tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-285945662008-05-08T13:20:00.553+05:30Arunachala Livingnoreply@blogger.comBlogger878125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28594566.post-63899628348784104142008-04-29T12:06:00.002+05:302008-04-29T12:23:06.648+05:30

The Skanda Puranam is recognised to be the definitive scripture setting out the history and importance of Arunachala, however the Hill is mentioned in countless other scriptural sources. In the Vyaghrapura Mahatmya (15.18-33) various holy places in India are referred to as corresponding to particular chakras, and Arunachala is designated the chakra of Manipura. Varanasi = Ajna Kalahasti =

Arunachala Livingnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28594566.post-36135931021193909172008-04-29T11:36:00.004+05:302008-04-29T11:41:19.874+05:30

“A grand inauguration ceremony was conducted at the new ashram in Tiruvannamalai on April 19th 2008. With the majestic Arunachala as backdrop this is one of the most beautiful and going forward will be the most visited Nithyananda ashram in India. Being a full moon day, the day was also celebrated in Tiruvannamalai as Giri-Dakshina Giri Valam (14km barefoot circumambulation of Arunachala). At

Arunachala Livingnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28594566.post-35676449655968813472008-04-26T20:50:00.015+05:302008-04-26T23:22:33.707+05:30

At the Arunachala Animal Sanctuary there are seven staff members and a part-time cook (lots of doggie meals to make!). In the below photograph, the two Animal Shelter vets, both with post graduate degrees from the renowned Chennai (Madras) Veterinary College. Dr. Pushpalata (the lady) focuses primarily on clinic duties and Dr. Rajasekaran’s main focus is the ABC Sterlization Programme.This is a

Arunachala Livingnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28594566.post-53111575760852279242008-04-23T22:51:00.005+05:302008-04-23T23:14:10.103+05:30

(Nandikesvara tells Markandeya) "There is in the Southern Region, O ascetic, in the land of Dravidas, a great sacred place named Aruna associated with the Lord with the crescent-moon for his crest-jewel. It extends to three Yojanas. It is worthy of being adored by Sivayogins. Know it to be the heart of the earth, attractive and thrilling to Siva. There the Lord Sambhu himself has assumed the

Arunachala Livingnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28594566.post-17896369191186190142008-04-21T21:51:00.003+05:302008-04-21T22:18:41.561+05:30

Throughout the World on April 22, Earth Day will be celebrated, a date which marks the anniversary of the birth of the modern environmental movement in 1970. This is not a day that is reserved for activists in wealthy Western countries, it is in fact a day that needs to be observed by everyone in every place. Certainly here at Arunachala, we need to become aware of how the expanding population is

Arunachala Livingnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28594566.post-12410797396106004222008-04-21T14:03:00.007+05:302008-04-21T14:51:29.958+05:30

Wesak Valley, North India Full moon during Karthigai Deepam is regarded as the most powerful Arunachala poornima of the year. However the upcoming Wesak Festival (Taurus full moon) is globally considered to be the most powerful full moon of the yearly cycle. It is the time of the Buddha's Blessings. In this respect it is also considered to be a particularly auspicious time to perform

Arunachala Livingnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28594566.post-47306496019543269242008-04-19T16:38:00.002+05:302008-04-19T16:42:25.054+05:30

I think the below extract, taken from an article by an Indian agricultural scientist, most interesting in light of the current crisis in food prices throughout the world. In this respect even with over a billion people to feed, India is totally committed to ensuring internal food production is sufficient to meet the needs of domestic consumption instead of relying upon imports. “India is in a

Arunachala Livingnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28594566.post-67544385407874319292008-04-19T13:52:00.008+05:302008-04-19T14:16:24.154+05:30

So this morning made my arrangements to visit the function held at the new three acre Nithyananda facility around the Hill. Obviously a lot of folk had done very dedicated service in getting the facility ready in time for the function. I got there myself around 9.45 a.m. (the programme will extend throughout this day) because I was curious to be there for the arrival of Nithyananda. I

Arunachala Livingnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28594566.post-2916414694897205092008-04-19T13:00:00.012+05:302008-04-19T13:45:43.247+05:30

The Rajarajeshwari Shrine on the Hillround Roadway is absolutely one of my favourite places at Arunachala. This Goddess is held as the first God of the Devi Mahatmyam, in which all others are centred, and what is now the Rajarajeshwari Temple has been located at the same .25 acre site, in some form or another, for the last 100 years. The small and exquisite Temple is located at Parvati Hill,

Arunachala Livingnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28594566.post-16019828778177601102008-04-13T16:10:00.004+05:302008-04-13T16:49:52.548+05:30

The month of Chittrai (April - May) embarks the time of festivities in Tamil Nadu and starts off the Tamil year running through to Panguni (March - April), 2009. Tamil's New Year Day “Puthandu” (according to the Gregorian Calendar) is celebrated on April 13 or 14 every year. People greet each other “Puthandu Vazthukal” which means Happy New Year. This auspicious day is also known as “Varusha

Arunachala Livingnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28594566.post-19002926796020371452008-04-11T22:32:00.002+05:302008-04-11T22:41:51.547+05:30

On April 19th, 2008, there will be a Grand inauguration ceremony of the installation of 'Ananda Linga' By Paramahamsa Nithyananda (who hails from Tiruvannamalai) at Nithyananda Puri (opposite Rajarajeswari Temple, Girivalam Roadway, Tiruvannamalai. The Schedule for the day starts at 10.00 a.m. and includes: Inauguration of Nithyananda Dhyanapeetam Preliminary puja ceremony, as preparation for

Arunachala Livingnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28594566.post-44427146268963439612008-04-11T21:59:00.002+05:302008-04-11T22:32:03.217+05:30

Thought it might be interesting to post a current Visitor's Graph showing Country percentage information of visitors to Arunachala Grace. Unsurprisingly 38% of visitors come from India, but the large percentage of 31% hail from the U.S. I didn't realise there were so many Arunachala devotees in the United States. Great news. Occasionally we even get visitors from China - now thats really

Arunachala Livingnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28594566.post-52005259141329358352008-04-10T21:21:00.011+05:302008-04-10T22:30:00.461+05:30

Although Shiva is primarily worshipped in the form of the lingam (Lingodbhava) at Arunachala, this God also has a particular connection to the Hill, in the forms of: Bhikshtana, ‘the enchanting mendicant’, Ardhanisvara ‘the androgynous deity’, and Dakshinamurti, ‘the one facing south’. ***** oOo *****Lingodbhava Lingodbhava murthi is an iconic representation of Shiva, installed in the rear

Arunachala Livingnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28594566.post-87476667156203971422008-04-09T00:49:00.003+05:302008-04-09T00:58:32.538+05:30

Rudra-Shiva is the ultimate symbol of the environment. In which is combined the forces of nature and Pancha Bhutas: air, water, earth, fire and space. The five elements or Pancha Bhutas are represented by five Shiva lingas, which are famous Temples and pilgrimage centres. Many natural forces are imprisoned in Shiva's person: his flowing tresses represent the forests themselves, trapping

Arunachala Livingnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28594566.post-57770326322914120972008-04-09T00:42:00.002+05:302008-04-09T00:49:00.641+05:30

In Indian National papers there have been articles discussing whether Gold is a safe haven for investors. With western countries undergoing serious financial meltdowns and banks failing – people are seriously questioning the intrinsic value of money in the form of currency. I recall about fifteen years ago Sri Sathya Sai Baba is reported to have advised students that: “In the future there will be

Arunachala Livingnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28594566.post-83714271425911491492008-04-06T12:45:00.003+05:302008-04-06T12:49:01.953+05:30

On April 13th at 1.50 p.m., GMT, a rare astronomical event will occur that happens once every 1,000 years. The happening takes place as the Sun moves into the sign of Aries and simultaneously, the moon will be in the Pushya star constellation (in Cancer). Yogis say that during this celestial conjunction, the left and right hemispheres of the brain will undergo a radical change and will be able

Arunachala Livingnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28594566.post-18676573999743393772008-04-06T00:47:00.010+05:302008-04-07T15:09:58.924+05:30

On March 19, 2008 at the age of 90 years at his home in Sri Lanka, the great Science Fiction writer, Sir Arthur C Clarke died. As a young child I read many of his books and short stories and he (and other Science Fiction writers) powerfully influenced my spiritual impetus. In this respect the transformational movie, ‘2001: A Space Odyssey’, a 1968 science fiction film written by Stanley Kubrick

Arunachala Livingnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28594566.post-2064594177348853852008-04-04T16:13:00.003+05:302008-04-04T16:20:08.789+05:30

Pranic Healer, K. Mahesh from Chennai, will be conducting Pranic Healing Classes in Arunachala, based upon GMCKS (Grand Master Choa Kok Sui) for the whole of April. For further information please conduct K. Mahesh direct at his mobile number +91-9940075161

Arunachala Livingnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28594566.post-39531436404288138802008-04-04T15:57:00.004+05:302008-04-04T16:11:04.990+05:30

"In this word though sacred shrines may be in all the four directions yet can they be equal to Arunachala? For a good deed done in this Arunachala will yield benefit a thousand times. Similarly although there might be thousands of sins they will be reduced to one in this place."[By Guhai Namashivaya]To read about the life of this Saint who lived at Arunachala in ancient times, see this link here.

Arunachala Livingnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28594566.post-6706770363026568562008-03-31T13:57:00.005+05:302008-03-31T14:10:10.278+05:30

Check out the new videopod at the bottom left margin of this page. The pod is entitled from Science to God and contains four videos. The first being a montage of beautiful pictures of Lord Shiva accompanied by lovely singing by Alisha Chinoy. The next video is a composite of archival photographs and short movie clips of Sri Ramana Maharshi, interlaced with very nice Arunachala photographs and

Arunachala Livingnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28594566.post-69248551236562391092008-03-31T12:40:00.003+05:302008-03-31T12:50:45.421+05:30

Check out this great link here to watch many beautiful, animated videos on the mythology of India. The videos do not have an embed facility so you have to go to Rajshri site direct to watch them for free. You can also download them for a small charge. I have no idea whether the videos are specifically targetted to children, but I can tell you they are absolutely great. Most of the animated

Arunachala Livingnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28594566.post-7128029666293118162008-03-31T01:49:00.003+05:302008-03-31T01:57:55.651+05:30

Really interesting information about a new rice cultivation method (SRI) being tested in selected Districts in Tamil Nadu (including Tiruvannanamali District). However instead of trying to be more successful with intensive farming, I think what needs to be considered is crop suitability for water stressed areas. In this respect Tamil Nadu depending on the severity of the summer, often suffers

Arunachala Livingnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28594566.post-55287253063348263372008-03-31T01:08:00.004+05:302008-03-31T01:17:03.086+05:30

After recently reading about Five Faced Shiva I tried to find a photograph or picture of this aspect of the Divine. It must be very rare because wasn't able to get a good representation of the different colours of the Five Faces of the Deity. However did find this really brilliant copy of a painting of about 1830 from Calcutta. A well known name of Shiva is Yogi Raja, the Lord of Yoga, the

Arunachala Livingnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28594566.post-20101216598387933022008-03-30T15:26:00.008+05:302008-03-30T17:15:46.716+05:30

In last month’s Arunachala Grace News, the monthly newsletter sent direct to subscribers email inbox, there was a very interesting narrative about the Salesians of Don Bosco's IT programme at their Institute in Tiruvannamalai, to promote personal, cultural, social and economic self assurance to rural youth. The name of the Institute is Siharam - Salesian Institute for the Holistic Advancement of

Arunachala Livingnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28594566.post-35685421946691799582008-03-25T20:54:00.018+05:302008-03-31T14:20:30.794+05:30

What started for me as just an ordinary day, became quite an adventure after someone casually mentioned that a large Shirdi Sai Baba statue had been delivered and was waiting installation at the side of the girivalam roadway. Even though Shirdi Sai Baba, as far as I know, has not been recorded as ever mentioning Arunachala, or in anyway connected to it, still I've always missed there being a

Arunachala Livingnoreply@blogger.com