Mahakumbhabhishekam

Mahakumbhabhishekam is held either to formally consecrate a new Temple or reconsecrate an old one. In the case of reconsecration, this ceremony often occurs at twelve-year intervals - following renovation, extensive cleaning and renewal. The rites culminate with the priests' pouring sanctified water over the Temple spires, each of which resembles an inverted pot, or kumbha.

At Arunachaleswarar Temple recently held Kumbhabhishekams occurred in the years: 1903, 1944, 1976, 2002 and in 2017.

The Kumbhabhishekam ceremony is believed to have an everlasting effect on society. The Agama Sastras state that it is conducted with the sole purpose of eradicating illness, obtaining good benefits from various Yagas, deriving rich benefits for the well being of all, health propagation of progeny and prosperity to society as a whole.

At Arunachaleswarar Temple, the Raja Gopuram symbolically represents the feet of the deity. A devotee bows at the feet of the Lord at the entrance as he steps into the Temple and proceeds towards the sanctum sanctorum, leaving behind the world of worries. On a cosmic level, Temple towers (being the highest structure in the area), are thought to have acted as lightning conductors in olden days. Towers on top of altars where deities are installed, are comparatively shorter than the Raja Gopuram and are called Sannidhi (Altar) Gopurams or Vimanas.

Kalasams which are usually made of an alloy of five metallic elements, such as Copper, Gold, Silver, Brass and Lead, are a set of concentric cone, cylindrical and globe-like shaped metallic structures installed on the top of Gopurams. The Vimanas (Sannidhi Gopurams) have just a single Kalasam, whereas the Raja Gopuram has multiple Kalasams.

1976 Mahakumbhabhishekam

Express News Service, Tiruvannamalai April 4, 1976

Upwards of 500,000 pilgrims gathered in this historic town this morning to witness the Mahakumbhabhishekam of the Arunachaleswarar temple.

The ceremonial bathing of the sikharas on the nine gopuras lasted full 15 minutes - from 8.45 a.m. to 9 a.m. As pot after pot of lustrous water was emptied on the spires which glittered in the morning sun, the teeming half million kept up the chant of "Annamalaiyarkku Aro Hara."

1856 Tiruvannamalai (based on Arunachala Puranam)

Rising above the frenzied, full throated call to Lord Siva were the deafening blasts of adirevdi - 51 were fired in all giving the signal for a start to the colourful ceremony. Sweet strains of Nadaswaram music flowing from the pipe of Namagiripettai Krishnan, followed by groups of other pipers, mingled happily with the Thevaram renderings led by Swami Panchanatha Desikar and his 63 minstrels..

It was a vast sea of humanity in and around the renowned Siva shrine, its vast quadrangles, aisles and corridors packed with chanting men and women.

In the distance the gaunt sides of the Arunachala Hill were dotted with dense devout groups who had camped on the lower reaches overnight for lack of even moving space anywhere in the town. Two white-throated kites cut large circles over the 25-acre temple area, seemingly heralding the approach of the Kumbha lagna under the Rohini asterism, chosen for the momentous ceremony.

Watching the proceedings were the heads of the leading South Indian maths, notable among them being Ramadasa Sadhu of Devi Karumari Temple of Thiruverkadu, Sri Mahalingaswamy of Dharmapuram, Tiruchi Swamigal and Samayapuram Ramantha Samigal, representing the Kanchi Math.

Also present were the Advisors the Governor, P.K. Dave and R.V. Subrahmanian, Mrs. Madhuben Shak, wife of Governor K.K. Shah, former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu M. Bhaktavatsalam, top State officials, leading lights of the Nattukottai Chettiar community which has been continually associated with the renovation and beautifying of the temple.

Under the direction of Chief priest Sri Ayyamanbi Sivam nearly 200 Sivacharyas earlier in the week performed homas in the Yagasala specially erected according to Silpa Sastra and Aagama Sastra, beginning with the Vigneswara Puja and followed by Dhana Puja, Vaastu Shanti, Vaastu Homam and Navagraha propitiation. There were 33 homakunds for Annamalai, 25 for Unnamulai Amman, and others for Vinayaka, Venugopalaswami. When the deities were established in the kumbhas, or ceremonial vessels, the ashtabandhana fixation took place for all the deities in the temple.

The total expenditure of the Kumbhabhishekam alone will exceed Rs.6 lakhs and the brunt of it borne by Nattukottai Nagarathars. Work on Rajagopuram and eight others will cost Rs. 40 lakhs.

Apart from gallons of sandalwood paste the holy libation was made up of Ganga water blended with camphor, gorojana, kasturi and saffron and 96 leaves form sacred herbs. An hour before the start of the Kumbhabhishekam, began a procession of priests carrying some 1,200 pots of holy water earmarked for the various gopurams. Priests chanting vedic hymns climbed improvised wooden stairs held together by heavy scaffolding. The Sivacharyas wearing heavy Rudraaksha beads, colourful multi-coloured gold laced cloth around their waists, made their way to the top of the gopuras awaiting the signal from the chief priest to begin the abhisheka.

At the stroke of 8.45 a deafening adirvedi blast signalled the start of the ceremonies followed by cries of "Annamalaiyarkku Arohara" from the vast concourse.

When the ritual was over priests sprinkled water from the pots and sandalwood paste on the gathering below. Garlands of the holy tulasi, marigolds, roses and bilwa leaves were showered on the faithful.

The most famous of the Pancha Bhoota Kshetras, Tiruvannamalai is dedicated to the Tejo Linga. The Arunachala Hill, which provides a striking backdrop to the temple town, is 2,666 feet above sea level and said to be rich in the panchalohas - copper, gold, silver, lead and iron. In its various caves saints have carried on meditation and realised Godhood. A glorious example was Sri Ramana Maharshi, whose ashram at the foot of the hill is still the international port of call for spiritualism long after the passing of the "Saint of Silence".

Seventy years ago, the Nattukottai Chettiars took up the renovation work of the temple at a cost of Rs.35 lakhs. The Mahakumbhabhishekam was held on June 6, 1903. An Ashtabandhana Kumbhabhishekam was held on June 4, 1944 at a cost of Rs.44,000.

The Mahamandalabhishekam will be held on May 19.

India Express, Madras
April 5, 1976

18 Pillar Mandapam, Raja Gopuram 1976

Annamalai Garbagriham 1976

Siddhi Vinayaka Shrine 1976

Yagasalai 1976

Waterpots Carried from Yagasalai

Waterpots from Yagasalai to Temple

Holy water on Annamalai Vimana

Annamlai Big Temple Vimana, spraying water on devotees

Ambal Vimana Kumbhabhishekam 1976

2002 Arunachaleswarar Temple Kumbhabhishekam

I remember it vividly. it was 9:47 in the morning on June 27, 2002. That moment was perfectly still like a calm before a storm. What followed was a devotional frenzy that all good Tamil Nadu temple-goers know only too well.

Three hundred thousand devotees were packed around a 217-foot rajagopuram (one of four main outer temple towers) at the Arunachaleswarar temple in Tiruvannamalai, South India. They had been there all morning some since the night before. Suddenly, as if in response to some orchestrated cue, everyone roared, "Annamalaikku Haro Hara," "Glory to the Lord of Annamalai." Six eagles circled over the temple's sanctum sanctorum and abhishekams (water ceremonies) were simultaneously performed in nine towers and nine shrines throughout the temple complex. The 1,300-year-old temple was experiencing its fifth known Maha Kumbhabhishekam. It was history in the making. The last such ceremony occurred in 1976. The two before that were in 1944 and 1903.

A Maha Kumbhabhishekam is held either to formally consecrate a new temple or reconsecrate an old one, which usually occurs at twelve-year intervals, following renovation, extensive cleaning and renewal. The rites culminate with the priests' pouring sanctified water over the temple spires, each of which resembles an inverted pot, or kumbha. Leading up to the consecration, a number of rituals are performed by the sthapati (main temple architect) in charge of the construction or renovation.

The temple at Arunachaleswarar is the second largest in India. Throughout its long history, it has enjoyed extraordinary popularity among wealthy patrons. This remains true today. Just before the Maha Kumbhabhishekam of 2002, more than a million dollars was spent on temple renovation and repair. Although a great deal of this money came from affluent donors, much was also solicited through pamphlets, posters and "door stickers" as well as on television.

All nine gopurams were repaired, renovated and repainted. The 1000 pillared mandapam (main temple hall) was completely cleaned and even outfitted with electricity. The temple's entire collection of ceremonial utensils were scrubbed and polished. And much of the old ornamentation was refurbished with new, intricately designed carvings and designs all gold-plated.

During the ceremony itself, more than five thousand policemen were on hand to keep order. The water and fire rituals commenced in coordination with the conclusion of a nine-day annual festival featuring worship of the Hindu Goddesses Durga, Amman and Pitari. The inaugural puja was held in the newly constructed yagasala (a place of fire worship) on the evening of June 22.

During the next six days, grand homas (fire ceremonies) were conducted at 102 agni kundams (fire pits) built in the yagasala just for this purpose. Each of these homas was dedicated to a God or Goddess. Thirty-three were for Annamalai (a form of Lord Siva), 25 for Amman (a form of Goddess Shakti), and five each for Gods Vinayagar, Murugan, Somaskander and Venugopal. The remaining 24 were committed to the parivara devathas (canonized saints devoted to Lord Siva).

Three hundred Sivacharyas, 15 oduvars (traditional temple singers) and 120 Vedic scholars from all over India orchestrated the homas while 108 tavil players (temple drummers) and nadaswaram masters (temple horn players) provided appropriate festival music. The grand procession around the temple was led by Tyagaraja Gurukkal (69) and Alasyanatha Gurukkal (54), both long-time chief priests at Arunachaleswara Temple.

Doordarshan, Jaya TV and a local television channel beamed the Kumbhabhishekam live as it occurred. All India Radio also broadcast a running commentary. Dina Malar, a renowned Tamil daily, hired seven photographers to cover the event. All in all it was a grand event in Tamil Nadu, a gracious gift of upliftment to its motherland of India, otherwise deeply troubled by the darker events of 2002.

For hundreds of years, the town of Tiruvannamalai and the temple Arunachaleswara have stood foremost among South India's most sought-after spiritual destinations. Successive South Indian kings always gave great importance to them both. They dug ponds and wells; built gopurams, compound walls and prakarams (temple courtyards) and donated jewels and gold. Famous Indian kings down through history; like Rajaraja Chola, Rajendra Chola, Harihara Bukkar, Krishna Deva Rayar, as well as the kings of the Chera, Pallava, Pandya, Rashtrakotta, Hoysala and Naik dynasties, were proud to have Tiruvannamalai as part of their kingdom. Some of them even made it their capital. Even when caught in political crisis, they held onto Tiruvannamalai.

Historical details about the Arunachaleswarar Temple are revealed in stone inscriptions on the prakara walls and copper plates of the temple itself.These inscriptions, which refer to a period of time spanning a thousand years starting from 750AD, indicate that the greatness of Arunachaleswarar was made known to the kings of the times primarily through important South Indian devotional literature like the Thevaram and Thiruvasagam.

Aruna literally means "force" and achala means "that which cannot be moved." So, Arunachaleswarar Temple represents Lord Siva as indomitable power. The Arunachaleswarar Siva Temple is located 125 miles from Chennai, the capital of Tamil Nadu. Its day-to-day administration is currently controlled by the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments department of the Tamil Nadu Government.
Tiruvannamalai and its famous temple are attracting an increasing number of pilgrims every year. On a single festival day, it may accommodate as many as a million devotees. And that was before the million-dollar renovation and Maha Kumbhabhishekam of 2002. Certainly, the best is yet to come.

[Kesav Malli]

2017 Mahakumbhabhishekam

According to a statement released by the District administration - financing for Temple renovation works came to around Rs 7.2. A crack found in the stone beam at the base of 217-feet-high Raja Gopuram and other minor cracks found in the Gopuram were fixed using anchor assemblies. The work was undertaken by a specialist engineering team who flew in from the U.K. All Temple Gopurams and Vimanas were painted. The 1000-pillared mandapam (main Temple hall) was cleaned. Pillars of the central mandapam were decorated with gold-coated iron plates and Temple utensils were scrubbed and polished.

The Temple administration arranged an accident insurance policy from the National Insurance Company by paying a premium of Rs.64,170/-, for coverage in the case of compensation in the case of untoward incidents during the Festival. Holiday was declared for schools and colleges in the District.

As a prelude to the festival Durgai Amman Utsavam and Pidari Amman Utsavam were held in their respective Temples on Thursday and Friday. The first rite performed was that of honouring Lord Ganesha followed by prayers to the earth (bhumi puja) for the support and blessing of the yagasala.

Consecration rites extended over a number of days and an inaugural puja was held in the specially constructed yagasala (House of the Fire Offerings) after which during the next six days, grand homas (fire ceremonies) were conducted at agni kundams (fire pits) built inside the yagasala just for this purpose. The Yagasala housed 108 yaga kundams for the performance of 12 kala homams which began January 31, 2017.

Homams were performed by offering ghee, grains and spices to the fire accompanied by the chanting of mantras. The major Homams conducted were: Ganapati Homam (to remove all obstacles), Sudarsana Homam (for peace and victory over negative energies), Navagraha Homam (to alleviate malefic effect of Navagrahas and to appease the Navagrahas), Vaastu Shanti Homam (for the worship of the elements of nature and balance the forces that control the flow of energies) and the Moola Mantra Homam (oblations to the deities residing in the Temple by chanting the Moola Mantra of each deity).

Each of these homas were dedicated to a God or Goddess - Annamalai, Amman, Vinayagar, Murugan, Somaskander and Venugopal and to Parivara Devathas (saints devoted to Lord Siva). Surrounding the fire altars were hundreds of kumbhas, or copper pots - and each pot sat in a bed of rice, topped with mango leaves and a coconut.

Sivacharyas, oduvars (traditional Temple singers) and Vedic scholars from all over India orchestrated the homas while tavil players (Temple drummers) and nadaswaram masters (Temple horn players) provided appropriate festival music. At the brick fire altars sat acharyas who stoked the fires and made offerings and libations into them. They chanted mantras and sacred texts to invoke the Divine presence to the fire and to the pots of water to be consecrated. The Homams were conducted according to the agamas and performed by acharyas (priests) in the specially created Yagasala in the Temple compound. It is through these mantras, that the Divine is made present. The "root mantras" (mula mantras) are different for each deity installed in the Temple.

Along with the offerings of words - offerings of grain, flowers, spices, honey, and many other substances are poured forth. All are fed into the sacred flames along with ghee (clarified butter). When the offerings are complete and all the mantras have been uttered, the priests and the community stand for the purnahuti, the ritual of completion from the Isha Upanishad.

That Beyond is Fullness.
This here is Fullness.
From Fullness comes Fullness
Drawing out the Fullness of the Fullness
Fullness yet remains.
Om, peace, peace, peace.

On a day at the designated auspicious time, when the Kumbha is bathed with the charged and sanctified holy waters contained in the sacrificial pots, consecrated and sanctified pranic powers trickle down a silver wire and enter the Deity installed inside the Sanctum Sanctorum of the Temple. After the consecration of the Vimanas on top of the Temple, worship was then specifically performed inside the Sanctum Sanctorum in which further pranic powers were transferred to the Deities

Approximately 1,780 special buses operated to Tiruvannamalai for the consecration of Sri Arunachaleswarar Temple on February 6, 2017. Around 20 huge LED screens were placed inside the Temple and in significant spots about Tiruvannamalai (including the Bus Stand) to enable devotees to see live streaming of the Kumbhabhishekam ritual. Arrangements were made to provide drinking water for devotees throughout Girivalam roadway. 85 drinking water outlets were arranged in the Temple. Sprinklers were set up to spray holy water on devotees during Kumbhabhishekam. 25 lakh devotees were estimated to have attended the Festival. The Postal department released a commemorative cover to celebrate the grand occasion.

2017 Panguni Uthiram Thirukalyana Mandapam Wedding

Panguni Uthiram. Swami Wedding. Arulmigu Unnamulai Amman came on procession from (Ambal's) mother's house at Kumara Kovil. After going round the mada veedhis (Big Temple perimeter streets) the Goddess reached the Big Temple.

Night, the 3rd prakaram, near Sambandha Vinayagar Sannidhi, a garland exchange event occurred between Swami and Ambal.

Night 10.00 p.m. Marriage Ceremony at Thirukalyana Mandapam

Night 11.00 p.m. afterwards Lord on Golden Nandi and Ambal on Kamadhenu Vahanam procession.

As part of the 2017 Mahakumbhabhishekam observance at Arunachaleswarar Temple, Tiruvannamalai, on the evening of February 6, the day of consecration of the Garbagrihas of both Lord Arunachaleswarar and Sri Unnamulaiyar, a marriage was performed between the two Gods. The Tirukalyanam (marriage) ceremony started at 8.30 p.m. At around midnight of that day, the Gods were taken out of the Temple via the Thitti Vassal Gate and brought to the Alankaram Mandapam, situated directly in front of the Raja Gopura (East Tower) of the Big Temple.

The below video is of the idol of Lord Arunachaleswarar carried on a palanquin to the Silver Bull (Rishaba) vahana (vehicle), where He was prepared for the procession of the panchamoorthies (five idols).

On this occasion, the process of preparing the Lord on his vahana took around 2 hours and it was nearly 3 a.m. when all the Gods were ready on their vehicles to be towed by tractor in a clockwise direction, around the perimeter streets surrounding Arunachaleswarar Temple.

The Panchamoorthies (five idols) that performed this circumambulation were:

Lord Arunachaleswarar on Silver Rishaba
Shakti Amman on Gold Rishaba
Lord Vinayakar under Wish-Fulfilling Tree (Kalpavriksha)
Lord Murugan on big Silver Chariot (Radham)
Chandikeswarar on Silver Indira Chariot (Radham)

By the time the panchamoorthies completed circumambulation of Arunachaleswarar Temple, dawn had already broken.