TIRUVANNAMALAI

THE EPISODE OF KARTHIKA DEEPAM

Above all, Karthigai Deepam - Beacon Festival is celebrated with elaborate rituals and processions lasting for days; devout theists who want to avail this rare opportunity for bliss have to follow certain sastric injections. The pilgrim who starts for Tiruvannamalai is ordained to take one meal on the previous day - Bharani, and worship Bharanideepam early in the morning of Karthigai. He must go round the hill walking the entire distance of 8 miles. He should pray at Adi Annamalai temple and see the Karthikai deepam in the night, without meal the whole day. 

It is only on the next day he has to take meal; for, it is such a sacred and unique darsan that no parallel could be found anywhere in the world. And its mystic significance is explained thus - body is the hill; mind, the vessel; devotion, the wick; meditation, the ghee; breath, the camphor, and wisdom , the fire. By lighting this flame thus to dispel darkness enveloping soul, the devotee is made to merge in the Paranjyoti -the Lord of Kailas. And this Lord is the personification of compassion, and whoever prays to him with genuine devotion, he grants any thing and everything. Moreover, this Bhaktavasankar takes upon himself all the responsibilities and undergoes any privation in discharging the ardeous tasks of his children.

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