Roof of Ramana Maharshi Ashram

On the roof of Ramana Ashram on top of the entrance to the old hall is a Gopuram, which is an ornate tower that forms a dominant feature of Dravidian style Temples and Shrines in South India. 

Gopuram is positioned on top of Old Hall

In addition, on the roof over each of the samadhis of Sri Ramana and his mother (also in line with South India Dravidian style Temples/Shrines) are individual domed Vimanas (towers). 

Gopuram

Gopuram from another angle

Vimana over Mother Shrine

Statue of Sri Ramana at base of Mother Vimana

Painters preparing the Gopuram and Vimanas

Constructing bamboo ladders leading to top of Shrines

Arunachala Darshan from Roof

As is traditional, Sri Ramana Maharshi was entombed in his samadhi in a sitting position and (according to his direct instructions) facing Arunachala. The Lingam over his entombed, sanctified body is directly over his head. It is easier to visualise on viewing the photograph of the Vimana which is positioned on the roof directly over the mahalingam on top of Sri Ramana’s samadhi. 

Samadhi Hall

Stairway for priests to consecrate Vimana

Vimana centre of Arunachala. Sri Ramana facing hill with top of head directly under Vimana centre

Mahakumbhabhishekam is held either to formally consecrate a new Temple/Shrine or reconsecrate an old one, and generally occurs at twelve-year intervals or specifically following renovation, extensive cleaning or renewal which is the case of the Mahalingam and Sri Chakra shrines at Ramana Ashram. 

Mahakumbhabhishekam is a ritual that is believed to homogenize, synergize and unite the mystic powers of the deity. Kumbha means the Head and denotes the Shikhara or Crown of the Temple/Shrine and Abhishekam is ritual bathing, (hence the term Kumbha + Abhishekam). 

During this elaborate event, homas have and are currently being conducted at Ramana Ashram (according to the agamas), by priests in the specially constructed Yagasala outside the Shrines. To view photographs of yesterday’s Homams check this previous link here. The point of such Homams is to infuse divinity and spiritual power into kalasas (sanctified pots) filled with consecrated water. 

Divine Power is then transferred back by performing an abhishekam (salutary bathing) to the Vimanas (pinnacles) on the roof with the sanctified waters from the kalasas while being accompanied by Vedic chanting and special rites. 

Tomorrow, August 25, 2013 at the time (see programme link here) which has been designated as most auspicious, the Kumbha will be bathed with the charged and sanctified holy waters contained in the sacrificial pots. After the consecration of the Vimanas on top of the shrines of Sri Ramana and his mother, worship will be specifically performed inside the Sanctum Sanctorums, in which further powers/energy will be transferred to the Shrines. 

Kumbhabhishekam event at Sri Ramana Ashram, August 2013

Tomorrow, August 23rd, 2013 at 7.00 a.m. Vigneshwara Puja will be performed marking the beginning of official functions at Sri Ramana Maharshi Ashram leading to Mahakumbhabhishekam and Deeparadhanai of Sri Matrubhuteswara and Sri Ramana mahalingams on August 25. 

The three day function marks completion of the renovation to the shrines and repair to the Gopuram and Vimana above the Matrubhuteswara and Sri Ramana Shrines. 

For the official schedule of functions, please check out this earlier link. 

The foundation of the Matrubhuteswara Shrine, in commemoration of Sri Ramana’s Mother, was laid by him in September 1939. The construction of that Shrine then proceeded under his supervision in accordance with agama rules and was completed in 1949.

2013 Mahakumbhabhishekam Sriramanasharam

A Mahakumbhabhishekam at Sri Ramanashram is scheduled between August 23rd, 2013 and August 25, 2013. 

The below programme lists the full schedule over the three day function. 

Right click to view enlargements

Silver Dress for Goddess Durga

As today is the beginning of a Festival to Divine Mother (see previous posting), thought it would be appropriate to post these photographs which I took some time ago at the Durga Shrine, Ramana Ashram. A devotee wished to donate a silver dress for the Goddess, and that entailed specialist craftsmen coming to the Ashram Temple Shrine and taking three separate moulds; the major one of the Body, and two individual moulds for the arms of the Goddess. 

The photographs show the creation of the primary mould, which once set is taken off the form and allowed to fully dry. Afterwhich individual moulds are taken of the arms of the Goddess. Once all three moulds are fully dry, the craftsmen return to their native place and create the ordered silver dress for Sri Durga. 

Temple Artisan to take Mould

Material to make Mould

Goddess Durga, Ramana Ashram

The Goddess

These men are specialists working with Idols

Preparing the Paste for the Mould

Covering the Statue for primary Mould

Individual Moulds required for each Arm

Primary Mould is set and left to fully harden

The last photograph of this posting is of the Goddess Rajarajeshwari at her peace-filled shrine on the Girivalam Roadway, wearing her beautiful golden dress (which would have been prepared in the same way as above). 

Goddess Rajareshwari in Golden Dress

Tiruvannamalai, India - Travel Diary

This video is about a group of Russian pilgrims (male and female) arriving at Tiruvannamalai in a coach, which documents their experiences over the course of a couple of days.

The video is about 55 minutes long. Below I have listed a guide to specific parts of the video, and depending on how much time you have, you might want to directly access your preferred interests.

Video Sequence

Beginning: Coach to Tiruvannamalai. Stopping at village for visit with Swami Velliananda Swami. Journey continues. Looking at Kolams.

Minute 13: Visit to Ramana Ashram, including VERY beautiful coverage of puja at the Ramana Samadhi 

Minute 16: Group walks to Skanda ashram, sitting there

Minute 23: Shopping in Ramana Nagar and walking about streets

Minute 25: Visit to Pachaiamman Temple, footage taken inside the Sanctum Sanctorum

Minute 26: At water tank, having bath with nearby housewife washing clothes

Minute 28: Visit to Virupaksha Cave

Minute 29.30: Sadhus on street. Walking on roadway.

Minute 30: Agreeing rickshaw price. Visit to x-ray clinic. Visit to Doctor

Minute 38.30: Evening at Car Street at Big Temple. Procession passes by.

Minute 40: Lunch at Ramana Ashram

Minute 42: Walking on Chengam Road in Ramana Nagar, stone cutter lingam order.

Minute 43: Evening Puja at Ramana Ashram Samadhi. Spending time in Samadhi Hill

Minute 46: Ironing Man

Minute 47: Taking food

Minute 50: Evening Ramana Ashram—chanting in Samadhi Hall

Minute 53: Coach on girivalam roadway. Stop for tea. Leaving.

Words about this Video from the Russian Video Producer

“Without words, without explanation, without voice-over this is a spotless actual flood of reality that takes you instantly to this place. Using a live documentary camera, I tried to just watch and as much as possible not interfere. I did not make any specific movie to necessarily fit into the expectations of a clean, bright sacred place. 

Tiruvannamalai is a city which is located around one of the most sacred and revered places in India - Arunachala hill. There are Temples of Shiva, an ashram of Sri Ramana Maharshi, and a multitude of Shrines, Temples and sacred place—it is a Holy city with life around it.

India is a very photogenic country and while shooting the video, one slowly seizes this Indian stream and watching this you begin to disappear and you're not here, you're back there somewhere at Arunachala. 

It does not seem abnormal that the local folk work in their shops and in the evening go to Puja at the Arunachaleswarar Temple. Waking up early in the morning with a cotton dhoti wrapped around the waist, dressed appropriately for the unbearably hot day ahead, and yet wearing a shawl over the shoulders because it is early morning and still cold. Performing giripradakshina around Arunachala and in the evening visiting Ramana Ashram to listen to the chanting in the Samadhi Hill, seems just like a day in a normal life.”

Moorvi Compound Progress

This week I visited the Moorvi Compound, which is opposite the main Ramana Ashram compound. The Compound has been under development for the last year, during which time all the old one-storey accommodation was demolished and new multi-storey accommodation has been built as part of the Ramana Ashram modernisation programme. In addition the Ramana Ashram Centenary Library has now been remodelled into a multi-room facility.

At the beginning of the remodelling, I posted a narrative (with lots of photos) at this link here. The old Library building is being refurbished into separate accommodation rooms. To see photographs of the Old Library Building, check out this link here. Currently there is some heavy equipment being used in one remaining area in the Compound. The Moorvi Choultry, which has not been demolished, will be remodelled, and then all that remains to be done, is gardening work around the compound. 

In spite of the bits and pieces still to complete, rooms are already being allocated in the newly developed Moorvi Compound. 

Multi-storey accommdation

More rooms in Compound

Large Neem tree in Compound

Room in newly developed Moorvi Compound

Moorvi Choultry

Moorvi Choultry centre point

Back of Moorvi Choultry

Upstairs of multi-storey accommodation

Another view of two-storey accommodation

Generator in Moorvi Compound

Ramana Ashram New Library

One of the current building projects undertaken at Ramana Ashram is now finished and the new Ashram Library is open. The new Library, which is circular in shape and comprises the upstairs of the building, has a much larger shelf capacity than the old Library. The new Library is known as the Sri Ramana Granthalaya. 

Front View of the Library

Upstairs contains the Library books

Access to the Library

Better view of ramp

Morvi Guest House Compound Project

In an earlier posting I gave an update on construction progress of the new Library inside the main compound of Ramana Ashram. 

Subsequently I recently visited the building project currently being undertaken at the Morvi Guest House Compound on Chengam Road.

Demolition of all buildings inside the compound was affected last year and construction is well underway on this enlarged accommodation facility for Ramana Ashram. 

 

Originally this project was set for completion by April 30^th, 2012, but as can been seen by the photographs (which were taken last week), progress has not been as rapid as expected.

To look at earlier photographs, go to this link here. 

From what I understand once the new Library has been completed inside the main compound of Ramana Ashram, the books of the current library will be relocated to the new facility, and the current building demolished.

The historical central building of the Morvi Guest House is being preserved and will eventually be surrounded by guest rooms divided into three categories: 20 single occupancy rooms; 20 double occupancy rooms and 12 family cottages with living room and bedroom. 

Right outside the Morvi Guest House Compound runs the busy Chengam Road, which rather unexpectedly on the hot Summer’s day, was surprisingly quiet.