Getting Ready

Deepam 2007

A giant screen will be installed near the ‘Periya Nandhi’ inside Sri Arunachaleswarar Temple to help devotees watch the ‘Karthigai Deepam’ celebrations on November 24, 2007.

After a meeting of officials conducted to review arrangements for the Karthigai Festival, it was announced that the Temple Administration has provided four additional electricity connections at a cost of Rs. 9 lakh. The Subramania Swamy Temple Car has been renovated at a cost of Rs.7.5 lakh and a shelter built near the ‘Kili Gopuram’

at a cost of Rs. 2 lakh. Renovation of the ‘Theerthavari Mandapam’ and the ‘Kalyana Sundareswarar Mandapam’ is under way at a cost of Rs.20 lakh.

The Transport Department has been asked to ensure that there are no problems between drivers of Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation and those of private buses in commencing services after the lighting of the ‘Deepam’ on November 24th, 2007. The Transport Department and the TNSTC have been urged to relax regulations on departure timings. The Department of Fire and Rescue Services are to station a fire engine near the temporary ‘pandals’ and shops in front of the eastern ‘Rajagopuram.’

Heavy rain in Tamil Nadu

October 28, 2007

Most parts of Tamil Nadu received heavy rainfall in the last 24 hours. According to Met officials, the low pressure over the Bay of Bengal has intensified into a depression and has centered at 480 km south-east of Chennai.

It was expected to move in a west, north-westerly direction and cross Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh between Puducherry and Kavali, near Nellore in AP.

Standing paddy crops in the delta region have been submerged in many areas. The Amaravathi dam in Coimbatore district is creating concern and authorities have issued a flood warning, asking people living downstream to move to safer areas. Many lakes and tanks were almost full to the brim after receiving heavy rain. Landslides were also reported in parts of Nilgiri district.

Rain at Tiruvannamalai has been heavy and constant for the last few days. Thankfully no damage has been reported, but we are beginning to wonder exactly when will it stop!?

Visiting Swami Ramanananda

A pleasurable and informative time is always spent when visiting Swami Ramanananda and it takes little to persuade me to stop by and have a chat with him. Although Swami in no way encourages visitors and lives quietly and reclusively off the Hillround Roadway, he is unfailingly courteous and friendly whenever a pilgrim stops by his house. Swami Ramanananda has played a crucial role not only in the renovation and re-popularisation of Adi Annamalai Temple but also in helping the many seekers who find their way to him.

He was born in Burma approximately 70 years ago and when he was around 7 years of age, he returned with his family to India. Swami believes that the foundation of his character and his commitment and focus was established during the period of his schooling at Adayar, Madras (now called Chennai) at the Besant Theosophical High School. Swami recalls the time of Sri Ramana Maharshi’s death on April 14, 1950, as a period that caused great distress to many at the school.

The book introducing Bhagavan to Swami was; “Ramana Maharshi: Path of Self Knowledge,” by Arthur Osborne as it opened his eyes to self-enquiry and convinced him that the discipline of self-enquiry was his allotted spiritual path. Within 3 months of reading the book, Swami was drawn to Arunachala and in 1959 he visited Tiruvannamalai for the first time, staying at Ramana Ashram for 20 days.

Swami recalls, of that first trip, that although he was totally focussed on Ramana Maharshi, the energy was very subtle and he didn’t receive the shakti he had anticipated, so he felt disappointed. Before leaving Bhagavan’s Samadhi, Swami prostrated and asked for Ramana’s blessings by somehow giving him the answer to four questions/doubts he had. That night in the train the young man (later to be Swami Ramanananda) dreamt of Bhagavan as radiating golden light who smilingly answered the questions the despondent pilgrim had put to him at the Samadhi, thus:

(1) You didn’t come, I brought you
(2) This is your path – i.e. Self Enquiry
(3) You are not to be running around here and there
(4) Keep quiet

Swami woke up near Madras and his melancholy state changed to that of joy enabling him to return to his work and duties in North India with a new spirit of confidence.

Swami Ramanananda’s father came to Tiruvannamalai in 1962 as a result of his son’s friendship with Hugo Maier – who was Swami’s best friend and who visited the family in Calcutta. The brother and father of Swami were impressed with Hugo Maier - and the conversations they had with him served to give the family a very positive idea about Ramana and Arunachala.

Swami continued his work as a structural engineer for the British Consortium Braithwaite, Burns and Jessup (BBJ) a Construction Company that constructed; Howrah Bridge in Calcutta, floating docks for the British Admiralty in Bombay, bridge railways and steel factories throughout India. Swami Ramanananda worked for a total of 14 years in the world before renouncing and moving permanently to Arunachala in 1969

Swami took Sannyasin in 1982 at Tiruvannamalai where he was initiated by a Swami from North India. He has never married and lives as a Brahmachari.

Adi Annamalai Temple

The name of this Temple, Adi Annamalai means 'first' or 'ancient' Annamalai (Arunachaleshwarar). Its size is small and it occupies only 1/2 acre in size – compared with the 25-26 acre size of Arunachaleswarar Temple on the Tiruvannamalai side of the Hill. The legend of Adi Annamalai recounts that Brahma, after His dispute with Vishnu about the fiery column, made a lingam and went to the other side of the Hill to worship Shiva. Thus, this lingam is supposed to be the first, ancient and original lingam of Annamalai and hence the name Adi Annamalai.

It is reported that the vision of Arunachala from this Temple is known as Siva Yoga Muka Darshan and the great Siddha Thirumoolar saw this aspect. Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi who used to camp at Adi Annamalai for up to 2-3 nights while performing Giri Valam was reported to have said that while at the Temple he heard the celestial recital of 'Sama Veda'.

In spite of its illustrious history and position as one of the foremost Temples at Arunachala, the Adi Annamalai Temple was sadly neglected in the 20th Century. The last time Adi Annamalai Temple was renovated was during the years 1903-1918 when work was financed by a group of Chettiar devotees. A subsequent Kumbabhishekam was celebrated in 1967; but the puja was neither proper nor performed in the correct way. Since that time no substantial renovation or maintenance work has occurred at this Temple.

Swami Ramanananda (well known in this area) would meditate at Adi Annamalai Temple from between 1988-1992 for up to 4 hours a day. While at the Temple he couldn't fail but notice the whole of it was in a bad condition; there was only meagre lighting as the entire electrical wiring was in a damaged condition and the Temple was full of bats and had a very bad smell. Even though, the Adi Annamalai Temple falls under the aegis of The Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments, at that time, it was not properly maintained. As a result of a near electrocution of an innocent visitor, our Swami became inspired to take action. He found out that the necessary electrical work for the Temple would cost Rs.75,000/-, so went about utilising contacts to raise the amount. Within 6 months money was raised and the work of installing new electrical wiring throughout the Temple completed.

At the electrical inauguration, The Temple Board Deputy Commissioner coincidentally visited Adi Annamalai and while there spoke to Swami saying, "Swami you should now do the full renovation of this Temple and also arrange the subsequent Maha Kumbabhishekam". Swami was perplexed as he had raised Rs.115,000/- for the electrical work and ceremonies but found that the estimate for a full Temple renovation and lavish Maha Kumbabhishekam would come to 30 Lakhs – and there was only Rs.25,000 remaining from the electrical work collection. However after prayful meditation, Swami became convinced that he had the Grace and Blessings of Sri Ramana Maharshi to undertake the work, so went about raising funds and overseeing all renovation and rebuilding work at Adi Annamalai Temple. Ganesha Puja was performed on January 26th, 1993 and in February 7th, 1994 Temple work officially started. The work to be undertaken: wiring, rebuilding crumbling stucco idols at all Towers, new flooring, roof tiled with brick tiles, rooms renovated including all doors and all palanquins (for procession of idols) to be repaired and painted. The entire work took 2½ years to complete and cost approximately the 30 Lakhs that was originally estimated (i.e. U.S.$75,500).

Previously few pilgrims visited Adi Annamalai Temple, however nowadays during Poornima (when about 5 Lakhs visit Tiruvannamalai) about 50,000 pilgrims come to take darshan at Adi Annamalai Temple.

Arunachala Newsletter, November 2007

The November issue of Arunachala Grace News will be sent direct to inboxes within the next few days. If you are not already a subscriber to this Arunachala Newsletter, you can sign up for free at the left hand column of this blog. This month we have the second part of information on Adiannamalai Temple and news on Arunachala Kattu Siva Plantation's efforts to get parts of Arunachala designated a National Park. In this November issue we also describe some of the legends associated with the upcoming Tamil festival of Deepam. As well as poems, Arunachala tidbits, inspiration and a short story about a jewelled begging bowl entitled 'The Sage and the Thief', we also have interesting narratives on the indigenous Peacock and the Bael Tree.

Dung Cakes

As well as for dairy products the cow is highly valued in this country for another of its products i.e. dung! Wherever the cow roams, sooner or later someone will come along and scoop up its dung from the roadway and make patties (as below) to be used as fuel for cooking. As a cow's diet is herbal, the dung's odour is in no way distressing, so don't be too freaked out with these photographs. In the below photograph, this lady is adding wood chippings and/or straw to the dung, shaping them into patties and then sticking them to the wall to dry.

When there is no wall handy, lining the patties up on the roadway also works!

From the old impressions on the wall, this particular spot looks like its a popular place for drying up patties.

The whole wall is covered and the patties will be left there until they are nicely dried-out ready to be used as fuel for cooking. Even when dry, when smouldering, the patties make alot of smoke and although the smell is herbal and aromatic, its definitely not good to be around burning dung cakes if you have asthma or bronchitis.

In the below photograph you can see a basket filled with patties ready to be used to cook the food on this open stove.

Not surprised this lady has chosen to cook outside her home, as the smokey fumes of the cow patties would drive her out quickly if she tried cooking indoors.

An unorthodox sadhu!

On the day of the Saraswati Puja, I bumped into this rather unorthodox sadhu on my way back to the hillround roadway. I have no idea of his background or history but he definitely has some kind of connection with motorbikes - because as well as having a rather remarkable wrist watch, on arriving back on the pradakshina path, he also offered me a lift on his rather massive Harley Davidson motorbike. An unorthodox sadhu indeed!

Lighting of Deepam

This year the lighting of the Deepam flame will be at dusk, November 24th. On that day between 2-3 million pilgrims will travel to Tiruvannamalai to either climb the Hill, perform girivalam around Arunachala or attend one of the numerous functions that will be held at Arunachaleswarar Temple, other Temples, Shrines, Ashrams and Homes. The below video is of the lighting of the Deepam Flame on Arunachala in a previous year.

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Saraswati Puja

Saraswati Puja, the ritual worship of the Goddess is celebrated on the fifth day of the bright fortnight of the Magha month of the Indian calendar, on the day called 'Vasant Panchami'.

Saraswati is the consort of Lord Brahma and is the Goddess of Wisdom and Knowledge. She is the personification of knowledge - arts, science, crafts and represents Shakti, creativity, inspiration and the union of power and intelligence from which organized creation arises.

Puja is performed extensively in Hindu households on the day of Saraswati. One of the most essential aspects of this puja is that one dedicates the instrument of one’s work (gardening implements for a gardener, computer for a programmer, car for a driver etc) to the Goddess on this day.

In this respect I was invited by workers associated with Arunachala Kattu Siva Plantation to their puja which was performed by a priest from Sri Ramana Maharshi at the forest location of the reforestation work of the organisation.

First I have to get there so I take the very beautiful 'inner' mountain path.

Already many of the forestry workers and their families have arrived at the reforestation area, at which place the puja will take place.

Folk are busy preparing the area, and their working implements for the upcoming puja.

And now the puja, which is being performed by a priest from Sri Ramana Ashram, commences.

After a very beautiful worship the puja is completed with the waiving and breaking of a white pumpkin (to ward of evil spirits) and the cracking of a coconut.

Now all that remains is to sit down under a cooling tree and eat some delicious prasad of sundal (spicy garbanzo beans i.e. chick peas) and sweet pongal (rice dessert).

AKSP

The Arunachala Kattu Siva Plantation (AKSP) refers to a group of local persons engaged on restoration of forest on the western end of Arunachala in the area stretching from below the peak above Kattu Siva Thirthum on the inner path route to the end of the hill slopes at the feet of Siva.

The indelibly stated aims of its work are as follows:

1. To regenerate our artesian basins by reforesting Arunachala hillock in co-operation with natural processes, preserving diversity in genetic, soil and water sources;

2. To gradually re-structure the contours of the hill from Kattu Siva to Vediyappan on all sides in order to maximize water conservation;

3. To take responsibility for plantation, maintenance and protection of forest growth in a sustainable manner;

4. To nurture seedlings for plantation in our own nursery for a wide variety of species particularly indigenous;

5. To extend our knowledge of all aspects of ecological management within our organically functioning group;

6. To include supervisors of our working group in discussions about planning and management and enable workers to extend their experience and expertise in training, encouraging their work towards stable empowerment and self determination.

We are over-ripe for some of our group to go away for further training. This requires additional funds: funding which I invite you to consider since the further education of Green Workers creates ripples of influence far into the community, perhaps more pervasive and more truly beneficial than any other form of contribution.

Land to be used for new Plant Nursery

We have also been offered an acre of land adjacent to our area on the other side of the hill for developing a nursery (see above photo). This is a great boon to us. We will need to raise funds for the fencing of the land and the sinking of a bore down the well since the water table has diminished so much in recent years. These are the most urgent foundational needs.

Aspect of Hill

There is a photo for you to see the aspect of the hill from this land. We shall begin rock work on this side of the hill during the coming dry months of summer so we would like to establish a vermiculture system as soon as possible so that we can improve the soil up on these degraded slopes.

Spreading Vermiculture

Now we have seasonal workers digging pits up on the slopes, adding vermiculture to improve the eroded soil up there and the women have the arduous task of carrying water to drought threatened trees. We are somewhat impatiently waiting for the second rains so that we can plant but a heavy nocturnal cloud hangs over our whole area making nights much cooler than is normal while the days are March to April days, which doesn't augur well for rain. However Deepam is coming up soon and it almost always rains then.

Apeetha Arunagiri

The Deed of the Trust will be registered by November 5th. Once we have our Registration Number we can open a new bank account. Until that time, to remit donations please contact apeetha@hotkey.net.au to learn how funds can be sent by cheque or money order, or by electronic transfer. Please visit us at our website to find out more about the Arunachala Kattu Siva Plantation. With Thanks. Apeetha Arunagiri.

Love that Watermelon!

Put down this watermelon on the compound floor (no dogs allowed) so this rather nice Bonnet Macaque monkey could have a nice snack.

He definitely is a smart fellow as immediately he got the watermelon he went off to find himeself a safe place to tuck into the fruit.

Slowly, elegantly and with every sign of enjoying his undisturbed snack, our Bonnet Macaque monkey finished off the watermelon before any of his 'tribe' appeared on the scene!

U.S. College Visit

St. Olaf a liberal arts College of the Lutheran Church located in Northfield, Minnesota, USA., is comprised of some 3,000 students representing 45 US States and 18 foreign countries. It is a College that inspires students to act on intellectual and ethical ideas to better the world at home and abroad. The students’ time in India is concentrated on lectures, discussions and field trips to facilitate a better understanding of the history, traditions and contemporary practices of religious expression in this country.

For the last 39 years St. Olaf College has offered a Global Semester comprising a five-month academic program offering five courses in different parts of the world. This year’s group of 28 students, 2 supervising faculty members and their teenage son are undertaking a global trip taking the group on visits to Switzerland (the United Nations Headquarters in Geneva), Egypt, India, Thailand, Hong Kong, China and South Korea.

Arrival of the student group to Quo Vadis

The travelling group, currently in the midst of its India Trip, was hosted by Quo Vadis Interfaith Dialogue Center and the Arcot Lutheran Church (ALC) on October 18th and 19th at Tiruvannamalai, Tamil Nadu. On the first day of their visit the students performed Arunachala Girivalam on four brightly decorated bullock carts, lunched at ALC Lebanon Compound, visited Arunachaleswarar Temple where a special puja was performed on their behalf, toured Ramana Ashram and enjoyed a cultural programme and dinner at the newly inaugurated Quo Vadis Inter Faith Dialogue Center. On Friday, 19th October, the group participated in a walking meditation on Arunachala Hill before leaving Tiruvannamalai for a short visit to the ALC at Cuddalore, Tamil Nadu. After the group’s Tamil Nadu itinerary is complete they will return to resume their study course at the Ecumenical Christian Centre, Bangalore (Whitfield).

The students on the girivalam bullock ride through Tiruvannamalai

After India, the group head towards Thailand for a week’s vacation before continuing their Global Semester in Hong Kong, mainland China and Korea before returning to the U.S. around January 25th, 2008.

Mini-buses for Girivalam pilgrims

The Annamalayar Temple administration is planning to operate two 35-seater buses for Girivalam pilgrims. The buses will start from the Alankara Mandapam and are expected to be utilised by pilgrims, who cannot walk the 14km stretch along the Girivalam path. A guide or a member of the Temple staff will be present on every bus to explain to pilgrims important temples, lingams and theerthams, situated along the Girivalam path. The buses will not operate Girivalam tours on Pournami days due to heavy crowds.

Financial Inter-dependence

The following report appeared in Tamil Nadu papers on October 10th giving information about some of the consequences of the changing rate of the rupee against the dollar and how it is affecting industry and employment in South India:

“It has been a virtual mayhem in select sectors due to the hardening of the rupee against the dollar, and all these sectors have been traditionally high export revenue grossers.

The knitwear industry in Tirupur in Coimbatore, which put the country on the international map long before IT and ITES became the buzzwords, is in severe crisis, and faces the possibility of nearly 100,000 people losing their jobs. Another 40,000 are facing threat of being laid off in the granite industry. The powerloom sector and the cotton yarn industry are also in a tailspin, as rupee appreciation has resulted in fewer export orders, and lesser margins.

The knitwear industry, which had grossed Rs 10,000 crore in exports last year, will find it difficult to maintain the 20% growth rate it has been clocking the past few years. “The situation is really alarming. We should be lucky if we even manage a 5% growth this year,” says the president of Tiruppur Exporters Association. Of the total workforce of about 400,000 in the industry, the cut-back in the orders has already led to 7,000 jobs lost, and unless there is a dramatic turnaround the figure could easily climb to 100,000 by the end of the year.

If knitwear is concentrated mainly in Tirupur, the effect on granite industry covers a much larger geographical area. The industry employs around 100,000 people, most of them in the quarries in Districts like Tiruvannamalai, Madurai, Dharmapuri, Krishnagiri, Salem and Tiruchy. The State accounts for nearly 40% of the country’s total export of Rs 4,450 crore.

Though the industry had shown a steady export growth (last fiscal it was 40%), this year the target was scaled down to 25-30%, and now further downsized to 5-10%, as about half of the 120 export units are already experiencing serious losses. According to industry sources, the margins, which used to be between 3-10%, have now shriveled to nil or even negative in many cases. The demand of the exporters for an upward revision of prices by about 5% has been met with resistance by the importers, who find the cost of import from China competitive.

More seriously affected is the powerloom sector, where Tamil Nadu accounts for almost 65% of exporting units. According to the Chairman of the Powerloom Development and Export Promotion Council, already 3,000,000 people have been rendered jobless throughout the country due to the crisis in the industry. Just six months ago, the exporters were getting a margin of 10%, but are now facing losses as high as 5%. Moreover, orders are also moving off to China and Bangladesh, whose currencies have weakened against the dollar. The litany is almost similar in the textile industry, where the bottomline of cotton yarn exporters has been severely dented.”

My Kids

For absolutely no reason other than these little angels are my pride and joy, here is my family.

Three brothers (left to right; Casper, Oscar, Wally) with matching jaunty, genetically flawed left floppy ears, that make them look like they have just returned from a night on the town. The little princess (green collar) in the front, is Holly.

The newest addition to our family is Muffin, a labrador type (?), who spends his days following and grovelling at the feet (paws!?) of the little princess Holly.

Swimming - a Poem

Swimming
[by Stephanie Sharon]

I am the ocean
That can only be itself.
Deep, ever present,
With waves that have no destination or purpose.
Dive deep and drown in my sacred water.
Leave your memory on the shore...
It serves no useful purpose.

Stripped naked of concepts,
My current will dissolve whatever's left of you.
So what if you've never been a swimmer?
Trust in your own buoyancy.
But be careful not to rest long in it
Or claim it as an achievement.
Just let yourself finally drown
And fulfill your human purpose.

What use has this sense of "I" ever been to you
Except to create the illusion of separation?
In truth, you've always been submerged in my ebb and flow,
Dreaming of the further shore.

Some try to describe me as everything.
Others claim I'm nothingness.
Don't believe a word of it, it's all hearsay.
Find out for yourself. Seek your own origin.
Beyond the womb of your barren mother,
Transcending all holy books and rumors of time.

Don't believe anything you can see
But trust everything you can feel
That can't be linked to words.
Celebrate your death
For I am the ocean
That can only be itself.

Swami Ramanananda

The photograph is of Swami Ramanananda which I took during a recent visit to his peaceful home near Arunachala Hill. During our interesting chat Swami made the interesting remark, “The current T.V. style of approach to spirituality in India has undermined and lowered the spiritual relationship even at the village level as everything is being touted by the media for a mass market consumption.”

Swami also mentioned that a well connected visitor from Kanchipuram once told him of a remark that the (now deceased) Shankaracharya Saraswati Chandrasekhar was believed to have made:

“Tiruvannamalai is going to become a Universal Centre of spirituality comprising all the faiths of the world.”

Seethamma

I recently attended the 11th day ceremony of transition after death of Seethamma, a widow from Gajulanka Village, Palakullu, Andhra Pradesh. Her husband died in 2005 and left her with 3 grown children, a son and two daughters. Seethamma was a devotee of Ramana Maharshi and Sri Nannagaru and dedicated the later part of her life in service to the Guru and studying the teachings laid down in his words and speeches.

Although I never spent personal time with Seethamma, I often noticed her at both Ramana Ashram and Sri Nannagaru Ashram and it was inspirational to see the joy she obviously received in dedicating her life to the Guru.

So, in a way it was interesting that I happened by the transition ceremony which was held at Siva Sannadhi, where I was welcomed to celebrate Seethamma’s passing by partaking of a nice, tasty lunch.


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Information about death and the ceremonies surrounding it:


"Death is not treated as a mystery or entirely unwelcome like other cultures, as long as it is not a premature death (death of a child, accident, or suicide). When a Hindu has performed his/her duties; meaning got their children educated and married, seen a few grand kids, has made a pilgrimage to a holy place etc., in some circles, they are even jovial about death saying, "I am waiting for death", “When is my turn?” There is a firm belief that if one has done what is expected of them, it is time go to the feet of God, the Supreme-being. So when a Hindu has completed his/her task he/she sees the fruits of their labour and can be satisfied in knowing that everything is taken care. This is due to the fact that the majority of Hindus live in joint families; where grandparents, children, and grandkids all live together. Another reason for openness about death is that joint family means elderly people are rarely alone and are reasonably taken care of removing any anxiety about incapacitation, loneliness, and fragility.

After the cremation the actual grieving process begins. Hindu bereavement process various in length from anywhere up to 16 days from the occurrence of the physiological death. During this time the family is in mourning and is considered to be non-auspicious (dirty). Men don’t shave; women wear plain (non-coloured) cloths and don’t put on make-up or wear excessive jewellery. There is unspoken sadness and quietness settles in. There will be no celebrations unless and otherwise it had been pre-planned and can’t be cancelled like a wedding or was the wish of the deceased. Family never visits others. Depending upon the caste/social system the amount of rituals performed can vary from 3 days to 16 days. Upper caste and usually well-do-to people tend to carry out all the rituals and others do restricted versions of it.

Depending on the arrangement of the individual family the transition period is marked by friends and relatives gathering for a cleansing/thanksgiving ceremony, inclusive of food.

The person who has died occupies a revered position in the family. It is very common to see pictures or photos of them decked with flowers and garlands. The pictures are positioned besides favourite gods and goddess. There is a belief that if one doesn’t do all the rituals properly ill could come to the family. Children and grand children routinely pray to the deceased and are expected to get good fortunes from them. In one sense the perceived presence of deceased person makes everyone feel that they have never left. It is also customary to name a child born immediately after the death after the name of the deceased.”

[V. Narayanan]