Thiruvannamalai Karthigai Maha Deepam !!

Karthigai Maha Deepam is one of the most significant and auspicious festival celebrated at Thiruvannamalai Temple. The Karthigai festival falls every year in the Tamil month of Karthigai (November – December). In Thiruvannamalai, this is celebrated as “Bharani Deepam” or “ Maha Deepam”. It is a 10- Day festival and it starts by hoisting a flag atop the temple.

There is an interesting story behind this Karthigai celebration. As per the Hindu Mythology, the two great deities of Hindu culture, Lord Vishnu and Lord Brahma started fighting among them regarding their superiority. To stop this huge fight, Lord Shiva came in front of them and tried to show His supremacy.

Lord Shiva appeared as an endless flame of light before them and challenged the two fighting Gods to find the end of the fire from the top and bottom. Lord Vishnu took the form of a boar and dug deep into the earth. Lord Brahmma took the form of a swan and flew towards the skies. Lord Vishnu failed in his search and returned. But Lord Brahmma came across a flower named Thazhambu. The flower claimed that it had been flying down from Lord Shiva’s head for around thirty thousand years. After hearing this, Brahmma stopped flying at that point and claimed to Lord Shiva that he had seen his top. Lord Shiva realized the falsehood and pronounced that there would never be a temple for Lord Brahmma in this world. He also excluded the use of the flower Thazhambu in His worship. The Day on which Lord Shiva appeared as a Pillar of Fire, to prove His Supremacy is called Karthigai Maha Deepam.

At Thiruvannamalai, Lord Shiva appeared as a Hill – Arunachala (Holy Fire Hill). In the evening of Karthigai Deepam day at around 6 PM, the Mahadeepam is lit on the top of the hill that is about 2668 Feet high. This is a very important ceremony during the Karthigai Deepam festival at Thiruvannamalai Temple. It is strongly believed that Lord Arunachaleswara can visually be represented in the form of Agni on the hilltop. Hence the Shiva Lingam of this temple is called the “Agni Lingam”. Lakhs of devotees visit the temple on this day to get the blessings of the Lord.

During this time, people lit Agal vilakkus (Clay Lamps) in their house. It is believed the tiny Deepams that we lit at our home is the miniature replicas of the Agni Lingam. It is a strong belief among the people that Lord Shiva would shower all His blessings during this special time of the year and would put an end to the darkness in their Life.