Arunachala Suprabatham

There are a number of Arunachala Suprabathams (Waking up the God) Videos on Social Network platforms that have different music and lyrics. The version below appears without transliteration or English translation . . . so have added both below the video. 

Om enum pranavathin utporul naamavaney

Omkaaranaathamayamaana Jagadeeswaraney

Malar thaavum vandugal panpaadum

Pularkaalaiyil malar thoovi vanangugirom

Arunaachalaney ezhuntharulvaai.

You are the internal meaning and being of Om

You are Jagadeeswara and Om Kareeswara

Bees sing as they move from flower to flower

We offer our prayers to you with fresh bloom flowers

Arunachala wake up and give us Your Blessings.

Eesane, Paramesaney, Kayilai malai vaasaney

Sivagaami nesaney, Jagadeesaney

Nandhi kesane Lingesaney Thillai Nadaraajaney

Arunodhayam uthithathey

Arunaachalaney ezhuntharulvaai

Ishwara, Parameshwara, the Lord of the Himalayas

You are Love to Mother Sivagaami, O Jagadeeswara

Nandi Ishwara, Lingaeeswara.

You are the Lord of Chidambaram—Nataraja

Arunachala wake up and give us Your Blessings

Nanthi mathalam kotta naaradhar thamburaa meetta

Naanmarai vedhangal naadheswaram udan olikka

Naagabaranam thariththa Namachivaaya gurunaathaney

Narthanam purinthidavey

Arunaachalaney ezhuntharulvaai

Nanthi has started to beat the drum, Naradha to play his Thambura

All the 4 Vedas are being sung along with the music of Naadheswaram

Naga Devadhas are dancing, Namashivaya Gurunatha

All other Devas have started their work

Arunachalana wake up and give us Your Blessings

Aathiye paranjothiye arubathi moondru naayanmaar thozhum

Karunaimalai nithiye

Aathithan uthikka keezhvaanam sivakka

Athikaalai vanthathey

Arunaachalaney ezhuntharulvaai

You are the rootless one, You are in the form of fire.

All 63 Naayanars worship you

You are the kind hearted one in the form of mountain and river.

The sun is rising up and the light starts to spread

Arunachalana wake up and give us Your Blessings

Senjadaiyil Gangaiyudan pirainuthal tharithoney

Senjudaraai vaan sivakka muzhumathi marainthoda

Seythi solla seval koova methiniye kanvizhikka

Aathisakthi naayaganey

Arunaachalaney ezhuntharulvaai

You have the Ganga River and the Crescent shape moon on your head

The sky becomes red as the sun emerges

Cocks crow in the morning light

You are the Shakthi of the Universe

Arunachalana wake up and give us Your Blessings

Kalthondri manthondraa kaalathey munthondri

Adiyaargal kanmun thondri kanathil maraintha paramey

Kaamanai kannazhagaal vizhitherithathanaal

Kaamaari vadivam petra

Arunaachalaney ezhuntharulvaai

You originated before all else

You appear in front of those full of devotion and then disappear

You took the shape of Kaamaari

Arunachalana wake up and give us Your Blessings

Aalakaala vishathai kandathil niruthiye

Neelakandan ena peyar konda perunithiye

Mukkaalamum unarnthavaney

Kaalanai thuraththi maarkandeyanukku ekkaalamum pathinaaru

endraruliya

Arunaachalaney ezhuntharulvaai

You drank poison and stored it in Your throat

Because of that your name is Neelakandan

You know all the kalas, and got rid of time

You gave the thought to Maarkandayan to be 16 years old always

Arunachalana wake up and give us Your Blessings

Vethiyar othidam rudhram olikka

Devaathi devargalum tharisanam kaana thavamirukka

Vilvaarchanai seiya ninathadiyaargal kaathirukka

Vidivelli mulaithathendrey

Arunaachalaney ezhuntharulvaai

All Veadhars start to sing Rudhram

All Devars await to have your darshan

All your devotees await your darshan

Those devotees awaits  to do Vilva archana to you

A new day has started

Arunachalana wake up and give us Your Blessings

Pittukku man sumanthu pirambadi pattavaney

Pithanaana arthanaana sithanaana ennappaney

Viragu vetti sumanthu veethiyellaam vitru

Vilaiyaadal purinthavaney

Arunaachalaney ezhuntharulvaai

You carried soil on Your Head. Got beaten with sticks

You were in the form of the madman, Arthanaada, my Father

You carried wood on Your Head and sold it on the streets

You showed Your playful love

Arunachalana wake up and give us Your Blessings

Maganidam manthira porul katru

Thaan petra maganukke seedanaana maheswaraney

Mugam aaru kondavanai guruvaaga etra unai

Jagam potrum Jagadeesaa

Arunaachalaney ezhuntharulvaai

You learned the lesson of OM from your son

And acted as follower (junior) to your son, Oh Maheswara

You took as Guru, your son with the 6 faces

You are the Lord of the Universe

Arunachalana wake up and give us Your Blessings

Panniru thirumuraigalum unmundrinai paadiya

Thirugnaanasambantharukku arul purintha eesaney

En iru karam kooppi unai thozhuthen Venneeranintha meniyaney

Un iru vizhi malara

Arunaachalaney ezhuntharulvaai

12 Thirumurai sung before you

Oh, Ishwara, you gave blessings to Thirugnana Sambathar

I am folding both my hands in front of you and offering my prayers

Kindly open both Your Eyes

Arunachalana wake up and give us Your Blessings

Thalaiyotha payanaaga thalaikeezhaai nadanthu vanthu

Sivalogam thanai adaintha Karaikaal Ammaiyaarukku

Sivanadi thantha senjadaiyoney piraimudi kandiyoney

Sadai melathi gangai konda

Arunaachalaney ezhuntharulvaai

Keeping head down, she walked

She reached the Siva Logam, to Karaikaal Ammaiyaar

You gave blessings to Her and she resided at Your Feet

You have Ganga river in Your Hair

Arunachalana wake up and give us Your Blessings

Ainthu thirumugathinindru aagamangal irubethettu uruvaagi

Aaru mugap perumaanaal viruthaasalathil kailaasa prakaarathil sthaabithu vazhipada seithavaney

Ninpainthamizh paadalil kutram kandapin thavarai unarntha

Nakkeeranukku narkathi thantha

Arunaachalaney ezhuntharulvaai

With Your beautiful face, Hindu rituals took form of 28

With the help of Murugan, at Viruthasalam you created Kailasa Prakaram

And lead everyone to worship

In your literary Tamil poem, a mistake was made by Nakkeran Poet

To let him know about the mistake in the poem, you showed your third eye

Arunachalana wake up and give us Your Blessings

Patralla gurupatru matriye eginum

Appar paadalil arputha porul arinthen

Sutram maranthen Sitrambalaney

Satre manamirangi enakkarulvaai

Arunaachalaney ezhuntharulvaai

Devotion to the Guru is important to everything else

In Appar’s songs, I learned the meaning of Guru

I forgot everything in the world, except you

Kindly shower your Blessings on me, my Lord

Arunachalana wake up and give us Your Blessings

Olimaaya perungadal kadakka

Meyyaana verum padagai thanthu

Narai kirai indri nanneri adaiya

Viraivaai vantharul puriya

Arunaachalaney ezhuntharulvaai

Knowledge is like an ocean, without boundaries

Truth is the boat, by which we cross it

To reach the shores, we need Your Blessings

Kindly come soon and shower your blessings

Arunachalana wake up and give us Your Blessings

Oonaagi uyiraagi valiyaagi oliyaagi

Vaanaagi kuriyaagi arulaagi nirpavaney

Boga yoga vedha vadivaai

Baagam piriyaaludan aruliya

Arunaachalaney ezhuntharulvaai

You are the soul of all living creatures, in all stages of their life

You own the sky, river, fire, earth and air

You are all vidhas and yogas, as their forms

You are a part of Mother Baagam Piriyaal

Arunachalana wake up and give us Your Blessings

Vinthaigal palapuriyum vinothamayamaanavaney

Pithaana soodalai venneeraai aninthavaney

Moovalagaalum mukkannaney in mugam kaana

Ezhulagam yenguthappaa

Arunaachalaney ezhuntharulvaai

You have done many miracles, as you are Supreme of all

You are our Lord, with Venneerai on your top

You are the Lord with three eyes, to all three worlds

All Devaras of the 7 worlds are waiting for you

Arunachalana wake up and give us Your Blessings

Kaanaatha aruvilirukkum uruvilirukkum karanamaai

Neeraanam aninthaarkku nizhal puriyum sivalingamena

Ulagariyaar paadalukkerpa aruvuruva vadivaana

Lingamaaga arul puriyum

Arunaachalaney ezhuntharulvaai

You are the vision to the blind, you are the knowledge to wise

You are the shadow, to all

You took all forms in the world

You are giving Blessings, in the form of Lingam

Arunachalana wake up and give us Your Blessings

Panjaboothangalum paramporulaagi

Prabanjathai aalukindra panchaatchara naayaganey

Paravaigalum karavaigalum pagalavan vara unarnthu

Paravasamaai unai azhikka

Arunaachalaney ezhuntharulvaai

You are the leader of all Panchaboothams

You are the secret manthras of Panchaatacharm

Birds, animals, Humans worship you

They all call you Parama Siva

Arunachalana wake up and give us Your Blessings

Agathooimai thanthu mei anbarkku arul thanthu

Ijjagam kaatharalum jagam pugazhum eesaraney

Kaarirul maraiya kathiravan thaan malara

Thevarul purinthidavey

Arunaachalaney ezhuntharulvaai

You give blessings to devotees with clean hearts

You are the saving God, for all the Universe

The darkness goes away, as the light rays of the Sun comes out

To give Blessings to all Devas

Arunachalana wake up and give us Your Blessings

Than bakthi sirappaal than iru kangalai thanthu

Thavap payan adaintha Kannappa naayanaarukku

Kaninthu arul purintha ennappaney

Enai aalum eesaney

Arunaachalaney ezhuntharulvaai

With full hearted devotion, He gave his two eyes

He attained mukti, Kannapa Nayanar

You gave him eyes and blessed him

Ishwara you are ruling me

Arunachalana wake up and give us Your Blessings

Gnaayiru andru vazhipada pinigalai kalaibavaney

Thingalandru vazhipada aatralai tharubavaney

Sevvaayandru vazhipada piravippini theerpavaney

Buthanandru vazhipada vetrigal tharubavaney

Viyaazhan andru vazhipada gnaanam tharubavaney

Velliyandru vazhipada vishnupadham arulbavaney

Saniyandru vazhipada navagraha anugraham tharubavaney

Arunaachalaney ezhuntharulvaai

They who worship you on Sunday will get rid of problems

They who worship you on Monday will get new skills

They who worship you on Tuesday will desired objects in this birth

They who worship you on Wednesday will get victory in their work

They who worship on on Thursday will get knowledge

They who worship you on Friday will get darshan of Lord Vishnu’s feet

They who worship you on Saturday will get blessing of Navagraham

Arunachalana wake up and give us Your Blessings

Mesharaasiyar niruthi lingathai vazhipadavum

Rishaba raasiyar indira lingathai vazhipadavum

Mithuna raasiyar eesaana lingathai vazhipadavum

Kadaga raasiyar vaayu lingathai vazhipadavum

Anugraham puriyum

Arunaachalaney ezhuntharulvaai

Devotees with Mesharaasiyar transit (Aries) should worship Niruthi Lingam

Devotees with Rishaba transit (Taurus) should worship Indira Lingam

Devotees with Mithuna Raasi (Gemini) should worship Eeswaraa Lingam

Devotees with Kadaga Raasi (Cancer) should worship Vayuu Lingam

Ishwara give you Blessings

Arunachalana wake up and give us Your Blessings

Shimma raasiyar agni lingathai vazhipadavum

Kanni raasiyar eesaana lingathai vazhipadavum

Thulaam raasiyar indira lingathai vazhipadavum

Viruchika raasiyar yama lingathai vazhipadavum

Arulpuriyum

Arunaachalaney ezhuntharulvaai

Devotees with Shima Raasi (Leo) should worship Agni Lingam

Devotees with Kanni Raasi (Virgo) should worship Isanya Lingam

Devotees with Thulaam Raasi (Libra) should worship Indira Lingam

Devotees with Viruchika Raasi (Scorpio) should worship Yama Lingam

Kindly shower Your Blessings

Arunachalana wake up and give us Your Blessings

Thanusu raasiyar kubera lingathai vazhipadavum

Magara kumba raasiyar varuna lingathai vazhipadavum

Meena raasiyar kubera lingathai vazhipadavum

Kaatharalum

Arunaachalaney ezhuntharulvaai

Devotees with Dhanusu Raasi (Sagittarius) should worship Kubera Lingam

Devotees with Magara Kumbha Raasi (Capricorn, Aquarius) should worship Vayuu Lingam

Devotees with Meena Raasi (Pisces) should worship Kubera Lingam

Kindly save us Ishwara

Arunachalana wake up and give us Your Blessings

Padaiththal kaaththal azhiththal enum muththozhil puriyum mukkatselvaa

Neerum neruppum kaatrum boomiyum aagaayamumaana praboodha naadhaa

Swarnalingam spadigalingam maragathalingam jothilingamena

Atchayalingam naagalingam sahasralingam kodilingamaaga

Ezhuntharuliya Eeswaraney

Arunaachalaney ezhuntharulvaai

You are doing three duties of creation, saving and destroying so called mukkatselvaa

You are water, fire, air, earth, sky as panchaboothams

You are in the form of Swarna Lingam (Gold), Spadiga Lingam (Crystal), Maragatha Linglam (emerald), Jothilingam (fire)

Akshayya Lingam (Imperishable), Naagalingam (Serpent), Sahasralingam (Thousand), Kodilingam (One Crore)

Wake up Ishwara

Arunachalana wake up and give us Your Blessings

[The audio is a copyright of Siva Audio.With lyrics by M.R. Vijaya and sung by Bombay Saradha. I have added the transliteration and translation myself for devotees to chant along.]

“The Holy Town of Tiruvannamalai”

Dear Friends and Followers, sorry for my long absence posting on Arunachala Grace, my website Arunachala Samudra and its connected Blogs. 

I have lots of wonderful material to post over the coming weeks, so thank you for keeping in touch. 

In the current issue of the excellent “Hinduism Today” magazine, Mr. Rajiv Malik has written a fact-filled, fascinating narrative on “The Holy Town of Tiruvannamalai.” 

To download the PDF of the current issue of this magazine please go to this link here: 

Living on Arunachala

Sacred mountains are central to certain religions and are the subjects of many legends. For many, the most symbolic aspect of a mountain is the peak because it is believed that it is closest to heaven or other religious worlds. Some believe that the higher one goes up a mountain, the greater the speed of vibration and rarefied purity. This is the reason that saints and sadhus often choose caves and hermitages near a mountain’s summit.

Enjoy the peaceful and meditative 12 minute video montage "Climbing to the Summit of Arunachala". 

However in the case of Arunachala the great sage Sri Ramana Maharshi declared that there no difference in the power of Arunachala between the first, second or third part of the Hill. Notwithstanding, throughout the recorded history of Arunachala; Gods, saints, sages and the pious have made ashrams, retreats and homes on the slopes of the Hill. In the Skanda Purana, the Goddess Parvathi joins with Sage Gautama in an ashrama believed to be the current location of Pavala Kundru on the Coral Hill spur of Arunachala.

Residing on the Hill itself such ancient notables include: Guhai Namashivaya and Guru Namashivaya. And in relatively contemporary times saints living on the Hill have included Ramana Maharshi, Swami Ramdas, Yogi Ramsuratkumar and Swami Abhishekananda. 

There is little information available on lady saints who have come and performed intense sadhana at Arunachala. In the 40s and 50s several eminent ladies occupied hermitages and caves on the South East slope of Arunachala. Amongst these women was the revered and highly respected Lakshmi Devi who dressed in saffron and lived on the mountain. Lakshmi Devi kept a vow of silence for 12 years and responded by making signs in answer to questions from a constant stream of visiting devotees and pilgrims. At the end of a 12 year vow of silence she returned to her native place near Mysore. However her love of the peace she experienced at Arunachala drew her back and she returned to the caves and hermitages of the mountain.

Another sadhaka who lived on the Hill during the same time period was Srimati Radhabai Ammeyar, who was known as Ammal of Vadalur. Ammal was a faithful disciple of Ramalinga Swamigal and originally she and Lakshmi Devi shared a cave but Ammal eventually moved to a small rocky cleft higher up the hill. The little cave was so low and narrow one had to remain seated, and even then ones head practically touched the roof.

Ammal of Vadalur, always wore white, and lived in the rocky cleft for three years in perfect silence, her only possessions being an oil lamp and a book of the hymns of her Master Ramalinga. She took a daily meal during the afternoon which consisted of a few handfuls of rice-flour, roasted and mixed with curd. After three years she moved into a small nearby hut with a women disciple. Ammal of Vadalur was also much revered and visited during her time at Arunachala.

In more recent times, Swami Narayana, also known as Hill Swami, lived continuously on the top of Arunachala for some 16 years. On April 19th, 2005 he was asked to shift from Arunachala summit (with his devotees). This he did and relocated to the grounds of the Ganesha Polytechnic some 5-6 kms from the base of the Hill. Public opinion ensured Swami was awarded special dispensation by the Authorities to recommence his vigil on the Hill summit and within a week of his enforced departure, Swami returned to his spot on the top of Arunachala.

However on July 17th, 2005 Swami Narayana became ill and had to be helped down Arunachala Hill by devotees. He was admitted to Rangammal Hospital, Tiruvannamalai. Whilst at the hospital Swami received treatment and physiotherapy for arthritic knee joints, a condition brought about by his intense tapas over his sixteen years at the summit of Arunachala Hill. Swami, who was attended by several devotees, and accommodated in a private Bungalow at the Hospital, maintained almost total silence during his stay and took no food, choosing to subsist entirely on milk.

Before his departure from Rangammal Hospital on 29th July, 2005, Swami remarked: 

I have been sitting on Arunachala Hill for all these years allowing people to serve me, now it is time for me to stand up and serve others.

Arunachala Animal Sanctuary and Rescue Shelter: 2018 Global Giving Report

I have often written about the Arunachala AnimalSanctuary and Rescue Shelter here at Tiruvannamalai, and about the excellent, life saving and transforming changes they are making to many animals in these parts.

When asked what organisation is most worth supporting at Arunachala . . . I always put the Arunachala Animal Sanctuary at the top of the list.

I remember the days that "animal control" in these parts meant culling dogs by strangling them with garrote wire on the streets and then tossing the carcasses in the back of a bullock cart to be taken off to be burnt in some empty field. I remember the days when mange encrusted dogs lived a life of suffering in the sewers of this town. I can recall that when the wheels of a car or auto rickshaw ran over a dog's legs that it always meant a certain death sentence for the poor creature.

The Arunachala Animal Sanctuary are controlling the numbers of street dogs in the area by offering free sterlisation operations. They participate in taking food out to feed starving homeless dogs living on the streets, bring in infested animals and board them while giving the suffering creatures mange and skin treatments.

The Sanctuary is also responsible for finding forever homes for numerous puppies and previously unwanted dogs. In addition to sterlisations on Dogs; the Shelter also performs many different types of operations on cats, monkeys, cows, horses, goats and a host of other creatures.

The Arunachala Animal Sanctuary desperately needs our financial support and in this respect please visit their page on the Global Giving website at this link here to learn more about how to help this organisation in their efforts to maintain and improve their care and service for our animals friends at Blessed Arunachala.

----- oOo -----

Leslie Robinson, Founder and Director of Arunachala Animal Sanctuary

Global Giving Report

“2,879 Emergency Rescues. Help us. Help Them.” The Arunachala Animal Sanctuary and Rescue Shelter at Tiruvannamalai, Tamil Nadu, has just posted a Global Giving Report explaining their work and how our financial support makes it all possible.

Project Report by Leslie Robinson—Founder/Director of the Arunachala Animal Sanctuary and Rescue Shelter

Good Morning Dear People,

Yes, it’s morning as I start. Actually, I’m fond of the beautiful Indian greeting, ”Namaste’”—"I bow to your Innermost Self"...So..."Namaste".

In the West we don’t have stray dogs. In India, it is an enormous problem, and they can suffer, deeply.

Early 2006, after forty years of Municipal slaughtering, we managed to stop the brutal killing of the homeless dogs in what was an unsuccessful attempt to cull the population - but with the caveat that we establish an effective population control program.

Things were really bad when we opened January 2007. There were well over 5,000 homeless dogs. Perhaps over 6,000, or 7,000. The population was out of control. Starving. Fighting. Diseased. Injured. There were 350 suffering and dying animals on the streets. Mostly puppies and dogs, but among them were stricken cows, monkeys and others, too. The relationship with the human community was terrible. There was much abuse. There were many aggressive dogs. Many bites. Rabies. There was no small animal vet within 70 km. And no facility for treatment. There was unbounded suffering. It was the worst situation I’d seen and it was awful.

Eleven years now since we opened…and this has all changed. Thru December, 2017 we have done:

Emergency Rescues         5,094

Dogs Sterilized                  6,954

Anti-rabies injections       14,422

Clinic Visits                       44,573

In-Patient Treatments     120,356

Animal Adoptions               1,041

Non Dogs Treated               4,239

(1,169 cows and calves, 1,072 goats and sheep, 635 cats, 200 monkeys, 768 birds, 150 rabbits, 23 squirrels, 30 donkeys, 19 pigs, 27 peacocks, 34 parrots, 3 eagles, 53 horses, 6 bullocks, 18 deer, 6 snakes, 6 turkeys, 2 owls, 12 ducks, 2 mongooses, 3 chameleons, 1 turtle)

Today it is different. The homeless dog population is decreasing for the first time in forty years, AND it is rabies-free. There are 10,000 fewer puppies born each year, almost all of whom would have suffered and died. There is no more widespread abuse, and thus very few aggressive dogs, and only a small fraction of dog bites.

The most important thing that has happened is that the relationship between the homeless dogs and the people amongst whom they live day in, day out has been totally transformed. Without that transformation, the impact of whatever else is done is significantly limited—the animals would be subject to the same indifference, the same absence of protection when they are in harm's way, the same unaided difficulties in their ongoing search for food and water. The same absence of affection.

One can experience the change when walking on the streets. Each year, street conditions get better and better, and Tiruvannamalai is amongst the very few municipalities of size where this has happened. In the poignant words of a longtime Tiruvannamalai resident named Dev, made at the fourth anniversary puja . . .

"Public memory is short. Few can recall the rampant stray dogs everywhere, young and aged, starving and diseased, scavenging in the garbage heaps, fighting amongst themselves, ignored and abused by the human population, while remaining a menace to all including themselves. In four short years, the roads are more peaceful, with few strays to be seen, and the naturally loving relationship between humans and animals restored to its true state."

Monthly:

We are doing 40 to 100 Sterilizations

Giving 70 to 125 anti-rabies injections.

Going out on 60 to 120 emergency rescues.(Almost all of whom are “homeless dogs”, but others, too.)

The clinic is busy. We are getting 550 to 700 out-patient visits, most of whom are “owner dogs”.

Giving 1,200 to 1,600 treatments to in-patients, almost all of whom are “homeless dogs”.

Placing 6 to 15 puppies in good homes.

Treating 30 to 75 animals other than dogs.

Things are going excellently. The expanded space for the Verandah dogs is fully open. It has two to three times more room. The Precious Ones love it. They're running around chasing, wrestling, and playing games. They're finding new places to rest, and to snuggle, and to bask in the sun. They're hiding under the stone benches, cuddling in the baskets and, one of their favorites ... sitting in chairs. We purchased a dozen more chairs for them, that we occasionally use, too!

The new clinic is very, very busy and we need a third doctor. Fortunately, and this is a real blessing, there’s a young woman who was with us for six months, two years ago, who left to do her postgraduate work in Surgery at Madras Veterinary College. She’s finishing in June and is going to rejoin us. Her name is Dr. Heera. She’s a solid clinician, and her energy is like the rising sun. In the meantime, a young vet who recently finished her post graduate work and wants to teach at College needed temporary work, and she is going to be with us until June.

I want now, to take a little time to tell you about the love in which our beloved Shelter is immersed. We are all connected through the Heart. Whenever I show up I'm simply swallowed in the mutual gladness of seeing everyone .. and, blessing of blessings, our Precious Ones bask in that energy.

First and foremost, there are Dr. Raja and Vishwa. They're such incredible Beings, that I deeply feel they were yogis with significant attainment in a prior life. And yes, Elaine, our beloved veterinary nurse, is back! We're not the only ones who are happy. The Voiceless Ones, too.

She told me a nice story about two young women from Europe who volunteered for three weeks. They were a little anxious about being so close to "all the pain" when they first started ... but cried when they left ... because the Precious Ones were so happy.

The shakti inside the Shelter is simply uplifting. People visiting us, now with the expanded space, are deeply moved. Some, who are animal-lovers, get teary because they didn’t know a facility like ours existed. Wish you could come visit and experience it.

On a lighter note…Here are some Shelter Heart Stories and vignettes.

Ranjeet Maharaj

He was an awkward, gangly "teenager" in the dog world. He had yet to grow into his long legs, large paws, and oversized ears. He limped into Shivani's house with open mange sores, fleas, and smelling. He had been heavily abused on the street and, no one wanted him.

He must have sensed a kind stranger in Shivani, for he immediately laid down on one of her cushions and slept and slept.

Shivani brought him to us, where Dr. Raja treated him with medication and the Staff gave him a special bath for his skin condition. After four days, Shivani picked him up and got his medication. It seems he had found a home. He has adopted Shivani! He is now called Ranjeet Maharaj.

Swetha

We got her when she was a little over a year. She'd been an "owner" dog, but was simply abandoned when they left. Vishwa got reports of her for several weeks, and finally caught her. She was scared and confused. The family probably had children whom she loved. They just dumped her and left. She lost everything that was dear to her. Without any understanding, it was just GONE.

The beauty of it is how quickly she bounced back. She was absolutely joyful, and bounded around wrestling and chasing. She adored supervisor Raja! I named her Beauty. But someone else named her Swetha, which is what stuck.

She was a joy to watch. She played so hard, that she would sometimes drink enough for a camel to make a desert crossing.

Vishwa found a good home for her locally. The two boys in the family, four and eight, were over the top at the prospect of getting her. They came to the Shelter several times (the father and the boys), it was a match made in Heaven.

Amu

I was on my Honda Activa. A guy passed me on a TVS scooter, which had a goat, legs tied, straddled across the floor board. She must have really been suffering.

I pulled him over, handing him one of my official looking Shelter visiting cards, but fiercely said I was with the Animal Welfare Board of India (he only spoke Tamil). I called Vishwa and told him to threaten the guy over the phone and say he had a choice: either sell the goat to me on the spot … or, I was bringing in the police, who would impound her because of his mistreatment. He gladly sold her to me for 3500 rupees (USD 55), which was a little more than he would have gotten through slaughter.

He lifted her from his TVS and laid her on the ground. She was very, very weak. I gently stroked her, and said, “Everything is going to be okay now. We’re very good people and we’re going to take care of you, and you’ll have a full life.” The goat was beautiful, a golden color, with long ears that just hung.

I had the man untie her legs. She had a big wound on one of her hoofs. Vishwa showed up. He talked to the man, who said he had already hired someone to slaughter her who would have been there in ten minutes. Vishwa took her to the Shelter. Dr. Raja said the hoof wound was not serious, but it was slightly infected and would take time to heal. He cleaned and dressed it. Gave her pain killer and antibiotic injections. She was very weak, and she was given an I.V. for some nutrition. Dr. Raja said she had less than a fifty-fifty chance of living.

Vishwa took her home with him. He gave her grass, oil cakes with water, and several other things. She ate voraciously. He lives outside of town and there are nice, grassy patches out there. He carried her to one (she was too weak to walk), and she foraged for six straight hours. He slept outside with her. (In the back he has a long open shed for cows that is empty). The next day he took her to one of the fields and she ate all day long. On the third day, she started standing and then walking and running a little . . . 

Vishwa named her Amu. We were sure that she was going to live. But, sadly, there was too much damage to her organs, and three weeks later, she quietly died. Those three weeks though, were filled with love, joy, and happiness. We put her on the Red Tara prayer list, and protective, guiding energy was sent to her soul for 49 days.

Google

Vishwa got a call at his house from some villagers 40 kms away. A cow had been bitten by a snake. He told them to bring her to the Shelter and called Dr. Raja to let him know.

They called back fifteen minutes later. The cow had died. She had a baby calf just nine days old. They were going to sell it for slaughter for 4,500 rupees. Vishwa told them he would buy it and shot out there with the car.

Bewildered, scared, hungry, and not knowing what happened to his mom, the calf returned in the car with Vishwa, who took him to his house. (Vishwa lives in the country). For the first several days, just like he did with Amu the goat, Vishwa slept outside with the calf.

When I first saw the calf, it was hard to believe he was only nine days old. He was black and white. Tall. And absolutely the most beautiful calf I’ve ever seen. Vishwa is going to keep him. He's named him Google. Google loves Vishwa and Vishwa loves him. Possibly Google is the most joyful calf I’ve ever seen. He’s free most of the time. While I was there, he went galloping off about 100 meters into the field. Then out of sight. And came charging back. Happy! Happy!

As I’m writing this, Google is now 2½ months old. I haven’t seen him since he was three weeks old. Vishwa tells me he’s big, strong, handsome, and happy.

Baby Owl

Recently, Vishwa called me, late night. Someone had found a baby owl on Pradakshina Road. Alone. In trouble. They tried to find the mother. But the poor thing, about a month old, was really alone.

Owls are very difficult to help. It's a long time before they can fly. Maybe three, possibly four months. They're carnivores, and hunters. And it's the mother that teaches them to hunt. So unless you can teach them to hunt, you can't release them. We've had a few in the last several years.

After many, many calls I found someone in Delhi who was an expert in the rehabilitation of predator birds. But Delhi was too far away. Fortunately, they knew of one other expert who, was in Bangalore, which is only six hours away by car. And blessing of blessings, the Bangalore lady said she would take him.

Vishwa called the Bangalore lady, and she will take him into her sanctuary. Prem Kumar just took the baby owl to her the very day I’m writing this Report.

Mira

Mani found Mira lying on the side of the road near the Shelter. The poor dog was only four years old. She was post-distemper. Twitching. Couldn’t open her mouth. Starving. And near death. She was an “owner dog” who had probably been abandoned. Lying there alone. Having lost everything. Not understanding. Miserable. Frightened.

Dr.Raja started giving her I.V’s with neurobion for nutrition, a liver booster to stimulate the liver, plus antibiotics (for the first three days). Vishwa had the Staff give her a lot of loving. On the second day by attaching a thin rubber tube to an I.V. syringe, he was able to start getting a little milk on her tongue in increasing amounts, which she swallowed.

We had her in a large retaining cage that didn’t have a lot of direct sunlight, and with only one other post-distemper dog. Neither of them could walk and they were both almost “mutedly conscious”. On the fourth day we decided both should be moved into the clinic where there was a lot of light and affection from puppies.

Her second day in the clinic, Mira started standing (she had been lying on her side and not moving around). Her twitching decreased in intensity. And Vishwa very gently was massaging her jaws. She was able to open them a little and started drinking a few ounces of milk from a bowl. And he started giving her little bits of food.

Also on the second day, she got her first bath and Vishwa gave her a haircut. She looked a zillion percent better. And it was as though vanity precipitated a change in her personality; she started to move in a totally different manner.

Now, this sweet girl moves around with the others ... is affectionate. But she is so fierce around food and milk if any of the other guys get near her bowl, that we feed her in closet with the door closed!

So good to have you back, dear Mira. Welcome to Life.

This brings us to the end of this Report.

PLEASE...REMEMBER...DONATIONS.

THE PRECIOUS ONES NEED US. AND WE NEED YOU.

Recurring donations, even quite modest ones, are best for us...

With love, blessings, and wishes for all things good... May we all be blessed with more compassionate understanding,

Leslie Robison: The Ageing Expatriate Warrior

Mural on compound wall of Arunachala Animal Shelter

Vishwa, Manager of Shelter

The Arunachala Animal Sanctuary desperately needs our financial support and in this respect please visit their page on the Global Giving website at this link here to learn more about how to help this organisation in their efforts to maintain and improve their care and service for our animals friends at Blessed Arunachala.