Role of Siva-Sakti

“In the role of Siva’s sakti, Parvati performs functions, or assumes meanings, which imply an underlying harmony or interdependent relationship between herself and Siva. She is often identified with the force underlying and impelling creation. While Siva remains more or less aloof in the creation of the world. Parvati as sakti is active, pervading the creation as its underlying strength and power. In this active, creative role she is sometimes identified with prakrti (nature), whereas Siva is identified with purusa (pure spirit).

As prakrti, Parvati presents the inherent tendency of nature to express itself in concrete forms and individual beings. In this task, however, whether as sakti or prakrti, it is understand that Parvati either must be set in motion by Siva or must act according to his will, wish, or design. She is not seen as antagonistic to him. Her role as his sakti is almost always interpreted as positive.

Through Parvati, Siva (the Absolute) is able to express himself in creation. Without her he would remain inert, aloof, inactive. Just as in the mythology Parvati is necessary for involving Siva in creation, so as his Sakti she is necessary for his self-expression in creation. It is only in association with her that Siva is able to realize or manifest his full potential. Without Parvati Siva’s great power does not, or cannot, manifest itself in creation. Parvati as sakti not only complements Siva, she completes him.

A variety of images and metaphors are used to express the harmonious interdependence and close identity of Parvati as sakti and Siva as saktiman, the possessor of sakti.

Siva is said to be the male principle throughout creation, Parvati the female principle,
Siva is the sky, Parvati the earth,
Siva is subject, Parvati object,
Siva is the ocean, Parvati the seashore,
Siva is the sun, Parvati, its light,
Parvati is all tastes and smells, Siva the enjoyer of all tastes and smells,
Parvati is the embodiment of all individual souls, Siva the soul itself,
Parvati assumes every form that is worthy to be thought of, Siva thinks of all such forms,
Siva is day, Parvati night,
Parvati is creation, Siva the creator,
Parvati is speech, Siva meaning.

To an even greater extent than the Siva-sakti idea, the androgynous image of Siva and Parvati (Ardhanarisvara) emphasizes that the two deities are absolutely necessary to each other, and only in union can they satisfy each other and fulfill themselves. The image shows a half-male, half-female figure. The right side is Siva and is adorned with his ornaments, the left side is Parvati and adorned with her ornaments. God in this unification of the opposites; is both; male and female, both father and mother, both aloof and active, and both fearsome and gentle.”

[With thanks to David Kinsley]

Tiru Neelakanta Nayanar

In Chidambaram, there once lived an ardent devotee of Lord Siva. He was a potter and leading an ideal household life. He had the highest regard for devotees of Lord Siva and made beautiful begging bowls of clay and offered them free to the devotees. Siva, in His aspect of Neelakanta (blue-throated one) was his sole refuge and prop.


In spite of the potter's virtuous qualities, once he fell a victim to lust. One day, he visited the house of a prostitute. When he returned home, his dutiful and pious wife understood this. Although she did not show her irritation and continued to serve him; she decided from then on not to have relations with him. One day, as her husband approached her with passion, she took an oath and said: ‘In the name of Neelakanta, I ask you: do not touch us.’ Though she only meant herself, she had used the word 'us. Since she took the Name of the Lord and since she had used the word 'us', Neelakanta Nayanar decided that from that day he would not touch any woman in the world. Years rolled by and they had grown old.


In the guise of a Yogi the Lord came to Tiru Neelakanta’s house. The Yogi gave him a begging bowl to keep in his safe custody and left the place. After a long time, the Lord returned to the house in the guise of the Yogi and asked for the bowl’s return which by the power of his Maya, he had caused to disappear from the house. Neelakanta searched for it, but could not find it. It was a mystery to him. He was ashamed of himself. Trembling with fear, he fell at the Yogi’s feet and said that he could not find it. At this, the Yogi got very angry and accused Neelakanta, calling him a thief and cheat.

The Yogi demanded that if he was innocent he should say so on oath while holding his wife’s hand. When Nayanar, who had resolved, in the name of the Lord, not to touch a woman anyone, declined, the Yogi pretended to attribute his unwillingness to the fact that he had been guilty of theft. They went to the court. The Brahmins heard the case. Neelakanta could no longer hide the secret relationship that existed between him and his wife, and so, related the whole story to the court.


After this narration, Neelakanta and his wife caught hold of the two ends of a stick and took a dip in the tank. As they emerged from the water, they shone with youth and beauty. The Yogi disappeared and Lord Siva and Goddess Parvati appeared in the sky, blessing all of them. The Lord said: ‘Due to the merit of having lived a life of self-control and devotion, you will live in My Eternal Abode, forever youthful.’ The Lord thus revealed the glory of supreme devotion to Him, and the power and purity of a saint’s virtue.

Message of the Nayanars

“There have been many ‘intellectuals’ even in India who have looked down upon the path of Bhakti (devotion) as something inferior to Jnana (wisdom). Their short-sightedness becomes at once apparent when we study the lives of the great Four Teachers (Appar, Sundarar, Manickavachagar and Sambandar) and realise that these great Jnanis, too, were great Bhaktas who loved to visit Temples and sing the glories of the Lord.

Love of the Lord cuts at the very root of our attachment to this world, and snaps all worldly ties, to father, mother, son, wife or relatives. As the stories of the Nayanars illustrate, the devotee is ever ready to renounce all, in favour of devotion to Lord Siva.

Let us also never forget that in the case of all the Nayanars devotion invariably meant expansion of the heart, and, therefore, service and charity. We have to take the individual tales of the Nayanars as allegories exhorting us to rout out the inner obstacles to our Sadhana.

If we approach these saints with faith and devotion in our hearts, we shall grasp the message they have for us. We shall also understand why they gave such a great place to externals like the sacred ash, Rudraksha, etc. These symbols remind one constantly of God: and, when they are said to remove our sins, they remove our sinful tendencies, too, by constantly reminding us of God, and keeping evil out of our mind.”

[Venkatesananda – Abridged]

Roaming

I started off my roaming by having tiffin at a hotel on Sannidhi Street. The walls of the restaurant were covered with paintings of cartoon characters, interspersed with framed prints of the life of Krishna. Rather a curious but charming mix!

After my nice tiffin I headed for the front of the Arunachaleswarar Temple, to see if I could find some wind chimes for my garden.

I found the chimes and also had a chat with the trader who mentioned that his wares all come from Pondicherry. Now that was a surprise as I would have thought some enterprising artisan would have started up a cottage industry in Tiruvannamalai to produce such easy-to-make items.

Next to the wind-chime stall, a lady sat at her booth making malas to sell to devotees going into Arunachaleswarar Temple.

Its fun roaming around the inside and outside of Arunachaleswarar as its always such a beehive of fascinating sights.

Mariamman Temple

There are several Mariamman Shrines and Temples located around Tiruvannamalai, however I was eager to visit the large, well attended Mariamman Temple in town -- which I had been meaning to do for a while but never seemed to get around to it.


I have previously written about the major Shakti Temples located near Arunachala on many occasions; so if you are interested in finding out more about Durga Amman Koil, Pavala Kundru, Pachaimman Koil, Rajarajeshwari Koil, or the Amman Shrines located in the three major Shiva Temple Compounds; Arunachaleswarar Temple, Adi Annamalai and Arunagirinathar Temple, please use the search feature to access postings on the above.

The Goddess Mariamman is a main South India mother Goddess who is closely associated with the Hindu goddesses Parvati and Durga. She is an ancient village goddess related to rain (the Tamil word ‘mari’ means rain or change).

Each month on the night of Poornima at this Temple, there is a procession of lights in honour of the Goddess. Ladies carry oil lamps three times in girivalam around the inside of the compound.

Mariamman is the Goddess devotees pray to, to eradicate smallpox and heat-based diseases. During the summer months in South India (March to June), people walk miles carrying pots of water mixed with turmeric and neem leaves to ward off illnesses like measles and chicken pox.

Neem Tree

People also pray to Mariamman for progeny and a good spouse. The most favoured offering is "pongal" (rice and green gram), cooked in the Temple compound. The below photograph is of a lady seated in front of the cooking facilities, preparing to do a puja on behalf of her brother, an NRI visiting from South Africa, who is hoping to find a bride to bring back with him on his return to South Africa.

There are two trees (Peepal and Neem) inside this Temple compound, and outside the main gate there is another Peepal tree.

Peepal Tree

Peepal Tree outside Compound

Puja Function

Sri Nannagaru left Tiruvannamalai on Thursday, June 18th. Before his departure some devotees arranged a small puja function at the Ashram. Swami encourages devotees to follow what comes natural and easy for them. He also suggests his followers participate in girivalam and visit holy places such as Arunachaleswarar Temple and Ashrams (particularly Ramana Ashram).

In this context its interesting to familiarize oneself with Sri Nannagaru's words on Religion:


“Religion is a creation of the mind. Hence, it is called ‘Mata’. There are as many religions as there are minds. Religion and creed helps create feuds and dissension. If the welfare of society is not the goal of a religion, such a religion is not worth its name. Religion is used as an opiate and instead of making people wise it makes man a slave.

The Self is there prior to the birth of Religion. The purpose of religion should be to show the path to realization of the Self. One may worship his own God; but his love of religion and his love of God should not make him hate others.

There is no God without the Self. In the name of religion and personal Gods, men fight for their own aggrandizement. Religion creates narrow domestic walls. Our concepts stand in the way of our finding Truth. There is no God higher than Truth. Change of religion does not release one, but on the other hand change of mind does.”
[Sri Nannagaru]

Right-click on all photographs to enlarge

An Afternoon Darshan

Right-click on all photographs to enlarge


"There is only one Iswara, the body bound ‘I’ is not the real ‘I’. When you are attracted to Arunachala, (whether you know it or not, Arunachala comes through an unseen connection) – it is a good attachment and helps one live an egoless life. Those who are attracted by Arunachala shall get liberation through Arunachala. It is by Arunachala’s Grace that we are attracted to Him. It is by the Grace of Arunachala, the ego is shattered and destroyed."
[Sri Nannagaru]

Arunachala from Sri Nannagaru Ashram

A visiting Swami

Sri Nannagaru taking Arunachala darshan

Sri Nannagaru giving darshan to devotees

"There is no parallel to the Grace of the Guru. Although the external Guru is not real in the true sense of the term, yet, He is essential. It is He who turns your mind inwards, and enables you to realize your true nature. He protects you. Publicity does not confer Guruhood nor does external show earmark one as a Guru. He, whose words penetrate into your Heart alone, can be deemed as Guru. You can discharge any kind of debt but the debt you owe to your Guru."
[Sri Nannagaru]

Sri Nannagaru Visits Arunachala

Sri Nannagaru is currently at residence at his ashram at Tiruvannamalai which is located at Rajiv Gandhi Nagar, approximately a kilometre west of Ramana Ashram, just off Chengam Road. While at his ashram he has been giving regular darshan and the below photographs were taken this morning. Sri Nannagaru will remain at Tiruvannamalai until June 18. To learn more about Sri Nannagaru you can visit his website at this link here.

Right-click on all photographs to enlarge

To watch and listen to Sri Nannagaru answering the question posed in a previous interview:

"It appears essential to meet a guru and stay with that guru. Who is the guru? What is the guru's role? How to recognise a true guru?"

Please go to this link here

where he starts his reply, "It is better to see enlightened souls. You will get inspiration from them . . . "

Arunachala Grace News, June 2009

Arunachala Grace Newsletter, June 2009 will be sent out direct to subscribers email inbox by the end of this week. This month there are articles on Self Help Groups (SHGs) at Tiruvannamalai, Arunachala Reforestation, Arunachala Tidbits, review of a new book on Spiritual Masters (many connected with this area), sayings and fables. The ecology section features the bird; the Golden Oriole and describes the medicinal and ayurvedic properties of the Wood Apple tree and fruit.

If you are not yet a subscriber, please go to the subscribe facility on the left column of this page.

Remembering A.P. Santhanaraj

In Chennai on May 25, 2009 the eminent artist A.P. Santhanaraj passed away at his home near Tambaram after suffering from health problems for some time. Although suffering from consistent ill health in the last years, he continued to paint until his death. He was 77 years old and is survived by four sons.

Santhanaraj was born on March 13, 1932, at Tiruvannamalai and exhibited a fascination for drawing at the early age of 4 years old. His distraction with pictures absorbed him so completely that he considered going to the Tiruvannamalai Danish Mission School a major hindrance and considered school teaching and learning “artificial”.

Having heard of the Madras School of Arts and Crafts, Santhanaraj wanted to begin his artistic journey from that institution and attempted to gain admittance to the school at the age of 10. He was refused entry because of his young age, but eventually joined in 1948 at the age of 16.

He later became a teacher at the Institute and then Principal and also exhibited his work both in India and the U.K. However, Santhanaraj never liked to exhibit his works for the simple reason that he was never satisfied with them despite the admiration and awards that they won.

He is believed to be one of the pioneers and forerunners of the modern art movement in the country and favourite artist to many of his peers including M.F. Hussain. Santhanaraj has said of his work:

“My art is abstract, very abstract. Abstraction according to me is giving importance to the most important aspect of the object and eliminating the unimportant though it might exist.”

Mind and Self Enquiry

“It is the mind that is responsible for bondage or liberation. The negative mind takes you to negative actions. Negative actions bear negative results. The mind, when positive, will prompt you to take positive actions. And positive actions will give you positive results. Therefore, never entertain any negative thoughts.

Mind has no form. As is the thought, so is the mind. When the thoughts are good, there constitutes a good mind. When thoughts are bad, they make a bad mind. Mind is nothing but a bundle of thoughts . . when the thoughts are negative; so you are suffering. Once you know the thoughts are negative and make you suffer, come on! Give them up - throw them away! Don't entertain such thoughts, as negative thoughts will make you suffer. Why should you suffer? Brush them aside.

Similarly, once you know that the negative thought is making you suffer, drop it immediately!

All agitation will cease the moment one enters on the enquiry, “Who Am I?” This was the sadhana that Ramana Maharshi achieved and taught to his disciples. This is also the easiest of all disciplines.”

[Sri Sathya Sai Baba]

Ashoka Apartments, Ramana Nagar

Construction is scheduled to start this September on Ashoka Apartments which will take 10 months to complete. The apartment compound consists of 15 apartments, of which 9 are available on 3 year long leases and 6 for purchase. The apartment compound is located in Ramana Nagar, at the end of the Post Office Road opposite the side entrance to Sadhu Om Colony.

The apartments have 24 hour security and many nice features like a lift running from the garage floor up to the roof. The lift and stairwell are located at the centre of the compound and is surrounded by a small garden, upon which the backs of each apartment overlooks.

The apartments are available to both resident Indians and visitors from overseas. To view more diagrams of the apartments go to this link here, and to look at the plans for each of the three floors check this link.


Right Click on the each of the below to view enlarged size.

Guru Poornima Camp 2009

Swami Suddhananda will conduct his annual Guru Poornima Camp for 2009 at his Ashram at Adi Annamalai, Tiruvannamalai from July 3rd to July 7th. To find out more please check this link here.

In the following interview Swami Suddhananda is asked:

“Sri Ramana Maharshi said that Self-enquiry is the most direct route to realising the Self. What do you say about Self-enquiry? How to conduct Self-enquiry?”

His reply starts: “First thing when you say Self-Enquiry . . . this is the tradition from the generations – so this enquiry has already been there for thousands of years.”

Click on this link to watch and listen to his response on Self-Enquiry.

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.

God’s Fool

Once there came from the desert to the great city a man who was a dreamer, and he had naught but his garment and a staff. And as he walked through the streets he gazed with awe and wonder at the temples and towers and palaces, for the city was of surpassing beauty. And he spoke often to the passers-by, questioning them about their city – but they understood not his language, nor he theirs.

At the noon hour he stopped before a vast inn. It was built of yellow marble, and people were going in and coming out unhindered. “This must be a shrine”, he said to himself, and he too went in. But what was his surprise to find himself in a hall of great splendour and a large company of men and women seated about many tables. They were eating and drinking and listening to the musicians. “Nay”, said the dreamer. “This is no worshipping. It must be a feast given by the prince for the people, in celebration of a great event.”

At that moment a man, whom he took to be the slave of the prince, approached him, and bade him to be seated. And he was served with food and wine and most excellent sweets. When he was satisfied, the dreamer rose to depart. At the door he was stopped by a large man magnificently arrayed. “Surely this is the prince himself,” said the dreamer in his heart, and he bowed to him and thanked him. Then the large man said in the language of the city. “Sir you have not paid for your dinner.” And the dreamer did not understand, and again thanked him heartily. Then the large man bethought him, and he looked more closely upon the dreamer. And he saw that he was a stranger, clad in but a poor garment, and that indeed he had not the wherewithal to pay for his meal.

Then the large man clapped his hands and called – and there came four watchmen of the city. And they listened to the large man. Then they took the dreamer between them, and there were two on each side of him. And the dreamer noted the ceremoniousness of their dress and of their manner and he looked upon them with delight. “These,” said he, “are men of distinction.” And they walked all together until they came to the House of Judgment and they entered.

The dreamer saw before him, seated upon a throne, a venerable man with flowing beard, robed majestically. And he thought he was the king. And he rejoiced to be brought before him. Now the watchmen related to the judge, who was the venerable man, the charge against the dreamer; and the judge appointed two advocates, one to present the charge and the other to defend the stranger. And the advocates rose, the one after other, and delivered each his argument. And the dreamer thought himself to be listening to addresses of welcome, and his heart filled with gratitude to the king and the prince for all that was done for him.

Then sentence was passed upon the dreamer, that upon a tablet hung about his neck his crime should be written, and that he should ride through the city on a naked horse, with a trumpeter and a drummer before him. And the sentence was carried out forthwith. Now as the dreamer rode through the city upon the naked horse, with the trumpeter and the drummer before him, the inhabitants of the city came running forth at the sound of the noise, and when they saw him they laughed one and all, and the children ran after him in companies from street to street. And the dreamer’s heart filled with ecstasy, and his eyes shone upon them. For to him the tablet was a sign of the king’s blessings and the procession was in his honour.

Now as he rode, his heart swelled with joy, and he cried out to the crowd with a shout. “Where are we? What city of the heart’s desires is this? What race of lavish hosts? – who feast the chance guest in their palaces, whose princes companion him, whose king hangs a token upon his breast and opens to him the hospitality of a city descended from heaven?” And the procession passed on. And the dreamer’s face uplifted and his eyes were overflowing with light.

[by Kahlil Gibran – Abridged]

The Importance of Peace

Sri Nannagaru is expected to visit Arunachala this coming week. He will be staying at his Ashram in Rajiv Gandhi Nagar, a mile west of Ramana Ashram. You can find out more about him by visiting his website at this link.

Sri Nannagaru who hails from Jinnuru, West Godvari District, Andhra Pradesh, attributes his realisation to the grace of Arunachala-Ramana when many years ago whilst staying at Arunachala he attained realisation.

Nowadays, Swamiji visits Arunachala about four times a year and is generally accompanied by many of his devotees from Andhra. This visit he is expected on the 11th and will stay approximately 7 days.

During his visits, he invariably spends time at Ramana Ashram and the below photograph is of a previous visit and depicts Swamiji with devotees in the Ramana Ashram meditation room (which is the room that Ramana lived in for many years).

The Importance of Peace

"Peace is essential. Peace is above power, peace is above money – peace is above anything related to the world. All the luxuries and advantages that can be acquired in the world are not equal to the grace of peace.

It is essential, not only to everybody, to every religion, to every part of the world – but to all humanity. Without peace one is not able to progress in any aspect of life. For the ease of the body, one requires comfort, but the mind’s requirement for ease – is peace. If an individual doesn’t have peace, he will experience unrest and disturbance.

Peace and happiness of the individual also contributes to a peaceful society. Without peace there is waste of money and energy. If you wish to progress in any field whether; spiritual, educational, or commercial you must have peace as the basis. Without peace one is not able to grow in one’s spiritual life – peace is above all that can be acquired in the material world.

If you want peace you have to come out of ignorance. If you want peace you have to come out of wrong identification. If you want peace you have to come out of wrong thinking. If you want peace you have to come out of wrong habits. If you want peace you have to come out of wrong behaviour. One cannot buy peace in the market, one has to grow peace in the heart and to experience it in the mind."

[Sri Nannagaru]