2018 Maha Ardra

Aum Namah Sivaya!

Last week on December 22, the aadheenam celebrated Ardra Darshanam with a full and festive abhishekam to Lord Nataraja in Kadavul Temple. The day began with a homa and concluded with a midday final arati following the abhishekam. Falling on the full moon this year, this was a powerful day full of powerful blessings. All in alignment were the center of our galaxy, the sun, the earth, the moon and Ardra, Siva's dancing star. Though we can't film Lord Nataraja to show you the event, here is a look into the many other preparations that took place.

The day before, everyone joins together for all the preparations that need to be done

Here Ramesh prepares coconuts for use on the kumbha during the homa

We head to the kitchen and find Mayurnatha preparing lunch for everyone

Today\

s wonderful greens. But where is Chinnu we wonder?'

We find Dayanatha and Tejadevanatha moving tables into the Guru Pitam

The whole room is covered in tarps. A sign of a grand abhishekam to come

Outside we find a team preparing coconuts for the abhishekam

108 coconuts plus 20 or more extra are to be poured over Nataraja one by one

We found Chinnu! He\

s a professional when it comes to opening coconuts, so this work went by quick'

The coconuts are then brought to their staging area

Nirvani Adinatha and Sannyasin Brahmanathaswami have gathered several banana trees for decorations in the temple

You have to find trees with similar blooming flowers and with the same height

Once placed in the temple they really add to the space

Later we find Ramesh and Vel in the kitchen, helping to prepare fruit for Nataraja

Later in the courtyard, we find more preparations. Here Dayanatha fills a tub of honey

All of these orange buckets are filled with abhishekam items to be poured over Nataraja

The next morning begins with a powerful homa

The kumbha is then paraded out around the kodimaram to be brought to the Inner sanctum

This kumbha will be the final item poured over Nataraja

Out in front of the Kodimaram, as is traditional, the coconut is broken against the tile

Then the kumbha reaches the inner sanctum

Aum Namah Sivaya

A quick shot during the abhishakam as vibhuti is offered

And then Siva danced through us all. Aum Namah Sivaya. Sivaya Namah Aum.

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