Samudram Evening

Most days diggers are at Samudram taking sand and earth from the bottom of the almost dried-up lake, which they load onto lorries to be transported to various local building sites. The snap below is of an excavated hole filled in with water from earlier rain. The pool is replete with tiny, flying fingerlings and Egrets, Herons and Crows hang around the side of the pond waiting for their chance to catch dinner.

Unfortunately the advent of my six action-packed doggies sends most of the birds away, so thus far haven't been able to take any great photographs of the pond surrounded by flocks of Egrets and Pond Herons - its looks lovely though.

Sadly this particular evening my six doggies in their eagerness chasing a local dog around the pond, ran into an Indian Pond Heron and totally flattened him to the ground.

The poor thing was in a state of shock. Below the Indian Pond Heron, who I picked up and after climbing the embankment, attached to a high branch, to give him time to recover in safety.

I stayed with him for about 20 minutes and after he was well enough to try and give my fingers a peck, knew he was recovering nicely and it was safe to leave him on his own.

So my naughty doggies and I continued our evening Samudram walk.

And watched the sun go down.

If you want to learn out more about the Indian Pond Heron and Grey Heron, both found at Tiruvannamalai, check out Arunachala Birds for some brilliant snaps and good information.

Samudram Evening

Walking about Samudram Erie is a favourite for my doggies and I, and I've previously posted many photographs of the hitherto unspoilt area. However things are changing and currently unchecked illegal sand quarrying occurs in this area, not only through the night but also during the day. Hopefully good results (for the sake of conservation) in the upcoming elections might change local dynamics and result in the people currently involved in sand quarrying being prevented from futher damaging our beautiful 750 acre natural reservoir.

The actual name Samudra means - sea of syrup (one of the seven seas), a gathering of the waters above and under the firmament and an ocean of virtues and auspiciousness.

There is an epigraph chiselled in the masonry at the Tiruvannamalai Temple dated 1317 which describes the glory of King Vallaladeva’s reign at Arunasamudra, an ancient name for Tiruvannamalai.

“From the lotus of [Vishnu's] navel arose Brahma, the creator of all men. From his mind was born Atri. Then Soma [the moon] was born in his eye. In [his family] was born the king Someswara. To him was born Narasimha who was like a lion to his elephant-like opponents. From him whose gifts eclipse those of the heavenly tree [the kalpa-vriksha or wish-fulfilling tree] whose wealth eclipses that of Kubera [the god of wealth] … and whose prowess eclipses that of the terrible blaze emanating from the forehead eye of the God having the bull as His vehicle [i.e. Siva] was born the king Vallaladeva.

The illustrious King Vallaladeva, possessing all auspicious things, was staying at his capital, which was distinguished by the name Aruna-samudra (earlier name for Tiruvannamalai), belonging to the Hoysala kingdom, which was established with love by his father, which possessed the wealth of a kingdom, and which was the abode of real riches.”

A Samudram Story

There is a fascinating story connected with the idols of Venugopalaswami and his Devis; Rukumini and Satyabhama, whose shrine is located immediately behind the Siva Sannidhi inside the Arunachaleswarar Temple. The story goes like this:

“It seems the statues were originally in a small Vaisnava Village or Agrahara near the large tank ‘Samudram’ about two miles to the south of Sri Arunachala Temple. The people of the village during certain festivals used to carry the Utsava murtis from there to Tirukoilur about 20 miles away. Tirukoilur is a Vaisnava centre with a large Vishnu Temple having a big gopuram on each of sides with no enclosure walls. The Vasinava inhabitants were over-zealous people. Every time the Saiva idols from Sri Arunachala Temple passed by to go round the hill the Vaisnava villagers would obstruct its progress. Repeated complaints of their behaviour were made to the Chola king of that period. The king himself it is said came to verify the complaint and when he was satisfied he worked out a strategy.

During a certain festival the king ordered that all the people of that village near the Samudram to go in procession to Tirukoilur. When they were gone, he had the images of Venugopal and his Devis removed from that Temple and had them installed immediately at the back of Sri Arunachala shrine. When this news reached Tirukoilur, the Utsava murtis were kept in the Temple there and the agraharam near the Samudram was abandoned by its inhabitants. It is also said that the property of the Temple goes in the name of Venugopala Swami to indicate that Arunachaleswarar is worshipped by Lord Vishnu in this Temple.”

[Extract from ‘Arunachalam’]

Arunachala Sunset

I took my camera on our regular evening walk in order to take photographs of the extensive sand quarrying currently underway at Samudram. Hope to post those photos in upcoming days, but in the meantime here are some nice photos of my doggies' evening paddle during a typical Arunachala sunset.

In the below all six of them are getting their feet wet - with little Muffin (the black doggie) just about to take the plunge. All the dogs are excellent swimmers but sometimes they just like to enjoy a nice standing soak.

The next photo is of the triplet boys: Caspa, Walle and Oscar who have been with me since birth, enjoying quiet time with Victor (the German Shepherd) the latest addition to our canine family and who came to us about six months ago. He came as an abused animal from the Animal Shelter and at that time had never known much about the 'good' things in life - but now he is the most enthusiastic walker and swimmer of the group - good job Victor!


Here is the view of Arunachala from where the doggies are swimming. This aspect is almost direct South of the Hill and is one of its most famous views.

Its getting late and the sun is setting.

Just one more pretty evening at Arunachala.

And in close up (the hill in this photo is NOT Arunachala).

In the definitive scriptural work, The Skanda Purana, there are several stories of Surya, the Sun in association with Arunachala, the primary ones being:

Sun God at Arunachala
"On the advice of Brahma, Bhaskara (i.e. the Sun-God) who is a mass of refulgence but who was harassed by Asuras, devoutly worshipped the Lord of Arunachala.

After plunging into the sanctifying pure Tirtha created by Brahma, he circumbulated Arunachala, the Lord himself.

After gaining victory over all the Daityas and (the privilege of) circumambulating Meru, he gained supreme refulgence that destroys the brilliance of enemies."
[Page 34, Verses 32-34]

"Aditya whose shape was formed by Tvastr blazed with brilliance. The Lord of Planets attempted to cross Sonadri. The horses of his chariot lost their power and became tired. Due to the refulgence of Sonadri he became devoid of glory. Even with all the attempted motion of the possessor of cluster of rays (i.e. Sun), he became unable to go to the heaven. On the advice of Brahma he propitiated Arunachala. When the Lord was pleased, he obtained the path of the sky and splendid horses.

Ever since then the Sun never crosses the mountain named Sona but goes circumambulating him."
[Page 35, Verses 45-49a]

Sun God's Charioteer
"When he obstructed the flow of water at the time of the gift of the earth by Bali (to Vamana), Bhargava (i.e. Sukra) lost his eye on being prickled with the top of the Darbha grass held in his hand by Vishnu (i.e. Vamana). He went to Sonacala and performed a very difficult penance. With his soul purified, he regained his eye.

He (i.e. Aruna, Garuda's brother) was stationed on the mountain named Bhaskara. By serving the Lord of Arunachala, he became the charioteer of the Sun-God."
[Page 35, Verses 51b-53]

Circumbulation of Arunachala
"One who circumambulates on Sunday becomes liberated. Piercing through the solar disc, he shall go to Siva's city."
[Page 59, 57b-64a]

"One shall attain innumerable benefits by circumambulating Sonagiri on equinoctical days, days on which the Sun takes another transit, the transit from one Zodiac to another, on Vyatipata days and other Parvan days."
[Page 186, Verse 51]

Holy Rites for Special Attainments
"If anyone worships the Lord of Sonadri on a Sunday with red lotuses, he will surely acquire great imperial magnificence."
[Page 120, Verse 1]

"During the Solar and Lunar eclipses a devotee should piously bathe the Lord with Pancantra repeating the five-syllable Mantra of Sonanatha. During the two Ayanas (i.e. transits of the Sun) the deity should be bathed with Pancagavya. The rite of bathing with Gavya shall be performed along with the recitation of the six-syllabled Mantra.

During the two equinoxes the bathing rite of the Lord of Arunachala should be devoutly performed with milk repeating Pranava (Om)."
[Page 123, Verses 32-34]