Karthika Pournami and Lord Shiva: The Night of Infinite Light

The full moon night of Karthika month holds profound significance in Shaivite tradition, culminating in the spectacular Annamalai Deepam at Tiruvannamalai, Tamil Nadu. This sacred festival commemorates one of the most mystical manifestations of Lord Shiva—His appearance as an infinite column of light.

The Legend of the Endless Flame

Long ago, a cosmic dispute arose between Lord Brahma and Lord Vishnu over who was supreme. As their argument intensified, suddenly a massive pillar of fire—a blazing column with neither beginning nor end—appeared before them. This was Shiva Jyoti, the divine flame of consciousness itself.

Humbled and curious, both deities decided to discover the source of this mysterious light. Brahma took the form of a swan and flew upward to find its top, while Vishnu became a boar and burrowed downward to locate its base. They searched for thousands of years, yet neither could find the end of this infinite flame.

Exhausted and humbled, they returned. At that moment, Lord Shiva revealed Himself from within the pillar of fire, manifesting at Arunachalam (the Red Mountain, now called Arunachaleswarar). He proclaimed that He is the eternal, formless reality—beyond all limitations of time and space. The mountain itself became a physical embodiment of this cosmic flame, representing Agni Lingam, the element of fire among the Pancha Bhoota Sthalams (five elemental temples).

The Sacred Arunachaleswarar Temple

The Arunachaleswarar Temple at Tiruvannamalai stands as one of India’s largest and most ancient temples, where Lord Shiva is worshipped as the hill itself. The presiding deity, Arunachaleswarar, represents that same infinite column of light, while Goddess Unnamulai Amman graces the temple as His consort.

The temple’s very architecture speaks to this legend—its towering gopurams (temple towers) reaching skyward, echoing Brahma’s futile ascent, while its deep sanctums mirror Vishnu’s downward search.

Annamalai Deepam: The Grand Illumination

On Karthika Pournami, the Annamalai Deepam ceremony reaches its crescendo. A massive lamp—containing tons of ghee mixed with camphor and wicks made of cloth—is lit atop the Annamalai Hill, visible for miles around. This Maha Deepam (great lamp) symbolizes Shiva’s original appearance as the infinite flame.

The lighting of this beacon occurs precisely when the Karthika star aligns with the full moon, creating a spiritually charged moment. Devotees believe that merely witnessing this sacred flame burns away karmic impurities and illuminates the soul.

Why Devotees Fast and Light Lamps

Fasting and Spiritual Discipline: Devotees observe strict fasts on Karthika Pournami, some consuming only milk and fruits, others maintaining complete abstinence. This austerity is believed to:

• Purify the body and mind for divine communion
• Demonstrate surrender to the formless Shiva
• Cultivate inner light through self-discipline

Lighting Lamps (Deepa Aradhana): Throughout the Karthika month, and especially on Pournami, millions light oil lamps in honor of Shiva Jyoti. This practice holds deep symbolism:

• Each lamp represents the individual soul awakening to divine consciousness
• The flame symbolizes knowledge dispelling ignorance
• Lighting lamps acknowledges that we are sparks of that infinite divine fire

Girivalam—The Sacred Circumambulation: Thousands walk the 14-kilometer path around Arunachala Hill, especially on Karthika Pournami. This barefoot pilgrimage represents the soul’s journey around the divine center, seeking merger with the infinite. It’s said that walking around Arunachala with devotion is equivalent to circumambulating the entire universe.

The Spiritual Significance of Shiva Jyoti

The Shiva Jyoti is not merely fire but represents:

• Consciousness itself—the eternal, unchanging awareness that illuminates all existence
• The dissolution of ego—just as darkness cannot exist before light, the ego dissolves in divine presence
• Unity beyond duality—the flame has no beginning or end, symbolizing the non-dual nature of ultimate reality

The Arunachala Purana declares: “Arunachala is truly the holy place. Of all holy places, it is the most sacred. Know that it is the heart of the world. It is truly Shiva Himself.”

The Festival Today

The Karthika Deepam festival at Arunachaleswarar Temple spans ten days of elaborate rituals, cultural performances, and spiritual discourses. The final day witnesses:

• Elaborate abhishekam (ritual bathing) of the deity
• Grand processions of the presiding deities around the temple
• Thousands of devotees completing Girivalam
• The lighting of the Maha Deepam at sunset

The entire town of Tiruvannamalai transforms into a sea of lights, as homes, streets, and temples illuminate with countless lamps, creating a mesmerizing reflection of the cosmic light above.

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Karthika Pournami reminds us that we too are flames of consciousness—temporary manifestations of that same infinite light. By lighting lamps externally, we invoke the eternal lamp within, seeking to merge with the endless flame of Shiva, the source and sustenance of all creation.

Arunachala Shiva! Annamalai Shiva!