Sri Ramanasramam - The Matrubhuteswara Temple - Lord Siva dances in the form of Nataraja in front of the Mother, Sakti Devi
Arudra Darshanam is celebrated on the full moon night of Margazhi month of Tamil Calendar. This is observed on the thiruvadhirai nakshaththram (star) falling in this month.The festival marks the day of cosmic dance of Lord Shiva and it is celebrated in the form of Lord Nataraja. In Sri Ramanasramam, it is also celebrated in a grand manner. At around 4 am in 6 January 2023, the Nataraja idol in the Mathrubutheswara temple was anointed and decorated with flowers. This was followed by chanting of verses in praise of Nataraja followed by Aarthi...
******
Śrī Aruṇācala Navamaṇimālai - The Necklace of Nine Gems for Arunachala, Verse 1
🕉️
acalaṉē yāyiṉu maccavai taṉṉi lacalaiyā mammaiyedi rāḍu — macala vuruvilac catti yoḍuṅgiḍa vōṅgu maruṇā calameṉ ḏṟaṟi.
Padacchēdam (words rearranged in natural prose order): acalaṉē āyiṉum, a-c-savai taṉṉil acalai ām ammai edir āḍum. acala uruvil a-c-satti oḍuṅgiḍa, ōṅgum aruṇācalam eṉḏṟu aṟi.
English translation:
Though actually one who is motionless, in that assembly hall he dances opposite mother, who is acalā. Know that when that śakti subsides back in the motionless form, Aruṇācalam is exalted.
Explanatory paraphrase:
Though [Lord Siva is] actually acalaṉ [one who is motionless, being the one immutable ground from which and in which everything else appears], in that assembly hall [of Cidambaram] he dances [in the form of Nataraja] opposite [the divine] mother, who is acalā [the consort of acalaṉ]. Know that when that śakti [the divine mother] subsides back in the motionless form [the fundamental form of Lord Siva], Aruṇācalam is exalted [that is, in the motionless form of Aruṇācalam, which rises high above all his other forms, Lord Siva shines exalted in his natural state].
Note :
The word Achalan means the motionless one and is a name of Lord Siva which is used to denote the fact that He is the immutable, Supreme Reality. The word Achalai means the consort of Achalan and is a name of Sakti, the Divine Mother.
Though He is motionless by nature, in Chidambaram Lord Siva had to dance in front of Sakti in order to bring Her frenzied dance to an end. But in the form of Arunachala Lord Siva remains ever motionless, and thus by the power of His mere stillness Sakti was irresistably attracted to Him and with great love she subsided in Him and became one with Him. Hence of all the forms of Lord Siva, Arunachala shines as the most exalted.
The words ‘ongum Arunachalam’ means ‘rises high’ or rises above others, and hence the words ‘ongum Arunachalam endru ari’ (know that He shines exalted as Arunachala) may also be taken to mean, know that Arunachala is superior (to Chidambaram)!
Source: Sri Arunachala Stuti Panchakam - Meaning: Sri Sadhu Om - Translation: Michael James
Arunachala - Photo by Markus Horlacher