Mantra Jam

As promised here is additional information on earlier events at Tiruvannamalai; Ramana Rocks and Arunai Rocks, check out this posting. Both musical evenings featured rather unusual musical fusion by a group of contemporary musicians. One of the members of the musical ensemble is; J. Jayaraman who has been a resident of Ramana Ashram since 1985. He heads the Ramanashram Library and handles the Book Review column of the Ashram’s, ‘Mountain Path,’ magazine and has also served on its editorial board. He is an editorial advisor to the Tamil Journal, Ramanadhayam. J. Jayaraman’s interests range from afforestation and modern science to metrical chanting, mantras and movies.

To find out more about the group and events, read in the following in his own words.

Ramana Ashram Jam

“A month ago I left for Bangalore for a recording of 3 mantras for the Dances of Universal Peace's workshop at Sao Paulo, March 15-22nd. I am hoping to have at least one of them, if not all eventually, to be incorporated in a Dance designed around the sacred meaning exuding off each mantra.

My maternal cousin, is the founder and Lead guitarist of a trio, progrock band, which was rated the Best Band by World Space Radio for 2007. I had jammed with his group [Thermal and a Quarter] at some varied venues, and it had sounded and felt good on every occasion.

After completing the recording and mailing them off as .mp3 attachments to email, I got to witnessing the next act in the slick and simple Studio of my cousin's Band in downtown Bangalore. There was to be a rehearsal of ‘The Karthik Mani Fusion Group,’ [a motley group composed of skilled musicians from across genres]. There was Prakash Sontakke, a triple graduate from BHU [veena, vocal and guitar] and honoured with several awards [his website is worth a visit, vast and well endowed as he himself is]. He is a consummate artiste, and freely flows across cultures.

Ramana Ashram Jam

Karthik Mani, the leader of the Fusion Group, is a master percussionist facile in all types of Carnatic percussion as well as Jazz-Rock explorations, and can work up the instant magic of the blur of multiplying limbs that gives soul to skin and metal.

Rzhude's electric Bass can pack a mean rhythm and yet alternate with ethereal softness.

Adarsh on Tabla, youngest of them all, is a perspicacious player, providing exciting Northern foil to the Southern percussion,. and oozes romance in the rub.

President of Ramana Ashram with J Jayaraman

The Fusion Group conferred among themselves and didn't take long to decide on their 'starter' number for the concert the following evening. They started the rehearsal with Prakash's guitar 'sliding' into a raga [Naattai, perhaps, one of the few ragas reserved for primal invocation to] Ganesha. Then it was a roller-coaster ride into Fusion -land, what with Prakash's solo succeeded by solos from Bruce's guitar, Rzhude's bass and back to Prakash, and ending in a rush of flaming percussion in a Drums-Tabla dialogue that could only rightfully end in a Konnakkol Bol [verbal percussion duel]. But did it?

Arunai Hotel Jam

I couldn't help noticing how complete the whole thing would be if the Vedic mantra to Ganapati could be heard just at that juncture. When the Bol stopped on the 'samam', I was ready and chanted out the mantra for the rest to play along without break:

Arunai Hotel Jam

gaNAnAm tvA
gaNapati gam havAmahE
kaving kavInAm
upama sravastamam

Thou art the Lord of all groupings
To thee we offer Worship
O Poet of the poets
Whose fame is well-known

jyEshTha rAjam brhmaNAm
brhmaNaspata AnasruNvan nUtibhih sIda sAdhanam
mahA gaNapatayE namah

The Foremost thou art among the Great groupings
O thou Lord of the Chanters
Come to hear us
Heal the road by thy Presence!

It was an electric moment. When the chant got over, there was unanimous exclamation that the chant should start the song at the show.

Arunai Hotel Jam

As I got onto the bus after the show the following night, it was clear to me this group would serve as an admirable vehicle for my purposes of making mantra-jam. There was spontaneous acceptance all round by the members to come to Tiruvannamalai for a concert at the Ashram that I'd wanted focussed on selected verses from Bhagavan's ‘Monday Tamil Parayana’, the short poems of Sankara alongside their equivalent Tamil verses composed by Sri Ramana and sung at the Parayana.

As I returned, I was witness to a miracle in the form of an amazing coincidence ...A Concert video had been placed on my table at the Library by a friend on the day of my departure to Bangalore. When I returned I found it was the fusion concert of the group Khanda-5, with Karthik Mani's parents [both of whom are the founders of the Karnataka College of Percussion] jamming with Bulgarian and Irish musicians. What a coincidence that the parents of a person who was outside my domain of contacts had 'arrived' at my space in a DVD, weeks before I met the son incorporeal jam.

Arunai Hotel Jam

When I returned to the ashram and spoke about the concert and the rest of it, I found the President and Sri Mani very positive about having such a concert in the Ashram.

It was obvious that The Mantra-JJam Sextet would have to work out its game within the restriction of the impossibility of group practice before a concert, given the facts of location and careers. Pushing decision easily onwards to a focus on Spontaneous Unfoldment was the fact that the none of the five had ever been exposed to Ramana lore's poems while most of us here are well acquainted with their resonance. It was obvious it was a momentum intended to flow on its own powered by mantric vibratory presence amplified thru the manifested rhythm ornamenting the self-declared metric structures of the mantras.

The rest just flowed...and what followed as an unfolding flower was there for all to hear and see.”

THE MANTRA-JAM SEXTET
[Composed of]

Vocals: J Jayaraman [ashram]
Slide Guitar: pt. Prakash Sontakke [Bangalore]

www.prakashsontakke.com
Electric Guitar: Bruce Lee Mani [Bangalore]

www.ThermalAndAQuarter.com
Electric Bass: Rzhude [Bangalore] [Thermal and a Quarter]

Jazz & Carnatic Percussion: Kartik Mani [Karnataka College of

Percussion]
Tabla: Adarsh [Bangalore] "

The above narrative is all in the words of J Jayaraman. The Mantra-Jam Sextet hope to be performing soon in Chennai. Will post information as to venue and dates of their performance as soon as it is available.

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What the MJS hopes to present at its concert at Chennai under the auspices of the Chennai Ramana Kendra:

Excerpts highlighting metres and enunciation so that meaning flowers as experience as one sings along.

From:
[1] Arunachala Mahatmyam/Navamani Malai/Ashtakam

[2] excerpts from Sankara's small poems which Bhagavan had translated into Tamil verse

In original Sanskrit followed by Tamil

[3] Appalap-paattu/Anma Vidya Keertanam

[4] excerpts from 40-verses Anubandham

[5] excerpts from Kavya Kantha's Ramana Chatvarimsat, Guru Stuti, Ramana Gita and UMa Sahasram.

This is a Fusion which aims at manifesting the foot-tapping rhythms inherent to all metres. These lie hidden in most our metres since Indian metres are on hierarchical [binary] structure and so are very vast in their 'progeny'.

The duration allotted to a guru is twice that of laghu
The duration allotted to the gap at the end of each pada is more flexible, even a laghu could be uttered as laghu and the gap that follows before the start of the next pada, is solely a function of the filler needed to complete the counting of say a given number [say 32, or 16, or 8 or 4 for an even gait
OR
36, or 18, or 12, or 9, or 6 or 3 matras of matras per pada, for a Waltz-like gait [all Tamil venbas, for example].

Wheres the Water?

By now the nearly 700 acre Samudram Lake is full of water, but as the year has thus far been comparatively dry, decided to walk on the embankment of Samudram and see just how much water is in the Lake. The view in the below photograph is of protected land and farms on the east side of Samudram.

Walking along the embankment met a local lady picking herbs and leaves to make a preparation for a stomach condition.

From the pathway skirting the side of Samudram Lake, one can see the top of Arunachala peeping out behind the bushes and trees.

A view of protected land nearby.

The beginning of a small shrine being built by local villagers at the side of Samudram Lake embankment.

By this time of year all the green you can see in the below photograph would usually be 2-3 feet under water - but now all that exists is a large puddle. However today its raining, and the forecoast is thunderstorms and heavy rain for the next five days. The Lake is the major water catchment area for Tiruvannamalai and during the wet season, water pours down the Hill into canals and flows into the Lake - which will then fill up very quickly.

Will keep checking up on the Lake and see just how much it fills up over the next few months.

Deepam Lighting Arunachala 2007

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Ready to Pull

Its beginning to get interesting. Crowds are building up, and there is excitement in the air.

Ladies will be pulling the chains at the left and gents on the right. Already folk are deciding what part of the chain they have decided to reserve. These ladies definitely are marking out their spots.

There is a certain milling around, and people making decisions as to the best place to go.


Dotted around the 5 Chariots currently parked on Car Street, are vendors selling various puja paraphernalia.

Pilgrims are performing puja at their Chariot pulling station.



Its nearly time.

Lighting of Deepam

This year the lighting of the Deepam flame will be at dusk, November 24th. On that day between 2-3 million pilgrims will travel to Tiruvannamalai to either climb the Hill, perform girivalam around Arunachala or attend one of the numerous functions that will be held at Arunachaleswarar Temple, other Temples, Shrines, Ashrams and Homes. The below video is of the lighting of the Deepam Flame on Arunachala in a previous year.

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U.S. College Visit

St. Olaf a liberal arts College of the Lutheran Church located in Northfield, Minnesota, USA., is comprised of some 3,000 students representing 45 US States and 18 foreign countries. It is a College that inspires students to act on intellectual and ethical ideas to better the world at home and abroad. The students’ time in India is concentrated on lectures, discussions and field trips to facilitate a better understanding of the history, traditions and contemporary practices of religious expression in this country.

For the last 39 years St. Olaf College has offered a Global Semester comprising a five-month academic program offering five courses in different parts of the world. This year’s group of 28 students, 2 supervising faculty members and their teenage son are undertaking a global trip taking the group on visits to Switzerland (the United Nations Headquarters in Geneva), Egypt, India, Thailand, Hong Kong, China and South Korea.

Arrival of the student group to Quo Vadis

The travelling group, currently in the midst of its India Trip, was hosted by Quo Vadis Interfaith Dialogue Center and the Arcot Lutheran Church (ALC) on October 18th and 19th at Tiruvannamalai, Tamil Nadu. On the first day of their visit the students performed Arunachala Girivalam on four brightly decorated bullock carts, lunched at ALC Lebanon Compound, visited Arunachaleswarar Temple where a special puja was performed on their behalf, toured Ramana Ashram and enjoyed a cultural programme and dinner at the newly inaugurated Quo Vadis Inter Faith Dialogue Center. On Friday, 19th October, the group participated in a walking meditation on Arunachala Hill before leaving Tiruvannamalai for a short visit to the ALC at Cuddalore, Tamil Nadu. After the group’s Tamil Nadu itinerary is complete they will return to resume their study course at the Ecumenical Christian Centre, Bangalore (Whitfield).

The students on the girivalam bullock ride through Tiruvannamalai

After India, the group head towards Thailand for a week’s vacation before continuing their Global Semester in Hong Kong, mainland China and Korea before returning to the U.S. around January 25th, 2008.

Pack that Bike!

Information from Chennai reports that the NEW compulsory helmet regulations for a motorcycle driver, are being sporadically enforced. However, at this time, there is no legal necessity for passengers to wear helmets and in fact there is no legal compulsion to restrict the number on the motorcyle to a measly two. In what seems almost like a homage to the mad days of the record breaking ‘how many college students can fit into a telephone kiosk?’, it appears that the newest fad in Tiruvannamalai is, ‘how many people can fit onto a moving motorcyle?’

In the above photograph a small effort has been made to fit four well sized people onto a motorcycle, but the number is certainly not a record. We can definitely do better than that!

Pattali Youth Association Conference

On Saturday October 6th, a rally was held by The Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) on the occasion of the 15th Conference of the Pattali Youth Association, the youth wing of the PMK. The Conference’s intention was to publicize what the Party terms ‘the 10 commandments’ drafted by the Association to channel youth towards a constructive path as the Party’s founder believes that the modern youth in India is habituated to drinking alcohol.

In this respect it was claimed during the Conference that no other political party in India has tackled the problem of youth drinking in such a way. It was further stated that the number of TASMAC Shops (Government approved liquor shops) has doubled in Tamil Nadu during the tenure of the present Government. After the ‘10 Commandments’(drawn up to constructively channel youth) was read out, members of the Youth Association took a pledge promising to abstain from alcohol.

And this series of photographs are of the temporary facility constructed for the function. To view more pictures of the construction click here.

The above is the preparation of the parking lot for cars and coaches for the Conference.

Side view of the large, open space of the Conference facility.

Word has it that the total cost of the function came to 30 Lakhs (i.e. U.S.$77,000)! As well as the huge cost of the function there was also the complication of organizing a large security personnel force to ensure the political rally went off peacefully – and happily it did, the whole function was trouble free. Also they have done a very good clean up job after their well attended function. The people of Ramana Nagar, Tiruvannamalai thank them for it.

Land Information

Up to 5 years ago it was possible to buy prime agricultural land (with a good water source) within a couple of kilometres of the Hill for under 2 Lakhs an acre. The main reason for this undervaluing of land was due to the fact that 'Tiruvannamalai' is classified as a 'backward area'. In this respect even now official Land Registry prices of both urban and agricultural land is priced very low.

Over the last years due to a variety of factors, land prices are experiencing a continuous and steep vertical rise. Land which cost Rs.100,000 an acre just five years ago is now selling for between Rs.12-15 Lakhs nowadays. (A Lakh is a 100,000)

Reasons for price rise:

1) Professional out-of-town brokers and speculators artificially inflating land prices.

2) Certain groups of financiers, such as Jains and Chettiars, buying land for investment purposes.

3) The District Collectorate moving to this area and thereby making Tiruvannamalai the District Headquarters.

4) Development and promotion of the area for tourist purposes by the Tiruvannamalai Municipality.

5) Increasing fame of Arunachala and the huge increase of new high income residents.

6) The attraction of New Age Gurus developing Ashrams at Tiruvannamalai.

For the above reasons good land (with water supply) located within 3 kilometres of the base of Arunachala is priced at between 15 to 30 Lakhs an acre. Urban land for the purpose of individual house units costs anywhere from Rs.200-Rs.600 a square foot.

If the above prices are already too steep for some wishing to relocate to Tiruvannamalai, then one has to travel up to 12 kilometres from the base of Arunachala to start finding available land at pre-boom prices and where it is still possible to find tracts of agricultural land at under 3 Lakhs an acre. Land prices will NOT be going down in price and one doubts that land prices will plateau and stabilise for at least another 2-3 years. Prices will continue to go and stay up.

Indian readers of this Blog know only too well; that the exorbitant land and property prices in metropolitan/tourist areas like Chennai, Bangalore and Bombay, make parcels of land within City boundaries affordable ONLY to large Companies, Developers and Financiers. To the non-Indian readers of this Blog who remembers with nostalgia the cheapness of prime land at Arunachala, be assured bargain basement days are over and you now have to pay SERIOUS money for what you want.

If you need help or assistance in finding out more about real estate in this area, you are welcome to get in touch with:

arunachalameenakshi@rediffmail.com

In the below link some beautiful ‘urban land’ available for plots and houses at reasonable prices.

http://arunachalagrace.blogspot.com/2007/09/walk-about.html

Land Grab

I suspect that nowadays even Sri Ramana Maharshi's devotees wouldn't be allowed to construct Skandashram on Arunachala Hill. So its not really surprising that a certain controversy is currently underway at Tiruvannamalai regarding the development of new Swami Nithyananda facilities in the township of Tiruvannamalai. I reproduce below the following narrative which appeared in New India Press this day:

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Godman’s attempt to grab land foiled
Friday August 31 2007 11:03 IST

By A.D. Balasubramaniyan

TIRUVANNAMALAI: Bangalore-based Godman Nithyanandha Swamigal’s attempt to grab vast tracts of land on the hill slopes of Tiruvannamalai was foiled by the public here on Wednesday.

According to sources, huge earth movers had suddenly appeared from nowhere and started removing boulders on the hill slopes for the construction of an ashram for Nithyanandha Swamigal.

The small hillock, where these fraudulent activities were being carried out, actually belonged to the State Revenue Department. Local residents tried to prevent the work.

Meanwhile, CPM cadres stepped in and informed the police, who in turn, informed the revenue department. CPM cadres joined local residents in their agitation against the land grabbers.

The workmen of the Godman initially defended their actions saying that they had patta for that land. Revenue officials, who reached the spot shortly after the agitation, negated their claim and stalled the work.

Rayar Krishnamurthy, a devotee of Nithyanandha Swamigal, who carried out the works, gave a letter to Revenue Department officials stating that he was constructing an ashram for Dhiyana Peetam of Nithyanandha and would not engage in such activities any more.

Police then seized the earth movers. The Godman’s workmen had also felled many trees, planted three years ago under an afforestation drive.

The CPM demanded that the police book a case against them and remove another ashram, set up by Nithayanandha on the hill slopes."

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Its certainly interesting times. I will continue with updates on this situation as it unfolds.

Tennis Courts

This is really good news for me a long standing tennis aficiando, who nowadays lazily likes to watch more than play, but maybe the new courts will give me the wakeup call to start playing again. Anyhow, first day of Wimbledon, is a good day indeed to get word that the Tamil Nadu Sports Development Authority is setting up two Australian style synthetic tennis courts at Tiruvannamalai at a cost of Rs 19 lakhs (i.e.U.S.$47,000). Although Tiruvannamalai already has a clay court in a governmental office complex, these new courts would be the first of their kind in Tiruvannamalai District.

The courts are being constructed in a newly inaugurated District sports building, located within the Master Plan complex. The tennis court enclosure will comprise two courts, mesh fencing and towering walls on either side, for players to practise. With the construction of walls nearing completion, the flooring work was already underway.

Construction work of the courts is expected to finish in about two months. Business establishments will be allowed to pay and make use of the courts and the multi-gym in the sports complex for their employees.

Harmony Function

Yesterday evening I visited the Danish Mission School, Tiruvannamalai (run by the Arcot Lutheran Church) to watch a cultural programme put on by Quo Vadis. The programme was scheduled for 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. When I arrived final preparations were being made and a stage had been set up in front of a building in the School's main courtyard.

The event known as 'Quo Vadis Harmony' is intended to be the engagement of music and arts to promote cultural dialogue. It is proposed that 'Quo Vadis Harmony' will have similar cultural programmes in the future.

It was the first time I had ever visited the Danish Mission School, located near the Periyar Statue in the heart of Tiruvannamalai. I have heard that it is the largest school in Tiruvannamalai with over 4,000 students. Fortunately school was over for the day and the school grounds were deserted except for a contingent in charge of preparations.

I look forward to re-visiting the school another time and view some of its grand old buildings.

Final preparations were quickly completed and the crowds arrived to watch a 2 hour programme comprising; a violin recital, drama, performing arts and a dance programme, put on by the 42 members of the 'Quo Vadis Forum'.

As I sat watching the much appreciated programme in the dusk at the Danish Mission School, I observed Arunachala in the distance and thought how delightful it was to be listening to a 12 instrument violin recital playing Beethoven and Bach at the foot of the sacred Hill.

The below backdrop to the stage was painted by Rev. Joshua Peter (the co-ordinator of Quo Vadis and a Lutheran pastor in this area) with the words:

DISSOLVES THE EGO, THE FLAME OF AWARENESS
RIGHT SPEECH, HELPFUL PEOPLE
RIGHT VIEWS
RIGHT MINDFULNESS
RIGHT LIVELIHOOD
RIGHT EFFORT, INNOCENTS
CAREER, THE JOURNEY

The programme included a Bharat Nityam dance by three young lady members of the 'Quo Vadis Forum'.

The main highlight of the evening was a recital by 12 violins playing music by Western composers including Beethoven and Bach. The recital, an 'arangettram' (debut public musical recital) included some violinists that had been playing for only a very short time. The violinists had been trained by Rt. Rev. Dr. Gideon Devanesan.

As well as music there were many cultural and performing arts sketches and short dramas including both men and women enacting lessons of morality and righteous living.

The large audience was well entertained and inspired by the programme and even the young kids enjoyed the evening. In the below is a sweet little princess all made up by her Mum.

The evening was a great success and well enjoyed by the large audience.

At the end of the evening the Bishop of Arcot, Rt. Rev. Dr. Gideon Devanesan made a short speech to us visitors.

I am already looking forward to the next 'Quo Vadis Harmony' programme.

Sparsa Update

Several people have been in touch asking about the construction progress of the area's new luxury hotel, Sparsa Tiruvannamalai. I was wondering about that myself, so yesterday, Wednesday, June 13th, decided to check out work at the new hotel.

At the site, one of the supervisors mentioned that construction of the Hotel complex would be finished within a month. If you would like to look at the interior of the Hotel's rooms, click here. For earlier postings following Sparsa Tiruvannamalai's progress, visit 5th February posting, and 24th April posting.

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Anyhow, first off on the current trip is a photograph of the administrative and shop area. Shops in the Hotel Compound will include a flower shop, coffee shop, internet facility and a gift shop. Other facilities at the complex will also include an ayurvedic health centre and a health club.

In the next photograph, workers are finishing the thatching on one of the shop's roofs. As well as for purely aesthetic reasons, the roof thatch is also functional in helping buildings maintain a constant temperature. However the lovely straw roof is not actually structurally relevant to the building, as it is only a facade covering of a regular style roof; so no need to worry about drips coming through the roof in the middle of a storm!

Here is a photograph of a recently completed thatch roof. I was told by the roofing master, that these roofs will last up to 7 years before they need to be replaced.

Quite different from the style inside the accommodation rooms, in the below photograph, is an example of floor tiling of shops and administrative offices.

In the next photograph is a row of accommodation cottages. Each cottage has two rooms upstairs and two downstairs, all with a view of Arunachala. All that remains to be done in this area is the pathways (which I've been told will in most cases be made of flagstones) and the garden landscaping.

The below is of two mandapams (halls) which will be utilised for meetings, retreats, talks, meditation or group meetings.

One essential in any comfortable hotel is the swimming pool; which in this case is facing Arunachala. The various buildings around the pool comprise, changing area and showers, a restaurant, upstairs viewing platform and outdoor restaurant, and to the right (and out of the picture) a large two storey conference hall and kitchen.

Even in the building of such a sophisticated project, most of the work is done in the traditional Tamil way i.e. by hand.

The below is of the inside of the conference room.

The next photograph is taken from the upstairs roof on top of the rooms around the pool, including changing rooms and showers, restaurant, conference room and kitchen. The roof which faces Arunachala will be transformed into an outdoor restaurant.

Looking down from the roof we can see progress on the Hotel's swimming pool. As well as this public pool, one of the accommodation villa's has its own small private swimming pool.

Looking from the roof into another direction, I can see sheafs of hay lined up drying in the sun and waiting to be used by roofers to thatch the rest of the office buildings. In the background, behind the bushes and small trees, is Arunachala.

The Hotel is situated in a quiet, undeveloped area and this is one of the views of the outlying countryside.

In another direction and outside the Hotel compound, is a very beautiful recently constructed local Temple.






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Opening Day of Sparsa, Tiruvannamalai, is set for the first week of August. Room rates are as follows:

Per day single occupancy U.S.$75, double occupancy U.S.$90, each additional bed in room U.S.$10. Deluxe room with private pool U.S.$115. There is an additional 12.5% luxury tax on the above prices.

If you would like additional information or assistance to make a reservation, please contact us at:

arunachalana@fastmail.fm

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The eco-sensitive design group responsible for Sparsa, Tiruvannamalai, is 'Inspiration', Architects, Engineers, Designers and Craftspersons from Kerala. The below photographs are from a recent architectural Indian magazine including some of the Company's recently completed projects.

'Inspiration' is a design group associated with the eco-sensitive concepts of the renowned Laurie Baker.

For more about Laurie Baker please check our recent posting.

We will continue updates on the above.