Letter From India 1985

Today is the birthday anniversary of my own Sadguru, Sri Sathya Sai Baba. If he was still in form he would have been 90 years this day. Swamiji loved Arunachala and in fact his very first spiritual teaching made when he was 14 years old was to sing “Manase Bhajare Guru Sharanam” to his devotees. 

In this bhajan Bhagavan exhorts devotees to worship the feet of the spiritual preceptor and explains that there is no difference between the Pranava Om (which pervades the Universe), Arunachala and the Lord. Bowing to one is as bowing to all. 

Manasa Bhajorey Guru Charanam 

Dusthara Bhava Sagara Tharanam 

Guru Maharaj Guru Jai Jai 

Sai Natha Sad Guru Jai Jai 

Om Namah Shivaya, Om Nama Shivaya, 

Om Namah Shivaya, Shivaya Namah Om 

Arunachala Shiva, Arunachala Shiva, 

Arunachala Shiva Aruna Shiv 

Om Omkaram Baba, Omkaram Baba, 

Omkaram Baba Om Namo Baba 

"O mind, worship the Lotus Feet of your God and Supreme Teacher that will take you safely across the ocean of life and death. Victory to our Lord and supreme Teacher, Sai Nath! 

Mind, also chant and worship; the Divine name of Lord Shiva and Arunachala mountain (which is no different to Shiva) and Baba whose form is OM." 

Since that early age of 14 years and his first teaching, Sri Sathya Sai Baba often encouraged, suggested and even ordered devotees to come to Arunachala. As well as his love of this Holy Place, Sri Sathya Sai Baba often guided people (as did Ramana Maharshi) in the method of Self Enquiry. 

"All agitation will cease the moment one enters on the enquiry. 'Who am I?' This was the sadhana that Ramana Maharshi achieved and taught to his disciples. This is also the easiest of all disciplines." [Sri Sathya Sai Baba] 

 --- oOo ---

The following is an abridged extract from a letter written on May 8th, 1985 by Eileen, (a devotee of Sri Sathya Sai Baba) to her family in the U.S. She and her friend Barbara had been staying at Swami’s Puttaparthi Ashram and were visiting Tiruvannamalai for the first time. The letter is particularly interesting in that it conveys Eileen’s first impressions of Tiruvannamalai and Arunachala and also tells of her meeting with the great saint Swami Ramsuratkumar. 

After spending a number of years living in India, Eileen returned to the United States and is currently working and living in California. As of this date she has not yet returned to Arunachala. 

Letter From India

“Barbara and I left on the 2 PM bus to Tiruvannamalai. We arrived and were let off at the Ramana Maharshi Ashram at about 6:30 PM. We were showed around, got a room and had dinner there. It’s a place of Peace . . . the huge Arunachala mountain paints the background, beautiful. The ashram itself has a few one-story buildings, tiny office and bookstore; bare dining room and kitchen, the main temple; a meditation room, etc. 

Since the Arunachala Hill is Siva Himself, Siva is the One worshipped here, mostly in the form of the sacred Lingam. Nandi the bull (Siva’s vehicle, said to be Siva’s first and most devoted follower) is everywhere, always facing Siva or Lingam. Strong vibrations in the Temple, very high. 

We stayed in the ashram accommodation rooms that are in a walled-in compound outside and across the street from the ashram itself. Our room, #7, had two beds, a writing table, closet, fan and separate toilet (Indian style) and shower rooms. Luxury!!! 

Nothing costs anything at the ashram – you get a room, are served breakfast, lunch and dinner, and are given guides, all completely free. But then at the end of your stay, you can give a donation. Anything you want but we were told by people who had visited there, that Rs. 5/- a day was fine . . . . 

The program there is mostly only Vedic chanting and pujas in the temple—that’s it. So you’re not as occupied as in Parthi. But you do get Darshan—Darshan of Arunachala. One Sai devotee said, “I went there and had Darshan of Sai,” and it’s true! The mountain is so sacred, so worshipped, powerful and special—it is like having Darshan of Sai. No kidding. 

The next day the 4th, we planned to go around the mountain. A Sanyasi friend, Sathya, had had a bad staff infection on her foot, very painful, and she said going around Arunachala was the only thing that made it feel better. So, so much for my bad-foot excuse! Well I wanted to go around the hill anyway, it was so special. 

It was a full moon night, the most auspicious month in the Tamil year and a full eclipse of the moon from 12 midnight to 3 AM! A group of 20 of us trekked off around 11 PM, so we could go around during the eclipse. Usually takes about 4 hours to go around—it’s 8 or 9 miles. 

But this group, they stopped a few times, once even for half-an-hour. So it took longer. By like three-quarters of the way through, Barbara and I were leading the way, far ahead of the rest. As for me, I needed to keep up a fast pace because when I slow down, I get lazy and tired. My foot didn’t hurt at all the whole way - ! But my legs started to hurt for the last half-a-miles. 

It was wonderful—so sacred. Real blessings. The next day I felt a definite change in me—can't explain but something had happened. Special. 

We finished at around 4:15 AM. Slept for a few hours then up for the day (the 5th). 

Forgot to say, before going around the mountain Barbara and I went up the hill to a cave where Ramana Maharshi spent over 20 years, meditating, remaining in bliss. They’ve built a small temple over the spot (rather, an entrance to the cave). Very high, peaceful vibrations. 

On the 5th, we went to the Arunachala Temple in the village. It’s huge, huge—hundreds of years old. It was much bigger than the huge Temple we went to in Madras, the famous one we were living by. 

We went to the innermost shrine where a huge Lingam was installed. It was smoky from incense, very, very hot—the priests all around chanting the Vedas and mantras and were soaked in sweat—all adding to the effect. I had the feeling of coming into the presence of something huge and powerful, beyond my comprehension. The image of the black lingam seen through thick smoke, accepting the worship and adoration being poured on Him, stays in my memory. What an experience! 

We were told about a saint living nearby, Ramsuratkumar. Personally I'm not much for seeing saints but I got a intuitive, special vibration when I had heard about him, so we had decided to see him. For days before, I had been thinking that I have nothing to ask or tell him, no questions or anything. But then, there was a big question of whether I should return to Puttaparthi. I had planned to stay at Ramana Ashram and either ask permission to stay longer or go straight to Madras to the Theosophical Society. 

So anyway, after the Temple, we went to the saint’s house. We got there and he let us in. He’s short and chubby, with a white beard going down several inches. An air of joy, his face shines. His small, intense eyes pierce through you—very, very good vibration. I felt right at home in his presence. He had us sit on the porch/parlour, inside the door. He also sat, a few feet away. 

Yogi Ramsuratkumar

We were with him maybe 20 minutes. No others, just us. It made me think of the high saints Yogananda had visited. Yogi Ramsuratkumar had a fan and would fan, or point it at us as if doing something on the astral plane—sometimes put one hand up, sometimes would look like he was shooing away entities that had come near him. He went into several long silences. He controlled everything—the questions, what subject, when to be silent. 

He asked us about our education, jobs, if we had a guru, how long we had been in India. When he found out we had been with Sai Baba for five-and-a half months, he said, “Very lucky, very lucky.” 

Everything he said seemed to have a subtle meaning also, no question was taken by me to have only been on the physical level. He seemed beyond that—deeper meanings. 

It was nearing the end and then out of the blue he asked, “And how long will you stay in India?” He pointed to me and said, “she’s staying three months but doesn’t know where.” Ramsuratkumar turned straight to me and said, “YOU will stay with BABA.” ‘Baba’ he said with a normal voice but suddenly, the whole room was flooded with love and peace—GOD Himself had entered. It was like a huge wind, we were completely blown away from the vibration. All from the one word ‘BABA’. 

Soon after that, he got up with hands in blessing saying, “Barbara and Eileen, my Father blesses you,” and repeated it (before, he had asked our names and how to spell them). Then he saw us to the door and we got in the bicycle rickshaw and drove past. We gave him the “namaste” hand pose and he put both of his hands high in the air, in blessing, with a smile too (standing on the porch watching us leave). 

The next day, I spent a lot of the time in the Temple and Ashram pujas and meditation room. Barb climbed three-quarters of the way up Arunachala. Then at 9 PM went to get our 9:30 PM bus. Delays, super-crowded. Almost unbearably high seats that didn’t go back. Constant noise. Bodies filling not only every seat, but bodies also sitting and standing packed in the tiny aisle. Along with that, the luggage—filling every space. Crying babies, kids lying across their parent’s laps; constant rumbling of Indian languages; loud rock-like Indian music blaring away. 

Bodies everywhere. We were putting our knees up on the seats next to us, to try to sleep. Our feet weren’t touching the floor, but were dangling a foot or so above it. Then I felt flesh underneath and found that a boy of like 12 or 13 years was sleeping under our feet! A village lady’s elbow was pressing against my shoulder and a man’s side was mushed against my leg. 

Long stops and fights with still more people who wanted to get on but couldn’t. Impossible to get out (to stretch legs) for the whole trip. The most you could do was move an inch or two to the side. It was a 6½ hour ordeal (remember it took 4½ hours to get there). 

We arrived back at Puttaparthi in time for evening Darshan (May 7th). Met with stories of Sai Baba not coming out at all for two Darshans, during the short time we were gone. We both got 1st row for evening Darshan but He was giving a discourse in the Mandir to His school kids (college/Jr. college) and didn’t come out at all. I had never seen such a thing—all the Mandir doors and windows were closed. He spoke over an hour then bhajans started, didn’t come out at all during bhajans. Then at arathi He slipped out and into the interview room. Luckily, I saw a glimpse of Him. 

Next morning, I was the third-to-last person in the last row to get in—everyone was packed so I stood outside the wall. Sai came. He walked in a direct line to me with the most intense, powerful, Siva stare I have ever experienced. It was to the point of beyond all the three worlds of existence and consciousness. I was completely blown away, as if a storm had overtaken me. I cannot imagine anything closer to the formless Divinity itself, being experienced through the physical body of Divinity—of Sai. I felt almost as if Sai Baba had gone to the utmost limits of what He can show of His Divinity, in the physical realms. 

He approached me staring straight into my eyes—as God, as Power, as Siva Himself. I was experiencing power and energy radiating all around and out of Him—all energy, all power. 

You know there’s love between us all so let us just do His will . . . I say I'm a child of God but I'm really just a puppet."

OM to you. 

2014 Navaratri Kolu Display at Yogi Ramsuratkumar Ashram

I made a very nice posting during the 2013 Navaratri Function of the significance of Kolu (Tamil=Golu: means “Divine Presence”) displays during the Navaratri Festival, see this link here. In this respect at that time, I visited the house of a Priest family of the Arunachaleswarar Temple to view their Kolu display and it was those photographs that I posted in the above link. 

This year I am posting photographs of the very elaborate, beautiful Kolu display at the ashram of Yogi Ramsuratkumar. If you are hereabouts, do visit the Kolu display, its really quite lovely. So much time and attention has been spent in creating beautiful displays of legends and leelas of Gods and Goddesses. 

Kolu figurines can be simple or very complicated and based upon Gods and Saints, depictions of the Epics and Puranas (i.e. Mahabharata, Ramayana, Krishna Leelas etc.), Demigods and National leaders, marriage occasions, musical instruments, shops, current affairs and scenes from everyday life; such as shops, bus stop, cars, street scenes etc. 

Historically Kolu had a significant connection with the agricultural economy of Ancient India. In order to encourage de-silting of irrigation canals the Kolu celebration was aimed at providing demand for clay that was needed for the celebratory dolls. It is believed that the tradition of Kolu has been in existence from the reign of the Vijayanagara kings. 

There are several sections at the Yogi Ramsuratkumar Ashram within the Kolu displays depicting the abodes, live and legends of various Gods and Goddesses. 

One section is of Lord Shiva and has beautiful models with figurines of our own Arunachala, the Amaranath snow lingam and dancing Lord Shiva at Kailash. 

Arunachala Hill with beautiful details

Amaranath Snow Lingam

Mount Kailash and Dancing Shiva

Another section is of the Ramayana with models depicting various parts of the legend. 

Section on the Ramayana

Section shows some of the tales and stories of Rama and Sita

There is a very special section dedicated to the 6 abodes of Lord Murugan. 

Those six abodes are: 

Thirupparamkunram: Located on the outskirts of Madurai on a hillock where Kartikeya married Indra's daughter Deivanai. 

Tiruchendur: Located on the sea-shore near Tuticorin. The Temple commemorates the place where Murugan worshiped Lord Siva and won a decisive victory over demon Soorapadman. 

Palani: Located south east of Coimbatore, the Temple is build on a hill top where Murugan resided after his feud with his family over a divine fruit. 

Swamimalai: Located at 5 km from Kumbakonam, the Temple is built on an artificial hill and . commemorates the incident where Lord Murugan explained the essence of "Om" to his father Lord Siva. 

Thiruthani: Located near Chennai, Murugan reclaimed his inner peace after waging a war with Asuras and married Valli here. 

Pazhamudircholai: Located on the outskirts of Madurai on a hillock with a holy stream nearby called "Nupura Gangai". 

Section dedicated to Lord Murugan

The person assigned to the Lord Krishna section has done an amazing work in depicting various leelas from the legends surrounding Lord Krishna. 

Section full of Krishna leelas and legends

With two nice butter BalaKrishnas

Another section is of the Yogi Ramsuratkumar Ashram. 

Beautiful wooden model of the Ashram Hall

Yogi Samisthan

Road back of Yogi Samisthan

First night of Kolu Display

[Photographs by Hari Prasad]

All these photographs were taken on the first night of the 2014 Navaratri Kolu Display at Yogi Ramsuratkumar Ashram. Each year this ashram surpasses itself with its beautiful displays. Truly a work of love dedicated to their guru. 

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Traditionally in the evening of the conclusion of Navaratri i.e. Vijayadasami (the day of Victory) the dolls from the ‘Kolu’ are symbolically put to sleep by laying them horizontally and Kalash (a small pot made up of silver or brass containing rice, sticks of turmeric, toor dal and a rupee coin—with coconut and mango leaves at the mouth of the pot) is moved towards the direction of the North to mark the end of that year’s Kolu Festival. 

Devotion to the Guru

In the previous post I talked about a personal experience with Swami Satchidananda, a great saint with strong ties to Arunachala. In the below narrative Swami writes very beautifully about the power of devotion to the Guru. 

My Masters and Yogiji 

“Coming to Anandashram in January 1949 was like returning home, my real home. From the next day of my arrival at the Ashram, I kept myself busy serving the Masters Swami Ramdas (Beloved Papa) and Mother Krishnabai (Pujya Mataji) in every possible way. In a very short time I became one with the Ashram. They taught me that Sadhana was not merely sitting still in meditation with closed eyes, but also living a normal life with constant God-remembrance and doing all acts dedicating them to Him, thus making every movement of the Sadhaka an act or worship. Gradually I understood that, they being everything and beyond, serving them meant serving everybody else also. I found in Beloved Papa and Mataji my divine parents and in all the Ashramites and visitors my brothers and sisters. I found real peace and joy in life, the like of which I had never enjoyed till then. 

I came to them absolutely raw and shapeless like a lump of clay. I surrendered to them. They graciously took me in hand, pressed, crushed and moulded me to give shape to make me their instrument to serve all. Beloved Papa also gave me a lot of opportunities to move with his spiritual children who came to him as serious seekers and later became Mahatmas like Yogi Ramsuratkumarji Maharaj. How from an apparently possessive and obstinate nature, the Yogiji who took initiation from Beloved Papa, rose to the height of the Divine child of Arunachala is something for all the ardent Sadhakas to emulate. Not caring for even the basic requirements of the body, he threw himself totally at the feet of his Master whom he always addresses as 'my father'. lt is rare to see such intense vairagya. 

For nearly four decades, while he continued to deny himself of any of the normal needs, he became a source of solace and protection for innumerable devotees, more so in Tamil Nadu. His surrender to his Guru was total. He always used to say, "My father alone exists. Nothing else, Nobody else'. Even after dropping his body, the Yogiji continues to inspire many in the path of devotion. I still remember the touching reference he made at the time of our meeting at the guest-house of Sri Ramanasramam, Tiruvannamalai after a long gap of four decades. Answering somebody whether he was waiting for a few hours, he said not hours but for forty years. 

To meet saints is a blessing. To be with them is a greater blessing. To be given a chance to serve them is a great privilege.” 

[Swami Satchidananda]

Halahala into Poison

"Just as Shiva took 'Halahala' Poison and changed it into 'Ambrosia', the Lord will change difficult situations into Great Blessings for those who love God . . . " 

[Yogi Ramsuratkumar]

Lee Lozowick, A Tribute

Lee Lozowick, the spiritual son of Sri Yogi Ramsuratkumar of Tiruvannamalai, died November 16th, 2010 in his own bed in Prescott, Arizona, after a long battle with cancer. They say he died with a smile on his face.






Even though I have been fortunate over the years to meet many saints and holy people at Arunachala, there have only been two to whom I have felt a special connection. The first of these two is my own Guruji, Sri Nannagaru and the second is Lee Lozowick.

Many in Tiruvannamalai used to look forward to Lee’s regular annual visits to Arunachala, which in the last few years had to be curtailed due to Lee’s increasingly poor health. Whilst visiting Tiruvannamalai he would generally stay at his ashram ‘Triveni’ where he would make himself available at open meetings held at that facility. Lee was one of the most amusing and provocative gurus out of the many spiritual teachers visiting Arunachala.

In a famous book entitled 'Holy Madness', the writer Georg Feuerstein dedicates a chapter to Lee Lozowick, exploring his crazy wisdom guru tactics. My own experience was that whatever methods Lee Lozowick used, in personal interactions he was unfailingly kind and gentle. He has had a big impact on my life, and obviously his influence is still upon me, as I am now being inspired to write this tribute.

In 1975 Lee Lozowick was transformed by an 'event" that occurred upon waking up one morning from a night's sleep. Since then he has worked with hundreds of students and disciples in the U.S. and Europe.

He considered himself a "Western Baul," related to the itinerant tantric Baul musicians from Bengal, India. Additionally he was lead singer and lyricist for the rock band ‘Liars, Gods and Beggars’, the blues band ‘Shri ‘and the fused rock band the ‘Lee Lozowick Project’. Go to this link here:










To many an introduction to the teachings of Lee Lozowick is his book, “In the Fire”, which is a powerful look at enlightenment, ego transcendence, and the teacher-student relationship.

“The guru cuts a strange figure in the eyes of society. Indeed, the functional condition of the Divine contradicts all conventional standards. The cherished notions of the world are pointed out as delusions by the guru, and the movement towards union is declared invalid. The truth of existence is so potently simple that once you understand it, it seems totally unreasonable not to expect everyone to acknowledge your obvious grasp of the Divine process that is life. What does happen when you express this simple clarity? Not only are you not lauded, you are ostracized, vilified and attacked. The world does not take very kindly to the guru, because the awakened one is a living challenge to convention itself. The only challenge.”
[In the Fire by Lee Lozowick]

As an author he was very prolific and some of his most read books include; ‘The Only Grace is Loving God’, ‘The Alchemy of Love and Sex’, ‘Conscious Parenting’ and several volumes of poetry written to his Guru, Yogi Ramsuratkumar which communicate the essence of his teaching. His book website is at this link here and his own books are listed here:

Even though by nature he was approachable and easy going, with his devotees he demanded strong commitment and observance of structured sadhana.

In an interview with Andrew Cohen (video posted below), Lee Lozowick explains his attitude to sadhana and the results of skillful living thus::

“I am a firm believer in structure . . . I’m a firm believer in tradition, in the essence of tradition because I think that the laws of consciousness are the same now as they ever were but the world we live in is not the same as it ever was. So, I’m a firm believer in the need for a response to universal laws but not necessarily trying to recreate the old times and the old forms.

Every human being at the level of intrinsic dignity and intrinsic nobility, automatically knows how to live. If we are intelligent and educated, we know how to adjust to the circumstances that we find ourselves in. Obviously different than the circumstances fifty years ago.

So, my whole emphasis is on an instinctual search for that intrinsic dignity and that intrinsic nobility and from that, by definition, to be noble and to be dignified, is to have integrity, practice with impeccability, to live rightly and justly . . . I mean who knows how to? . . . If people don’t make an absolutely fundamental decision, an irrevocable radical decision . . . then they play around the edges . . .”

Interview with Andrew Cohen:

Or go direct to watch at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJ6rG38eql8

And by way of inspiration to all of us in our sadhana and journey towards God, I complete this Tribute to Lee Lozowick, with his joyous, inspirational words:

"To ultimately "make it" in this Work of Awakening, of Transformation, you have to embrace the miraculous -- always. And that miracle is you being so much at peace with yourself that you can turn your energy towards welcoming and using the opportunities that are always falling into your lap. To embrace and devour these opportunities will make you free, happy, full of life, full of passion."

Pearls of the Guru

"A real guru is like an ice cube. He cools your consciousness and then disappears without a trace." [Chitrabhanu-ji]

"Everyone has his own path, his mission, and even if you take your Master as a model, you must always develop in a way that suits your own nature."
[Aïvanhov]

"My Guru became my all-in-all, my home, mother and father, everything. All my senses left their places, and concentrated themselves in my eyes, and my sight was centred on him. Thus my guru was the sole object of my meditation and I was conscious of none else. While meditating on him my mind and intellect were silent and I had thus, to keep quiet and bow to him in silence."
[Sri Sai Baba of Shirdi]

"Everything in the world was my Guru. Don't you know that Dattatreya, when he was asked by the king which Guru had taught him the secret of bliss, replied that the earth, water, fire, animals, men, etc., all were his Gurus and went on explaining how some of these taught him to cling to what was good and others taught him what things he should avoid as bad."
[Ramana Maharshi]

"This beggar prays to his Father to bless you all who have come here. My Lord Rama blesses you, My Father blesses you. Arunachaleswara blesses you. It doesn't matter to me what name it is. All the blessings of my Father for all of you! Well, that is the end. That is all."
[Yogi Ramsuratkumar]

Sudama House

Today I visited Sudama, which is the house Yogi Ramsuratkumar lived in before his Ashram was built. And it was on February 20, 2001 at 3:19 a.m. in his Ashram at Tiruvannamalai, Bhagavan Sri Yogi Ramsuratkumar attained mukti.

His devotees have very nicely arranged this house displaying many of the items used during his life. I very much enjoyed visiting Sudama and recommend it to visitors and pilgrims. The house is located in Ramana Nagar at the back of the Post Office and across the road from the new Shiva Sannidhi facility.

"On December 1st, 1918, the child Ramsurat Kunwar was born into a righteous and devout religious family. His birthplace in Bihar was a village close to the sacred river Ganges, not far from Varanasi (Benares). From childhood, the child evinced an intense spiritual thirst and had extraordinary devotion towards the river Ganges. Playing along its shores brought him happiness and contentment and he would often fall into a deep, peaceful sleep by the banks of the sacred river." To continue reading the biography of Yogi Ramsuratkumar go to this link here.

Story of Sudama

The house is named “Sudama” after the famous story of Sudama and Krishna. The legend states that Sudama and Krishna were childhood friends. Krishna grew up and became king of Dwarka while Sudama got married and lived in abject poverty in another kingdom. Nevertheless, a great childhood love existed between them. Sudama received an invitation to visit Krishna in his Kingdom. It was customary that invitees carry a gift as a token of appreciation but as Sudama was poor he had no money to buy a gift and hesitated to accept the invitation. His wife, however, encouraged him to go and packed the family’s last handful of rice as a gift. Sudama gained enough courage to visit his childhood friend but felt ashamed about the gift.

After a long and tiresome journey on foot, Sudama arrived at the gates of Krishna’s palace tired and hungry. The King’s guard reluctantly carried the message to the Krishna that someone by the name Sudama had come by invitation. On hearing the name Sudama, Krishna dismissed his engagements, begged leave, and hurried to the gate where his old childhood friend was waiting. Krishna, on seeing Sudama, relinquished all protocol by bowing and hugging his childhood friend.

Krishna himself assisted in refreshing Sudama with a bath and clean comfortable clothes. After the exchange of past memories, Krishna asked Sudama what he had brought for him. Sudama summoned all his courage and in a moment of weakness handed Krishna the handful of rice wrapped in cloth. Sudama watched in eager anticipation, as Krishna opened the rice and lovingly chewed on the first helping to the amazement of Sudama and the curious guests. Krishna ate the rice with great love with a contented smiling face, showing the happiness of meeting his childhood friend.

Krishna was greatly pleased to see his old friend and treated him royally and with much love. Overwhelmed Sudama forgets to ask for what he actually came to ask. But the Lord realises what His friend needs, and the lord's consort Rukmini incarnation of Lakshmi, gifts him with his desires. On his return journey, Sudama ponders his circumstances and is thankful for the great friend he has in Lord Krishna. When Sudama finally returns to his home, he finds a palatial mansion instead of the hut he had left. He also finds his family dressed in extremely nice garb and waiting for him. He lives an austere life after that, always thankful to the Lord.

The spiritual significance of this event reveals that when charity is given from the heart without expectations of name, fame, appreciation or recognition, then the rewards multi-million fold. This is the characteristic of a karma yogi who performs actions relinquishing the fruits of the actions. The myth of Sudama is symbolic of God’s descent on earth to destroy evil, protect the virtuous and re-establish dharma in preparation for the birth of Krishna. It represents souls who assisted God to impart the message of the Gita to destroy the vices of anger, greed, ego, lust and attachment and thus transform themselves.

Lee Lozowick

The below photograph is of the late great sage Yogi Ramsuratkumar and his devotee Lee Lozowick. Even though his Master is now deceased, Lee still yearly visits Tiruvannamalai and stays for several days, at which time he makes himself available at open meetings held at his facility 'Triveni'. Probably out of all the sages, gurus and spiritual teachers who visit Arunachala, Lee is the most amusing and provocative. In a famous book entitled 'Holy Madness', the writer Georg Feuerstein dedicates a chapter to this fascinating character.

A sample of some of his beliefs and teaching:

"You'll always have passion if you have beginner's mind. If your passion starts to die, it won't be because of your spiritual work, your friends, your lover, or because of life's down times. Your passion will die because you have bought -- hook, line, and sinker -- an attitude that was sold to you by your parents, your school teachers, and this society. You've bought the attitude that you've got to look like that Playgirl man (if you're a man) or that Playboy woman (if you're a woman). You think you've got to be cool and cultured, that you've got to dress right and smell like the corporate world wants you to smell. If your passion dies it will be because you've bought that appearances are everything, including the appearance of your worldview, politics, opinions, and beliefs.

To ultimately "make it" in this Work of Awakening, of Transformation, you have to embrace the miraculous -- always. And that miracle is you being so much at peace with yourself that you can turn your energy towards welcoming and using the opportunities that are always falling into your lap. To embrace and devour these opportunities will make you free, happy, full of life, full of passion. Then your circumstances won't affect you so dramatically."

For rest of this article, go here

HAPPY NEW YEAR

HAPPY TAMIL

NEW YEAR,

14TH APRIL, 2007.

"JUST AS LORD SHIVA TOOK 'ALAHALA' POISON AND CHANGED IT INTO 'AMBROSIA', THE LORD WILL CHANGE DIFFICULT SITUATIONS INTO GREAT BLESSINGS, FOR THOSE WHO WORK FOR HIM."

[Yogi Ramsuratkumar]

Yogi Ramsuratkumar Ashram

Today for the first time in a long while, I visited Yogi Ramsuratkumar Ashram at Ramana Nagar. Yogi a great saint of Southern India lived from December 1, 1918 to February 20, 2001.

When he first moved to Tiruvannamalai, he lived at the Big Temple in town and later on at a house in the same area. But when Yogi's fame began to spread, large crowds started to gather at the house waiting for his darshan. The influx of devotees grew steadily in size eventually creating the need for an ashram. In 1993 Swamiji acceded to the acquisition of land, enabled by contributions, of a site of 3½ acres close to Sri Seshadri Swamigal and Ramana Ashrams.

In the below picture are some of the ashram cows just relaxing on a hot day under cooling trees.

Nearby the gardens and cows is the Veda Patsala, where young Brahmin boys are taught the correct chanting of vedas. Most of the boys will grow up to be priests performing pujas and functions either at Temples or at private functions. Near the Patsala, is a sign with the views of Yogi Ramsuratkumar on the inestimable value of chanting the Vedas.

Below is part of the Veda Patsala complex. Yogi Ramsuratkumar said that the Patsala would be the 'heart of the Ashram', and was intended to be a place where visiting pandits and scholars could stay and conduct Vedic research.

All around the ashram there are signs with the sayings of Yogi Ramasuratkumar. I read most of the signs but particularly enjoyed the below message from Yogi. It reminds me of Sri Sathya Sai Baba saying that criticism is like pointing a finger; when you point the index finger three fingers point back at you! Ramana Maharshi also would encourage positive thinking and speaking and in this respect it has often been mentioned in books and stories about Ramana that he always had good things to say about people.

The ashram has created a 'mini' girivalam (giripradakshina) pathway around the Ashram, and by following the signs in blue you will be guided on your way. I also took this particular photograph because of the very cute 'animal' trashcans; just didn't expect to see them in an ashram! But they're great. Reminds me also of the big love Yogi always had for animals.

At this peaceful ashram several regular ashram activities are conducted. Perhaps one of the most memorable is the daily sadhu feeding. The below photograph is the bamboo hut in which the sadhus firstly do 'bhajana and chanting' between 11.15 and 11.45 each day and thereafter take their lunch in the hut. I was told that between 40-50 sadhus and sannyasins congregate daily at the ashram for the chanting and lunch.

To the right is the mandiram of the Ashram, in which lies the samadhi of Yogi Ramsuratkumar and to the front a truly magnificent view of Arunachala. This almost direct southern aspect of the Hill is definitely one of the most memorable views of the Hill. If you want to find out more about the symbolism of different aspects of Arunachala, please check out this previous posting.

Below, nice, sunny faces of two of the ladies who work at the ashram. The atmosphere is very relaxed and pleasing and just about everybody seems to be happy and grateful to have been given the opportunity to work there. When Yogi Ramsuratkumar was alive he would always interact with ashram servants and be interested in their well being and keep up-to-date with family news.





Below is the inside of the Mandiram at the ashram. Yogi Ramsuratkumar was involved in every step of the large building programme which at one point involved the participation of up to 250-300 workers working long hours. The first Ashram structure to be completed was a small stone thatched-roof darshan mandir which could sit 200 people. It was located by the front gate of the developing Ashram and was the location of Yogi Ramsuratkumar’s regular darshans. But subsequently this huge Temple was built. The Temple 350 feet long and 150 wide was constructed to be big enough to accommodate 5,000 people. Due to photographic restricts I have only taken photographs of the northend of the hall.





Inside the huge mandiram at the southend is the temple and samadhi of Yogi Ramasuratkumar, (which you can't see). Whilst the mandiram was being built, Yogi spent much of his time in a bamboo hut supervising ongoing construction. For this reason he requested a representation of the hut remain inside the Mandiram.

Below is a statue representation of guruji, Yogi Ramsuratkumar. He always acknowledged with reverence his huge debt to sacred Arunachala and Arunachaleswarar Temple, saying:

'This hill and this temple, they have saved this beggar,' and with the utmost gratitude for the sanctity of Mount Arunachala, he would later say:

'This beggar wandering here and there, tired of wandering but having no home; Arunachalesvara, in the form of this hill, had mercy on this miserable sinner. So he gives thanks, a thousand thanks, to this holy hill, this holy temple. Oh, the magnanimity of the Lord! He has given me shelter for twenty long years. Whereas others who come are enabled to stay only days or weeks . . . For thousands of years the hill has given shelter to so many dirty sinners like me; and Arunachala will give us shelter for thousand of years to come.'

"Where is the Fire?

The Fire is there on the hill there.

But I don’t see it there.

You can see it if you are really bent upon seeing it.

Are you afraid of being engulfed by it?

Then you can’t see it

Have courage, no fear

You are sure to see it"

[Yogi Ramsuratkumar]

If you wish to read more about Yogi Ramsuratkumar Maharaj, please check out link for an excellent, short biography on the life of this saint.

Swami Ramdas

"Saints are beacons. Saints show the path. They hearten you in your struggle. Their words should carry absolute weight with you. They can awaken and enthuse you. But you have to advance on the path by your own growing inner power and will. You should feel conscious that the divine within is your sole refuge." [Swami Ramdas]

Swami Ramdas is another prominent saint of the 20th Century who is connected with Arunachala and spent a short time on the Hill living in a cave and performing austerities.

He was born in 1884 at Hosdrug, Kerala, India, and named Vittal Rao. He lived an ordinary life as householder in his community until he was thirty-six years of age, at which time an intense spritual transformation occured in him which filled him with an overwhelming wave of dispassion

At that critical time, his father initiated him into Ram mantra and assured him that by repeating it unstintingly he would, in due time, find true peace and happiness. As the mantra took hold of him, he found his life filled with Ram. It was then that he renounced wordly life and went forth in quest of God.

Eventually his travels took him to Tiruvannamalai, where he met with Sri Ramana Maharshi, Ramdas later said of the meeting, “The Maharshi, turning his beautiful eyes towards Ramdas, and looking intently for a few minutes into his eyes as though he was pouring into Ramdas his blessings through those orbs, nodded his head to say he had blessed. A thrill of inexpressible joy coursed through the frame of Ramdas, his whole body quivering like a leaf in the breeze.”

In that ecstatic state he left Maharshi's presence and went to spend nearly a month in a cave on the slopes of Arunachala to engage in the constant chanting of Ram mantra. This was the first occasion that he went into solitude. After twenty-one days, when he came out of the cave he saw a strange, all-pervasive light: everything was Ram and only Ram.

Following his experience in the caves of Arunachala, Ramdas continued his travels for nearly eight years which took him to many parts of India. Finally he settled down in Kanhangad, Kerala where the present Anandashram was founded in the year 1931.



One of the foremost amongst followers of Swami Ramdas was the great Indian sage Yogi Sri Ramsuratkumar (photograph above), who in 1952, achieved self realisation under the grace and light of his Swami. Yogi Ramsuratkumar attained samadhi at his own Ashram at Tiruvannamalai on February 20, 2001.