Lighting Festival at Arunachala

[Ms Tercy Lonan]

Lighting Festival at Arunachala

Lord Siva assumed the form of a hill at Tiruvannamalai in Tamilnadu. Here, He quelled thepride of Brahma and Vishnu who were quarrelling as to their relative greatness. One day, when

Lord Siva was in meditation, Parvati left Him and went to the hill of Arunachala. There she
performed penances. She was the guest of the sage Gautama. It was during her penance here that
Mahishasura was killed by Durga bidden by Parvati. Parvati saw Lord Siva as Arunachalesvara.
She was taken back by Lord Siva to His side and made again Ardhanari, as Apitaku Chamba.
Arunachalesvara is Tejolinga. Arunachala represents the Agni Tattva of the Pancha Bhuta
Kshetras.
Arunachalam is another name for Tiruvannamalai. In days of yore, many Siddha Purushas
lived in this hill. Idyakadar, Arunagirinathar lived here. This place is famous for its Festival of
Lighting (Kartigai Dipam) every year during the month of Kartigai (November), on the day when
the full moon falls in the Kartigai Nakshatram. The lighting takes place at about 5 or 5.30 in the
evening. A big hollow in a rock is filled with ghee, oil and camphor. A big wick is put in the ghee
and lighted. The lighting is seen even at a distance of sixteen miles. It is regarded that he who
beholds this light does not take any future birth. The light burns continuously for three months.

A veil is put around the light at the top of the Arunachala hill. The people bring the Isvara
Vigraha outside the temple at 5.30 p.m. as soon as Kartigai Nakshatra dawns. Then a Bhana (fire
work) is sent towards the light in the hill through the sky. The man who is in charge of the lighting at
the hill removes the veil at once. Then the people see the big light and worship the light with folded
hands. They repeat loudly ‘Harahara, Harohara’.
The esoteric significance is that he who sees the Light of lights that is burning eternally in
the chambers of one’s heart, through constant meditation, attains immortality. The lighting in the
Arunachala brings the message to you that the Atman or Lord Siva is self-effulgent, Jyotis-Svarupa,
Light of lights, Sun of suns.

The big light at the hill represents Lord Siva or Paramatman (Supreme Soul). The Bhana is
Jiva or the individual soul. The veil represents Avidya that covers the individual soul. The Bhana
burns the veil and merges itself in the big light. Even so, if you destroy Avidya by the fire of
meditation and Vichara, you can merge yourself in the Supreme Soul or Light of lights.
Kanjivaram, Jambukesvara, Tiruvannamalai, Kalahasti and Chidambaram are the five
Bhuta Linga Kshetras. Prithvi Lingam is at Kanjivaram. Apas Lingam is at Jambukesvaram.
Tejo-Lingam is at Tiruvannamalai. Vayu-Lingam is at Kalahasti. Akasa-Lingam is at
Chidambaram.
These five places represent the apex of five angles of a five triangled figure which
represents the five Bhutas of which the entire world is made up. The Tejas-Tattva is in the middle of
the five Bhutas. It forms the way through which the Supreme Soul or Lord Siva can be known or
seen or realised by the Jiva. The fire of meditation burns the Avidya of the Jiva and helps him to
merge himself in the Supreme Light.
The Vedantin holds that Vak (speech) is Brahman. He proves that Vak is Agni or fire and
deduces his doctrine of unity. Agni is the presiding deity of speech. Vak is Agni. Vak is Brahman.
The Panchamurtis or Pancha Tattvas meet at a time which is neither night nor day, when the
sun and the moon shine together. The light at the hill is seen at a distance of sixteen miles. This
represents the ‘Purnakala’ or Brahman.
The Yogi beholds that light during meditation at the crown of the head, which represents the
top of the Arunachala hill, and merges himself in it during Nirvikalpa Samadhi.
Annihilate the three impurities, Anava, Karma and Maya. Burn the mind, senses and the
Vasanas in the fire of knowledge of the Self or Sivajnanam. Attain full illumination and behold the
Light of lights which illumines the mind, intellect, sun, stars, lightning and the fire. This is real
Kartigai Dipam.
May the Light of lights illumine you all! May Lord Siva bless you with more light! May you
merge in this Supreme Light and attain the eternal bliss of Immortality!