Peace

The below is part of a speech given during one of Sri Nannagaru’s trips to Arunachala:

“Peace is essential to human beings. I give the utmost importance to undiluted peace, unbroken peace. Peace is above money and power and beyond everything related to the world. If there is no peace, neither the wealthy or healthy are in a good condition. Peace is above money, peace is above power, peace is above everything.

Peace is essential, peace is a must, to everyone, to each religion, to every part of the world - to the whole of humanity. Without peace we cannot progress in any branch of life. To maintain economic wealth and prosperity or for the purpose of living comfortably and happily, it is essential to have peace. The gain of the whole world is not equal to peace. The body requires comfort, the mind requires peace. If there is no peace on the individual level, then there will be unrest, disturbance, and chaos throughout the world.

If you want peace you have to come out from ignorance, if you want peace you have to come out from wrong identification, if you want peace you have to come out from wrong thinking, if you want peace you have to come out from wrong habits, if you want peace you have to come out from wrong behaviour - peace is essential. We cannot buy peace in the market, we have to grow peace in the heart. We have to grow it in the mind.”

Hill Round

Whenever Sri Nannagaru visits Arunachala he will take the opportunity of going around the Hill and stopping at a few of his favoured shrines and holy places. Many of Sri Nannagaru's devotees follow him on his girivalam, thereby making the hill round a festive occasion.

The first stop of this Sri Nannagaru hillround is a Ganesha Shrine. In the below photograph devotees of Swamiji are crowding around (thereby hiding him from view) at the front of the Ganesha shrine.

Sri Nannagaru at the Ganesha Shrine

Even though Sri Nannagaru performs his hillround as a private affair, he is also courteous and friendly with many of the people following him on his girivalam. Sometimes Swamiji will take the time to stop and bless various followers.

Another favourite Swamiji stop over is Ramana's Bridge (passed Adi Annamalai Village) which is an area reputed to have been greatly favoured by Sri Ramana Maharshi when he used to perform pradakshina around Arunachala. (Sadly due to road modernization, the actual bridge where Ramana used to sit, has now disappeared).





The view of Arunachala from Ramana's bridge.

Sri Nannagaru actually performs his hillround by car. A whole convey of autorickshaws, trucks, vans and two wheelers, hotly pursue the lead car of Sri Nannagaru, vying with one another to get first in line after Swamiji's car.

Sri Nannagaru leaving Ramana Bridge and heading for Kubera Lingam.

The below photograph is particularly interesting because in it, one can see the new pavement meant for pilgrims performing pradakshina. Sadly many people believe that the material used on the pavement is not suitable because it actually makes barefoot walking quite painful. Whoops!

At the Kubera Lingam, a sannyasin sits quietly at the gateway of the Shrine.

It is Sri Nannagaru's practice to stop at Kubera Lingam and enjoy silent sitting for up to an hour. Some of his devotees, aware of this preference, go straight to Kubera Lingam for a good seat and await the arrival of Swamiji. He often gives a discourse or a spiritual talk while at this Lingam stopover.

This particular day Swami did not give a discourse and his devotees were able to enjoy a period of quite sitting at one of the famous asta lingams of Arunachala.

Performing hillround with Sri Nannagaru is a great experience and if you have the opportunity, definitely take it. Its certainly a unique and blessed way to perform Arunachala girivalam.

On August 15th, Sri Nannagaru left Arunachala for his native place Jinnuru, Andhra Pradesh. He will be returning to Arunachala around November 20th, in time for Bharani Deepam which takes place on November 24th. Swamiji is expected to remain at Arunachala at that time for up to 10 days.

For more information about this realised Master, please visit his website here.

Swami meets Quo Vadis

During Sri Nannagaru’s recent visit to Arunachala, he kindly agreed to Quo Vadis' request of a meeting, at which he answered the following questions:

1.Could you explain the core elements in your teachings?

2.How do you think that we can contribute to bring peace and reconciliations between people of different religions?

3.At Quo Vadis we like to help and facilitate people find “the right way” in their life. Do you have any suggestions on how to do that?

4.What is for you the most important teaching of Jesus Christ?

About 15 members of the Quo Vadis Forum met with Sri Nannagaru in his room at his Ashram last week and were grateful for the opportunity to listen to the words of this realised Advaitic Master.

Sri Nannagaru stated that his teachings were all based upon those of Sri Ramana Maharshi and Self Enquiry. Sri Nannagaru hails from Jinnuru, Andhra Pradesh but it was here at Arunachala (after Sri Ramana's samadhi) that Swamiji attained self-realisation.

He stated that the most important parts of Jesus Christ's teachings were his example of tolerance and love and "do unto others as they would do unto you".

Sri Nannagaru also stated that all religions have the same aim; that being the search for Truth. Probably one of the most surprising and controversial statements made by Sri Nannagaru at the meeting, was when he sternly stated that; "90% of educated people are self-centred (i.e. selfish)".

To find out more about this spiritual Master, you can go to his website at here.

Sri Nannagaru Visit

Sri Nannagaru of Jinnuru, Andhra Pradesh arrived at Tiruvannamalai this week followed by many of his Andhra devotees.

While here he will be stationed at Sri Nannagaru Ashram at Rajiv Gandhi Nagar, a short distance west of Ramana Ashram off the Chengham Road. Sri Nannagaru is expected to remain at Arunachala until the morning of the 15th August. Following his usual practice, Sri Nannagaru is expected to be available to his devotees and visitors while at his Ashram. To find more about this Advaitic Master, please check this website.