The Bharani Deepam

What happens

In the early hours of Karthigai Deepam day, around 4 AM, priests light the Bharani Deepam in the sanctum of Arunachaleswarar. A single lamp is lit, and from it five lamps are lit.

The Ministry of Tourism’s Utsav listing for the festival, which names the HR&CE Department as organiser, likewise describes the Bharani Deepam “with its five ‘Agni Deepams’” on the tenth day.

Traditionally, the five lamps are understood to represent the one becoming many. Some devotees relate them to the five elements, of which fire, Agni, is Tiruvannamalai’s own. The lamps are carried around the shrines of the temple.

Why “Bharani”?

The Tamil lunar mansions (nakshatras) run in sequence, and Bharani comes just before Krittika (Karthigai). The Bharani Deepam is lit while the moon is in Bharani, in the hours before the Krittika nakshatra that gives the festival its name.

The link to the Maha Deepam

The day is one story told in two lamps:

1. Before dawn: the Bharani Deepam, one flame becoming five, in the sanctum.
2. Through the day: the flame is kept in the temple.
3. At dusk: as Ardhanarishvara is shown, at 6 PM according to the temple’s history page, the flame is brought out. On the summit, the Maha Deepam is lit.

Attending

• Entry to the temple for the Bharani Deepam is controlled. In recent years the temple has issued limited passes or tickets for its ceremonies on Deepam day. Watch the official temple website for how they are released.
• Expect to be in queues from the middle of the night.
• Streets around the temple are packed; follow police instructions on entry and exit routes.
• Don’t pay unofficial agents for passes.

Dates

For 2026, published calendars give Tuesday, 24 November as Karthigai Deepam, so the Bharani Deepam would be in the early hours of that day. See Karthigai Deepam 2026 for the full schedule as it is confirmed.