Arunachala Grace News, April 2009

The current issue of Arunachala Grace News, will be sent out tomorrow direct to subscribers email inbox. If you wish to receive this bi-monthly Newsletter please fill out the subscribe facility at the left column of this page.


This month's Newsletter has narratives about; Mahashivaratri, the Athi Rudra Maha Yajnam recently performed at Ramana Ashram, the visit of Joyce Meyers (a licensed psychotherapist from the U.S.) to Tiruvannamalai, news of the Shanthimalai Trust education sponsorship programme, a news round up under 'Arunachala Tidbits', stories and anecdotes, and Sri Ramana's answer to the question, 'Is everything ordained?' As well as the above, the featured bird in this current Newsletter is the migratory Grey Heron, and the herb, the indispensable Coriander (Cilantro -- as is more commonly known in the Americas).


In addition to the above there is also information about a large agricultural parcel of land for sale a short distance south of Arunachala.

Arunachala Grace News - April, 2008

This month’s newly designed Arunachala Grace News will be sent out around the end of the month. April Newsletter has the Red Wattled Lapwing and Oregano as its featured Arunachala Bird and Herb respectively. As well as Arunachala Tidbits, poems and inspirations, the Newsletter will also have the next part of the Dakshinamurti narrative and an inspirational narrative about what an IT education means to those attending the Don Bosco Siharam programme.

This month there will be a special section dedicated to the moon and its relevance at Arunachala. In conjunction there will also be a very charming story about the time the Sun, Moon, and Wind went out to dine with their uncle and aunts Thunder and Lightning and how what happened that night resulted in the Moon's light becoming soft, cool, and beautiful.

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Popular Ashrams

In the interests of new pilgrims and visitors to Arunachala who need Ashram contact information, I hope in the course of the next few days to mention the most prominent Ashrams at Tiruvannamalai that welcome guests. In the previous posting I mentioned Suddhananda Ashram at Adi Annamalai, which is most suitable for a quiet Retreat.

However, two of most popular Arunachala Ashrams are located near the giripradakshina pathway and in the area known as Ramana Nagar. Several supermarkets, fruit stands, internet facilities and small shops are conveniently located at Ramana Nagar. Travelling to and from the Big Temple or other places is either by walk or auto rickshaw. Autorickshaws are inexpensive and always available outside major Ashrams.

If you would like to find out more about either Sri Ramanashram or Sri Seshadri Ashram, please refer to this early posting.

In the case of Ramanashram, arrangements needs to be made prior to staying; NO DROPPING IN. In this respect you can either write or email to the below:

Sri V.S.Ramanan

President

Sri Ramanasramam P.O.

Sri Ramanasramam

Tiruvannamalai

Tamil Nadu 606 603 India

Phone : +91-(0)4175-237200

E-Mail : ashram@sriramanamaharshi.org

Ramanashram has a very nice dining hall for meals. Rooms at the Ashram are traditional with fans and often Indian style toilets. However Ramanashram now has several new compounds near their main Ashram complex, that have modern styled rooms with ensuite Western bathrooms. Payment is done on a donation basis. If you are unknown to the Ashram, generally speaking, shorter stays are encouraged.

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Seshadri Ashram is more flexible in their visitor requirements, and if they have accommodation, will be welcoming to drop-in visitors and pilgrims. However, nowadays because of festivals, full moons and the very long 'busy' season, generally lasting from October-March, it is better to get in touch prior to turning up. Seshadri Ashram offers traditional, old fashioned Ashram rooms with Indian toilets or more modern rooms with ensuite Western style bathrooms. The Ashram also has fully air conditioned rooms (you need to ask for them), which is a very nice luxury during the hot, summer months. Specific room rates are set for different style rooms, you should make sure you know this information at the beginning.

Seshadri Ashram does not have a dining room but it does have a restaurant facility located inside their compound which is open from early morning to late evening.

For more information it is best to telephone accommodation office direct:

+91-(0)4175-236999 or 238599

Newsletter, April issue

The April issue of Arunachala Grace News is being sent out this week. If you wish to receive a free copy of this newsletter please subscribe on the left hand margin of this Blog, underneath the 'email logo'.

This month there are articles on the area's new Animal Shelter, Sacred Groves, a Proposed Bird Sanctuary, Tulsi, Seasonal Time Cycles as understood in Ayurveda, a children's project known as "Alaigal" and the usual Arunachala Tidbits, short stories, poems and nuggets of information.