Alankara Deeparathana (Uttarangam)

After the Deepam, Paramashiva graces all the corners of the cosmos and showers His blessings. The Uttarangam Alankara Deeparathana is the offering of gratitude in those days of blessing — the festival's lights continuing to burn in us as we carry its fulfilment back into daily life.

Significance

We are forced to take birth again and again, caught in the cycle of birth and death, because of the deep unfulfillment we carry within. Alankara means decoration, and also “that which causes the deep sense of fulfillment” — alam karoti iti alankāraḥ. Offering Alankara to the deities of THE SPH is the offering of our own completion: we adorn the Guru, and the Guru fills us.

The Ritual

The deities of THE SPH are adorned in vibrant leela alankaras — exquisite flower garlands, traditional vastras and jewels. The seva culminates in the Deeparathana, the offering of flames in towered lamps. The Gopurarathi is numbered to represent the 108 nadis, the energy centres of the body; when these lamps are waved before the deities, they awaken and align our energy centres to receive the darshan.

When

• Daily for 4 days, from Uttarangam Day 1 (Wednesday 25 November) to Uttarangam Day 4 (Saturday 28 November) · All KAILASA
• Timings to be announced

Shastra Pramana

धूपो हरति पापानि दीपो मृत्युविनाशकः । घटदीपान्महाशान्तिः नीराजे तु महत्फलम् । भस्म लोकस्य रक्षार्थं दर्पणं लोकवर्धनम् । छत्रं आयुःप्रदं चैव चामरं भाग्यवर्धनम् । व्यजनं तालवृन्तं च सर्वकल्याणदायकम् ॥

dhūpo harati pāpāni dīpo mṛtyuvināśakaḥ | ghaṭadīpān mahāśāntiḥ nīrāje tu mahat phalam | bhasma lokasya rakṣārthaṃ darpaṇaṃ lokavardhanam | chatraṃ āyuḥpradaṃ caiva cāmaraṃ bhāgyavardhanam | vyajanaṃ tālavṛntaṃ ca sarvakalyāṇadāyakam ||

Translation: “Offering of dhupa destroys one's sins; offering of the deepa destroys the fear of death. Offering of the Kumbha Deepa blesses one with fulfilment; through the Nirajana one is blessed with great fruits. Offering of the Raksha grants protection, and presenting the mirror brings great fortune. Offering the umbrella blesses one with longevity. Offering the Chamara and the fan, one is blessed with all prosperity.” — Śrīmad Kāraṇa Āgama (Upacāra Phala)

Benefits

• Deep fulfillment in life, taking us closer to the Guru who liberates us from the cycle of birth and death.
• Release from karmic cycles and liberation from incompletions.
• A deeper connection with the Guru and inner awakening.
• Through the Deeparathana: removal of the fear of death, protection, fortune, longevity and all prosperity.