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.

Siva Sannidhi Accommodation Facility

Siva Sannidhi is an accommodation facility started up by Arunachala devotees from Andhra Pradesh. In total there are sixty-two rooms all with attached Western style bathroom. It was opened in time for this current season. Siva Sannidhi is located across the street from the Ramana Nagar house Yogi Ramsuratkumar lived in before shifting to his Ashram -- which is situated a five minutes easy walk away. In addition this devotional facility is only two minutes from both Ramana Ashram and Seshadri Ashram so very convenient to those who wish to spend time at those places.

The below photograph, of a mural of Shiva as mendicant receiving food, is located on one of the dining room walls. Lunch, dinner and beverages are served twice a day.

And from the roof a close and good darshan of Arunachala.

Siva Sannidhi is run by good people and is a safe and protected haven for devotees and 'quiet' visitors.

For an update of the facilities at Siva Sannidhi, read my latest posting made in November 2012 about the completion of the new, modern annexe at this link here.
 
For those who wish to make room reservations or enquire about Retreat facilities please get in touch at the contact address located at the top left corner of this page.

Mooji, 2007 Satsangs at Tiruvannamalai

We have been requested to post information about upcoming Mooji satsangs to be held at the foot of Arunachala.

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"Mooji is a direct disciple of Sri Harilal Poonja, the renowned advaita master, or Papaji, as his followers call him. In 1987, a chance meeting with a Christian mystic was to be a life-changing encounter for Mooji. It brought him, through prayer, into the direct experience of the Divine within. Within a short period, he experienced a radical shift in consciousness so profound that outwardly, he seemed, to many who knew him, to be an entirely different person. As his spiritual consciousness awakened, a deep inner transformation began which unfolded in the form of many miraculous experiences and mystical insights. He felt a strong wind of change blowing through his life which brought with it a deep urge to surrender completely to divine will. Shortly after, he stopped teaching, left his home and began a life of quiet simplicity and surrender to the will of God as it manifested spontaneously within him. A great peace entered his being, and has remained ever since."

Mooji will share satsangs in Tiruvannamalai from the 22nd of December 2007 to the 3rd of February 2008, daily, 10 a.m.-12 noon, with the exceptions of the following days:

Thursday Dec. 27th, 2007
Wednesday: Jan. 2nd, 2008
Tuesday: Jan. 8th
Monday: Jan. 14th
Sunday: Jan.20th
Saturday: Jan 26th
Friday: Feb. 1st

(Satsangs are in blocks of 5 consecutive days with the 6th day off.)

Venue: S.P. Guest House
No.63/N Perumbakkam Road
Tiruvannamalai 606603

Directions and up-to-date information may be found on the schedule page of the website :

http://mooji.org/schedule.html

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Monkey Stuff

On my way through Ramana Nagar yesterday I pass mother and baby engrossed in some nice mango munching. Happy days for all the monkeys that live by their wits in the suburbs of Tiruvannamalai during the mango season. Read monkey games, to find out more about these naughty ones.

There are two types of monkeys in this area, the most common one is the gregarious Bonnet Macaque of these photographs, the other variety is the beautiful white, black faced Langur who prefers the secluded hill and countryside.

The Bonnet Macaque is a fearless, cheeky monkey often getting up to mischief and very clever in navigating its way in the urban sprawl it chooses to live in. Some colonies of this monkey live around the girivalam road and some on the Hill itself.

The safety of a mother's love!

The mangoes are in such abundance that this particular monkey takes a few bites out of one mango, throws it down and decides to check out the huge, stately mango tree for richer, more succulent pickings!

The below photograph is the view of the mango tree (back left) that is currently hosting an abundance of fruit. Arunachala is in the background.

I enjoy the naughty, Bonnet Macaque and always like to bring food with me during girivalam, to feed the monkey colonies that live at the side of the pathway. Please remember when feeding monkeys never throw food onto the road, throw it off to the side. Otherwise the monkeys lose their fear of the road which leads to sad accidents for them.

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