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K.A.Viswanathan

(Arudhra Darshan  is observed in the Tamil month of Margazhi (December – January). It is essentially a Shaivite festival and celebrates the cosmic dance of Lord Shiva, which is represented by the Nataraja form )

Lord Shiva , in his manifestation as dancing Nataraja  gives his darshan  in the early morning of the day on which the confluence of the full moon and the Star Arudra which occurs only once a year. This revelation of the Lord is called Arudra darshan . Arudhra signifies the golden red flame and Shiva performs dance  in the form of this red-flamed light.

All temples  where the idol of  Lord Shiva  is installed celebrate the Arudra darshan with high devotion . Both at Sri Sankara Mattam and  South Indian Bhajana samaj at Matunga the chief priests performs the ceremony of bathing the   idol of Lord Nataraja with milk, honey, curd, sandal paste and holy waters in the morning and then  the  idol was taken around  the area.

“On this day we conduct Mahanyasa Rudrabhishekam to lord Nataraja at 3.a.m. before the idol is bathed said the chief priest of Sankara mattham Mr. Ganesha Shastrigal. The deeparadhana was at 6.30 a.m. 

It was also the longest night of the year. After this date, days get longer and nights get shorter. The cosmic dance of Lord Shiva represents five activities – Creation, Protection, Destruction, Embodiment and Release. Arudra is a very powerful star. It is believed , most people born on the Arudra star day will hold significant places in the Society.

Arudra is part of the constellation of Orion, shinning as the brightest red star in the sky. Siva's star is colossal. For sake of comparison , if the Star is of the  size a football stadium, Earth would be a spec of dust, and the Sun no larger than a mango. The most important Arudhra Darshan festival takes place at the Chidambaram Shiva Temple in Tamil Nadu. The cosmic dance of Lord Shiva is enacted every year on the day.

 

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