Showing posts with label sparsa tiruvannamalai. Show all posts
Showing posts with label sparsa tiruvannamalai. Show all posts

11 December 2008

Deepam 2008 Lighting


Click on photos to enlarge


Its late afternoon and I am at Sri Nannagaru Ashram to watch and celebrate the lighting of the Deepam flame on top of Arunachala, with my Guru and his devotees. As is the custom at this Ashram, a ghee lamp is waiting in the courtyard, to be lit after the Deepam on the Hill.




In the below photograph, my guruji -- Sri Nannagaru.




And we all sit waiting for the Deepam on top of Arunachala to be lit. And there it is.



Its dusk and it gets dark quickly.





As soon as the light appeared on top of Arunachala, the jyothi at the Ashram was lit by Sri Nannagaru. In the below he is circumbulating the light.



Its my preference to enjoy Deepam at the Ashram, but all over Tiruvannamalai there are celebrations, fireworks, ceremonies, functions and masses of people enjoying the evening in their own special way. Many homes like the one below have lighted ghee lamps stationed on their balconies and by their front doors.



The girivalam road is packed with pilgrims performing circumbulation of the Hill -- it will be like that through the night and well into tomorrow morning.

HAPPY DEEPAM TO ONE AND ALL

7 December 2008

Sparsa Tiruvannamalai update

Below are a sequence of new photographs of Sparsa Tiruvannamalai, the new eco-sensitive, luxury hotel. In the upcoming Arunachala Grace Newsletter I will be posting a narrative about the Hotel's introduction of a traditional Tamil ethnic element into the Hotel. But for now here are some photographs.

Guests to the Hotel are invited to take a bullock cart ride throughout the nearby area.






In the below photograph a local potter is fashioning traditionally styled implements used in home and kitchens. The Hotel encourages guests to 'try their hands' making pots under the tutelage of the expert potter.




The Hotel is decorated throughout with reminders of Tamil history and culture. Below are figurines of Tamil musicians.




Below a photograph of one of the bedrooms fitted with a king-size bed at Sparsa Restort Hotel.









The dining room is now complete and welcomes customers who are staying outside the Hotel.



In the evenings the Hotel offers a variety of musical programmes.



Very nice photographs of dusk and evening at the Hotel.







2 December 2008

Arunachala by L.Osborne


“Arunachala! Thou art the inner Self who dances in the Heart as ‘I’. Heart is Thy name, O Lord!”
(Five Stanzas to Sri Arunachala, verse 2.)


In the Puranas Arunachala is referred to as the oldest Hill on earth and is regarded as the heart of the Universe.

Scientists have also pointed out the Eastern Ghats of the Deccan plateau as the oldest land. Arunachala has many names: Arunagiri, Sonagiri, Sudarsanagiri, Annamalai, to mention but a few and is also referred to as the Tejolingam — the lingam of effulgence — which is the formless emblem of Siva.

The form of the Hill is said to resemble Sri Chakra, the emblem of the Cosmos with its substratum, and shaktas regard this Hill as Sri Chakra itself. Bhagavan took an active part in the installation of Sri Chakra in the temple dedicated to the mother.

Devotees of Siva consider this divine Hill as the form of Siva, who appeared in the midst of Brahma and Vishnu as a column of fire without beginning or end in order to dispel their ignorance. Both failed to realise his presence by their physical efforts. This signifies the inability of mind or intellect to go beyond itself. Arunachala is traditionally identified with Sudarsana (a form of the chakra or discus of Vishnu). In the form of a deity, Sudarsana appears in a fierce aspect, armed with weapons of destruction. When a seeker penetrates beyond the semblance of the terrible, while struggling to overcome what seems terrible in himself — namely, the dark downward propensities of his own psyche — grace reveals itself as love and compassion. This, according to Dr. Mees, an authority on symbolism, is the etymology of Sudarsana which aims at the destruction of these propensities, so as to reveal love and beauty.

Many saints and sages have sung and composed songs in praise of Arunachala and its import, and some have attained enlightenment here. Shankara also seems to have visited Arunachala. In one of his compositions he calls this Hill ‘Meru’ and says, like Bhagavan, that Siddha Purushas are found here.




Saint Namasivaya lived in one of the caves, which is still called by his name. His disciple has written the well-known Annamalai Venba, a hymn in praise of Arunachala. Another well-known Saiva saint, Virupaksha, also lived in a cave higher up on the slope. It is said to be in the shape of OM — and some devotees have heard there, the sound of OM in silent meditation. The saint’s tomb is also there and this cave bears his name. Bhagavan spent seventeen years in it and later moved up to Skandashram where a trickle of water changed overnight to a perennial stream whose water, like that of the Ganges, does not deteriorate with time. Arunagirinatha, another notable saint, is also celebrated for his songs of praise after he received illumination through the grace of Muruga in the Arunachala temple. When mention was made one day of the tank adjoining the Ashram being called Agastya Thirtam, the Maharshi was asked if that sage ever visited the Hill. Bhagavan remarked “Yes, of course, everyone must come here eventually”, meaning that everyone must eventually return to the source — Arunachala.

Sages have said that one can attain salvation by being born in Tiruvarur, by dying in Benares, by worshipping in Chidambaram and by merely thinking of Arunachala. “So worship Arunachala of shining golden lustre for mere remembrance of Him ensures deliverance,” Bhagavan also affirms.

[By Lucia Osborne]

12 September 2008

More on Ganesha Festival


One version of a legend relating to the source of Ganesha’s elephant head goes that at the behest of the Gods, who needed a deity able to remove obstacles from their path of action, Shiva himself was born from Parvati's womb, under the form of Gajanana.

According to the Linga-Purana, Ganesha was created by Shiva in order to triumph over the enemies of Gods and the image of a child was born from Shiva’s mind which had the head of an elephant. Looking at the child, Parvati took him on her lap and made the vow that any undertaking, would not be successful unless Ganesha be first worshipped. Shiva declared the child to be Ganapati, Lord of the Ganas (celestial hosts).



In the Varaha-Purana, Ganesha is depicted as a young man originating from the glittering forehead of Shiva absorbed in deep meditation. Parvati was disappointed that the boy was born without her intervention. So, she wished that his head became the head of an elephant. However, when she saw the elephant-headed child, she loved him immediately, and declared that any human or divine undertaking, should not be successful unless Ganesha be worshipped first.

Another Puranic legend tells that Parvati longed for a child and informed Shiva about her desire. He requested she observe a one-year penance. Thus, the Sage Sanatkumara submitted Parvati to various tests in order to ascertain the force of her will. Eventually a glorious child was born and the Gods and nine Planets (Navagrahas) went to Mount Kailash to admire him. One of the Planets, Shani (Saturn) would not raise his eyes to look at the child. Parvati requested him to view and admire the baby. When Shani raised his eyes and looked at the child, the baby's head instantaneously separated from the body.

In response Vishnu left on his vehicle Garuda in search of a new head to replace the lost one. On the banks of the Pushpabhadra River, he met a herd of sleeping elephants. Choosing a resting animal, whose head was turned northwards, he cut if off and brought it back. According to a version of this legend, this elephant was actually a Gandharva who desired to obtain liberation from his terrestrial life. On Vishnu’s return, the elephant head was attached to the child and Vishnu gave him the following eight names: Vighneshvara, Ganesha, Heramba, Gajanana, Lambodara, Ekadanta, Soorpakarna and Vinayaka.

The current Ganesh Chaturthi festival ends with Visarjan or immersion of the idol in water. Normally the immersion ceremony takes place on the Ananta Chaturdasi day. In 2008, the date of Ganesh Visarjan is September 14th however as this Festival is not codified, the date of the immersion ceremony is arbitrary with no strict rules and depends upon the wishes of the person performing the Visarjan.

Ananta Chaturdasi is believed to be the day when Lord Vishnu appeared in the form of Anantapadmanabha, the Ananta Sayana form of Lord Vishnu in which he is reclining on Ananta.


Wood carving at Suddhananda Ashram


Many folk at Tiruvannamalai completed the immersion ceremony at the beginning of the Ganesha Festival and the next three photographs are of an immersion at the local Tamari Nagar Tank here at Tiruvannamalai. 





Procession of many Ganesha idols on way to Tank




Tamari Nagar Tank and Arunachala




Immersion


Many places throughout India have made concerted efforts this year to persuade people to return to the immersion of traditional, plain mud Ganesha idols and NOT use representations that are made from highly toxic materials. 

To see photographs of the aftermaths of the immersion festival which involves Ganesha statues that are not made of ‘mud’ here are several profoundly sad photographs of the day after a previous Ganesha Visarjan Festival at Mumbai.










18 August 2008

Sparsa Hotel Update

What a nice surprise to visit Sparsa Hotel now that it is looking so green and luxuriant.

The pool is excellent and the management have wisely decided to surround it with bamboo covered creepers (they have yet to grow) in order to offer full privacy to their guests.

In the photograph below you can see the bamboo screen at the right side in closer detail.


From the concourse of the Hotel, a very nice few of Arunachala. The Hotel is located just off the girivalam roadway path, so very convenient for all those early morning walks.


The smaller buildings are part of the Hotel infrastructure and comprise shops, a health club, an ayurveda centre, an internet facility, a gift shop and various other bits and pieces.



Below -- the shop concourse from another vantage point.




In the next photograph some of the residential quarters with separate facilities upstairs and downstairs.




In the next photograph, the Hotel's internet facility, which is awaiting two more computers.




And the small reading room.



And lastly a photograph the very interesting 'retro' motor scooters given to guests to use during their stay at the Hotel.


27 May 2008

Palm Leaf People


And to start off the proceedings here is Ganesha made from a dried Palm Leaf.




The below sequence of photographs are of what the artist calls the 'Palm Leaf People'. Each of the iconic figures of Indian life (Tabla Player, Sadhu, Lord Krishna etc) are made from dried palmyra leaf. The artist, Christian, has had art exhibitions of both paintings and artifacts in many cities in India and overseas.





The above is a macrame owl, who looked so great in Christian's garden that I took a photograph of it.












If you are interested in finding out more about these 'Palm Leaf People', to either purchase or commission your own 'Person', please get in touch with Arunachala Grace at the email address at the top left column of this page.








11 March 2008

Baby the Monkey

The below sequence of photographs are very sad but we definitely hope that this little monkey named Baby, has a happy future in front of her. Sadly she was taken from her mother by some cretins who tied a rope around her and kept her for a short time as a plaything. The little monkey was attacked by dogs and the cretins who stole her from her mother abandoned Baby on the side of the road. A passerby got in touch with the Animal Shelter and now for the last 10 days, Baby has been a resident at the Shelter.



The wounds are bad, but Baby is on strong pain medication and antibiotics, and it has been decided to give her the chance to heal herself without too much surgical intervention. We have two excellent Vets at the Animal Shelter and she is receiving lots of love and excellent medical attention.


In these photographs she is in the arms of the Animal Shelter's Vet, Dr. Rajasekaran.


One important part of the work Arunachala Grace Network is that of animal welfare in the area. So much needs to be done, but remember individuals also play an important part.



If you see an animal in distress, or know of an animal being mistreated or abused please get in touch with:

Arunachala Animal Sanctuary and Rescue Shelter
Chengam Road, (next to Govt. Arts College)
Tiruvannamalai, Tamil Nadu 606 603
Telephone Number +91- (0)4175-310817


Its not necessary to get into conflict, just make that telephone call and let the Animal Rescue do the rest. And while you are at it, why not visit the Animal Shelter and see the incredible work they are doing in alleviating the distress and suffering of many wonderful animals.



The Animal Shelter is currently developing their own website, once it is up and running we will provide a link and invite animal lovers and kind hearted souls to keep up-to-date with all the great animal service that is beginning at Arunachala. I will give regular reports on Baby's progress, so keep checking back.