival on
the Fourth Night Lord Arunachaleswarar is seated under the Kalpavriksha
Tree.
Glorious Wish Fulfilling Tree outside Temple Mandapam
The second major Radham appearing on that night is that of Kamadhenu
(literally meaning; the cow; "from whom all that is desired is drawn",
or "the divine cow providing for all needs"). The Kamadhenu is a divine
cow-goddess described in mythology as the mother of all cows who
provides the owner with whatever is desired.
Theories as to the origin of the Kamadhenu are two-fold. One scripture
describes her as the daughter of the creator god Daksha, and another
narrates that Kamadhenu also emerged from the churning of the cosmic
ocean. Kamadhenu is the vahana for the Goddess Saraswati on this night.
Wish Fulfilling Tree vahana of Lord Arunachaleswarar
It is often the wish fulfilling aspect of Girivalam that brings many
pilgrims each Poornima (Full Moon) to the Hill, whatever the difficulty
or weather, to perform circumambulation. In fact many pilgrims prefer it
when the conditions are extreme (cold, heavy sheeting rain, previous
tapas such as fasting and mortification etc) as they believe that the
greater the difficulties they overcome in performing girivalam, the
greater will be the focus of their sankalpa (intention) and success of
their wish.
Wish Fulfilling Tree rounding the perimeter streets of Temple
The now deceased Annamalai Swami explains the power of the Hill as thus:-
". . . It is not an ordinary hill. It is spirituality Itself. It has a
powerful, magnetic pull to the Self. Seekers who come to this place with
the intention of realizing the Self will have untold benefits if they
do pradakshina on a full moon.
Kamadhenu - Wish Fulfilling Cow
In the proximity of this holy hill the presence of the Self is more
powerful and more self-evident than anywhere else. Indian mythology
speaks of a wish-fulfilling tree. If you find this tree and tell it what
you want, your wish will be granted.
Arunachala also has this reputation. This is why so many people come
here on a full moon night and walk around it. But very few people come
here and ask for their complete freedom, for undisturbed peace.
Arunachala is a light. It shines. It is the light of the Self, and the
light of the Self will continue to shine on you whether you believe it
or not. Arunachala is greater than all other religious places. There are
other holy, powerful places in the world, but none have the power of
Arunachala . . . There is a huge amount of shakti, or spiritual energy,
here."
Crowd Scenes 2014 Karthigai Deepam, Arunachala
Below is a sequence of photographs of the crowds taken during the early days of the 2014 Karthigai Deepam Festival.
The first photograph is of dearly loved Rukku, the Temple Elephant, who
is very much part of many of the celebrations and processions connected
with this Festival.
Rukku on Procession Detail
Ladies carrying Child around the 3rd Prakaram Shrines
The above photograph is of a 'sugarcane cradle' in which family members
in answer to a vrata (vow), carry their child in a cradle made of sugar
canes and saris, either around the inside or outside perimeter of
Arunachaleswarar Temple. This is often the consequence of a would-be
parent praying to God for the boon of a child and their pledge to the
Divine that they will offer the child (when born) to God and perform
Temple circumambulation.
Sometimes if the family lives a long distance from Arunachala, it might
be years before the vow is honoured and they are able to return to
complete their Temple circumambulation. Problem is the longer you wait
the bigger and heavier the child becomes!
Devotees visit Kalyana Mandapam to take darshan of the Gods
The next photographs are of musicians connected with processions and
programmes during the 2014 Karthigai Deepam Festival.
Musicians playing around the Temple Streets
Umbrellas and musicians used through the Festival during processions
Sadhus and Swamis an essential part of all Festivals at Arunachala
Temple compound busy with pujas, processions and cultural programmes
Young Lad offers his own aarti to the Gods
2014 Karthigai Deepam Festival - Cultural Programmes
Throughout this long Deepam Festival, cultural programmes of traditional
dance and music are held both in the auditorium inside the
Arunachaleswarar Temple and also on floats moving around the town's mada
veedhis (Temple perimeter streets). As well as cultural programmes,
there are also street musicians and those attached to processions and
festivities.
Young children performing Bharatanatyam
Older girls dancing in front of Lord Nataraja
Playing on traditional Indian musical instrument
Day and night musicians playing on procession streets
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