Postings of my Arunachala Blogs from September 2 to September 16, 2013

Below are links and short extracts of postings on my various Arunachala Blogs from Monday, September 2, 2013 to Monday, September 16, 2013 

Arunachala Grace 

Palayam Puja -- Durga Amman Temple, September 2013: Puja conducted at the start of renovations and repairs at the Durga Amman Temple, Tiruvannamalai. 

Aadi Pooram Photographs—Friday August 9, 2013: Photographs of the most beautifully dressed and adorned Goddess Rajarajeshwari in Festival celebrated at that Temple during Aadi Pooram. 

Vinayagar Immersion September 11, 2013: Photographs of Vinayagar procession and immersion in the Tamari Nagar Tank at Tiruvannamalai. 

Nice Clay Ganesha Idols: Photographs of beautiful and eco-friendly clay Ganeshas at Tiruvannamalai.

Ganesha Chaturthi at Tiruvannamalai: Narrative celebrating Ganesha Chaturthi and explaining the importance of making it as eco-friendly as possible. 

What If: Inspirational Poem by Samuel Taylor Coleridge.

Panthakal -- September 8, 2013: Photographs of the function heralding the upcoming 2013 Arunachala Karthigai Deepam.

Soma Pradosham, September 2, 2013: Photographs of Soma Pradosham and narrative about the relationship of the moon with Lord Shiva. 

Tiruvannamalai Womens' Self Help Groups: Art work explaining and popularising Tiruvannamalai Womens' Self Help Groups.

Panthakal Karthigai Deepam 2013: Invitation to Function celebrating the offical beginning of lead up to the great 2013 Karthigai Festival.

Pavala Kundru Temple adjacent to Arunachaleswarar Temple: Spectacular view from inside top of Raja Gopuram of Arunachaleswarar Temple of surrounding Tiruvannamalai.

Home at Last: Celebration of anniversary of Sri Ramana’s arrival to Tiruvannamalai.

Arunachala Birds 

Rock Pigeon or Rock Dove: Narrative and photographs of the Rock Pigeon, including Cycle of Pigeon Hatching. Video of nesting bird. 

Arunachala Land 

House for sale, adjacent Samudram Eri: Newly constructed, modern 3 bedroom house for sale close to Ramana Ashram. 

Adiannamalai House specifications: Details and house plan of house for sale near Adiannamalai Temple.

House for Sale, Adiannamalai: Photographs of house currently under construction and available for purchase located near Adiannamalai Temple and with sublime darshan of Arunachala.

Arunachala Mystic 

Letter to Sri Siva Jothi Mona Siddhar: Letter from Swami’s devotee with details of a dream and its connection with their guru. 

Lord Shiva as Chandrasekhara: Escoteric meaning of Lord Shiva in his manifestaion as Chandrasekhara. 

Arunachala Postings: 7-27 July, 2013

Below are links and short extracts of postings on my various Arunachala Blogs from Sunday July 7, 2013 to Saturday July 27, 2013. 

Arunachala Grace 

Mahashivaratri Retreat 2014: Information about Torsten Brugge and Padma Woolf Retreat at Mahashivaratri 2014. Venue Sri Nannagaru Ashram, Tiruvannamalai. 

Shani Pradosham July 20, 2013: Photographs of Shani Pradosham at Arunachaleswarar Temple. Mythology of Shani Pradosham Vrata Mahatmyam. Mahakaleshwar Temple and Lingam.

Gods at Ayyankulam Teertham: Function marking the end of the Ani Brahmostavam Festival. Information and photographs about the Arunagirinathar Temple. 

Abhishekam of Lord Nataraja: Lord Nataraja brought in procession to the Thousand Pillared Hall at the Big Temple. 

Guru Poornima 2013: Photograph and Mantra dedicated to the Guru. 

Rudra Pasupathi Nayanar: Narrative on life of this Nayanar and video of the Sri Rudram: Namakam-Chamakam in Devanagari, English translations 

5th day Ani Brahmostavam Festival: Rishaba (Bull) Chariot Procession through Tiruvannamalai on fifth day of Festival. 

Ani Brahmostavam 2013: Photographs of the flag hoisting at Arunachaleswarar Temple at the beginning of Festival. 

Arunachala Birds 

Indian Birds’ Nests Part 2: Narrative with photographs of unconventional nests of four Indian Birds.

Peacocks at Arunachala: Series of photographs of the Peacock at Ramana Ashram. Links to previous postings. 

Arunachala Mystic 

Uttarayana and Dakshinayana: Esoteric significance of the seasonal calendar delineations of Uttarayana and Dakshinayana. 

Visit to Country Ashram: Visit to the countryside Ashram of Sri Siva Jothi Mona Siddhar, some 20 kms from Tiruvannamalai 

Arunachala Land 

Duplex at Vediappanur: Photographs and information about Duplex for sale at Vediappanur, off Girivalam Roadway, Tiruvannamalai 

Jackfruit Tree: Photographs, mythology and information about the popular Jackfruit Tree of Tamil Nadu. 

Postings: 1st week of July, 2013

Below are links and short extracts of postings on my various Arunachala Blogs from the first week of July: Saturday June 29, 2013 to Saturday July 6, 2013. 

Arunachala Grace

Pradosham Removal of Sins: Photographs of July 5, 2013 Pradosham as observed at the Arunachaleswarar Temple, Tiruvannamalai. 

Arunachala Samudra Website: Inviting support towards the development of the Arunachala Samudra Website

Devotion to the Guru: Words of spiritual guidance from Swami Satchidananda of Anandashram

Swami Satchidananda and a Question: Personal experience of interaction with Swami Satchidananda in 1985 and a question posed to him. 

Tiruvannamalai, India—Travel Diary: Video about a group of Russian Pilgrims and their days at Arunachala.

Arunachala Birds 

Working Bird: Photographs of modern day falconry with Rufus the Wimbledon American Harris Hawk.

Nests of Indian Birds: Part One of descriptions and photographs of various Indian Birds’ nests.

Arunachala Mystic 

Soma Sutra Pradakshina: Explanation of how to perform Soma Sutra Pradakshina at time of Pradosham. 

Mother Umadeviar: Vignettes of Mother Umadeviar who was renowned as a channel to Sri Seshadri Swamigal 

Postings: 4th week June, 2013

Below are links and short extracts of postings on my various Arunachala Blogs from the fourth week of June: Saturday June 22, 2013 to Saturday June 29, 2013. 

 

Arunachala Grace 

Ani Brahmostavam: Invitation for upcoming Festival at Arunachaleswarar Temple.

Samudram Eri: Early morning walk on the dry lakebed, Samudram Eri. 

Ramana Ashram Clinic: Narrative and photographs of Ramana Ashram Dispensary.

Arunachala Birds 

The Southern Grey Shrike: Information and photographs of an occasional visitor to the Arunachala area, the Southern Grey Shrike 

Arunachala Mystic

Arunachala Mystic Relationship between Saints: Connection between the Arunachala saints’ Seshadri Swamigal and Ramana Maharshi 

Arunachala Land 

Silk Cotton Tree: Narrative and photographs of the tallest tree in Arunachala.

Postings: 3rd week June, 2013

Below are links and short extracts of postings on my various Arunachala Blogs from week Saturday June 15, 2013 to Saturday June 22, 2013. 

Arunachala Grace 

Murugan Shrine: Small Murguan Shrine located on hillock off Perubakkam Road near Arunachala. 

Sri Tirumular Nayanar: Story of Sri Tirumular a Nayanar from the Periapuranam and his great work the Tirumandiram with link.

Solstice and Pradosham: Synchroncity of these two auspicious events at Arunachala.

Arunachala Birds 

Bird Stories: Narratives illustrating the power the great Mahan Sri Seshadri Swamigal had over birds at Arunachala. 

Red Vented Bulbul: Narrative, video and photographs of this Arunachala beautiful bird of the Bulbul family.

Arunachala Mystic 

Healing Miracles of Sri Seshadri Swamigal: Inspirational stories of the great healing miracles of the avadhuta Sri Seshadri Swamigal. 

Postings: 2nd week June, 2013

Below are links and short extracts of postings on my various Arunachala Blogs from week Saturday June 8, 2013 to Saturday June 15, 2013. 

Arunachala Grace 

Mahabhishekam Somaskanda, Big Temple: Information and photographs of  Mahabhishekam Puja performed on the Somaskanda manifestation of Lord Shiva. 

Siva Sannidhi Accommodation Facility: Information about the completed new annexe building of the Shiva Sannidhi with its new forty-nine modern accommodation rooms. 

Peaceful Adiannamalai Temple: Photographs of the famed Shiva Temple on the Northside of the Hill 

Arunachala Birds 

The Asian Koel: Information about the Koel, the most familiar of Indian Cuckoos found at Tiruvannamalai District. 

Arunachala Mystic 

Aurora of Arunachala: Devotee narrative of the mystic lights of Arunachala 

Arunachala Land 

Hiking in Arunachala Countryside: Photographs of nearby unspoilt countryside hills, with wonderful darshan of Arunachala 

The Tamarind Tree: Information and superstitions regarding the Tamarind Tree, familiar all around Tiruvannamalai. 

Postings: 1st week June, 2013

Below are links and short extracts of postings on my various Arunachala Blogs from week Saturday June 1, 2013 to Saturday June 8, 2013.

Arunachala Grace

Mosquito Repellent Advice Tamil Nadu: Practical information for visitors to Tiruvannamalai (and Tamil Nadu) and advice as to chemical free mosquito protection.

Agnihotra Yagam: Information and photographs of a yearly Yagam performed at Arunachaleswarar Temple during the hot Summer Months. 

Thirujnana Sambhandar: Short biography of one of the four great Tamil Saints, the Nalvars, and a narrative of his visit to Arunachala. 

A Tamil Wedding: Photographs and information about a traditional Tamil Wedding performed at Arunachala.

June 6, 2013 -- Pradosham, Big Temple: Photographs and short narrative of the Arunachaleswarar Temple June 6th, 2013 Pradosham. 

Arunachala Birds 

Common Babbler -- Passerine: Extract from 1902 Book on Indian Birds about the Common Babbler accompanied with contemporary photographs of this bird species. 

 

Arunachala Land 

Frangipani: Description and photographs of the beautiful Frangipani Plant and narrative of the Frangipani in Hindu folklore. 

Arunachala Mystic

Nakshatra Offerings to Arunachala: Information and listing of Arunachala offerings appropriate to each of the 27 Nakshatras in connection with the date of one’s visit to the Hill.

Panchamukha Darshanam: Escoteric significance of the Panchamukha located off the girivalam roadway on the northeast side of Arunachala. 

Arunachala Birds

I hope by this time some of the readers of Arunachala Grace will have discovered my Blog Arunachala Birds.

The postings on Arunachala Birds are of Birds and Animals I have photographed or spotted either in my own garden or upon my walks near the Samudram Erie and Arunachala countryside.

As well as information about the species of indigenous and migratory Birds (and Animals) of Arunachala, I am also trying to supply information about the development of this area and how it impacts on the animals and ecosystem.

Indian Spot Billed Duck

Some of my latest postings on ‘Arunachala Birds’ are of the White Breasted Waterhen, ‘Birds’ Favourite Trees, Glossy Ibis, Indian Spot Billed Duck and a posting on ‘Explore The Tree of Life’.

So, if you are interested in ecology and connecting with the bird and animal population of the Arunachala area, I invite you to visit my ongoing and developing Arunachala Birds.

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.

Arunachala Animals

Its no secret to readers of Arunachala Grace, that I am a BIG animal lover. I have 6 amazing dogs and have absolutely no objections to increasing the family. I have written many posts regarding animals and in particular have brought attention to the wretched and abusive life suffered by the Temple Elephant, and also have written in detail about the excellent work of the Arunachala Animal Shelter. These are early days and so much can and will be done to improve Animal Welfare here at Tiruvannamalai. In future there will be many postings in this respect. We have also started up a Blog dedicated to the local bird life at Tiruvannamalai, you can check it at this link.

Welcome to Arunachala Birds

Today we started posting on Arunachala Birds, the third Blog of Arunachala Grace Network, and dedicated to sharing information about Birds and the related ecosystem of Arunachala and surrounding countryside. As well as information about the species of indigenous and migratory Birds at Arunachala, we will supply news and developments that will affect the life of Birds and Animals of the area.

Over the coming months we hope to give up-to-date information about Samudram Lake and the efforts of interested parties to develop a bird sanctuary at Tiruvannamalai. There will also be information and details of the species of birds both indigenous and migratory to this area.

The above photograph is of the beautiful 'Emerald Dove' an infrequent but common bird at Arunachala, which also is the official State Bird of Tamil Nadu.