கார்த்திகைத்திங்கள் + பௌர்ணமித்திங்கள் = தீபத்திருநாள்! (Karthigai Deepam Full Moon Night)
This shot is taken on Friday night, as destined for Karthigai month's Girivalam, the night after திருவண்ணாமலை தீபத்திருநாள். Tried my best to get the moon to the right of the Raja Gopuram (just as it is positioned on Shiva's head per Hindu Mythology), while also not missing on the Dancing Shiva neatly designed by the serial lights and the mani-mandapa before the gopuram.
Since Tiruvannamalai is the place where Lord Shiva (Destroyer-cum-Rejuvenator) takes form of one of the five elements - Fire - the purifier or sins - since this is the place where he taught humility to Lord Vishnu (Savior) and Lord Brahma (Creator).
For record, the 5 pilgrimage spots for each of the 5 elements are:
1. Fire - Tiruvannamalai - Annamalayar Temple;
2. Water - Thivaanaikkaa, Trichy - Jambukeswarar Temple;
3. Earth - Kanchipuram - Ekambareswarar Temple;
2. Air - Sri Kalahasthi, Andhra Pradesh - Kalahasteeswarar Temple; and
3. Sky / Space / Ether - Chidambaram - Natarajar Temple.
Coming back to Tiruvannamalai, when Vishnu and Brahma had an argument amongst themselves as to who is greater and could not decide amongst themselves, they chose to have Shiva as a mediator. Remember that Shiva tends to be very playful and mischievous almost all the times, except when he is angry (normally for a good cause).
Shiva told the other two மும்மூர்த்திகள் (Trinity members) that he would conduct a competition in which he will stand as a flame that would rise to the skies and dwell through the earth's underground and whoever finds the end would win. Shiva stood as a fire in Tiruvannamalai. Vishnu is known for his Varaha avatar (boar form) and bore through the ground to find the root of the flame. On the other hand, Brahma called for his வாகனம் (vehicle) - the swan and flew up towards the sky to find the head of the flame.
However, both could not succeed in finding the ends of the flame. Vishnu gave up realizing humility. Brahma happened to meet தாழம்பூ (Fragrant Screw Pine) on the way, which was used to decorate Shiva's head earlier. Brahma made a pact that meeting this pine flower is as good as seeing the head and asked the flower to witness, for which the flower agreed too. When Brahma claimed that he saw the topmost tip of the flame and Fragrant Screw Pine fake-witnessed it, this enraged Shiva who ordered that there would not be any temple with prime God as Brahma and that the Fragrant Screw Pine will never be used as items used in any aspect of worshiping Shiva. Owing to this, Brahma has only one own temple in the whole world where He is the primary God (மூலவர்) and the flower is never used in worshiping of Shiva.
It is good to worship him by burning camphor (but not this quantity). Scientifically, eyes need some traces of sulphur and phosphorous for good health and this is obtained by burning camphor. The same practice has been adopted by Jewism and Christianity who replaced camphor with candles, which is less smoky.
Devotees conglomerate in Tiruvannamalai on every Full Moon Night for கிரிவலம் (Girivalam, which is a combination of Giri - hill and valam - round), which is to go around the hill (about 16 km barefoot walk) to see and worship Lord Shiva in his purest of forms in the place where the whole hill is considered to be Lord himself, where Shiva appeared as fire. From the spot called as பஞ்சமுக தரிசனம (Panchamuga Dharisanam), one can see the shape of Shiva Lying with features of face, arms, chest, legs clearly depicted by the five peaks in the hill. From நந்திமுக தரிசனம் (Nandhimuga Dharisanam) and 3 other spots, the outline of the hill shows the shape of the bull's head, which is Shiva's வாகனம் (vehicle).
With so many spiritual factors in this place, It is claimed that those who think of this holy place (Tiruvannamalai) would get out of the vicious life-death cycle and become eternal. Apart from being a spiritual spot, taking up Girivalam has its own medicinal effects, since the barefoot 16-km walk is a good session of Accupressure and excites all nerves on the surface of the feet, thereby realigning all simple malfunctions in the body, thereby rejuvenating the senses. Moreover, this village is yet to be polluted and fresh air from the medicinal plants and minerals from the hill and countryside is a refreshing experience in itself. No wonder a lazy guy like me does not bother to pursue Girivalam seriously since Jan 2006 every full-moon night without a break in between, come what may!
கார்த்திகைத்திங்கள் + பௌர்ணமித்திங்கள் = தீபத்திருநாள்! (Karthigai Deepam Full Moon Night)
This shot is taken on Friday night, as destined for Karthigai month's Girivalam, the night after திருவண்ணாமலை தீபத்திருநாள். Tried my best to get the moon to the right of the Raja Gopuram (just as it is positioned on Shiva's head per Hindu Mythology), while also not missing on the Dancing Shiva neatly designed by the serial lights and the mani-mandapa before the gopuram.
Since Tiruvannamalai is the place where Lord Shiva (Destroyer-cum-Rejuvenator) takes form of one of the five elements - Fire - the purifier or sins - since this is the place where he taught humility to Lord Vishnu (Savior) and Lord Brahma (Creator).
For record, the 5 pilgrimage spots for each of the 5 elements are:
1. Fire - Tiruvannamalai - Annamalayar Temple;
2. Water - Thivaanaikkaa, Trichy - Jambukeswarar Temple;
3. Earth - Kanchipuram - Ekambareswarar Temple;
2. Air - Sri Kalahasthi, Andhra Pradesh - Kalahasteeswarar Temple; and
3. Sky / Space / Ether - Chidambaram - Natarajar Temple.
Coming back to Tiruvannamalai, when Vishnu and Brahma had an argument amongst themselves as to who is greater and could not decide amongst themselves, they chose to have Shiva as a mediator. Remember that Shiva tends to be very playful and mischievous almost all the times, except when he is angry (normally for a good cause).
Shiva told the other two மும்மூர்த்திகள் (Trinity members) that he would conduct a competition in which he will stand as a flame that would rise to the skies and dwell through the earth's underground and whoever finds the end would win. Shiva stood as a fire in Tiruvannamalai. Vishnu is known for his Varaha avatar (boar form) and bore through the ground to find the root of the flame. On the other hand, Brahma called for his வாகனம் (vehicle) - the swan and flew up towards the sky to find the head of the flame.
However, both could not succeed in finding the ends of the flame. Vishnu gave up realizing humility. Brahma happened to meet தாழம்பூ (Fragrant Screw Pine) on the way, which was used to decorate Shiva's head earlier. Brahma made a pact that meeting this pine flower is as good as seeing the head and asked the flower to witness, for which the flower agreed too. When Brahma claimed that he saw the topmost tip of the flame and Fragrant Screw Pine fake-witnessed it, this enraged Shiva who ordered that there would not be any temple with prime God as Brahma and that the Fragrant Screw Pine will never be used as items used in any aspect of worshiping Shiva. Owing to this, Brahma has only one own temple in the whole world where He is the primary God (மூலவர்) and the flower is never used in worshiping of Shiva.
It is good to worship him by burning camphor (but not this quantity). Scientifically, eyes need some traces of sulphur and phosphorous for good health and this is obtained by burning camphor. The same practice has been adopted by Jewism and Christianity who replaced camphor with candles, which is less smoky.
Devotees conglomerate in Tiruvannamalai on every Full Moon Night for கிரிவலம் (Girivalam, which is a combination of Giri - hill and valam - round), which is to go around the hill (about 16 km barefoot walk) to see and worship Lord Shiva in his purest of forms in the place where the whole hill is considered to be Lord himself, where Shiva appeared as fire. From the spot called as பஞ்சமுக தரிசனம (Panchamuga Dharisanam), one can see the shape of Shiva Lying with features of face, arms, chest, legs clearly depicted by the five peaks in the hill. From நந்திமுக தரிசனம் (Nandhimuga Dharisanam) and 3 other spots, the outline of the hill shows the shape of the bull's head, which is Shiva's வாகனம் (vehicle).
With so many spiritual factors in this place, It is claimed that those who think of this holy place (Tiruvannamalai) would get out of the vicious life-death cycle and become eternal. Apart from being a spiritual spot, taking up Girivalam has its own medicinal effects, since the barefoot 16-km walk is a good session of Accupressure and excites all nerves on the surface of the feet, thereby realigning all simple malfunctions in the body, thereby rejuvenating the senses. Moreover, this village is yet to be polluted and fresh air from the medicinal plants and minerals from the hill and countryside is a refreshing experience in itself. No wonder a lazy guy like me does not bother to pursue Girivalam seriously since Jan 2006 every full-moon night without a break in between, come what may!