History of the Temple:
The special features of this temple can be found in detail in the book Arunachala Puranam written by Kanchipuram Saiva Guruvar Ellappanavalar, the book Arunai Kalampakam, and the book Sona Sailamalai written by Kumaraguruparan, and in the book Thiruppugazh by Arunagiriyar. Who are the two, Brahma, the creator god, and the god of protection? Thirumal, who is the greater, had a dispute among himself and went to Lord Shiva and asked who was the greater. Lord Shiva said, “Who among you is seeing his feet or his hair?” Thirumal took the form of Varaha and went to the earth to see his feet. Unable to see his feet, he returned exhausted. Brahma took the form of a swan and Lord Shiva flew high to see his hair. When Shiva was flying hesitantly, unable to see the hair, he saw Thazhampoo (Dahlam flower) coming down from the hair of his head. He asked it how far it was to see Shiva’s hair. Thazhampoo replied that it had slipped from Shiva’s braid and had been coming down for forty thousand years. Brahma gave up trying to see the hair and asked Thazhampoo to tell a lie. When Shiva asked Shiva to testify that Brahma had seen Shiva’s hair, Thazhampoo testified. Lord Shiva, who felt completely guilty, cursed that the god Brahma who had lied would not have a temple on earth, and that Thazhampoo who had told a lie would not be of any use in worshipping Shiva. Lord Shiva, who had shown the world that he was both God and Brahma, stood as a torch in Tiruvannamalai. It was the day of Mahashivaratri. Annamalai here has become a mountain of fire in the Krita Yuga, a mountain of jewels in the Treta Yuga, a mountain of gold in the Dwapara Yuga, and a mountain of stone in the Kali Yuga. This temple is where Lord Shiva, who was the torchbearer, and Brahma, bowed down to pray and bowed down to them, and Lord Shiva himself took the form of a Shivalinga and came down to the base of the mountain.
History of the Karthigai Deepam:
Arthanariswarar Umadeviyar closed the eyes of Lord Shiva with his hand and the whole world became dark. The living beings suffered in darkness. Lord Shiva opened his third eye and gave light. To atone for this sin, on the day that Umadeviyar was worshipping a Shivalinga made of sand in the city of Kanchi, Lord Shiva appeared and went to Thiruvannamalai to perform penance and take his left side. As per the order of Lord Shiva, Parvati Deviyar came to Thiruvannamalai and built a parnasala on the mountain and did penance with the help of sage Gautama. A demon named Mahidasuran spoiled the penance. Umadeviyar sent Durga to kill Mahidasuran, and during the full moon of the month of Karthigai, during the Krittigai Pradosha, Lord Shiva saw the form of Jyothi on the mountain and took his left side and sat down. It is noteworthy that to mark this, the Ardhanareeswara idol is displayed at exactly 6.00 pm on Karthigai Deepam.
Inscriptions indicate that the festival was celebrated as early as the Chola period (from 850 CE to 1280 CE) and was expanded to ten days in the twentieth century.
10 Day Karthigai Deepam Schedule:
Day 1:
Brahmotsavam festival begins with the hosting of the flag signifying the commencement of the festival also known as Dwajaroghanam. In the morning and night Lord Arunachaleswarar will be taken out on the silver vahana for procession. The Panchamurthis(Panchamurthigal) are also taken out in the procession. The Panchamurthigal are Lord Ganapathi, Lord Murugan, Lord Sandeswarar, Lord Arunachaleswarar and Goddess Parvathi.These processions are carried out on different vahanas after the Deeparadhana is done at the kalyana mandapam.
Day 2:
This day festival commences with the Lord Panchamoorthigal coming on Indira Vimanam the chariot of Lord Indira.
Day 3:
This day Starts With 1008 Sangu Abishekam in the Morning and at night with the Lord Panchamurthigal coming in procession majestically on the Simha vahana, the chariot of lion.
Day 4:
Lord Panchamurthigal comes in the procession that starts at night on the kamadhenu vahanam. The auspicious tree Karpaviruksha is also on the side of the lord. This tree is believed to grant all the wishes that the devotees seek without fail.
Day 5:
This day begins Kalasa Pooja in day time and at night the procession on the silver rishaba vahanam is very appealing and splendid to witness. Lord Panchamoorthigal goes on this vahana that is about 25 feet tall. A big umbrella with about 17 feet in diameter is carried along in the procession.
Day 6:
This day commences with 63 Nayanmarkal Procession in the morning and night with procession of Lord Panchamurthigal on the silver chariot that is beautifully crafted and simply imposing when it comes around the temple.
Day 7:
Lord Panchamurthigal starts with the procession on the Maha ratham that is very huge and it almost occupies the full width of the road. This ratham is made of pure wood that is strong and rugged.
Day 8:
This day Lord Panchamurthigal starts with the procession on the Maha ratham that is very huge and it almost occupies the full width of the road. This ratham is made of pure wood that is strong and rugged.
Day 9:
The devotees can witness Lord Panchamurthigal going out procession on the Kailasa Vahanam. This ceremony is mostly conducted on the ninth night.
Day 10:
This day starts at around four o clock in the early hours and the Bharani Deepam (Barani Deepam Festival) is lit at the temple.In Afternoon Sri Subramaniyar Brahma Theertha Kulam,Theerthavari Festival,Than in the evening the Mahadeepam is lit on the top of the hill at around six o clock – Lord Panchamoorthigal Darshan,Lord Arthanareeswarar Alangaram Darshan and Maha Deepam ( Maha Jothi Darshan) is a very important ceremony during the Karthigai Deepam festival at Tiruvannamalai.
