Mottayan Swami and Kootankuchi Swamigal

On October 20, 2009 I received a note from Dr. S. Ananthakrishnan which became lost in my computer files and which I unearthed only recently whilst clearing my files. On going through the note thought it was time to make an effort to respond to the questions raised by Dr. S. Ananthakrishnan. 

Kottankuchi Swamigal

The note went thus: 

"Have you heard of the mouna Swamigal on the Girivalam route? . . . I have personally met him and it was a casual meeting near the main Annamalaiyar Temple. His appearance is of a young person not less than 30-31, with a naturally formed French beard and he wears the Kaavi dress like the Kanchi Paramacharya style. This Mouna Swamigal himself wrote and told me when he visits the Mottayan Swami, that Mottayan Swami makes him sit in his lap. Still this mouna Swamigal preserves the photo of the Mottayan Swami though the edges of the photo are slightly damaged.

I would request you if you could post the photo of this Swamigal and his current whereabouts. Recently (note: i.e. at the end of 2009) on Zee Tamil T.V., they showed a video on the research on the Parakkum Siddhar. During the show they showed Mottayan Swami and this mouna Swamigal . . . “

Current house of Kootankuchi Swamigal

After stopping at several places and talking with another Swami (who I will write about in due course on my blog Arunachala Mystic) residing in a house near the old Shantimalai Trust Gokulam, I and my friend arrived by auto rickshaw at the house of the silent Swami now residing just off the Girivalam roadway (near the Rajarajeshwari Temple). The mouna Swamigal is still in silence but responded to my questions occasionally by hand signs and sometimes by writing his answers in a notebook. 

Kootankuchi Swamigal's compound right of Sai Mandir, Girivalam Road

Swami goes by the name Kootankuchi Swamigal. As he is a sannyasin, he did not wish to answer many questions regarding home and previous family but he did give several bits of information. His age is around forty years old and even though he is in silence he is available to visitors. He worships the Divine Mother in the form of Varahi. His guru is the now deceased Jangalidas Maharaj who has an ashram about seven kms from Shirdi. Kootankuchi Swamigal stayed at that place for six months many years previously. 

Kootankuchi Swamigal has been living at Tiruvannamalai for a number of years and for the last 10 years has been maintaining a verbal silence. He had great love for Visiri Samiyar (Yogi Ramsuratkumar) and spent a lot of time with him in earlier days. 

When asking Kootankuchi Swamigal whether the story of him sitting in the lap of Mottayan Swamigal was true. He said that previously (over 7 years ago) Mottayan Swamigal would sometimes come and meet with him and at that time, Mottayan would often lie on the floor resting his head upon Kottankuchi Swamigal and sometimes sitting in his lap. I asked Kottankuchi Swamigal as to his opinion of Mottayan Swami. He bowed his head in great reverence and indicated in writing that Mottayan Swami was a great Siddha. 

Jolly workers building Swami's house

I visited the Kootankuchi Swamigal with a friend Mr. Hari Prasad and my regular auto rickshaw driver Gandipan. Whilst there a number of personal questions were asked by us all, which Kottankuchi Swamigal answered (in writing and by gesture) clearly and at length. On a personal level I found that his advice was in line with the advice I have received through my own prayers and meditation upon the Divine Mother. 

Kottankuchi Swamigal is currently building his own house a short distance from his rental accommodation and as soon as that is complete (probably not before the beginning of 2014) he will shift from his current abode. 

Construction of House underway

I have made many postings of Swami Mottayan (also known as Mookupodi Swami = snuff Swami as he is in the habit of daily taking snuff). As it has been sometime since I last saw him, early this morning I stopped at the new Navagraha Shrine (near Rajarajeshwari Temple) on the girivalam road, where I had heard that he currently stays at. 

Mootayan Swami (Mookupodi Swamigal)

A crowd of about thirty people were standing silently and reverently close by the Navagraha Shrine taking silent darshan of Mottayan Swami whist he was drinking his morning tea at an adjacent tea stall. I have heard that nowadays there is often a crowd of pilgrims and visitors surrounding him. 

Crowd watching Swami take his morning tea

The times that I was able to get easy access and even sit with him on the verandah of a local school playing with thayam stones seemed to be a very long time ago. To view some of the posts on Mottayan (Mookupodi) Swami on Arunachala Grace, go to this link here. 

Mottayan Swami (aka Mookupodi Swami)

Tremors felt at Tiruvannamalai

Tiruvannamalai District experienced earth tremors on Thursday morning, September 26th, after a gap of nearly 25 years, according to the Centre for Disaster Mitigation and Management, VIT University, Vellore. 

Vellore and Tiruvannamalai Districts have become seismically-active since 2002 and they have been reclassified into zone 3 (prone to quakes with up to 6.9 magnitude) from zone 2 earlier (up to 4.9 magnitude). 

Last Thursday at Tiruvannamalai, residents of Pudu Theru (i.e. Theru = Street), Pey Gopura Theru, Muthuvinayaga Theru and Mathalangula Theru; came out of their homes after the vessels in their houses fell down at about 8.20 a.m., as they feared more serious tremors. No damage to property or life has been reported. Residents returned to their houses only after ascertaining that there were no aftershocks. 

Thiruvoodal Theru leading to Pey Gopura Theru

 

The Indian Meteorological Department reported the Tiruvannamalai earthquake to measure 3.3 on the Richter scale and lasted for about three to five seconds. The epicentre of the Tremor is suspected to be in the Polur and Tiruvannamalai region, where an existing fault (planar rock fractures) passes from Salem to Tiruvallur. 

Earth tremors are a common phenomenon restricted to local conditions due to the readjusting of faults. In this respect around 105 tremors have occurred in Tamil Nadu in the last 200 years, with the majority measuring less than a magnitude of 5. Only a few of the earth tremors had a magnitude of more than 5; which included an earthquake in Coimbatore in 1900 (magnitude of 6) and one off the shores of Pondicherry in 2001 (magnitude 5.6). There are estimated to be around 286 fractured faults in Tamil Nadu, of which only around 47 have been found to be active. 

Tiruvannamalai District has only witnessed five tremors in recorded time. The first major one recorded was in 1822 at Vandavasi with a magnitude of 5, and later between Polur and Tiruvannamalai with a magnitude of 5. The same region witnessed another tremor in 1984 that had a magnitude of 3.3. 

[Information compiled from The New Indian Express]

Whisper into my Ear

September 17, 2013 Pradosham, Arunachaleswarar Temple

The first two photographs are of Nandi taken at Arunachaleswarar Temple during Pradosham which fell on September 17, 2013.

Nandi the Bull, Arunachaleswarar Temple

Whisper into my Ear

Nandi is the Gate keeper of Lord Shiva's abode, thus it is believed to be important to seek his blessings before praying to Lord Shiva.

It is thought that by whispering our prayers into Nandi’s ear, it will induce him to act as our interlocutor (messenger) and those prayers will reach Lord Shiva. When whispering into Nandi’s ear, some close one of his ears while whispering into the other, to prevent the wish leaving through the other ear.

When whispering it is believed that one shouldn’t stand in-between Nandi and Lord Shiva while praying. First one touches the feet of the Bull, then whispers into the ear and then goes to Nandi’s back.

Nandi on Girivalam Roadway

As seeing the Sivalingam in the Siva Sannidhi from in-between the ears of Nandi is also said to be a form of worship as it is believed that Shiva is looking at the world from between those ears and head. Thus in the case of Nandi at the side of the Girivalam Roadway, one should stand at the back of the statue and look at the Arunachala Lingam from in-between the Bull’s ears.

Next time you visit Arunachala and perform girivalam (giripradakshina), try whispering your thoughts and needs into the Bull’s ears. I found it a powerful and happy experience.

Postings of my Arunachala Blogs from September 2 to September 16, 2013

Below are links and short extracts of postings on my various Arunachala Blogs from Monday, September 2, 2013 to Monday, September 16, 2013 

Arunachala Grace 

Palayam Puja -- Durga Amman Temple, September 2013: Puja conducted at the start of renovations and repairs at the Durga Amman Temple, Tiruvannamalai. 

Aadi Pooram Photographs—Friday August 9, 2013: Photographs of the most beautifully dressed and adorned Goddess Rajarajeshwari in Festival celebrated at that Temple during Aadi Pooram. 

Vinayagar Immersion September 11, 2013: Photographs of Vinayagar procession and immersion in the Tamari Nagar Tank at Tiruvannamalai. 

Nice Clay Ganesha Idols: Photographs of beautiful and eco-friendly clay Ganeshas at Tiruvannamalai.

Ganesha Chaturthi at Tiruvannamalai: Narrative celebrating Ganesha Chaturthi and explaining the importance of making it as eco-friendly as possible. 

What If: Inspirational Poem by Samuel Taylor Coleridge.

Panthakal -- September 8, 2013: Photographs of the function heralding the upcoming 2013 Arunachala Karthigai Deepam.

Soma Pradosham, September 2, 2013: Photographs of Soma Pradosham and narrative about the relationship of the moon with Lord Shiva. 

Tiruvannamalai Womens' Self Help Groups: Art work explaining and popularising Tiruvannamalai Womens' Self Help Groups.

Panthakal Karthigai Deepam 2013: Invitation to Function celebrating the offical beginning of lead up to the great 2013 Karthigai Festival.

Pavala Kundru Temple adjacent to Arunachaleswarar Temple: Spectacular view from inside top of Raja Gopuram of Arunachaleswarar Temple of surrounding Tiruvannamalai.

Home at Last: Celebration of anniversary of Sri Ramana’s arrival to Tiruvannamalai.

Arunachala Birds 

Rock Pigeon or Rock Dove: Narrative and photographs of the Rock Pigeon, including Cycle of Pigeon Hatching. Video of nesting bird. 

Arunachala Land 

House for sale, adjacent Samudram Eri: Newly constructed, modern 3 bedroom house for sale close to Ramana Ashram. 

Adiannamalai House specifications: Details and house plan of house for sale near Adiannamalai Temple.

House for Sale, Adiannamalai: Photographs of house currently under construction and available for purchase located near Adiannamalai Temple and with sublime darshan of Arunachala.

Arunachala Mystic 

Letter to Sri Siva Jothi Mona Siddhar: Letter from Swami’s devotee with details of a dream and its connection with their guru. 

Lord Shiva as Chandrasekhara: Escoteric meaning of Lord Shiva in his manifestaion as Chandrasekhara. 

Palayam Puja -- Durga Amman Temple, September 2013

A Palayam Puja was performed at Durga Amman Temple on September 11, 2013 in connection with restoration and renovation work that is to be undertaken at the Temple. After the renovation work is completed next year, it will be followed by an elaborate Mahakumbhabhiskeham. 

Homam being conducted, Palayam Puja

Head Priest of Big Temple (in gold centre) in charge of Function

Blessing areas that are to be renovated, restored

The Durga Amman Temple is the only Tiruvannamalai Temple that actually participates in functions with Arunachaleswarar Temple during Karthigai Deepam. 

One reason for this is supposed to be because of the battle beween the Goddess Durga with the demon Mahishasura (see ‘The Fight with Mahishasura'). Before her battle the Goddess appointed four noble Bhairavis (celestial damsels) to keep watch on all four sides of Arunagiri. She ordered: 

"Admit only those who have come to worship Arunachala and are tired, hungry and thirsty. Others should not enter. She then appointed strong men to guard the boundaries of Arunachala and continued Her penace at Her ashram." [The Glory of Arunachala] 

For this reason, the first day of Deepam Festival is always a celebration of the Goddess, who is recognised as a Guardian of Arunachala. 

Aadi Pooram Photographs—Friday August 9, 2013

After a long delay I finally connected with Swami at Rajarajeshwari Temple on the Arunachala Girivalam Roadway, and picked up photographs of the Aadi Pooram Festival as it was celebrated at that Temple. 

Below are two photographs of Sri Rajarajeshwari at Arunachala, specially dressed for this most auspicious Festival. I will be posting a more complete narrative with photographs onto my website Arunachala Samudra. To read more about this wonderful Temple, please visit my website at this link here. But for the time being below, two most sublime photographs. 

Right click for photo enlargement

Adi Pooram is celebrated in all Hindu temples in Southern India in the month of Adi, which corresponds to the English months of July-August, when the asterism Pooram (Delta Leonis) is in the ascendancy. As the Festival fell on a Friday this year, the occasion was regarded as even more auspicious. This Festival is observed to propitiate the Sakti Goddess who is said to have come into the world on this occasion to bless all. She is thus worshipped in order that one may secure happiness for oneself and for loved ones.

Vinayagar Immersion September 11, 2013

The below photographs are of the 2013 September 11, immersion of Vinayagar Statues in the Tamari Nagar community water reservoir.

Procession through town on the way to Tank

 
Nowadays the use of heavy lifting equipment marks a departure from the more rustic, labour intensive immersions of years previously. 

The Big Guy needs a crane for lift off!

Lets just enjoy these photos, and try harder to have an ecologically sound Festival next year!

Tamari Nagar Water Reservoir with Arunachala in background

To give you an idea of labour intensive Vinayagar Immersions pre-cranes, the below is a photo of the 2008 Immersion also at the Tamari Nagar Housing Board Tank at Tiruvannamalai. Nowadays this size statue would be crane assisted!

Nice Clay Ganesha Idols

Below are a series of photographs of more eco-friendly mud Ganeshas, which are safer and more environmentally friendly. However these type of mud statues should be purchased without the gold paint, glitter or piercing eyes! Craftspeople creating ecofriendly mud Ganeshas are all around Tiruvannamalai, the below photographs were taken off the Chengham Road, opposite both Seshadri and Ramana Ashrams. 

Householders brought their own small kolam adorned benches with them in order to welcome their completed Ganesha idols.

Right click on all below photographs to view enlargements. 

Beginning the day with a vast mountain of mud

Pressing the mud into Ganesha Moulds

The group co-operating in their street assembly line

Ganesha coming out of Mould

Getting ready for a final tidy-up

Adding to some statues piercing red eyes

Putting the Ganesha onto Househoulder's kolam-board

A very handsome Ganesha on his way home

Golden Ganeshas radiating throughout Tiruvannamalai

Ganesha Chaturthi at Tiruvannamalai

This week is the very joyous and celebratory Ganesha Festival a favourite of both kids and adults alike. To learn more about this festival go to this link here. Also included in the link is information and photographs of what harm toxic-loaded statues can do to the environment. 

Thankfully over the years many excellent organisations are constantly spreading the message that we need to keep the Ganesha Festival toxic-free by celebrating it in an eco-friendly manner. 

I am made from 100% toxic material. Please become more eco-friendly.

The below information appeared in article about celebrating the Ganesha Festival in an eco-friendly manner in The Times (India) newspaper. To read the full article go to this link here. 

“Even as the city is gearing up to celebrate Ganesh Chathurthi, environmentalists and green activist are worried about the pollution of water bodies due to the immersion of Ganesha idols. The Pollution Control Board and Coimbatore district administration have already issued instructions to the devotees to ensure minimum water pollution of the waterbodies in and around the city. 

Even though I look more eco-friendly, my paint and glitter is toxic to ALL life

. . . The PCB has also instructed the public to ensure that the idols are made of raw clay and does not have any chemical or toxic dyes. They have also asked the public to opt for medium-sized idols and avoid immersing idols made of Plaster of Paris. 

"We want to make the people aware of the fact that they should try to observe the festival without polluting the waterbodies," said a District environmental engineer for the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB). 

According to environmental experts, organisms in the waterbodies are adversely affected by the zinc oxide, ferric oxide and chromium oxide chemicals found in the dye and paint used on the idols. And sometimes turperntine and kerosene are also mixed as thinners which are deadly to the fish and other organisms.” 

Remember that immersion of toxic statues into our community water bodies (the most popular dunking ground in Tiruvannamalai during this season will be the Tamari Nagar tank in the Housing Board) affects us all and will impair our health and our children's health. Think before purchasing eco-unfriendly statues that eventually will be immersed in a water body. 

I am a 100% toxic and WILL endanger your health

A loving and innocent decision to purchase a pink chemical-laden Ganesha could hurt your child.

What if?

What if you slept 

And what if 

In your sleep 

You dreamed 

And what if 

In your dream 

You went to heaven 

And there plucked a strange and beautiful flower 

And what if 

When you awoke 

You had that flower in your hand 

Ah, what then? 

[Samuel Taylor Coleridge] 

Panthakal -- September 8, 2013

Early this morning the Panthakal Function was performed at the Big Temple to mark the official beginning of the rituals and ceremonies preceding the Karthigai Festival (Mahadeepam is November 17, 2013). 

As well as blessing the front of the Temple, outside the Raja Gopuram, the priests also blessed the chariots and vehicles which will be later used in the upcoming Festivals.

Soma Pradosham, September 2, 2013

Lord Shiva is also known as Chandrasekhara, which literally refers to the 'Person who wears the moon'. In some cultures the appearance of the new crescent moon has been celebrated as a return of the moon from the dead. This celestial body is a powerful influence on the human psyche. Its influence which is always available at Arunachala is celebrated in disparate ways during Sivaratri and Poornima. It is also recognised in all Pradoshams that fall on Mondays, as did the last Pradosham (in the below photographs) which was observed on September 2, 2013.

Gods at Soma Pradosham

Soma Pradosham, September 2, 2013

As you come into Tiruvannamalai via the Chengham Road, in front of the Agni Tank, there is Rotary Club sign proclaiming this place to be Moon City. What a wonderful name for our Tiruvannamalai. 

Hinduism propounds the idea that the (nine) Navagrahas (of which Chandra is one) are 'markers of influence' -- living energies which put out waves which affect our awareness by seizing our consciousness when we come under their influence. Reports of psychics and seers agree that Grahas cause a direct energy influence upon the energy bodies and minds of all life on earth. The nine planets (Navagrahas) are transmitters of Universal, archetypal energy and the qualities of each planet helps maintain the overall balance of polarities in the solar system. 

Lord Shiva wears on his head the crescent of the fifth-day moon. Placed near his fiery third eye this shows the power of Soma, the sacrificial offering, which is the representative of Moon and signifies that Shiva possesses the power of procreation co-existent with that of destruction. Chandra has the following associations: the colour white, gender female, metal silver, gemstones; pearl and moonstone, element water, direction north-west, season Winter, body part blood, food rice, taste salt, day Monday, guna Sattwa. The sun is the indicator of the soul and the moon is the vehicle of the mind that receives the light of the soul. Even though all the Navagrahas are represented at Arunachala, the moon with its particular association with Lord Shiva (Chandrasekhara) has an extraordinary influence. 

Moonlight

In one legend, Chandra is considered the son of the ocean as he was one of the fourteen ratnas (Jewels) that emerged from the ocean during its churning and was gifted, by the Gods and Demons to Lord Shiva, who wore the crescent moon on his head. 

Chandra is a lovable God; pleasing to children as well as elders. Sages and devotees invoke the Goddess in Chandra. A benefic Moon is often found in the charts of doctors, healers or psychologists, as well as good mothers and wives. A strong Moon can give power and creates a good administrator or leader open to the needs of his people and indicates relationship, interchange, and communication. A strong Moon also shows sensitivity, receptivity, caring for others and a nurturing attitude in life. It gives emotional maturity, responsibility and the capacity to have a beneficial effect upon society. 

To read a wonderful legend explaining why the Moon's light is so soft, and cool, and beautiful even to this day go to an earlier posting “Moonlight,” at this link here. 

Meditations of the Moon 

Half of the human race lives in manifest obedience to the lunar rhythm; and there is evidence to show that the psychological and therefore the spiritual life, not only of women, but of men too, mysteriously ebbs and flows with the changes of the moon. There are unreasoned joys, inexplicable miseries, laughter and remorse without a cause. Their sudden and fantastic alternations constitute the ordinary weather of our minds. These moods, of which the more gravely numinous may be hypostasized as gods, the lighter, if we will, as hobgoblins and fairies, are the children of the blood and humours. But the blood and humours obey, among many other masters, the changing moon. Touching the soul directly through the eyes and, indirectly, along the dark channels of the blood, the moon is doubly a divinity. 

[Aldous Huxley] 

Tiruvannamalai Womens' Self Help Groups

Occasionally on the side of houses and/or shops one sees slogans and information about the burgeoning and increasingly popular different Womens’ Groups here at Tiruvannamalai that are engaged in: self-development, family, studies, self-employment, gaining of self-confidence to integrate into society, handicrafts and skill learning and political involvement. 

Its excellent to see Women of this area receive help and support to learn skills and the subsequent self-confidence so that their voices may be better heard in society. A number of charitable organisations (such as Shantimalai Trust) have been in the forefront in South India in promoting Womens' Self Help Groups. 

Unity, Self-Confidence, Learning, Spiritual Thinking, Security and Development

Panthakal Karthigai Deepam 2013

The below is an invitation from the Arunachaleswarar Temple of the 2013 Panthakal Murgatha Function which will be held on Sunday, September 8, 2013 from 5.30 to 6.45 outside the Gopuram Temple main Gate. This function marks the official start of ritual programmes related to the Karthigai Deepam Festival.

Pavala Kundru Temple adjacent to Arunachaleswarar Temple

To compose the previous post “Home at Last!” on Arunachala Grace, I spent time sorting through photographs of the Big Temple to find one taken in the inside of the Raja Gopuram. Whilst sorting through my collection of snaps thought it might be interesting to post the below photograph, which is a panoramic view of the Temple and surrounds taken from upstairs inside the Raja Gopuram.

Photo of Big Temple and right side Pavala Kundru Hillock and Temple

As well as being a very beautiful photograph, what makes it even more fascinating is the small hillock at the right bottom of the photograph. On top of which is the Pavala Kundru Temple of which many fascinating legends abound. 

For the purpose of this posting, I post the below history. 

In 1790 Tippu Sultan captured Tiruvannamalai over-riding the Treaty of Mangalore (1784 A.D.) in which he and the English agreed to mutual restoration of conquests and exchange of prisoners. Tippu Sultan attacked Thiagadurga Fort (30 miles south of Tiruvannamalai). The whole population of the surrounding region took refuge in this fort. 

Activated by the news from Thiagadurga and apprehending attack, the inhabitants of Tiruvannamalai collected arms and men to defend themselves till British reinforcements arrived. When Tippu Sultan attacked Tiruvannamalai, its inhabitants put up a brave resistance but were compelled to surrender in the end. Tippu Sultan, it is said, occupied the hillock of Pavalakundru after destroying the small shrine that was there. His solders, it seems, were cruel to the people of the town but strangely the Temple of Sri Arunachala was left untouched, barring a single cannon shot that was fired at it. The missile seems to have hit a part of the northern wall causing minimal damage. After camping there for some weeks, Tippu Sultan and his army left Tiruvannamalai.

Pavala Kundru Temple on Hillock

If you mentally delete all the recent construction between the Pavalakundru Hillock and Arunachaleswarar Temple, it is easy to visualise the invading Tippu Sultan army camped on the Hillock with their army and canons, raining their shot down upon the outside of the northern wall of the Arunachaleswarar Temple compound. 

A gun belonging to Tippu Sultan was found buried near the hillock where he had camped. It was taken and placed in a museum in Madras. Ramana Maharshi said that whatever Temple might have existed on or about Pavalakundru seemed to have disappeared probably on account of Tippu Sultan’s invasion. The present Temple was probably built only a hundred and fifty years ago. 

Home at Last!

Yesterday September 1st, marked the anniversary of the arrival of Sri Ramana Maharshi to Tiruvannamalai. In commemoration of that event, below is an abridged extract from Volume One of the very excellent biography of Sri Ramana, entitled “Arunachala’s Ramana—Boundless Ocean of Grace,” which describes his arrival to Tiruvannamalai and the great Arunachaleswarar Temple. [The below narrative is abridged]. 

"Alighting at Tiruvannamalai station on the morning of 1st September, 1896, Venkataraman beheld his “promised land” in the “starry-pointing” towers (gopurams) of Arunachaleswarar’s Temple from afar. 

Modern Greeting Sign at Tiruvannamalai Station

As with the Saint Nanda, the very sight of the towers filled his soul with joy, arising not merely from the sense of achievement but also from the close proximity to Bliss itself. With quick steps and a pounding heart, he proceeded straight to the great Temple. 

Vintage Temple photograph from 1890's

The gates of the three high compound walls and all the inner doors were open. There was not a soul beside him; and it looked as though the Father was thus preparing to welcome his “beloved son” who marched straight to the innermost shrine, the Holy of Holies (garbha-griha), without any hindrance and addressed Arunachaleswarar (in the shape of a Lingam) thus: 

        

O God, obedient to They call, Here I have come, deserting all. 

     

That moment, all physical and mental excitement disappeared; he felt a soothing sensation; and his cup of bliss was full to the brim. 

       

This was the supreme moment of his life, the point at which the old and false worldly life may be said to be “rung out”. He stood awhile there in ecstasy, prostrated himself, and left the sanctuary. He had sealed his future and delivered it over to God; and henceforward he was but a baby in the arms of his Father to be tossed about, or played with, as the latter choose. . . 

     

According to the scriptures, the proper residence for an anchorite (parivrajaka) is a Temple, a Hill, a cave, the foot of a tree or the banks of holy waters; and the young Swami found the Temple (as large numbers of parivrajakas before and after him found it) to be the most convenient. The very atmosphere there is pure and laden with spiritual power. The constant peals of the Temple bells, the frequent streams of pious visitors approaching their God, with Thevaram, Thiruppugazh and other songs, the procession of the sacred images followed by a band of youths chanting aloud the sacred Vedas with the very accent and intonation which the Rishis, the seers of the forest employed thousands of years ago, and many other phases of religious life that one constantly meets within these precincts, fully justified the selection so far as impulses to virtue and piety were concerned. 

Some Gardens in Temple Compound

If however one wishes to get away even from these external contacts and to commune in solitude with himself or his God, even then the precincts were particularly suited to the parivrajakas’ needs. There were the nandavanam (the flower garden), the vazhai thottam (plantain garden), the higher chambers of the numerous towers (gopurams), especially the big eastern one of the thirteen storeys which appears to be over 216 feet above ground level and many a nook and corner of this vast Temple: all these provide adequate solitude. . . . . 

Temple Gopurams with Arunachala background

Rare Photograph inside the top of the Raja Gopuram

On the very day of his arrival, he had aimlessly waked on to the Ayyankulam Tank and thrown away the bundle of sweetmeats given to him at the Kilur Bhagavatar’s house, saying to himself, “To this block (i.e. the body) why give any sweetmeats?” 

1949 Photograph Ayyankulam Tank with Raja Gopuram and Arunachala

He then tore his clothes to shreds, and wearing one of them as a cod-piece (kaupina) cast away the rest along with the balance of money, the three rupees and half with him. He also removed the sacred thread from his body and threw it away. He was not going to touch, and never after did touch money. These vows of austerity, of “holy poverty,” were essential details of the good part he had chose, and they served to set off and support his high tapas . . . . . 

As he walked back from the tank, and came near the Temple, someone accosted him and asked, “You want your tuft of hair to be removed, eh?” “Yes,” replied the young Swami, who was immediately thereupon taken to a barber and had the entire hair on his removed. . . . 

Apparently Venkataraman ate nothing at all on the first day i.e. on 1st September. The next day he was walking up and down the sixteen pillared mandapam in front of the Temple when a Mouna Swami who used to live in the Kampathu Ilayanar’s Temple arrived. 

Kampathu Ilayanar Temple

Another well built man with long matted hair called Pazhaniswami, who used to do a lot of service by learning and cleaning the Temple premises with the help of a band of sannyasins, also came to the sixteen pillared mandapam from the town. He was a Mouna Swami and so was Venkataraman. There was no talk; no greetings. It was soon mid-day. Thereupon Pazhaniswami brought some cold rice which was all black with a little salt strewn on top in a tin vessel, “That was the first bhiksha which Arunachaleswarar gave me. Actually there is not an iota of pleasure in what I eat now. All the meals and sweets are nothing compared to that food”, very fondly Venkataraman said later."