A Yellow Tin Boat

Went to one of the fishermans bamboo hut this morning to ask if I could take a photo of his boat. Here it is. And yes indeed it looks like an upside down hard hat seen on construction sites. There is no seat or place for a paddle in the saucer, so the fisherman needs to stay dead centre and either stand (carefully) or squat in the middle of the boat. Whilst I was next to the vessel I rapped the sides with my knuckles a couple of times, and the boat is indeed some kind of metal!

Fisherman out on the Lake

This is part of the watery Samudra Lake from which the water has not yet receded. You will notice a fisherman out in his yellow, circular boat - rather like a metal plate with edges. The lake was stocked with fish at the beginning of the season and now harvesting will continue until stocks are depleted.

If you look at the back of the photograph you will notice the different colour vegetation - which is a tide mark of the original water line. As you can see the water level was considerably higher at its peak.

Morning view of Arunachala

This is an interesting shot taken around 7 a.m. this morning from what, a couple of months ago, was part of a flooded lake. The end of the monsoon season and the hot summer days are quickly drying out the 500 acre lake. However, for the first time in over 20 years, part of the lake will not have dried out by the start of the next monsoon season. Usually by this time of year, the whole reservoir area is waterless.

The primary vegetation is a sort of thorny bush. The bush, which is planted purposely, is hardy in both flood and extreme heat. The root system of the thorny bush is helpful in holding the soil together as the earth has a high clay content which when wet makes the area like a bogland.

Phases of the Moon

The phases of the moon are caused by the relative positions of the earth, sun, and moon. The moon goes around the earth, on average, in 27 days 7 hours 43 minutes. In the case of February it is possible to have a moon with NO moon. When a month has two moons, the second moon is called a, blue moon.

The sun always illuminates the half of the moon facing the sun (except during lunar eclipses, when the moon passes through the earth's shadow). When the sun and moon are on opposite sides of the earth, the moon appears full to us, a bright, round disk. When the moon is between the earth and the sun, it appears dark, a new moon. In between, the moons illuminated surface appears to grow (wax) to full, then decreases (wanes) to the next new moon.

The edge of the shadow (the terminator) is always curved, being an oblique view of a circle, giving the moon its familiar crescent shape. Because the horns of the moon at the ends of the crescent are always facing away from the setting or rising sun, they always point upward in the sky.

Facts about the Moon

Only 59% of the moon's surface is visible from earth.

Its surface area is 9.4 million acres (about 1/4 of Earth.)

Moon is not a planet, but a satellite of the Earth.

It rotates at 10 miles per hour (compared to earth's 1000 miles per hour).

One side always faces Earth.

It has no global magnetic field.

The moon has no wind, light, or water.

Importance of Moon at Arunachala

The moon (which has extraordinary relevance to Arunachala) is a powerful influence on the human psyche. This influence is celebrated in disparate ways during both Sivaratri and Poornima.

Each month there is Sivaratri and once a year Mahasivaratri. These times correspond to the phase of the moons cycle at its weakest. At these times its believed that the mind (which is adversely affected by the power of the moon) is less susceptible to low, animalistic forces and thus more tractable to the power of meditation.

Thus, Mahasivaratri (maha=great) is the one 24-hour period in the year which is of greatest benefit of all. It has been stated in the scriptures that if a man fasts, stays awake and meditates for the whole of Mahasivaratri, it will give him his best chance to achieve mastery of the mind and attain liberation.

Each year the number of pilgrims coming to walk around Arunachala during Mahasivaratri increases, but the numbers are nothing compared to the crowds coming to Arunachala for Poornima (Full Moon).

Poornima is the celebration of Full Moon and is believed to be the most auspicious for devotees to do circumambulation of Arunachala. Whereas the nights of Siva are usually associated with mastery of the mind and success of spiritual ambitions, Poornima is more about success of ALL heartfelt prayers whether spiritual or worldly.

Fish Farming at Arunachala

During this 2005-2006 season due to heavy rain and resultant high water levels, Fish Farming Permits were given to designated fishermen to populate water reservoirs and lakes at Arunachala. The primary fish used for this being a variety popular in Tamil Nadu known as Katalal Viralil. When fully grown these local fish weigh in at around 3-5 kgs.

This season was the first in five years that Fish Farming Licenses were issued. The Government joined with fishing folk in this venture as fifty per cent partners.

Water Birds

Even though (because of the hot summer weather), the water levels of natural reservoirs, canals and lakes are daily receding, there is still sufficient water to provide home and good feeding to flocks of visiting water birds.

Such birds as the pond heron (paddy bird), cattle egret, golden oriole, blue jay, kingfisher, white egret, cormorant, and pin tail duck have been observed in great numbers

Is local best?

I have some ecological questions that I am trying to get answered. I am thinking now of the lessons learnt about the havoc caused by the import of non-indigenous animals and plants into countries like Australia: e.g. the consequences and ecological disruption of introducing cats etc into Australia.

So, my question is what about all the non-indigenous plants that are being currently introduced into the Tiruvannamalai area. Is anybody considering the possible consequences to the indigenous ecology of introducing trees (e.g. eucalyptus) and plants into the local eco system?

Eager to check out exactly what trees, plants and shrubs are being used to repopulate Arunachala. More on this as information comes in.

Visit of Sri Nannagaru

On May 23, Sri Nannagaru arrived at Arunachala for a weeks stay. During his visit he will be often available for satsang in the mornings and evenings. His Ashram, Sri Nannagaru Ashram, is located at Rajiv Gandhi Nagar; about 2kms west of Ramana Ashram.

Sri Nannagaru is from Jinnuru, Andhra Pradesh and realised over 40 years ago whilst at Arunachala. Although he did not actually get to meet Ramana Maharshi, Sri Nannagaru took him as his Guru in 1957; and thereafter looked upon Arunachala-Ramana as his Satguru.

His teachings are primarily based upon Self Enquiry, Devotion and Surrender and although most of his satsangs are conducted in silence, he is readily available to answer doubts or pressing questions from visitors and devotees.

More can be found about him at his website:

www.srinannagaru.com

Getting colder and wetter

This is the mildest summer we have had at Arunachala in many years. Although admittedly it is still quite toasty, the average daytime temperature this past week, the supposedly hottest time of the year, has been only 34.8c (94f) with the night temperature averaging 25.5c (78.4f). Compare this to previous April and May statistics (the hottest months of the year) when temperatures regularly soared above the 40c (108.75f) mark.

This temperature deficiency combined to the fact that the last monsoon season was the wettest in 20 years, raises a lot of disturbing questions. Is it getting colder and wetter in this part of Tamil Nadu? What difference will this make to agriculture in the area? Last year a lot of indigenous crops like banana got devastated because of excess rain and little sunshine.

So, are we now experiencing the affects of the change in global weather here at Arunachala? And if we are, how will it affect the lives and agricultural traditions of the local folk?

Recommended Arunachala Website

For in depth information about Arunachala please check out our related website at www.arunachalasamudra.org

The website is currently online however a new website is being developed which will replace the current site around the end of July. The speed of the development and construction of the new site depends on availability of funding. More information will follow shortly.

South is Best

Yogi Ramsuratkumar would often counsel serious spiritual sadhakas that it was more advantageous to reside on the South Side of Arunachala. On several different occasions when he was approached for blessings to purchase land on the North Side of Arunachala. He remarked; That is too far away. Stay south. And stay near the Ashram.

When it came time to build his own Ashram, several pieces of land were offered to him from which to select, but it was land almost directly south and within half a kilometre of the base of Arunachala that he selected.

Arunachala

This is a satellite shot of Arunachala rising up with an elevation of 2669 feet (800m).

Though devoid of vegetation the hill stands in prominence amidst picturesque surroundings and is visible for miles around. This hill is of Igneous rock (connected with fire) which is one of the four kinds of mountains classified by geology. An American Geologist stated:-

"Arunachala could have been thrown up by the earth under the stress of some violent volcanic eruption in the dim ages before even the coal-bearing strata were formed."

Mt. Shasta

Mt Shasta which has often been compared to Arunachala is located at the northern extremity of the Sierra Nevada Mountain range, Siskiyou County, Northern California. The mountain which is the cone of an extinct volcano rising to a height of over 14,380 feet above sea level, is the largest volcanic peak in the continental United States.

Mt Shasta is regarded as a special, mystic power source. For some too it is the focus for angels, spirits, spaceships, and the Lemurians. Strange lights, clouds, shadows and sunsets add to the mystical aura of the mountain.

Yogi Ramsuratkumars House

Yesterday I visited the house of the famous (now deceased) saint Yogi Ramsuratkumar.

The house, which is daily open to the public, is located on Sannidhi Street near the Arunachaleswarar Temple, and styled in an old fashioned Indian way with veranda, lots of small rooms leading into one another and a bathroom located in an outside courtyard. The house which is surprisingly large and kept in wonderful condition also contains the original furniture preserved under glass.

Yogi kept his personal and household items, such as old clothes, newspapers, coconut shells, and bedroll all stored in gunny sacks. Many of these stuffed gunny sacks remain at the Sannidhi House, stacked lovingly one upon the other and almost overflowing out of each room.

Those who knew Yogi Ramsuratkumar remember how enigmatic his appearance was, long before his madness was broadly accepted as coming from a divine source. He looked like nothing more than a crazy beggar with bizarre behaviour, wandering around and living totally outside the norms of Indian society.

He was a colourful figure who used to wear whatever clothes he was given, covering himself with two to seven woollen shawls wrapt round his body and a colourful turban over his hair. He wore his clothes till they were dirty and ragged, neither washing or changing and only rarely bathing his body. Even though he smoked, most noticed only the fragrance of sandalwood or roses, emanating from his body.

His pockets would be stuffed with objects: papers, stones, old cigarette boxes, all kind of things destined to be carefully placed at some specific point with intent and reasons known to him alone, and sometimes later picked up, when its function had been fulfilled.

For a long time people were put off by his strange behavior and appearance. But a few saw the Divinity emanating from this strange looking form, or felt the silent vastness of consciousness and tenderness of heart. Some came with troubles and worries, and sitting in his presence, felt their burdens and problems disappear and replaced by a wordless peace and equanimity.

Yogi Ramsuratkumar always refused credit, saying:

'This beggar wandering here and there, tired of wandering but having no home; Arunachalesvara, in the form of this hill, had mercy on this miserable sinner. So he gives thanks, a thousand thanks, to this holy hill, this holy temple. Oh, the magnanimity of the Lord! He has given me shelter for twenty long years. Whereas others who come are enabled to stay only days or weeks . . . For thousands of years the hill has given shelter to so many dirty sinners like me and Arunachala will give us shelter for thousand of years to come.'

For indepth information about this saint please check link at: http://www.arunachalasamudra.org/yogiram.html

It's getting busy!

Many times I have heard regular visitors to Arunachala get irritated at the larger and larger crowds that seem to be turning up at Arunachala. In ten years everything has changed and whereas on a full moon night those days you may have met up with 20-30 people on the pradakshina path; nowadays that number will more like 100,000+.

Different saints have reported at various times that 'this is just the beginning', 'Arunachala will be the busiest and most famous pilgrimage site in India', and 'Arunachala will be the Rishikesh of South India'. Well, yes there certainly seem to be more saints, sadhus and the like getting ashrams and such places built.

But from my perspective it all seems very much like more of the same i.e. advaita based satsang and dissertations on self enquiry and surrender. What I wonder is how long will it be before more holistic and varied disciplines are attracted to Arunachala? Is the lack of such interested people because Arunachala previously seemed to be attracting the 'intellectual' type; those working from the head rather than the heart?

It is a fascinating subject and am looking forward to hearing other people on this.

The Arunachala Connection

According to the occultist Kenneth Grant, Arunachala constitutes the most powerful concentration of spiritual energy on the planet. From the ancient Hindu scripture The Skanda Purana we have these verses:

Arunachala is the most sacred holy place of all. It is the heart of the world. Know it to be the secret and sacred heart-centre of the God Shiva. Meditate then that in the Heart of Arunachala surges the spirit glory, within which is contained all the worlds. I ordain that residence within a circle of thirty miles of this Mountain shall alone suffice to burn off all defects and blend a person with the Supreme Spirit.

In spite of the undoubted majesty of Arunachala many comparisons and similarities have been ascribed to other sacred sites around the world.

Mt Tamalpais
Mt Tamalpais in Marin County, California, (U.S), has sometimes been referred to as a physical and geographic mirror-image and spiritual counterpart of Arunachala. Stones from Arunachala have actually been placed on Mt. Tamalpais as many saints have claimed throughout the ages that walking around Arunachala is highly efficacious for Self-Realization.

Mt Shasta
American Indians believed that Mt. Shasta was of such immense grandeur that its existence could only be attributed to the Great Spirit. They also believed that an invisible race of little people lived on its slopes as guardians. If you tried to climb the mountain and were found to be an unworthy person, they would throw you off to your death! They also have legends of Bigfoot and other mysterious beings and forces connected with the mountain.

This tallies to many of the myths associated with Arunachala. That brilliant lights, which seem to be under intelligent control, are sometimes seen to sail about Arunachala. Legend also states that there lies a city inside the mountain which is inhabited by yogic adepts. Upon death if you are not quite high enough to merge with the Supreme Spirit then you might at least go to live inside Arunachala. The adepts from inside Arunachala can change their shape to any human or animal form and travel incognito in the outside world. This is similar to the stories about the Lemurians from Mt. Shasta.

Machu Picchu Mountain
Ramana Maharshi said that as Arunachala was the top of the spiritual axis of the earth that there had to be another mountain corresponding to it at the opposite side of the globe. Major Chadwick writes:

He used to say that Arunachala was the top of the spiritual axis of the earth. There must, he said, be another mountain corresponding to Arunachala at exactly the opposite side of the globe, the corresponding pole of the axis. So certain was he of this that one evening he made me fetch an atlas and see if this was not correct. I found, according to the atlas, (that) the exact opposite point came in the sea about a hundred miles off the coast of Peru. He seemed doubtful about this. I pointed out there might be some island at this spot or a mountain under the sea.

The closest known power site which would nearly be in an opposite position to Arunachala is Machu Picchu. It was thought that the city represents an immense mystery of the Inca civilisation and that Machu Picchu Mountain was known as sacred to the Incas from ancient times. There are also parallels between the Machu Picchu site and the Shakti culture as the Incas worshipped Machu Picchu as the manifestation of the Divine Mother. It has been stated that:

On the psychic plane, multiple individuals with siddhic/occult capacities have separately asserted on visiting Machu Picchu that the city is a place where the feminine aspect of the Universe is especially palpable.

In conclusion we are possibly confronting here a dual pair of balancing opposites i.e. Shakti, Machu Picchu and Siva, Arunachala.

Mount Tamalpais

It is believed that Tamalpais is a Miwok Indian term; Tamal, meaning bay, and pais meaning mountain. Mount Tamalpais is not an extinct volcano but is made mostly of tourmaline hornfels; very hard and unusual rock formations. Mount Tamalpais is 2,604 feet high and is growing by four feet per century.

Machu Picchu

"Be advised that I, being free, do not have to pay tribute to anyone, nor do I believe there is a king greater than I. ..."

Inca Atahuallpa's answer
to Spanish forces led by Wicente Valverde,

Aspects of Arunachala

Further on the subject of power spots and sacred places.

It has often been believed that the cardinal directions of Arunachala correspond to certain qualities. The South is meant to be the most conducive for a spiritual life, the north for healing, the east for commerce and successful business enterprises and the west for strong earthly energetic influences.

After Ramana Maharshis mother Alagammal died on May 19th, 1922, Ramana would often walk from Skandashram to her tomb, which was located on the banks of Pali Tirtham, a tank at the foot of the southern slope of Arunachala. Incidentally it was at that point of time that the Maharshi came down permanently from Skandashram to settle at the base of the Hill.

Coincidentally the spot that Ramana spontaneously selected for the shrine of his deceased Mother, was at a site which is almost directly South of the Hill. One could further say that it is no coincidence that most of the Ashrams and residences of holy personages and saints are also located South of Arunachala.

Ancients, who perhaps had a stronger more developed connection with planetary and other worldly influences, further designated that the 8 lingams surrounding Arunachala each represent a particularised aspect of the Divine.

Indra Lingam (East) installed by Lord Indira, the king of Celestials, benefits long life and fame

Agni Lingam (South East) installed by Lord Agni, the God of Fire, benefits relief from diseases and fear

Yama Lingam (South) installed by Yama, the God of Death, benefits longevity of life span,

Niruthi Lingam (South West) installed by Niruthi, the King of Giants, benefits health, wealth and fame. Issueless can get children.

Varuna Lingam (West) installed by Varuna, the God of Rain, benefits relief from illness especially water related diseases.

Vayu Lingam (North West) installed by Vayu, the God of Air, gives relief from illness especially heart diseases, breathing and stomach problem

Kubera Lingam (North) Kubera, the God of Wealth, gives success with the Guru, wealth and improvement in life status

Easanya Lingam (North East) Easanyan gives peace of mind

Impact of Sacred Sites

What follows is something I read today that perfectly expresses the impact of sacred sites upon the human psyche.

'There is a presence or numinosity (a spiritual elevation) at sacred sites that account for the extraordinary - and often miraculous - experiences that human beings have on pilgrimage. This presence may be described as a field of energy, a spiritual ambiance, or a density of holiness that saturates and surrounds the sacred sites. When humans enter into these fields, they may experience a variety of physical, mental, emotional and spiritual effects. Which of course begs the question: How may we explain or account for these mysterious energy fields? What factors contribute to their presence and powers?

What Makes a Place Sacred?

There are distinct factors that contribute to the localized energy fields of sacred sites. Those can be divided into three main categories: influences of the Earth; influences of the structures that humans have built at the sacred sites; and influences caused by the accumulated power of focused human intention.

The first main category Earth influences relates to the geophysical characteristics of the sacred sites, including localized magnetism, radioactivity, geothermal activity, the presence of underground water, ionization, and ultrasound. The aesthetic qualities of the sacred sites can also be included in this category. Beautiful and unusual surroundings have always had transformative effects on humans.

The second category of factors contributing to the power of sacred sites concerns the design, construction, and ornamentation of the structures that humans have placed there. A particularly fascinating example is the sacred geometry used in the construction of the temples, mosques and cathedrals at certain locations; ancient people, deeply observant of the mathematically repeating patterns of nature, sought to encode those patterns and proportions in the architecture they created at the sacred sites. Similar to how mathematically precise shapes of musical instruments create specific sounds, the purposeful shapes of sacred structures assist in generating specific fields of energy and influence. Contributing to and amplifying these fields of influence, ancient architects and craftsman also used sound, light, aromatic substances, jewel-encrusted icons, and mineral-plated sculpture.

A third factor contributing to the potency of the sacred sites is the concentrated power of human intention. As photographic film records the energy of light and audio tapes record the energy of sound, the Earth itself can record the energy and intention of the millions of humans who have visited a sacred site. Within the shrines and sanctuaries, priests, priestesses, and pilgrims have gathered for thousands of years; their dancing, chanting and praying have continuously charged the fields with love and peace, healing and divinity. The megalithic stone rings, healing springs, sacred mountains, Mayan temples, Gothic cathedrals, and Egyptian pyramids are repositories of the concentrated spiritual aspirations and attainments of humanity. Here, too, are the places where Buddha, Jesus, Mohammed, and other sages and shamans awakened to the deepest realizations of spiritual wisdom.

It is highly beneficial for people to make pilgrimages to sacred sites as these legendary places have the mysterious capacity to awaken and catalyze within us compassion, wisdom, peace of mind, and respect for the Earth.'