The grand Brahmotsavam festival in the Tamil Calendar Month of Aadiwas celebrated in the Lord Arunachaleswarar temple in Thiruvannamalai.
The ‘Valaikappu’ festival (‘baby shower’ ceremony) of the Goddess Parasakthi Amman with the Sanctum Sanctorum of the main deity of the Goddess Parasakthi Amman situated in the 2nd Corridor of the temple on 24th July.
Special Abhishekhams performed on Prathosam Day at Annamalaiyar temple in Thiruvannamalai!
The grand ‘Aani (Tamil Calendar month) Thirumanjanam’ ceremony was performed at the Lord Arunachaleswarar temple in Thiruvannamalai.
On this special occasion of the Aani Thurmanjanam performance, the deities of the Lord Natarajar, Goddess and Sivakami Ammaiyar were taken to the ‘Aayiram Kaal’ Mandapam (thousand pillars hall). Subsequently, special abhishekhams and special poojas were performed on the deity of the Lord Nataraja.
Due to the present lockdown imposition as a preventive measure against the spread of the raging coronavirus, devotees were not allowed to participate in the ‘Aani Thirumanjanam’ event!
On the occasion of the Solar Eclipse today (Sunday, 21st June), ‘Theerthavari’ was performed in the Thiruvannamalai Lord Arunachaleswarar temple on the deity at the Sacred pond ‘Brahma Theertha kulam’.
As per the temple ‘Agama’ (religious guidelines of the Lord Arunachaleswarar temple at Thiruvannamalai, it is traditional to perform Theerthavari on the occasions when ‘Grahanam’ (eclipse) occurs on the New Moon Day.
Accordingly, today (Sunday, 21st June), just when the solar eclipse commenced, ‘Soola Roopa Theerthavari’ was performed on the main deity at the sacred pond – Brahma Theerthankarai within the temple complex.
Due to the prevailing lockdown imposition, devotees were not allowed for the event of ‘Theerthavari’.
The famous ‘Chithirai Festival’ (Spring Festival) is in progress at the Lord Arunachaleswarar temple in Thiruvannamalai.
The Spring Festival’s 9th day was celebrated yesterday (Tuesday, 5th May).
On the grand 9th day of the Spring Festival, the main deity was especially adorned and the Lord Annamalaiyar offered His Darshan and blessings to the Devotees along with His Consort Goddess Unnamulaiyamman
The famous ‘Chithirai Festival’ (Spring Festival) is in progress at the Lord Arunachaleswarar temple in Thiruvannamalai.
The Spring Festival’s 5th day was celebrated yesterday (Thursday, 1st May).
On the grand 5th day of the Spring Festival, the main deity was especially adorned and the Lord Annamalaiyar offered His Darshan and blessings to the Devotees along with His Consort Goddess Unnamulaiyamman!
Due to the present lockdown imposition, the famous spring festival is being performed without the usual teeming devotees!
With the onset of the peak summer period, Agni Nakshatram, the festival of ‘Tharabhishekham’ is scheduled to be performed from 4th May to 28th May at the Lord Arunachaleswarar Temple at Thiruvannamalai.
The peak of the summer season, known locally by the terms ‘Kathiri Veyyil’ or ‘Agni Nakshatram’, is set to commence this year (2020) on 4th May and conclude on 26th May.
During this peak impact period of the summer, in order that the main deity of the temple is kept in cool conditions and thereby protecting all other living things, and praying that there should be sufficient rains during the summer, the event of ‘Tharabhishekam’ is performed daily at the Lorad Aruncahaleswarar temple.
Ingredients including cardamom, nutmeg, Javvadhu (a fragrance made by a mix of Sandalwood with picked collection of flowers, herbs and spices), and sandal are added in ‘Panneer’ (rose water) and poured on the vessel called ‘Thara’ and an arrangement will be made for this liquid mixture to fall in small drops over the main deity – the Lingam. This event is called ‘Tharabhishekham’.
During the ‘Tharabhishekham’, the main deity must not be adorned with any shield!
The District administration of Thiruvannamalai has decided to ban the devotees from undertaking ‘girivalam’ (a round trip around the mountain base) on the holy occasion fo ‘Chithra pournami’ (The Full Moon Day in the Tamil calendar month of Chithirai) which falls on 6th May.
Traditionally, in Thiruvannamalai temple, after the most prominent and world-famous ‘Deepam Festival’ (in the Tamil calendar month of Karthigai – Full Moon Day) when lakhs of devotees assemble to have a Darshan of the Karthigai Deepam and the Darshan of Lord Aruncaheleswarar and His Consort Unnamulaiyamman, the next in the holy occasion list is the Chithra Pournami when over 15 lakhs of devotees have Darshan Lord Aruncaheleswarar and His Consort Unnamulaiyamman after undertaking ‘girivalam’!
This year’s Chitra Pournami occasion commences at 7.01 PM on 6th May and concludes at 5.51 PM on 7th May.
In this situation, the district administration had banned undertaking girivalam on this year’s occasion of undertaking girivalam on the full Mood Day in the Tamil calendar month of Panguni as a preventive measure against the raging coronavirus pandemic.
In a similar step, it has banned undertaking girivalam during the full moon day in the Tamil calendar month of Chithirai, known as ‘Chithre pournami’!
A letter has been sent by the district administration to the State Government of Tamil Nadu seeking approval of this ban.
‘Pradosham’ on the New Moon Day in the Tamil calendar month of Chithirai occurred on Monday, 20th April this year (2020).
So, on this day (Monday, 20th April), in the holy Thiruvannamalai temple of Lord Annamaliayr with His Cosort Goddess Sri Unnamulaiyamman, Special Abhishekhams and Deeparadhanais were performed on the 5 Nandihis (Periya Nandhi, Chinna Nandhi, Kodi Maram Nandhi, Adhikara Nandhi, and Saravilakku Nandhi, and Artha Mandapa Nandhi) located in the 5 corridors of the temple, and the Amman Sanctum Sanctorum Nandhi and also the deity of the Pradosha Nayakar.
