MAJOR FUNCTIONS
DAY SEVEN ALL DAY - MAHARADHAM
Preparing Chariots for Maharadham
Throughout the week, preparations were underway preparing the five
radhams for the Maharadham procession. This year the procession fell on
November 22, 2015. As all five radhams (wooden chariots) are large, they
each have a permanent parking spot on the side of Car Street - i.e. the
main thoroughfare running in front of the Alankaram Mandapam on the east
side of the Temple.
The day before the Maharadham procession, decorating crews were out in
force for last minute preparations for the big day of the "giant
chariots".
Decorating one of the smaller chariots
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Clambering on top of chariot
Town in constant excitement
Adding Buntings and Banners
Maharadham will be pulled by devotees with huge chains
Alangarams of Panchamoorthies on Maharadham Day
Below photographs of the Alangarams of the Panchamoorthies in the
Kalayana Mandapam on the morning of November 22, 2015. After aarti, the
Panchamoorties are taken to their respective radhams (chariots) for
circumambulation of Arunachaleswarar Temple on the great Maharadham
Festival.
The panchamoorthies: Vinayakar, Chandrasekhara, Amman, Subramanya and Chandikeswarar.
Vinayakar Alangaram
Lord Chandrasekhara Alangaram
Goddess Parakshakti Alangaram
Lord Subramanya (with wives) Alangaram
Chandikeswarar Alangaram
Chandikeswarar is one of the 63 Nayanars. For those unfamiliar with the
history of Chandikeswarar and how he gained stewardship of the Gods, the
story goes as follows:-
"Chandikeswarar a devotee of Lord Shiva was born in the village of
Seynalur on the banks of the river Manni in the Chola country, as a
young lad named Vicharasarman.
He was the son of a pious and learned Brahmin named Yajnadatta.
Vicharasarman was of great intelligence. One day when the lad was going
to school, he saw a cowherd brutally assaulting a cow. Angry at the
behaviour of the cowherd, young Vicharasarman took upon himself the duty
of tending the cows of the village, to which the villagers acceded.
From that day the cows looked happier and yielded more milk. More than
the cow's udders could hold. Vicharasarman, seeing that the milk was
being wasted, collected it in vessels, set up lingams made of sand and
poured this excess milk to bathe the lingas with intense piety for
Shiva.
The cowherd who had lost his position on account of the Brahmin boy, saw
him in this act and found in it a chance to denounce him. He
immediately brought it to the notice of the village elders as well as
Yajnadatta, Vicharsarman's father. The father saw his son pouring milk
on small sand mounds and without investigating, kicked one of the lingas
in anger. Young Vicharasarmana came out of his reverie and cut off the
leg of his father (with an axe with) that had kicked the linga.
Shiva was pleased with the devotion of this boy and appeared in person
with Parvati his consort, before the boy. Shiva embraced the boy and
made him in charge of his ganas (devotees or followers). He was also
made the steward of his household, and named him Chandikeswarar."
Panchamoorthies ready to set out
In spite of days of wet and blustery weather, nothing could dampen the
enthusiasm of Lord Arunachaleswarar's devotees. The town was packed
throughout the day with thousands of devotees eager to participate and
take darshan of the passing Maharadham (giant wooden chariot).
Devotees milling around base of the Maharadham
Flower sellers out in force
Items for devotees for pujas in front of Radhams
Sugar-Cane, for devotees to complete their vrata (vow) and carry their child on circumambulation
Carrying child in sugarcane cradle
Devotees leaving garlands and offerings at base of Maharadham
Devotees around the Radhams - one for each panchamoorthy
Lord Arunachaleswarar on Maharadham
Rain falling heavily as Gods wait to set off on circumambulation
Circumambulation of Temple perimeter streets takes about 10 hours
Wonderful darshan of Arunachala, Temple and Maharadham
Massive Maharadham moving up the slope of Thiruvoodal Street
Rains, storms, delays . . . nothing could curb the enthusiasm of the
crowds of devotees and pilgrims attending the Maharadham Festival, on
Day 7, of the 2015 Deepam Festival.
Umbrellas proliferated and devotees kept in good cheer throughout the
long, tiring day. Late that night, the five Radhams returned to their
designated areas on Car Street.
Ordinarily in the case of pulling the Lord's Maharadham, gents are on
the left and ladies on the right. As the day progressed rain became more
sheeting, and conditions increasingly unpleasant and dangerous - thus
gents took over the duties from the ladies and pulled both the left and
right sides of the giant maharadham chariot.
Moving the Maharadham
This year's function took place in unceasing, sheeting rain. In the
below video, boys are jumping on levers placed under the giant back
wheels of the chariot, in order to propel it forward. The excitement and
energy of the huge crowd is apparent from the audio.
The chariot of the Goddess was pulled exclusively by women and the
radham of Chandikeswarar (steward to the Gods) pulled by youngsters.
Cold, wet day could not undermine the enthusiasm of Devotees
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