The Great Deepam Festival at Arunachala
Every minute that we spend in the Arunachala punya boomi (holy land) is special.
Why, every minute that we think of Arunachala is special.
But are there specific time periods which are even more special?
Yes, say the Siddhas.
The Pournami full moon days of each month and the Karthigai Deepam day each year are particularly
important.
Why? Because
the Pournami day marks the the apex of spirituality in each month and the
Karthigai Deepam day commemorates the appearance of the Lord as a jothi sthambam, an infinite pillar of light
at Arunachala. Thus these days are particularly significant.
While we must perform giri valam and good deeds
every day at Arunachala, the Pournami days and the Karthigai Deepam day are particularly important.
In fact, a period of ten days to a fortnight that make up the Karthigai Deepam festival at Arunachala is important.
This period starts on the
day the temple flag is unfurled on the dhvaja sthambam (flag pole) in the Arunachala temple
and lasts until the day the deepa jothi flame at the peak of the Arunachala Hill is cooled down.
This time period is the very very sacred; it's most ideal for girivalam, worship of Arunachala and
for rendering selfless service to the poor and the needy in Arunachala's name.
The Deepam Day at Arunachala
The Karthigai Deepam day is the Karthigai
nakshatram day
of the Karthigai maasam (generally mid November - mid December of each year).
On this day, at 6 p.m. Indian Standard time (1230 hours GMT), deepa jothi flames are lit at the
peak of the Arunachala hill to mark the Lord's appearance as a jothi sthambam, an infinite pillar of light.
The Lord's jothi sthambam form perplexed even the Trimoorthi trinity.
No one could understand this form and thus everyone surrendered to the Lord and begged Him to reveal Himself in a more
understandable form. The ever merciful Arunachala acquiesced to their sincere request and manifested Himself
as the Arunachala Hill, the world's largest Siva Lingam, a form which everyone of us can perceive and enjoy.
In this form, He packed an infinity of divine darshans (visions) for our spiritual enjoyment and upliftment.
Thus the Karthigai Deepa Jothi festival is also an affirmation of our eternal gratitude to the Lord's
kindness for manifesting Himself in a form that even mortals can perceive and enjoy.
Other articles in this issue of AUMzine discuss Arunachala and girivalam in greater depth.
And more are forthcoming!
Don't miss them!
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| Om Salutations to Arunachala |
| Om Salutations to Sri Agasthiar |
| Om Salutations to the Maha Guru |
| Om Salutations to the Agasthiar Lineage |
| Om Salutations to the Siddhas |
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