Showing posts with label arunagirinathar temple. Show all posts
Showing posts with label arunagirinathar temple. Show all posts

11 February 2016

Sri Arunagirinathar Temple Theerthavari Ceremony


As part of the Mahadhaya Maha Punniya Kalam 2016 ceremonies, Theerthavari was performed in the Ayyankulam Tank in the early morning of February 8, 2016. 

While Sulam immersion and subsequent puja was being observed at the Theertham, the Gods of 5 Arunachala Temples gave darshan to devotees whilst on their palanquins outside Sri Arunagirinathar Temple


The Five Temple Gods being: 

Arunachaleswarar Temple (Siva Temple)
Kumarakovil (Murugan Temple)
Angalamman Temple (Amman Temple)
Sri Mariamman Temple (Amman Temple)
Sri Pachaiamman Temple (Amman Temple) 



Sri Arunachaleswarar and Sri Amman

Gods from Kumarakovil Temple (left) and Angalamman Temple (right)

Sri Arunachaleswarar on palanquin back to Big Temple

Sri Amman following Sri Arunachaleswarar Palanquin


I hope to post more photographs of the procession of the Gods of the 5 Temples within the next few days. Please check back.

30 November 2015

2015 Deepam Festival. Day Fourteen--Night: Chandikeswarar on Theepal


Last night was Day 14 of the 2015 Karthigai Deepam Festival. And it was the turn of Chandikeswarar on Theppal at the Ayyankulam Tank. 

The Mahadeepam on Arunachala was lit on November 25, and is expected to remain so for at least the next 10 days . . . so we still have wonderful darshan of the Hill with Beacon everynight -- even though the Festival Functions are now over. 


Chandikeswarar Theepal Alangaram

The steps at the left of the wall, are those upon which devotees sit to watch the Theepals on the Tank

Across from the tank, is Arunagirinathar Temple which is less known than other major Temples, but very special

29 November 2015

2015 Deepam Festival. Day Thirteen--Night: Lord Subramaniyar on Theepal


The below photographs are of Lord Supramaniyar on Theepal at Ayyankulam Tank about a ten minute walk from Arunachaleswarar Temple. For four consecutive evenings the Gods are floated on the Tank in front of large crowds seated on the steps of the Theertham. The floats being used nowadays were made and used for the first time last year. 


Lord Supramaniyar

The Lord with his two wives on Ayyankulam Tank on their Float

Watching the Gods on their Floats for four consecutive evenings

2015 Deepam Festival. Day Twelve--Night: Amman on Theepal



The below photographs are of Amman on Theepal at Ayyankulam Tank about a ten minute walk from Arunachaleswarar Temple. For four consecutive evenings the Gods are floated on the Tank in front of large crowds seated on the steps of the Theertham. 


Amman Alangaram

Steps at Ayyankularm Tank

Taking darshan of the Goddess on Float

27 November 2015

2015 Deepam Festival. Day Eleven--Night: Lord Chandrasekhara on Theepal


The last of the celebratory observances during Karthigai Festival is Thirthotsavam which literally means “water festival”. Four days are allocated at the end of Deepam to celebrate the water festival at Ayyankulam Tank in front of Arunagirinathar Temple (the third oldest Shiva Temple at Arunachala). The water festival is representative of the sadhaka’s plunge into the higher realms of consciousness – and typifies an entering into samadhi... an end of religious aspiration. 


Lord Chandrasekhara Alangaram

The Theepal for the Gods are floating structure made up of drums and timber and decorated with lights, flowers, religious paintings and silken buntings. Lights are installed around the perimeter of the tank and focus lights placed at strategic points. When the murtis of the Gods come to Ayyakulam Tank they are placed lovingly on a float and then the float 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 Theepal. Thereafter the deity of that day is taken in procession around the four Mada Streets (perimeter streets) surrounding Arunachaleswarar Temple. 


Preparing the gods on their Float

Ready to push over from the bank of the Theertham

Crowds sitting on the steps of the Tank

Many devotees who attend the Theepal ceremonies at Ayyankulam Tank, take the opportunity to visit the adjacent Arunagirinathar Temple, which is the third oldest and most significant Shiva Temple at Tiruvannamalai -- and for many visitors a great favourite. 

9 December 2014

Day 3 Theepal - Lord Subramanya: Deepam Festival December 8, 2014


This evening the third night of Thirthotsavam (i.e. Water Festival) Lord Subramanya (with his two wives) was taken out on a float on the Ayyankulam Tank located in front of the Arunagirinathar Temple a few minutes from the Big Temple. 


Lord Subramanya

Float on Ayyankulam Tank

3rd Day of the Thirthotsavam Festival, 2014 Karthigai Deepam

7 December 2014

Day 2 Theepal - Parashakti: Deepam Festival December 7, 2014



This evening the second night of Thirthotsavam (i.e. Water Festival) the Goddess Parashakti was taken out on a float on the Ayyankulam Tank located in front of the Arunagirinathar Temple a few minutes from the Big Temple.


Devotees seat on the steps on the side of the Tank
Parashakti Theepal
Parashakti Goddess leaving the Tank

Day 1 Theepal - Sri Chandrasekaran: Deepam Festival December 6, 2014



Brahmotsavam is intended to teach us the way to divine self-realisation. The last of the celebratory observances during Karthigai Festival is Thirthotsavam which literally means “water festival”. Four days are allocated at the end of Deepam to celebrate the water festival at Ayyankulam Tank in front of Arunagirinathar Temple (the third oldest Shiva Temple at Arunachala). The water festival is representative of the sadhaka’s plunge into the higher realms of consciousness – and typifies an entering into samadhi... an end of religious aspiration. 


Sri Chandrasekaran

The Theepal for the Gods are floating structure made up of drums and timber and decorated with lights, flowers, religious paintings and silken buntings. Lights are installed around the perimeter of the tank and focus lights placed at strategic points. When the murtis of the Gods come to Ayyakulam Tank they are placed lovingly on a float and then the float 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 Theepal. Thereafter the deity of that day is taken in procession around the four Mada Streets (perimeter streets) surrounding Arunachaleswarar Temple. 


Float on Ayyakulam Tank, Arunagirinathar Temple

18 July 2014

Ayyankulam Tank Immersion July 2014


The below series of photographs denote the completion of the 10 day festival 2014 Aani Brahmotsasvam with an immersion of the Gods in the tank at the Ayyankulam Tank which is situated in front of the third major Shiva Temple at Arunachala, i.e. Arunagirinathar Kovil. 

To find out more about this beautiful Temple please visit this earlier posting here

As mentioned in an earlier posting at this link here, the 10 day Aani Brahmotsasvam Festival commemorates Dakshinayana which marks the beginning of the sun’s movement in a southern direction. 












17 October 2013

Some Favoured Arunachala Temples and Shrines


Some who perform Arunachala girivalam like to go around the Hill in silence and without stopping. Others like to stop at favourite shrines and lingams along the way. I prefer the former method, and enjoy silent circumambulation. However to view favoured Shrines I frequently take a vehicle to visit certain Temples. 

There are a number of fascinating Shrines and Temples which are located a little way off the main girivalam roadway, so do not attract the same number of visitors, but are very well worth a visit.

Below are some of my own favourite spots which are not as well visited as the more famous Girivalam shrines:


1. Balaji Temple. A Temple still under development. But with a completed major Shrine room dedicated to Lord Venkateshwara. This Temple with large grounds has an interesting selection of other Shrines including: Lord Hanuman, Goddesses Kali and Durga, Lord Sani with Kettu and Raghu, the Snake Goddess.



Balaji (Sri Venkateshwara) Temple from distance


2. Pachaiamman Temple. The Temple is beginning to attract larger crowds than previously. It is particularly interesting because of its legends connected with the Goddess Parvarti and its huge Guardian Statues. 



Guardians to the Goddess at Pachaiamman Temple



3. Esanya Ashram (located across from Esanya Lingam) located on the alternate girivalam pathway, parallel to the main roadway. The Ashram contains the Samadhi of the great Saint.


Samadhi of great saint Isanya Desikar


Below is a very nice story about how the famed Saint Isanya Desikar helped his British devotee Ayton, overcome dangers in his efforts to safely attend a Deepam Festival. 


The story goes thus:- 

Isanya Desikar, whose math is located just outside Tiruvannamalai on the old pradakshina road, was a distinguished yogi who, like many before and after him, felt the spiritual call of Arunachala. He was born in 1750 in a small village called Rayavelur in northern Tamil Nadu. He came and settled at the foot of Arunachala only late in his life, but nevertheless, by virtue of his intense and personal relationship with Arunachaleswara, he is regarded as one of the major saints of Arunachala. 

Isanya Desikar had a western devotee, who is now recalled by the name of Ayton. He was the then District Collector for the region that extended from Tiruvannamalai to Vriddhachalam. Ayton had heard about the greatness of Isanya Desikar and approached him in the hope of getting a cure from the tuberculosis from which he had been suffering for many years. 

Isanya Desikar smiled and after a brief pause spat on the ground. The moment he spat, Ayton was cured of the disease. Ayton then spoke to the holy man with both trepidation and devotion. 'Swami, I have recently acquired a large amount of land, I would like to offer your holiness as much as you need. It can be a permanent endowment in your name.' Isanya Desikar smiled and asked tauntingly, 'Will your land yield crops even during a drought?' Then, pointing his finger towards Arunachaleswara and Apeetakuchamba, he added, 'Here is a householder with two children and a large family. It is proper to give him any amount of land, but it is not proper to gift it to me, a sannyasin.' 

Ayton took leave of him but returned on many occasions. He got into the habit of addressing him reverentially and affectionately as 'Tata', which means 'grandfather'. It is said that before he began any new project he would always mediate on Isanya Desikar and invoke his blessing by saying, 'Tata, please lead me in this work. It is your work.' At Deepam Festivals Ayton would take the lead in dragging the huge temple chariot through the streets of Tiruvannamalai. However, before moving the chariot for the first time he would pick up one of the ropes and exclaim loudly: 'Tata, you hold the rope and lead us!' The local people were all astounded that such a prominent British official should have such devotion towards a naked sannyasin. Ayton made it a point always to attend and lead this annual festival, but one year he found himself stranded by floods on the southern side of the River Pennar just before the beginning of the festival. Knowing that he was expected to be at Arunachala to start the chariot on its journey, he called out to his mount: 'Horse, I must see Tata and I must also get the Deepam Festival started. Think of Tata and cross the river!' Without a moment's delay or hesitation, the horse leapt into the raging torrent of water and effortlessly waded to the other side. None of the other people who were stranded dared to follow for they were all convinced that it would be suicidal to enter the surging waters. 

At the moment when Ayton put his faith in Tata and leapt into the water, Isanya Desikar opened his eyes after a long meditation and stretched out his hand in a southerly direction. When one of his disciples asked what he was doing, he replied, 'If someone falls into a river, should we not save him?' 

Ayton arrived safely and took Isanya Desikar's blessings to start the festival. When the news of Ayton's spectacular river crossing and Isanya Desikar's role in it spread among the Deepam crowds, many of them came to the north-eastern side of the hill to see the man who had been responsible for the miracle. Several of the new visitors turned out to be mature seekers who were looking for guidance from a Guru. Isanya Desikar accepted some as disciples, had a small thatched shed built to accommodate them and gave instruction by writing a guide to liberation entitled Jnana Kattalai.


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4. Adi Kamakshi Temple. One of the most ancient Temples at Arunachala located in a road close to Durga Amman Temple.


Front entrance of ancient Adi Kamakshi Temple


The Goddess at this Temple has a Lingam close to her Heart


5. Pavala Kundru. Located on a hill spur almost directly behind the famed Durga Amman Temple off the girivalam roadway.


Pavala Kundru Temple located on Arunachala Spur


6. Arunagirinathar Temple. Located a couple of blocks east of the Arunachaleswarar Temple’s Raja Gopuram.


Arunagirinathar Temple, third most ancient Arunachala Siva Temple



7. Kamakshi Temple. Off Thiruvoodal Street. This Goddess Kamakshi Temple is more recent than the Adi Kamakshi Temple. 

It is famous as a wish-fulfilling Shrine, and it also one of the 6 Temples at Arunachala that have steles (of Shiva and Parvati), and are believed to be part of an “Om” energetic field. 

I will write further on the six Om Temples [Parvati Temple, Niruddhi Lingam, Palani Andavar Temple, Esanya Lingam, Arunachaleswarar Temple and Kamakshi Temple (Thiruvoodal Street)].

24 July 2013

Teertham 2013 Aani Bramothsavam Festival


The below photographs were taken at the Ayyankulam Tank in front of the Arunagirinathar Temple a few minutes walk from Arunachaleswarar Temple. The idols are being bathed at the teertham on the tenth and last day of the 2013 Aani Bramothsavam Festival. 











To those unfamiliar with the very beautiful and recently restored Arunagirinathar Temple, I am posting additional photographs of the third oldest Shiva Temple at Arunachala. 



Arunachala Darshan from Arunagirinathar Temple. Raja Gopruam at right


An ancient Temple that has an intricate relationship with Arunachaleswarar Temple and the Hill. It is at this Temple that the last three days of Deepam Festival are celebrated when the Gods are taken on elaborately decorated floats onto the large tank. 

If you take time to walk around the perimeter of the Temple Tank, you will be rewarded with interesting and fascinating sights of a number of obscure but powerful shrines and Temples. The view also of Arunachala is quite sublime from most aspects around the Ayyankulam Tank.



Fascinating, ancient Arunagirinathar Temple



Navagraha Shrine at Arunagirinathar Temple


Arunagirinathar Temple has powerful sanctum sanctorums dedicated to Lord Shiva and the Goddess. It also has my favourite Navagraha Shrine at Tiruvannamalai, which includes a most ornate and beautiful representation of Lord Surya. 


Lord Surya with his Mounts

Powerful and Beautiful Navagraha statues


To read more about this Temple and Tank, go to this link here. And to explore the perimeter of the Ayyankulam Tank, go to this link here

13 June 2013

Peaceful Adiannamalai Temple


Nowadays an increasing number of pilgrims visit Adiannamalai Temple during their Arunachala Girivalam. However considering the significance and power of this Temple, one wonders why significantly more pilgrims don’t break their girivalam to spend time at what is believed to be the oldest Shiva Temple at Arunachala. Its history predates even Arunachaleswarar Temple on the southeast side of the Hill and the only other Shiva Temple of major historical emminence is the very beautiful, and again, relatively unvisited Arunagirinathar Temple on the side of the Ayyankulam Thirtham. 

To read more about a visit to Arunagirinathar Temple go to this link here, and its significance in connection with Ramana Maharshi, to this link here


Entrance to Adiannamalai Temple

It was after the establishment of the Temple at Adi Annamalai that Lord Siva then manifested himself as Swayambhu Linga (Self Created) on the southeast side of the Hill. The Temple housing this sacred Linga is known as Arunachaleswarar Temple. 


Lord Shiva and his Goddess


According to legend Brahma got enamoured of Tillottama, his own daughter (i.e. one of his own creations) and in his mood of infatuation went after her in the form of a dove. When she took refuge in Siva, the Lord confronted Brahma in the form of a Hunter and dispelled his delusion. There is even today on the slopes of Arunachala, a Temple to the Lord as Hunter, known as Vediyappan Koil, being called wrongly nowadays as Kannapar Koil. To get himself absolved of the sin committed, Brahma installed and worshipped a Linga of Lord Arunachaleswarar. This is also called Adi Annamalai. 


Wonderful Arunachala darshan from Temple Compound


In the Arunachala Puranam (Tamil), Brahma says to his son Sanaka, “To remove the unabating Karmas I installed and worshipped a Linga of Lord Arunachala, who is called Ani Annamalai (Ani = Beautiful)”. 


Beautiful statue of Nandi


It is reported that the vision of Arunachala from this Temple is known as Siva Yoga Muka Darshan and the great Siddha Thirumoolar saw this aspect. Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi who used to camp at Adi Annamalai for up to 2-3 nights while performing Giri Valam was reported to have said that while at the Temple he heard the celestial recital of 'Sama Veda'. 


Lord Subramanya and his two wives



The month of Maargazhi (December-January) is considered the pre-dawn hour of the gods (Brahma Muhurtha). Saint Manickavachakar sang his immortal ‘Thiruvembavai’ at Adi Annamalai. This song of bridal mysticism is sung all over Tamil Nadu every morning of Maargazhi month. There is a Temple and pond dedicated to this saint at Adi Annamalai. 


Pradakshina of Temple compound


For more detail and photographs of this beautiful Temple please visit my website Arunachala Samudra at this link here.