Archive for category: News & Events

The place looks dense and packed with people thronging in to have a view of Durgai Amman’s supremacy with the consecration done on the awe-inspiring lord.

Durgai also called as the Devi or Shakthi is an invincible lord is worshiped as the true cause for creation, preservation and annihilation of the universe. There are a few traditions that claim Durgai and Parvathi to be the same.

During the consecration ceremony at the Durgai temple, devotees step on to the temple’s tower with full fervor and devotion. Their belief of a confident and peaceful life is seen from their energy-filled faces.

The temple of Sri Arunachaleswarar in Thiruvannamalai is one of the most ancient temples in Tamil Nadu. It is believed to be about a 1000 years old. It has been a regular place of worship for popular Nayanmar saints such as Appar, Sambandar, Sundarar, Manickavasagar and Arunagirinathar.

The temple is a home for the Agni Lingam. Here, the Lord Shiva is worshipped in the form of a Lingam and in the form of fire as one of the five elements of the universe. The temple is situated in Thiruvannamalai. Thiru means holy, Anna means powerful and Malai means hills. Devotees take Girivalam every month. Giri in Tamil means Hill and Valam means going, or coming, around. Circumambulating the hill is called Girivalam.

One round of the hill is 14 kms. Every full moon day, lakhs of devotees walk around it. As one walks around the hill, one can encounter the eight lingams positioned facing the eight directions. These are Indralingam, Agnilingam, Yamalingam, Niruthilingam, Varunalingam, Vayulingam, Kuberalingam and Esanyalingam.

While going around the hill, it is advised to do so barefooted. Devotees look upward towards the top of the hill during their journey, chanting Om Arunachala. The timings for Girivalam this month are from 10.55 am on 23rd January till 10.45 am on 24 January.

Pongal marks the beginning of Utharayana or the Sun`s movement towards the North for six months. This period is considered very auspicious and many important events are scheduled during it. To celebrate this, people are asked to remember to leave behind their old ways and embrace new and better ways in relationships, finance and health.

The Utharayana Puniyakalam pooja is performed at the Lotus Tank or Thamarai Kulam. Seen below are photographs of the event.

Uthrayana puniya kala bramorshavam swamy veethi ula pictures are here for you. The idol is carried in a chariot with brilliant decorations done on it. Decorative jewels and costumes are worn to the deity and carried by wholehearted devotees.

The Thiruvempavai Thiruppalli yezhuchi description took place between 06.00 a.m. and 07.00 a.m. The pictures of this event are what you see here.

The gathering of devotees is addressed over the mike. The place is decorated with holy banana trees. All the devotees here are made to sit on floor to listen to the comprehensive description of Thiruvempavai.