Deepam: The Symbol of Lord Arunachala

History tells that this practice came into existence following a dispute between Lord Vishnu and Lord Brahma over who was superior of the two. They prayed to Lord Siva for grace. Their test was to find the top and bottom of a glowing mountain which was actually Lord Siva. Lord Siva blessed them and told that he will appear in the top of the hill as a Jothi (flame). It is to bring this event into effect that the flame is lit on the top of the holy hill during the month of Karthigai (November to December).

The festival begins in the udhiram day (Star) in Karthigai and winds up with the Bharani Deepam lit in the early hours of the tenth day. The Deepam is lit at the twilight in correspondence with the full moon. The deepam can be seen even from a distance of 45 kilometers. The real image of Lord Arunachala is viewed in the appearance of “Agni”. This is celebrated every year as the remembrance of the Lord Arunachala as fire i.e one of the image of him. More than 10,00,000 devotees get the heavenly worship of the Lord in that holy day.

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THIRUVANNAMALAI - Karthigai Deepam

The Karthigai Deepam is the biggest lamp with the brightest sparkle. When the moon glitters with its entire disk illuminated in the month of Karthigai, the celebration becomes a temple function for a week. A lamp which is made up of a big brass vessel is lifted up to the hill. This vessel contains tins and tins of ghee and pots and pots of butter. An extremely thick wick made of loosely twisted woven fibers is immersed into the vessel. One end of the wick is drawn out to the top and is ignited with the burning camphor. The thick wick is fully soaked in the ghee. The ghee passes through the wick which is inside a tube to the flame.

The flame will be lit at 6 p.m when the moon emerges from the east and comes on to the horizon. The radiant glow of the lamp at the top of the hill opens the eyes of millions of people to something divine or favorable. Some others see the Lord of the world in the burning light and are moved with their mouth uttering "Om Arunachaleshwaraya Namaha". Once in a year man lights the largest wick of the largest lamp and the world goes into delight singing his song of grace.