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Searching For The Light....Within

11/28/2020

56 Comments

 
Picture
Today is the festival of lights, Karthigai Deepam. People light rows of lamps especially the earthen ones, in their houses. In spite of the advent of other form of lighting, lamps made of clay exude their special charm. Serial bulbs look pale when juxtaposed with the glow of clay lamps! The flames of these lamps fluttering in the wind is a sight to cherish.

The festival is observed with special fervor at the Arunachaleshwara temple at Thiruvannamalai. On this occasion five deepams signifying the five elements; air, fire, water, earth, and ether are lit in the temple premises after elaborate rituals. A single lamp called the Bharani Deepam is lit from these five pots and is kept burning in the temple all through, signifying the merging of all five elements into the divine. Around the same time a Maha Deepam is lit on top of the hill which forms the backdrop of the huge temple. An enormous receptacle is filled with more than 3,500 kg of ghee and a giant wick made of a special cloth coated with 2Kgs of camphor is lit. The deepam can be seen from miles around for many days.  

Karthigai Deepam is among the oldest festivals celebrated in Tamil Nadu and finds mention in many ancient Tamil literary tomes like ‘Ahananuru’ (200 B.C. to 300 A.D.), ‘Tolkappiyam’ that dates back to 2,000 or 2,500 BC, and ‘Jeevakachintamani’. The famous poetess Avaiyyar, also mentions about the festival in her works.

Festivals play an indelible part in the cultural history of the country and each one of them is interwoven with mythology and folklore: Karthigai Deepam is no exception. Prominent among the legends associated with this festival is that of Lingodbhava.

Once a very mortal dispute arose between Brahma and Vishnu as to who is the greater of the two. To settle the dispute they approached Siva who then took the form of an enormous pillar of fire in the form of a linga which stretched from depths to heights which no one could see. Curious to find out where it had arisen, and where it ended, Brahma, in the form of a swan flew upwards, whereas Vishnu took the form of a boar and went boring down. Many eons passed and neither found an end or a beginning. Vishnu realized the greatness of Siva and accepted defeat but Brahma tried to trick Siva by asking a Ketaki flower to falsely testify that it had indeed seen the top end of the linga. As they were recounting their experiences, Siva emerged from the flaming pillar. Brahma and Vishnu realized their mistake and offered their obeisance to Siva.

The iconography of Lingodbhava finds representation in most of the temples in South India. It is usually carved and placed in the niche of the western wall of the garbhagriha of the central shrine. The reason behind the choice of the western wall is that the energy of the main deity in the garbhagriha radiates outwards to the western façade bestowing blessings upon the devotees. According to the agama tradition, only one-fifth of Siva Linga in Lingodbhav Murtis must be visible on top and one-fifth at the bottom.  The rest of it, in the center, must depict Siva carved as Chandrashekhara and the lingam itself should be left uncarved.

The picture above is one such representation of Lingodbhava from Airavateswara Temple at Dharasuram. It depicts Siva with four hands: one hand in Abhaya-mudra, another in Varada pose, the third hand carrying an axe and the fourth a deer. Adorned with Jatamukuta, Siva exudes a sense of serenity. The legs below the knee are left unsculpted and appear as if they are invisible. Brahma is depicted as a swan on the right upper side of Siva and Vishnu is carved as a boar digging the earth at the foot of the Sivalinga. The size of swan and the boar is usually the same as that of the face of Siva. On either side of the sculpture are Brahma and Vishnu facing the Lingam with folded hands in an act of submission. Adjoining the sculptures are paintings on the wall which have faded with time.

The growing and expanding Sivalinga in Lingodbhava signifies the infinite light and boundless knowledge that prevails in the cosmos; there is nothing static, but only the flow of relentless flourishing, rejuvenating energy.

In Tamil bhakti poetry, Manikkavasagar’s ‘Thiruvasagam’ has a special special place and in a singularly beautiful verse he describes Lingodbhava thus;

அன்பருக்கு அன்பனே யாவையுமாய் அல்லையுமாய்
சோதியனே துன்னிருளே தோன்றாப் பெருமையனே
ஆதியனே அந்தம் நடுவாகி அல்லானே
ஈர்த்து என்னை ஆட்கொண்ட எந்தை பெருமானே
கூர்த்த மெய் ஞானத்தால் கொண்டு உணர்வார் தம்கருத்தில்


Dear lord who is near to those who are dear to you
You are the light emerging from darkness
You are invisible
The beginning, the end and the in between
You drew me into your fold
To seek you not by knowledge
But by the true spiritual striving within

(My translation of this verse is no match to that of G U Pope who translated Thiruvasagam in 1858!)

Fire as a concept, an element, an informing principle, a deity and a metaphor has existed all through history. The worship of fire and the worship with fire have been a part of ancient religions across the world. If the Adityas and then Agni were primary deities in the Vedas, the Zoroastrians saw fire as the light of Ahura Mazda. The Vestal Virgins of ancient Rome worshipped the Sacred Fire of Vesta, the Greeks bowed to Hestas and Hephaestus, the Aztecs had Chantico, to name just a few. The Chinese worshipped Zhu Rong as a solar deity. The Buddhists have Goma/ Homa fire rituals for purification and warding off sickness and difficulties.

All of them have proclaimed the nature of the divine in identical terms emphasizing that there is no fundamental difference between religions. The differences in understanding and articulation are man-made to comprehend the incomprehensible. As the Vedas point out “Ekam sat Vipra bahudha vadanti” “There is only one truth and learned persons call it by many names.”

The festival of Karthigai underscores how all the five elements - earth, water, air, space and fire come together to form light that symbolizes the eternal, ineffable, divine spirit who has to be experienced and realized.

In the ‘Republic’, Plato described the human condition perceptively as the Allegory of the Cave. We are like slaves chained in a cave. All that we see are the shadows thrown by the flames behind us, offering an illusion of knowledge. He urges us to step outside and experience the dazzling, all pervading luminous light outside and emerge from the shadows to true awareness.

Let us strive to search for the light within, however small and hidden it might be!

As Goethe remarked, “someday perhaps the inner light will shine forth from us, and then we'll need no other light.”

Look forward to your comments…responses…
56 Comments
Veeralakshmi Rajasekhar
11/28/2020 07:10:49 pm

👆🏼this is so well written. I have always believed that all festivals/ rituals have a deeper spiritual and secular significance and this just hit the nail! Thank you for not only explaining the background but also pointing the true reason behind lighting a lamp or lamps. Today when I light the lamp, will do so more mindfully. 🙏🏻

Reply
Dr Raguram
11/28/2020 08:11:54 pm

Thank you!

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Sunil Patil
11/28/2020 07:14:08 pm

Thanks 🙏

Very nicely explained

Beautiful photography 👌👍

Reply
Dr Raguram
11/28/2020 08:12:18 pm

Thanks Sunil!

Reply
Brunda Amruthraj
11/28/2020 07:15:26 pm

Very informative and makes reading pleasurable

Reply
Dr Raguram
11/28/2020 08:12:33 pm

Thanks Brunda!

Reply
Dr Abhay Matkar
11/28/2020 07:18:22 pm

Thanks for ENLIGHTENING us.

Reply
Dr Raguram
11/28/2020 08:12:49 pm

Thanks Abhay!

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Shiny
11/28/2020 07:23:19 pm

Nicely written about the origin of karthiga deepam ..it's a new knowledge for me the ritual originates from the feud between Brahma n vishnu ..expecting more such blogs from you Dr

Reply
Dr Raguram
11/28/2020 08:13:07 pm

Thanks Shiny!

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Akila
11/28/2020 07:34:10 pm

Very informative Sir! As always filled with facts, quotes, translations and personal views. Makes for a great reading.
This temple has great personal significance for me because my father used to live near the temple and he would walk up and down the hill every day and Kartika Deepak was his favoutite time of the year to be in Thiruvanalmalai. Thank you for bringing those memories back!

Reply
Dr Raguram
11/28/2020 08:13:57 pm

Thanks Akila...the place has a special feel and energy to it

Reply
A.Venkateswaran
11/28/2020 09:01:32 pm

Ramana is Dr.RR's special
Or..sorry.
Dr RR is Ramana's special.
The most core living seeker,the biologist, humanist and existentialist of our time ..
I name him..
It's Dr.RR...
I love you sir...

Dr Sundar
11/28/2020 08:02:04 pm

Loved the details you have mentioned about the lingotbhavar and Karthigai deepam

Reply
Dr Raguram
11/28/2020 08:14:10 pm

Thanks Sundar!

Reply
Chauki
11/28/2020 08:13:32 pm

Very enlightening Sir. There is so much meaning behind so many of our practices.

Reply
Dr Raguram
11/28/2020 08:36:55 pm

Quite true Chauki!

Reply
A.Venkateswaran
11/28/2020 08:45:51 pm

Dr.RR ,has criticisms from nook and corner,
Particularly from the so called biological psychiatrist...
But,...
As for as knowledge is concerned..
He is the best model of a " Psychiatrist "...
My Guru...
I name him ( with humility and pride)
My Guru....

Reply
Dr Raguram
11/28/2020 08:51:05 pm

Thanks Venki...for me addressing human suffering is not shackled by narrow professional frameworks, especially in the field of psychiatry. I keep myself of the biological basis of psychological distress but strongly feel that man is more than molecules

Reply
Dr Dhananjay S
11/28/2020 09:10:03 pm

Feeling high of one self, is some thing that everyone including the gods also go through, everytime now and then it's important to remeber to be grounded, a lot to learn from this article THANK YOU sir for this wonderful article There are so many things and stories of our culture, which we are not aware off, very clearly written sir thank you again. My sincere suggestion is to kindly make the collection of these writings in a book form .. soon 🙏, as the way you depict these things, not many historians can.

Reply
Dr Raguram
11/28/2020 09:26:30 pm

Thanks Dhananjay

Reply
Aishwarya Arumugham
11/28/2020 09:21:37 pm

Very simplified yet clearly explained. Intricate details to each and every quote and facts and their significance were well explained. Thank you sir.

Reply
Dr Raguram
11/28/2020 09:26:41 pm

Thanks!

Reply
Uma Iyer Suresh
11/28/2020 09:49:12 pm

Thank you sir for the beautiful explanation and meaning behind unique rituals. Enlightening!

Reply
Dr Raguram
11/28/2020 10:13:32 pm

Thanks Uma

Reply
Shailaja Patil
11/28/2020 09:57:53 pm

Sir , really enjoyed reading ,a fan of yours

Reply
Dr Raguram
11/28/2020 10:13:51 pm

Thanks Shailaja!

Reply
Rekha
11/28/2020 10:00:27 pm

Thank you...these nuggets of information about our traditions and culture are so welcome.The earlier comments have already said everything I feel

Reply
Dr Raguram
11/28/2020 10:14:05 pm

Thanks Rekha!

Reply
Sajit Malliyoor
11/28/2020 11:50:32 pm

Wonderfully written. History, myths and musings woven into a fabric of human cultural evolution. You deserve a much wider audience. Please consider a column in a popular daily.

Reply
Dr Raguram
11/29/2020 12:15:27 am

Thanks Sajit...I write to share my journeys and discoveries...medias have their predelictions and preferences!

Reply
S M Manohari
11/29/2020 01:03:05 am

Sir, you are extraordinary!
Got my entire family to read this blog.
It is beautiful!

Reply
Dr Raguram
11/29/2020 04:08:02 am

Thank you Manohari...I am just an ordinary person seeking the extra ordinary:-)

Reply
Senthil
11/29/2020 04:37:48 am

As usual it is Very well narrated. Getting addicted to your writing Sir!!! Thank you for enlightening us!!!

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Dr Raguram
11/29/2020 06:16:37 am

Thank you Senthil!

Reply
KSRam link
11/29/2020 05:25:35 am

Authoritative as usual. Raghu you are an Illumined person. Best.

Reply
Dr Raguram
11/29/2020 06:17:05 am

Thanks Ram!

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Ajit Bhide
11/29/2020 05:53:02 am

The iconography and mythology are quite interesting and intriguing. Thanks for sharing.

Reply
Dr Raguram
11/29/2020 06:17:27 am

Thanks Ajit

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Kalyanasundaram Seshadri
11/29/2020 08:04:15 am

Well explained Ragu in your own style
Pity is most see these as mere carvings without understanding the deeper and the inner meanings
For every external manifestation there is always a a deeper inner knowledge waiting to be understood and explored
The seeker will always find the treasure

Reply
Dr Raguram
12/6/2020 06:32:20 am

True Sundar

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Jagdish
11/29/2020 04:38:19 pm

As usual.excellent prose and very informative.I learnt a lot Thanks,Ragu.

Reply
Dr Raguram
12/6/2020 06:32:37 am

Thanks Jagadish

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Kumaran
11/29/2020 05:02:56 pm

Nice and eloquent. Informative.

Reply
Dr Raguram
12/6/2020 06:32:55 am

Thank you!

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Arun Kishore
11/29/2020 10:01:14 pm

Timely, detailed and enlightening, like the Karthigai deepam. Look forward to further deepams from you.
Thank you for reminding us of the myth behind the Karthigai deepam. If one read it historically, it commemorates the acceptance of Saivism into the fold in the South of India.
I liked the comparison of the worship of fire across cultures.

Reply
Dr Raguram
12/6/2020 06:43:08 am

One of the important person I forgot to mention is Ramalinga Adigal who advocated the concept of worshipping the flame of a lighted lamp as a symbol of the eternal Power. He said God is "Arut Perum Jothi". The kitchen fire he lit in 1867 in Dharma Saalai is still burning offering food to all the devotees

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Ravi Shankar Rao
11/30/2020 02:29:46 am

Thank you Ragu for writing so comprehensively. Starting with the iconography and myth history of Lingodbhava you have so seamlessly woven into this the concepts from various cultures. Ultimately one arrives at the Vedic truth of the divinity that underlies all these experiences. Sheer joy to read your narrative.

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Dr Raguram
12/6/2020 06:43:34 am

Thanks Ravi

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Lata
12/3/2020 04:47:56 am

Dear Ragu, it's always a pleasure to recieve your insightful writing. It reminds me of the writings of Swami Ranganathan anda, a prolific writer from the Ramakrishna mission. Just like him, you try to get to the deeper and symbolic meaning of our cultural symbols and both of you make it a point to bring in parallel concepts from other religions, thanks for that erudite narrative.

Reply
Dr Raguram
12/6/2020 06:44:15 am

Thanks Latha...I am no match for that learned soul!

Reply
Lalitha
12/4/2020 07:12:46 pm

It is always a pleasure to read ur blog . I enjoyed it so much as along with u I went deeper and deeper into the history behind karthikai . Love the photography.

Reply
Dr Raguram
12/6/2020 06:44:42 am

Thanks Laltha

Reply
Lalitha
12/4/2020 07:26:45 pm

The translation of manikavachakar’s thiruvachakam is very very divine . The lingothbhavam and the fire 🔥 element in every religion is beautifully written keep writing 🙏

Reply
Dr Raguram
12/6/2020 06:46:08 am

Appreciate your encouraging words...sure will!

Reply
Manju Reddy
1/3/2021 12:37:54 am

Beautifully penned piece!
Two sides of perception that can guide our soul's path, blindness or light deeply resonated with me.
I'm reminded of Sufis who tell that there are two paths to transcendence: one is to look out at the universe and see
yourself, the other is look within yourself and see the universe.

Sir, blessed to have your wisdom and continue to awaken that Sufi within us.

Reply



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    Someone who keeps exploring beyond the boundaries of everyday life to savor and share those unforgettable moments....

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