Chariots Of Gods,Temple Cars Of India

Hinduism identifies Gods with   Human Life so much that Gods have Parents,Brothers, Sisters,Children and Family Life.

 

The Vedas declare that the Reality is Nameless Formless.

 

However Hinduism encourages worship Gods in Idol for, and attribution of Human properties are allowed as they are a tool to Realize God or Self.

 

For details please read my post ‘Gods have name and Form, Yes and No’

 

Birthdays of God , like Janmastami for Lord Krishna, Arudra Darisanam of Lord Siva, Pooram Nakshatra For Andal, Marriages Uthiram  Nakshatra for Lord Siva and Parvati are all celebrated with grandeur.

 

On such special occasions the Deity is bedecked with jewellery,  Flowers,  and taken around in a Chariot around the city on a fixed Route.

 

They are fixed with lighting arrangements, Music troupe leads with veda Mantras recital.

 

 

“Temple cars are chariots used to carry representations of Hindu gods. The car is usually used on festival days called Ther Thiruvizha (தேர் திருவிழா) usually happens once in a year, where many people gathered around the temple and pull the cart.

Thiruvarur, Srivilliputhur, Tirunelveli in Tamil Nadu and Puri, in Odisha, host some of the largest annual temple car festivals.

One of the very old and ancient festivals that often mentioned in the devotional hymns of saints like ( Tirugnanasambandar and Sundarar) and many Tamil literature, usually held during the summer between March and April months of every year, lasts more than 25 days. The main attraction of the festival is the procession of the great temple car of Thiruvarur (in Tamil: ஆழித் தேர்). This great chariot is said to the biggest one of its type in size and height. It is 96 feet (29 m) tall and weights more than 300 tons.^[1] The size of the largest temple cars inspired the Anglo-Indian term Juggernaut (fromJagganath), signifying a tremendous, virtually unstoppable force or phenomenon.

As of 2004, Tamil Nadu had 515 wooden carts of which 79 need repairs. Annamalaiyar Temple, Tiruvannamalai, Chidambaram Natarajar Temple are some of the temples that possess huge wooden chariots for procession each. In particular, Natarajar temple celebrates the chariot festival twice in a year one at summer (Aani Thirumanjanam (June- July)) and another at winter (Marghazhi Thiruvaadhirai (in December – January )). Lord Krishna of Udupi has five temple cars, namely Brahma ratha (biggest), Madya ratha (medium), kinyo (small), and silver and gold rathas.(wiki)

 

Some famous Temple Cars.

 

 

Some information on Temple Cars.

 

‘Among the various types floats may be set as the god bearing or the area where it is built. Usually all consist of a very strong base, arranged on four huge wheels, between 1 and 2 m in diameter, solid wood with axes large section through them. This base has a height ranging from the smallest 2m (counting the wheel height) to the highest 5m, consists of several bands in which various figures are carved religious. Based on a large structure standing whose height will vary according to the type of the float, the largest reach 29m. The structure, also of wood to save weight, a network is usually heavily braced to prevent lateral bumps or break the piece swings. On it is placed around the casing, which is incredibly varied in color and shape, the decor is very dense: the structure is painted in many colors, it will hang cloth banners, pompoms straw, ties, etc. Also depending on the procession can be seen figures or decorations of gold and silver. The image of the god who is carried in procession included within the carriage and is adorned with flowers, and more items. In total the weight of a float often reach 300 tons.”

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• Kalpathy Ratholsavm – Chariot Festival (raxacollective.wordpress.com)