TIRUVANNAMALAI - KARTHEEKA DEEPAM

While she was doing tapas and worshipping Sivalinga made of sand, Lord Siva determined to put her to test by causing heavy floods which swallowed a huge chunk of land along with Sivalinga. When she moaned in wilderness clinging to the melting Linga, Siva then pacified her with the advice of continuing penance in Maharshi Gautama's hermitage at Tiruvannamalai. She continued it under the guidance of Gautama. In the course of penance, She was constrained to kill a demon. After killing, She made a pond by cutting the rock with her sword The Khadga thirtha found on the hill and the Sivalinga installed on the bank stand in evidence of this episode. Soon she resumed her tapas with, redoubled tenacity. Pleased with it, Siva appeared before her and declared that She could again share his body as in the past. Parvathi performed Deva yaga - a purificatory ritual commencing on Utharashada and ending with Karthika pournami for merging in Siva. On the auspicious day of Karthika poumami, she went round Arunachala in the company of Lakshmi, Saraswatlu, and Indrani accompanied by a host of rishis chanting slokas before occupying the half of Siva's body. Siva once again became Ardhanariswar. That day since then is celebrated as the great Karthikadeepam day every year with great fanfare.

You have witnessed now the country's the unique Deepam and known its background. In many temples, the deepaaraadhana ritual is observed, big? none comes nearer to this. Karthika Deepam is Karthika Deepam alone and its sanctity and awesome cause defy description. Pay a visit and feast your eyes with that world's holiest deepa for-eternal bliss.

Location : The temple lies in Tiruvannamali, accessible by four wheelers from Vellore, Tamil Nadu. 

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