Glory of Arunachala-

[Guest guest]

Karthikai Deepam

 

friends,

 

In the Skanda Purana, Markandeya requested

Nandikesvara to name a single holy spot sacred to Siva

merely by remembering which, with or without

knowledge, one could attain salvation.

 

Nandikesavara thought of Arunachala. The very thought

immersed him in 40samadhi. Coming out of it after a

long time he extolled the glory of Arunachala. He

said: ‘‘Mount Kailas and Meru are only abodes of Lord

Siva whereas Arunachala is the embodiment of the Lord

himself’’. Why did Lord Siva take the form of this

hill in present-day Tamil Nadu? The backdrop for this

was the quarrel between Brahma, the creator, and

Vishnu, the preserver. They argued as to which of them

was superior.

 

To end this fierce battle which arose due to

Self-forgetfulness, Siva appeared before them as a

light spreading high into heaven and down to the

nether world. An ethereal voice declared that whoever

found the beginning or the end of this effulgence

would be the greater of the two. Vishnu burrowed deep

into the bowels of the earth. Brahma soared high to

find the top. But neither could succeed.

 

Both Brahma and Vishnu prayed to Lord Siva to withdraw

his effulgence and abide as a motionless linga named

Arunachala (the red hill) in order to bestow his grace

on the world. Brahma and Vishnu also prayed that to

enable the people to worship in the traditional way,

Lord Siva take the form of a Taijasalinga. Siva

accepted their prayers and took the auspicious form of

a svaymbhu (self-created) linga on the eastern side of

the hill. This Siva linga is now worshipped for

centuries as Arunachalesvara.

 

Once Parvati playfully closed the eyes of her consort

Lord Siva. She was not aware that the three eyes of

Siva were the source of all light in the universe: the

sun, moon, and fire. Consequently, the universe was

shrouded in darkness for a long time though Parvati

had closed Siva’s eyes only momentarily. Siva advised

Parvati to do penance, ostensibly in repentance but

really to bless Mother Earth. Siva could foresee her

role as the destroyer of the evil forces that were

flourishing under the leadership of the demon Mahisha.

 

While Parvati performed penance in Kanchipuram, Lord

Siva directed her to proceed to Arunachala where he

was embodied and continue her penance there. Lord Siva

also asked her to commence her penance after hearing

from sage Gautama about the glory of Arunachala and

the importance of its pradakshina. The ancient annual

Kartikdeep festival there was on December 7 this year.

 

 

Extracted from ‘Tattvaloka’ magazine, Sringeri Math

 

 

 

 

 

 

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