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Tiruvannamalai: As dusk descends today, the 2,668-foot peak of the sacred Arunachala Hill in Tiruvannamalai will be crowned with the celestial glow of the Maha Deepam, marking the spiritual zenith of the ten-day Karthigai Deepam festival. This monumental lamp, a beacon for lakhs of devotees, is not merely a ritual but a profound embodiment of ancient legend, Shaiva philosophy, and unbroken tradition.
Tiruvannamalai Karthigai Deepam : The Grand Physical Manifestation
The scale of the offering is itself an act of devotion. The Maha Deepam is lit in a massive, 5.25-foot-high cauldron weighing 300 kilograms. It is fuelled by approximately 3,500 liters of pure cow ghee and a handspun wick made from a thousand meters of cotton cloth. This colossal flame is designed to burn continuously for eleven days and nights, visible for miles as a divine pillar of light.
Tiruvannamalai Karthigai Deepam: Lakhs Gather to Witness the Lighting of the Divine Hilltop Torch
Mythological and Theological SignificanceWhile documented historical records are scarce, the festival is deeply rooted in Tamil Saiva tradition and Puranic legends. It commemorates the day Lord Shiva manifested as an infinite column of fire (Jyothirlingam) to settle a dispute between Lord Brahma and Lord Vishnu, establishing his supreme form. Tiruvannamalai, revered as the Agni Sthalam (the fire element) among the Pancha Bhoota Stalas (five elemental Shiva temples), is believed to be the very site of this cosmic event, making the festival here especially potent.
Tiruvannamalai Karthigai Deepam : The Story Behind the Cosmic Flame Lit on Sacred Arunachala
An 11th-century inscription from the reign of Rajendra Chola I (1031 AD) within the Annamalaiyar Temple references the significance of Karthigai, indicating the festival’s antiquity and royal patronage.
The Spiritual Sequence: From One to Many, and Back to OneThe day’s rituals embody a deep philosophical journey:
Bharani Deepam: Before dawn, a single lamp is lit within the sanctum of Lord Annamalaiyar..
The Multiplication: From this one source, five other lamps are kindled, symbolizing the Lord’s manifestation in multiple forms..
The Unification: These lamps are then brought together and merged near the deity, representing the ultimate truth that all forms merge back into the singular, supreme consciousness of Shiva..
The Ascent: This unified flame is then carried in a grand procession up the arduous path to the hilltop, where the Maha Deepam is lit..
A unique and highly anticipated event preceding the lighting is the annual darshan of Lord Ardhanareeswarar (the androgynous form of Shiva-Shakti) from the main shrine, a blessing available only on this day.
For devotees, witnessing the Maha Deepam at Tiruvannamalai is an act of deep spiritual communion. The fiery column ascending from the earth to the sky is a visual metaphor for the soul’s journey from the material to the divine, drawing pilgrims from across the world to bask in its sacred radiance.
