Deepam Festival. Day Eleven - Day: Gods on Hillround
On the morning after the lighting of the Mahadeepam, the Gods perform
girivalam of Arunachala. There are only two times the Gods perform such a
girivalam; the first time in the calendar year is during the
Thiruvoodal Festival, and the second time is during the Arunachala
Karthigai Deepam Festival.
The Gods performing Arunachala hillround |
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Gods stop for aarti
Gods go round the full 14 km of hill
Arunachala devotees with offerings
2015 Karthigai Festival: Prayascitta Ceremony
2015 Arunachala Mahadeepam
Priest performs ceremony at Cauldron at end of 2015 Karthigai Deepam
Priest performs ceremony on Arunachala Summit
Priest at summit of Arunachala
Lord Shiva's feet at Summit
After the Cauldron is carried down from the Hill and returned to its
permanent resting place inside the Arunachaleswarar Compound, an
additional purification ceremony is observed in connection with the
Deepam Cauldron.
At this link in the introduction of the section entitled Prakarama, Vimanas,
Gopurams on this website, I make mention of the four purification
ceremonies (prayascittas) previously observed at the top of Arunachala,
for which priests used to go up to the summit of the mountain. Nowadays
the only prayascitta ceremony regularly observed on the summit of
Arunachala is after the completion of the Karthigai Festival.
"Tiruvannamalai is one of the major sacred places of Tamil Nadu not only
because of its great mountain Arunachala, but also because of its huge
Arunachaleswarar Temple dedicated to Lord Siva and also to the many and
frequent festivals which occur at this place.
The mythology of the Lingodbhavamurti, the column of light (which is
unvarying in all its parts whether it be the top or bottom) commemorates
that there is no actual difference of any part of Arunachala. However
even though Arunachaleswarar Temple is fully identified with Arunachala,
for which it is also a substitute - certain variations between the bottom
and top of the Hill were previously recognised four times a year by
observance of purification ceremonies (prayascittas) for which priests
used to go up to the summit of the mountain.
Those four times were: Mahashivaratri Festival acknowledging the
supremacy of Lord Siva, the Marriage Ceremony celebrating the union of
Lord Siva with the Goddess, Karthigai Festival with its multitude of
legends and symbolism, and the fourth and last purification ceremony
represents separation from the Goddess and the renewed manifestation of
the supremacy of Siva the great Yogi.
However over the years the difficulties of the climb for aging Gurukals
and other factors has led to less emphasis being paid to these
purification ceremonies occurring on the summit of the Hill itself and
nowadays the only prayascitta regularly observed on the summit of
Arunachala is after the completion of the Karthigai Festival."
2015 Karthigai Deepam: Cauldron Coming Back to Temple
The Mahadeepam on top of Arunachala for the 2015 Karthigai Festival was
alight for approximately 11 days. At some times during the History of
this Festival, the pot used to remain undisturbed on the Hill for
several years, until its condition made it necessary for it to be
brought back down the Hill to the Temple for repair or replacement.
Nowadays the pot is taken up the Hill a couple of days before Mahadeepam
and remains there for a day at the end of the Festival in order for it
to cool. Thereupon the pot is returned to the Temple for storage. The
Cauldron is more lightweight than at previous times (to make it easier
to carry up and down the Hill), however its lack of robustness ensures
that it has to be replaced more frequently.
The below sequence of photographs are of the 2015 Arunachala Karthigai
Deepam Cauldron being carried down the Hill passed the Virupaksha and
Mango Caves on its way to the foot of the Hill.
Men of fishing caste carrying cauldron
Cauldron coming down after service on summit
As most everything its easier to go down than go up!
2015 Karthigai Cauldron
Crossing Pey Gopura Street on way to North Gate i.e. Ammani Amman Gopura
2015 Karthigai Deepam: Purification Ceremony inside Temple
After the Cauldron is carried down from the Hill and returned to its
permanent resting place inside the Arunachaleswarar Compound, an
additional purification ceremony is observed in connection with the
Deepam Cauldron.
Purification ceremony of cauldron inside Temple Hall
2015 Karthigai Deepam: Valampuri Sangu Homa
Arunachaleswarar Temple celebrates four major Festivals throughout the
year. The name of these Festivals are Brahmotsavams with the most
important one being the Karthigai Deepam Festival.
At the end of each of these Brahmotsavams, a Valampuri Sangu (name of
the Conch) Homa and Abhishekam is performed. This Homa was recently
performed outside the Siva Sannidhi at Arunachaleswarar Temple.
Valampuri Sangu Homa
Rukku goes on Holiday
In 2013 and 2014 our 28 year old Rukku, the Arunachaleswarar Temple
Elephant, participated in the Rejuvenation Camp in the forests of Tamil
Nadu; which occurred directly after the end of the Karthigai Mahadeepam
Arunachala Festival.
At the camp in 2014 she joined with 30 elephants from Temples throughout
Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry. However after the 2015 Deepam, when she was
probably expecting her "time away" nothing happened. Happily the
Rejuvenation Camp went ahead, but in January 2016 instead of December
2015.
The 48-day-long Rejuvenation Camp was held at the foot of the Nilgris
Hills on the banks of the Bhavani River at Thekkampatti near
Mettuppalayam. This year 43 elephants attended the rejuvenation camp;
two of who hail from Pondicherry.
Thus in the very early morning of January 7, 2016 Rukku was loaded up on
the back of a lorry for the eighth time to set off for Camp. It was
reported that her "exit" weight was 4,800 kgs which she is sure to
increase as a result of all the good food and snacks she will eat at
Camp.
At Camp all the elephants will be given special food and medicines and
have their health carefully monitored by a battery of veterinary doctors
and elephant specialists.
On reaching the Campsite it has been reported that the elephants arrived
cheerful and happy with no sign of fatigue or tiredness owing to the
long distance they had travelled at the back of their individual
lorries. Simple. They must know its "PARTY TIME".
Rukku on holiday
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