The Karthigai Deepam Festival is celebrated in the Tamil month of Karthigai (November – December) at Arunachaleswarar Temple, Thiruvannamalai, it is one of the most significant festival celebrated on Hill.
Thiru Karthigai deepam is about Lord Shiva – famous Cosmic dancer, symbolic of eternity, who appeared as a tall pillar of gigantic fire before God Brahma and God Vishnu who had a serious verbal duel over their supremacy without concentrating on their divine duties. This face-off became a serious issue, involving self-importance and vanity. Their ego and veil of arrogance were torn apart and they became subdued when both of them could not find either the crown or the bottom of the fiery pillar of Shiva who acted as a mediator between two gods. The day on which the God appeared as a pillar of fire is Thirukarthigai / Karthigai Deepam. Here at the temple town of Tiruvannamalai, Lord Shiva appeared as a hill – Arunachala (holy fire hill).
It begins on Uttradam day with flag hoisting and goes on for nine days. In the early hours of the tenth day, Bharani Deepam in five ’agantams’ is lit in Arunachaleswarar’s Sannithi. In the evening, the Pancha Murthis are brought to the Katchi Mandapam. At dusk (Pradosham), with the Karthigai day synchronising with full moon day, the deity, Ardhanareeswarar, is taken in a procession to this place with the five deepams, which are put in a big receptacle near the flag staff. At the same time, the beacon light on the hill is lit. The huge concourse of devotees from all parts of the country in a million voice raise a cry simultaneously, “Annamalaikku Arogara.”
The Karthigai Deepam at Arunachalam is celebrated as a ten day festival and it widely known as Karthigai Brahmotsavam.
The First day (23.11.2017) – Karthika Deepam festival begins with the hosting of the flag signifying the commencement of the festival also known as Dwajaroghanam. In the morning and night Lord Arunachaleswarar will be taken out on the silver vahana for procession. The Panchamurthis(Panchamurthigal) are also taken out in the procession. The Panchamurthigal are Lord Ganapathi, Lord Murugan, Lord Sandeswarar, Lord Arunachaleswarar and Goddess Parvathi.These processions are carried out on different vahanas after the Deeparadhana is done at the kalyana mandapam.
The second day (24.11.2017) – Karthigai Deepam festival commences with the Lord Panchamurthigal coming on Indira Vimanam the chariot of Lord Indira.
The third day (25.11.2017) – Karthigai Deepam festival the ceremony begins at night with the Lord Panchamurthigal coming in procession majestically on the Simha vahana, the chariot of lion.
On the fourth day (26.11.2017) of Karthikai Deepam the Lord Panchamurthigal comes in the procession that starts at night on the kamadhenu vahanam. The auspicious tree Karpaviruksha is also on the side of the lord. This tree is believed to grant all the wishes that the devotees seek without fail.
The fifth day (27.11.2017) – Karthikai Deepam festival begins at night. This procession on the silver rishaba vahanam is very appealing and splendid to witness. Lord Panchamurthigal goes on this vahana that is about 25 feet tall. A big umbrella with about 17 feet in diameter is carried along in the procession.
The sixth day (28.11.2017) – Karthigai Deepam festival commences with a night procession of Lord Panchamurthigal on the silver chariot that is beautifully crafted and simply imposing when it comes around the temple.
The seventh day (29.11.2017) of Karthikai Deepam festival Lord Panchamurthigal starts with the procession on the Maha ratham that is very huge and it almost occupies the full width of the road. This ratham is made of pure wood that is strong and rugged.
The eight day (30.11.2017) – Karthigai Deepam festival begins at night with the Lord Panchamurthigal going out on procession on the huge horse vahana. The speciality of this horse is that all the four legs of this horse are in the air and they do not touch the ground.
On the ninth day (1.12.2017) of Karthigai Deepam festival the devotees can witness Lord Panchamurthigal going out procession on the Kailasa Vahanam. This ceremony is mostly conducted on the ninth night.
The tenth day (2.12.2017) – Karthigai Deepam festival starts at around four o clock in the early hours and the Bharani Deepam is lit at the temple. In the evening the Mahadeepam is lit on the top of the hill at around six o clock. This is a very important ceremony during the Karthigai Deepam festival at Tiruvannamalai. Arunachaleswarar is said to be visually represented in the form of agni on the hill top. There is a very mammoth gathering on this day at the Arunachaleswarar temple to witness this glorious and sacred event. The night ceremony starts with Lord Periya nayagar going out procession on the Rishaba vahanam that is made of gold. This is another spectacular event at Arunachaleswar temple at Tiruvannamalai.
Theppal
Lord Chandrasekarar(3.12.2017),
Lord Parasakthi(4.12.2017),
Lord Subramaniar(5.12.2017) goes in the boat and this is called Theppam, since it carried out in the tank.
Lord Arunachaleswarar goes procession round the hill, known as Girivalam or pradhiksahana. With this ceremony the Karthigai Deepam festival at Arunachaleswarar temple comes to a grand conclusion with the devotees taking back home some divine blessings and memories from this ancient holy city Tiruvannamalai.
Legend
According to the Hindu mythology, on this day, Lord Shiva blessed the six nymphs with immortality as they brought up Karthikaya /Muruga (in the tank called Saravana) with care and affection, they at last became six stars (Pleiades) in the firmament, a lasting tribute to them for their services to the Almighty. They are called Karthigai kannigas. He created Karthikaya to kill the demon king Soorapadhman who caused lots of trouble to the Devas and holy saints. Hence Lord Subramanya has six abodes / shrines (in Tamil : Aarupadai Veedu) in Tamil Nadu and in Murugan temples, this festival is observed with devotion and bakthi. Further, Karthigai deepam marks the birth day of Lord Karthikaya, the second son of Lord Shiva, first being Lord Ganesa.
It is expected that morethan 2 lakh devotees will be visiting Tiruvannamali for Kartigai Deepam. On the evening of this festival, women, wearing the new dress, light rows of oil lamps at homes and around the houses. Through out the state of Tamil Nadu, in the evening oil lamps are lit at home and temples only after the giant Karthigai Deepam is lit on the Arunachala hill at Thiruvannamalai. The belief is that Thirukarthigai Deepam festival, in the ensuing year, will usher in peace and prosperity to the home and society, besides, the sanctity of the places is further purified. Yet another fact is lighting of oil lamps at home will guard the home dwellers from evil spirits, black magic and spells.
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