The Arunachala Karthigai Deepam Festival observed each year generally
follows the same daily programmes. However because of restrictions
imposed by an ongoing health situation, the Festival in the years 2020
and 2021 suffered severe curtailments.
The 2021 Karthigai Deepam Festival at Arunachala was similar to that of
the 2020 Festival, in that the Temple allowed only a limited number of
devotees into the compound to experience low-keyed observances. In
addition processions did not take place in the town around the perimeter
of the Temple (i.e. Mada Vedhis) instead small processions winded their
way around the prakarams inside the Temple Compound.
According to guidelines issued by the Tamil Nadu State government and
the District authority in consideration of the Covid health situation,
Arunachaleswarar Temple authority issued Admission tickets for devotees
for the 2021 Karthigai Deepam Festival.
The Temple issued 3000 tokens for local devotees and 10,000 tokens for
devotees from other Districts and States. Thus a total of 13,000
devotees were issued Admission tokens and allowed inside the Temple
from November 7, 2021 to November 23, 2021 except for the dates
Wednesday 17 November, 2021 to Saturday 20 November, 2021.
The Deepam festival started on November 7, 2021 with the Durgai Amman
Utsavam and ended on November 28, 2021 with Sri Chandikeswar utsavam—the
Festival was thus celebrated for a total of 17 days.
Below is a short schedule of the abbreviated observances of the Festival.
Temple Illumination
The Temple was beautifully illuminated throughout the Festival.
Rajagopuram centre
Devotees' Deepams
Devotees who were fortunate enough to be able to visit inside the Temple
Compound during the 2021 Festival, lit their own individual deepams.
Devotee Deepams
Hoisting the Flag
Early morning Wednesday, November 10, 2021 the hoisting of the flag
(kodietram) took place outside the Siva Sannidhi, Arunachaleswarar
Temple.
Hoisting the Flag
Exquisite Floral Decorations 10th Day Festival
In observance of the tenth day of the Karthigai Festival wonderful
floral decorations were created around the Siva Sannidhi, Hall and
Flagpost at Arunachaleswarar Temple.
Flagpost Decorated
Beautiful ceiling floral arrangments
In front of Nandi at Flagpost
Barani Deepam
Early Morning Friday November 19, 2021
5 clay pots of Barani Deepam
Mahadeepam at Temple
Dusk Friday November 19, 2021
Mahadeepam inside the Temple Compound
2022 Karthigai Deepam - Arunachala Cauldron
Deepam Arunachala Summit
2021 Arunachala Cauldron Lighting
The extraordinary photograph below was circulated amongst Arunachala
devotees, many of whom believe shows the manifestation of Lord Siva at
the time of the lighting of the 2021 Karthigai Deepam.
Mysterious Photograph during lighting
First appearance of the 2021 Arunachala Deepam at 6.05 p.m. Friday 19 November.
2021 Arunachala Mahadeepam
Deepam Celebrations at Tiruvannamalai
Celebrations in Tiruvannamalai 2021 Karthigai Deepam
Karthigai Deepam Arunachaleswarar Temple—Theppal Thirthotsavam Brahmostavam is intended to teach us the way to divine self-realisation.
One of the last celebratory observances during Karthigai Festival is
known as Thirthotsavam which means 'water festival'. Three days are
allocated at the end of Karthigai to celebrate this 'water
festival'—which is representative of a sadhaka’s plunge into the higher
realms of consciousness—and typifies entering into samadhi—the goal of
religious aspiration.
Construction of Theppals
The Theppals for the Gods are floating structures made up of drums and
timber and decorated with flowers, religious paintings and silken
buntings.
Constructing the Theppal
Brahma Theertham at Temple
Floating on the Brahma Theertham
Lights are installed around the perimeter of the tank and focus lights
placed at strategic points. When the murtis of the Gods come to the
Theertham, they are placed lovingly on the float which then pushes off
and completes an allocated number of turns upon the Temple Tank.
Devotees sit on the steps of the tank to take darshan of the God on the
Theppal. Thereafter the deity of the day's Theppal is taken in
procession around Arunachaleswarar Temple.
The 'water festival' is ordinarily celebrated at Ayyankulam Tank (in
front of Arunagirinathar Temple—the third oldest Shiva Temple at
Arunachala). This year, due to the restrictions imposed because of
health reasons, the 3-day 'water festival' was not conducted at the
Ayyankulam Tank but at the Brahma Theertham located inside
Arunachaleswarar Compound.
Day 1: Sri Chandrasekhara Theppal
Day 2: Parashakti Theppal
Day 3: Lord Subramanya Theppal
Prayascitta Ceremonies
The cauldron on top of Arunachala for the 2021 Karthigai Festival was
alight for 11 days. At some times during the History of this Festival,
the pot used to remain undisturbed on the Hill until its condition made
it necessary for it to be brought back down the Hill 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.
Cauldron carried down Arunachala
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.
After the Cauldron was carried down from the Hill, puja was
performed by way of a consecration ceremony at the Thousand Pillar Hall
(Fifth Prakaram, Arunachaleswarar Temple).
Consecration of Cauldron, Arunachaleswarar Temple
However the ultimate purification ceremony occurs on the summit of
Arunachala. In this regard in earlier times four purification ceremonies
(prayascittas) were observed at the top of Arunachala, for which
priests used to go to the summit of the Hill. Nowadays the only
prayascitta ceremony regularly observed on the summit of Arunachala is
after 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 in the vibrational power 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 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 Hill itself and nowadays the
only prayascitta regularly observed on the summit of Arunachala is after
completion of the Karthigai Festival.
