Happy Republic Day

Republic Day honours the date on which the Constitution of India came into force on January 26, 1950. On that day in 1950, India became a Republic. 

Jana Gana Mana is a five-stanza Brahmo hymn composed and scored in Bengali by Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore and it is the first stanza of the song that has been adopted as the National Anthem of India. 

Rabindranath Tagore

In the below video, the National Anthem of the Indian Republic—Jana Gana Mana, is sung by great classical vocalists of this country. 

 Jana Gana Mana

Jana Gana Mana
Jana Gana Mana Adhinaayak Jaya Hey, 
Bhaarat Bhaagya Vidhaataa 
Panjaab Sindhu Gujarat Maraatha, 
Draavid Utkal Banga 
Vindhya Himaachal Yamuna Ganga, 
Uchchhal Jaladhi Taranga 
Tav Shubh Naamey Jaagey, 
Tav Shubh Aashish Maange 
Gaahey Tav Jayagaathaa 
Jana Gana Mangal Daayak, 
Jaya Hey Bhaarat Bhaagya Vidhaataa 
Jaya Hey, Jaya Hey, Jaya Hey, 
Jaya Jaya Jaya, Jaya Hey 

Ohoroha Toba Aahbaana Prachaarita, 
Suni Tab Udaar Vaani 
Hindu Bauddh Shikha Jain, 
Parasik Musolman Christaani 
Purab Pashchim Aashey, 
Tab Singhaasana Paashey 
Premohaara Hawye Gaanthaa 
Jana Gana Oikya Vidhaayak Jaya Hey, 
Bhaarat Bhaagya Vidhaataa 
Jaya Hey, Jaya Hey, Jaya Hey, 
Jaya Jaya Jaya, Jaya Hey 

Potona Abhbhudaya Bandhura Pantha, 
Yug Yug Dhaabit Yaatri 
Hey Chir Saarathi, 
Tab Ratha Chakrey Mukharit Patha Din Raatri 
Daarun Viplab Maajhey, 
Tab Shankh dhwani Bajey 
Sankat Dukh Trata 
Jana Gana Path Parichaayak, 
Jaya Hey Bhaarat Bhaagya Vidhaataa 
Jayo Hey, Jayo Hey, Jayo Hey, 
Jayo Jayo Jayo, Jayo Hey 

Ghor Timir Ghan Nibiro, 
Nishithey Peedit Murchhit Deshey 
Jagrat Chhil Tab Abichal Mangal, 
Nato Nayan Animeshey 
Duswapney Aatankey, 
Raksha Kariey Ankey 
Snehamayi Tumi Mata 
Jana Gana Duhkh Trayak, 
Jaya Hey Bharat Bhagya Vidhaataa 
Jaya Hey, Jaya Hey, Jaya Hey, 
Jaya Jaya Jaya, Jaya Hey 

Raatri Prabhatil Udil Ravichhabi, 
Purb Uday Giri Bhaaley 
Gaahey Vihangam Punya Sumiran, 
Nav Jeevan Rash Dhaley 
Tab Karunaarun Raage, 
Nidrit Bhaarat Jagey 
Tab Charane Nat Maatha Jaya Jaya JayA Hey, Jaya Rajeshwar, 
Bhaarat Bhaagya Vidhaataa 
Jaya Hey, Jaya Hey, Jaya Hey, 
Jaya Jaya Jaya, Jaya Hey 


English Translation 
Oh! the ruler of the minds of people, Victory be to You, 
Dispenser of the destiny of India! 
Punjab, Sindhu, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Dravid (South India), Orissa, and Bengal, 
The Vindhya, the Himalayas, the Yamuna, the Ganges, 
and the oceans with foaming waves all around. 
Wake up listening to Your auspicious name, Ask for Your auspicious blessings, 
And sing to Your glorious victory. 
Oh! You who impart well being to the people! 
Victory be to You, dispenser of the destiny of India! Victory to You! 

Your call is announced continuously, we heed Your gracious call 
The Hindus, Buddhists, Sikhs, Jains, Parsees, Muslims, and Christians, 
The East and the West come together, 
To the side of Your throne 
And weave the garland of love. 
Oh! You who bring in the unity of the people! 
Victory be to You, dispenser of the destiny of India! 

The way of life is sombre as it moves through ups and downs, 
But we, the pilgrims, have followed it through ages. 
Oh! Eternal Charioteer, the wheels of your chariot echo day and night in the path 
In the midst of fierce revolution, your conch shell sounds. 
You save us from fear and misery. 
Oh! You who guide the people through torturous path, 
Victory be to You, dispenser of the destiny of India! 

During the bleakest of nights, when the whole country was sick and in swoon 
Wakeful remained Your incessant blessings, through Your lowered but winkless eyes 
Through nightmares and fears, You protected us on Your lap, 
Oh Loving Mother! 
Oh! You who have removed the misery of the people, 
Victory be to You, dispenser of the destiny of India! 

The night is over, and the Sun has risen over the hills of the eastern horizon. 
The birds are singing, and a gentle auspicious breeze is pouring the elixir of new life. 
By the halo of Your compassion, India that was asleep is now waking 
On your feet we now lay our heads 
Oh! Victory, victory, victory be to you, the Supreme King, 
The dispenser of the destiny of India! 
Victory to You, victory to You, victory to You, Victory, Victory, Victory, Victory to You! 

Meeting with Mooku Podi Swami

Vishesh a reader of Arunachala Grace recently sent me an email about his meeting and experience with Mooku Podi Swami here at Arunachala. I am posting the narrative in full below. The accompanying photographs were taken by myself some time ago while Swami was residing near Pavarthi Hill. 

“As you requested, I wanted to give my experience with Mooku Podi Swami. As I mentioned earlier, I live in the US and visited India on Vacation for three weeks. I got initiated into several Meditation techniques by Vethathiri Maharishi and then started to follow Sri Nithyananda Swami. There is a huge temple in the city where I live in the US. I did see some blog postings by you on Nithyananda Swami. I along with my wife, 10 year old son and my Father-in-law came to Tiruvannamalai on the evening of 5th January to be part of Nithyananda Swami's Birthday celebrations. I drove our car from Trichy and stayed in a hotel just outside of Arunachala temple. Because of worst traffic, I decided to take an auto rather than driving the car. That is when everything started. 

The auto driver who took us to Nithyananda Swami's ashram on our route started to talk about Mooku Podi Swami (MPS) and suggested us to attempt to see him once before we leave. Initially that thought did not get into me strongly. He mentioned that MPS stays in hotel called Arpana which is where we planned to go for Dinner on the 5th. He himself asked Arpana hotel's watchman about MPS whereabouts. The watchman replied that MPS no more stays in that hotel and moved to a place near the Srinivasan school on the Girivalam path. 

We had the dinner and then left to the hotel. I requested the auto driver to pick up again the next day to visit Nithyananda Swami's ashram. The next day on our way to the Ashram he stopped the auto at a place before to the Ashram and pointed out a old man and then said he is MPS. We just got out of the auto and stood on the other side of the road and paid our respects. I did not get any sort of opinions on MPS and prayed for his blessings. He had a look at our family and we felt really good about it. We had to leave to the Ashram as we had a Pada Puja scheduled with Nithyananda Swami. 

After we had our time at the Ashram we came back to see him and could not find him. Then we went to Ramana Asramam and Visiri Samiyar Ashram and spend the whole day. The next day (7th January) we were planning to return back to Trichy and I started to have a very strong urge to meet MPS once more before I leave. So we checked out of our hotel and headed out on the Girivalam path by 7.30 am. To our surprise, MPS was sitting on the same spot (it was a Police booth). We parked the car on the road, left our sandals in the car and got out of the car and sat on a bench which was around 30 foot away from him. It would have been around 20 minutes we just sat and got his darshan. He started to walk around and then came and stood near our car. I turned to him in the sitting position and we were looking at him for blessings. I was praying inside to get me initiated into Atma Vidya (Ramana Maharishi's “Who Am I” self introspection). Other than that, I did not have any other feelings. 

After seeing MPS standing near our car, the people around that place started to scream asking to open the car door as MPS wanted to sit inside. I immediately rushed and opened the door and requested him to sit in our car. He hesitated and did not sit. There was one small boy around (15 years old) and urged us to remove all the sandals out of the car. I removed everyone of them and then MPS came around and sat in the passenger side. I took my son and then sat in the car. He did not talk anything to me and used sign languages and gave me directions. I finally ended up in a hotel called Udupi. 

He went inside and showed sign language to me to make the chair available for him to sit. I did it and then me and my son wanted to sit on the floor near his foot. He urged us to sit on the chair in the nearby table. After he had some Dosa and coffee and he left and we again headed out of the hotel. I wanted to go around girivalam (anticlockwise-as you had mentioned in one of your posting) and came to the same spot where we started. He wanted to stop and then he got down. The same small boy asked me to do namaskarams and touch his feet. I did and when I tried to touch his foot, he nodded his head and signalled me as not to touch. I obeyed his instructions and said good-bye. He gracefully nodded and gave me his send off. Then there were people around who came got his blessings. 

Parvarthi Hill, off Girivalam Roadway

My wife after getting his blessings wanted to donate some money for Anna Dhaan at the Ragavendra Ashram. It was just across the road. After visiting Ragavendra Ashram, I had the feeling again to take a photo of him so that I can have in my Puja area for worship. We returned back to see him and he was not there. When I asked the people around that place they asked us to check at the Srinivasan school. 

Girivalam Roadway where Swami stays

We went there and found him sitting at the hallway. I walked up to him and asked him if I can take a photo. He nodded his head stood up and walked out of the school straight to our car. So we had him seated again and this time all of our family sat inside. He again signalled me to go anticlockwise. I started to drive. We went two full rounds this time and Swami by then started to take a nap. During the middle of the third round, the police had put some barricade and blocked the road. Then he signalled to take a diversion and then we ended up to go clockwise again. When the car came near the school, he signalled to stop and got down. I once again asked if I could take a snap and he nodded no again. That was the end. He walked straight inside the school and I did my namaskarams again and headed out. 

He was uttering two words again and again for 5 to 6 times: They were "ஆபிசு....ஆபீஸ்"” 

Dances of Inspiration

A delegation of dancers will be visiting Tiruvannamalai in the upcoming week with their message of Love and Inspiration in two dance programmes, Dancing Tara and The Dances of Universal Peace. The venues and times of these function are listed later in this posting. 

The purpose of these functions are to uplift and inspire both the paticipants and humanity through the sacred arts. 

To learn more about the work of Tara Dhatu, and view parts of the Mandala Dance of the 21 Praises of Tara please view the below video. Which shows that music and dance can be vehicles of spiritual celebration. 

Dancing Tara

Tara Dhatu 

Healing the Earth, bringing peace to the heart, inspiring and uplifting, the dancing Taras dive deep into their own empowerment, sending their blessings, their prayers, into the world. 

Turning the mind away from self obsession and into the wonder and glory of the interconnected web of life, we exalt in One Heart, One Mind, One Magnificent, Pulsing Universe. 

Dancing the Goddess, circles of dancers throughout the world gather to celebrate, reaching within themselves to balance the feminine side of their nature. 

Dances of Universal Peace 

Spiritual practice brings us face to face with Life and Truth, prior to the concepts and beliefs of the person, opening to our true nature - authentic, unguarded, beyond form and imbued with the spaciousness and love that connects all. 

The Dances of Universal Peace and Walking Concentrations are spiritual practice in motion. Drawing on the sacred phrases, scripture, and poetry of the many spiritual traditions of the earth, the Dances blend chant, live music and evocative movement into a living experience of unity, peace and integration. This taste of our true nature - as Universal Peace - opens to the possibility of a deep spiritual revolution within the person. 

To view a video of a Dance of Universal Peace in Amsterdam check below. The Dance of Universal Peace is intended to bring people together. The dance is influenced by a branch of Sufism, which concentrates on the heart whilst honouring other traditions. 

Dances of Universal Peace

Programme Venues


ARS Model Organic Farm 
Located at Samudram-Kanatham Pondi Road, 
5 kms from Ramanasram. Gate and name-board on left. 
Wednesday, January 23, 2013, 10.00 a.m.-11.00 a.m. (TARA Dance) 
11.30 a.m.-12.30pm (Dances of Universal Peace Circle) 


Marudham School 
Past ARS Organic Farm. 
Located at Samudram-Kanatham Pondi Road, 
5 kms from Ramanasram. Gate and name-board on right. 
Thursday January 24, 2013, 10.00 a.m.-11.00 a.m. (TARA Dance) 
11.30 a.m.-12.30 p.m. (Dances of Universal Peace Circle) 


Shanti Nilayam 
2 kms West of Ramanasramam 
No:8 Perambakkam Road Tiruvanamalai 
(after Sathya Cafe, same side) 
Friday, January 25, 2013, 10.00 a.m.-11.00am (Tara) 
11.30 a.m.-12.30 p.m. (Dances of Universal Peace Circle) 

--- oOo ---

Dances of Universal Peace led by Shivadam

Date:  January 26, 2013

Time: 7.15 p.m. onwards

Venue: Quo Vadis (past Manna Café)

Turn right after Kali Temple, Chengham Road

Dances of Universal Peace led by Shivadam

Date: January 28, 2013

Time: 8.30 p.m. onwards

Venue: Shanti Nilayam 

2 kms West of Ramanasramam 

No:8 Perambakkam Road Tiruvanamalai 

(after Sathya Cafe, same side) 

 

Tiruvoodal Festival 2013

Thiruvoodal Festival is celebrated in the month of Thai approximately on January 16th during Pongal (which has to do with the movement of the sun from the southern to the northern hemisphere). Legend has it that the Lord in answer to a promise given to Parvati appears on this holy day (Uttarayana) to dance on one foot. He says; ‘On Uttarayana holy day, I will do the dance when the sun rises.’

The word 'Thiru' signifies; deity, sacred, holy and wealth and the word 'Voodal' actually means 'tiff' or 'petty quarrel', and represents the friction between the male and female in a love relationship which is consciously exacerbated. The distinguishing mark of Voodal is that it should arise and stay only for a brief period and not be prolonged as its focus is the bliss when the Voodal is withdrawn.

The poem Thirukkural says in the chapters dedicated to 'kama' which is concentrated on the relationship between man and woman and the establishment of household and children, that; 'The way to amplify bliss through desire or relationship is through voodal. That ever present bliss you can only see when the tension comes and is withdrawn. It is like salt to food – beyond a certain limit it is lost completely.' Thirukurral explains the tiff as 'creation of a tension, which when released you have a bliss that is always present. It is the Voodal that helps one focus upon that.'

Thus Thiruvoodal is enacted by Shiva and Parvati to convey social truths to their devotees. It takes place; inside the compound of Arunachaleswarar Temple, on the streets delineating the perimeter of the Temple, and on the girivalam pathway itself; by iconic representations of Shiva and Parvati. Thiruvoodal Festival is regarded in such high esteem that one of the perimeter roads has earned the special name Thiruvoodal Street by this convention.

From the early hours Abishekam is performed at the Temple to start the procession by 5 a.m. At which time an iconic representation of the Lord (and Parvati) is carried by attendants on a palanquin with a huge sunshade.

Darshan of the Gods

The palanquin first visits the Kodi Kampathu Nandi and gives darshan as Viratswarupa and afterwards separates into three parts representing; Brahma, Siva and Vishnu before leaving the compound of Arunachaleswarar. 

Nandi

Procession through Temple Compound

After Blessing the Nandhis en route the Holy Couple of Periya Nayakar (Protagonist Of the Universe) and His Consort find their way out through the thitti vaasal - a small entry at the east of the Temple compound, instead of leaving through the main Temple gate known as the Raja Gopuram. 

On blessing the Sun at the thitti vaasal the procession goes around the temple perimeter thrice. During which the actual staging of the Divine Quarrel is re-enacted on the streets; the first time as Brahma, second as Vishnu and the third round as Rudra.

Cow Pongal 2013

Beautiful darshan of Arunachala from the ARS

The third day of Pongal is dedicated to cattle and is called Mattu Pongal. People offer prayers to the bulls, cows and other farm animals. Cows and bulls have always held a special place in India. Cows give nourishing milk while bulls and oxen help plough the fields. Thus, Mattu Pongal is a day when cattle are given a well deserved day of rest and are given pride of place. Therefore the farmers honour their cattle friends by celebrating it as a day of thanks-giving to them.

Front Gate to ARS

Special Kolam Decorations Throughout

I decided to celebrate Mattu Pongal (Cow Pongal) at the Annamalai Reforestation Society as I knew that it would be a good occasion watching them bathe and decorate their nine cows and bullocks. 

Charming Shrines at the ARS

Legend for this day: Lord Ganesh and Goddess Parvati are worshipped and Pongal is offered to them in the 'puja'. According to a legend, once Shiva asked his bull, Basava, to go to the earth and ask the mortals to have an oil massage and bath every day and to eat once a month. Inadvertently, Basava announced that everyone should eat daily and have an oil bath once a month. This mistake enraged Shiva who then cursed Basava, banishing him to live on the earth forever. He would have to plough the fields and help people produce more food. Thus the association of this day with cattle. 

Beautiful Healthy Bulls at the ARS

Bath Time -- one for each

On this celebratory, joyous day cattle are washed, their horns are painted and they are fed with Pongal and given a day of quiet and rest. 

I was particularly fascinated to watch their feed being prepared in the custom made troughs at the ARS. I have been informed that the ingredients are as follows: Bran Husk, Groundnut Oil Cake, Black Gram Powder, Fried Gram Skin, Rock Salt, Urad Dhal Powder – all mixed up with water into a nice soup. From the gusto that the cows and bulls approached their feed – can definitely state that they approved of lunch. 

Yummy Lunch Being Prepared

How beautiful with their flowers and blue horns!

Mani manager of Farm with lady helpers

2013 Pongal Arunachala

Pongal was originally a Harvest Festival for the farming community but today it is celebrated by all. It follows the solar calendar and is celebrated on the same days each year. With the end of the wet month of Margazhi (mid December to mid January) the new Tamil month of Thai heralds a series of festivals. 

According to the calendar based on the solar system the year is divided into two halves following the apparent movement of the Sun northwards and Southwards. The former is termed Uttarayanam and the latter is Dakshinayanam. Uttarayanam marks the Sun’s movement northward for a six month period and all important events are scheduled during this time. On the first day of Thai, the Sun leaves the zodiac sign of Sagittarius and enters that of Capricorn, the latter is known as Makaram. The event thus is celebrated as Pongal. 

There is a Tamil saying; "Thai peranthal Vali Perakum" – which means - with the dawn of the month of Thai, there will be peace, happiness, prosperity, brightness and harmony in the life of everyone. 

Four festivals will be celebrated at Tiruvannamalai (and throughout Tamil Nadu) for four consecutive days during Pongal Festival. Bhogi Pongal on January 13th, Surya Pongal on January 14th, Maattu Pongal on January 15th, and Thiruvalluvar Day (Kaanum Pongal) on January 16. 

On Bhogi old clothes and materials are thrown away and set on fire, marking the beginning of a new life. The second day of Pongal, is celebrated by boiling fresh milk early in the morning and allowing it to boil over the vessel - a tradition that is the literal translation for Pongal. The third day, Mattu Pongal, is meant to offer thanks to the cows and buffaloes, as they are used to plough the lands. The fourth day of this Festival is called Kaanum Pongal. In a few places this day is also known as Karinaal or Thiruvalluvar Day. 

[Above photograph taken early this morning January 14 with the dew still on the Hill and on the ground. This is exactly how Arunachala looks early in the morning this time of year]

 

The Cult of the Hill

The below narrative is an abridged extract from “The Cult of the Hill,” by Kenneth Grant. To read more about Kenneth Grant's mystic writings on Arunachala go to this link here.

“Of the outer symbol of Sri Arunachala on earth, Lord Siva says, "Meditate on the fact that in the heart of the Hill surges the spiritual glory, within which the whole world is contained." 

Yet for those who are unable to live within sight of the earthly Arunachala, there need be no regrets, for the Hill itself is but a thought-construction same as any other. If we would grasp the inner significance veiled by the ‘dull’, outer form of its simple contours, we must search within the heart, and establish contact with that regionless bliss, void of all conceptions which the mind is capable of formulating. For Arunachala is the symbol of the void nature of the Self manifesting in so simple a shape as the ‘Hill of the Holy Beacon’. 

And so it is with the ‘Hill of the Holy Beacon’; go near to it in spirit and it is without shape, without colour, without attributes of any kind. It is only distance which lends it the illusory qualities it seems to possess. Really, we impress the void -- It essentially is with the attributes we seem ourselves to possess and then we imagine seeing what is not truly there. Thus it is our attributes we have to slough if we would come close to the sacred symbol and know its real significance, and our everyday life can help us insofar as we regard all things that occur to us in a new light. 

For instance, instead of viewing circumstances and conditions as isolated phenomena occurring to us for no reason at all, we should strive to regard each event as a stone upon the slopes of Arunachala; each trivial repetition of which event constitutes at last that sacred ‘mount of the spirit’ which is our true nature. 

For when Arunachala has been thus truly built into the fabric of our hearts, we shall need to view each separate part no longer as a separate stone of the divine edifice, but as the structure entire in its sublimely simple shape of the ‘holy Hill’. And then, entering into the heart thereof with understanding, we shall know the whole as the embodiment of that spirit of grace and compassion which eternally enlightens our hearts. 

In this way it is possible for the less advanced of us to perform a spiritual discipline while living in the world even though far removed from the outer symbol of divine grace in Tiruvannamalai. 

It is only when we realise that it is we who clothe the formless Arunachala with form, because we view it with the eyes of the body, that we shall begin to search within our hearts for the formless Reality which that form veils.

The underlying Reality shines forth as the pure and perfect void, conceptless and ever blissful. 

As an aid to the realisation of this, it may help the devotee -- if he be remote from the physical sight of the Hill – to create a mental picture thereof and endeavour through such a mandala to pervade the Hill and become one with it. Certain physical supports, such as a mound of actual stones taken from the Hill itself, may further the project and intensify the concentration, and also link the devotee in some subtle manner with the focus of spiritual peace abiding in Tiruvannamalai. 

Yet all this is of no avail if it be not always borne in mind that these accessories are but props for exalting the consciousness to the pitch necessary for contacting the subtle emanations of grace, which spring from the spaceless Arunachala Siva, whose eternal abode is the Heart. For, all takes place in, and is supported by, the void, of which the Hill itself is the perfect and singular symbol.” 

Tiruvannamalai Artist

During my visit to the ARS (Annamalai Reforestation Society) Model Farm today, my escorts JJ (well known at Tiruvannamalai as a pundit, scholar, musician and also Librarian of Ramana Ashram Library), and Nawaz officer of the ARS since his retirement from the State Bank of India, Tiruvannamalai -- took me to view the studio of Gayatri, an artist from Spain.

She has converted an upstairs room at the Model Farm into a studio in which she can immerse herself in her paintings. To learn more about Gayatri and to view some of her work you can visit her website at this link here.

JJ with Gayatri in her studio

To view more photographs click on below link.

ARS -- January 2013

Today I visited the ARS (Annamalai Reforestation Society) Model Farm located at Samudram Village. The ARS was established over twenty years ago in 1989 and at the beginning the Society focussed primarily on the gardens of Arunachaleswarar Temple. 

Several years later in 1992 an Austrian lady, Marie-Louise Baravelle donated a substantial amount of money to the ARS, which allowed them to purchase 8 acres of agricultural land at Samudram Village, located at the back of the Samudram Eri. 

The ARS (Annamalai Reforestation Society) is the earliest society at Tiruvannamalai established specifically with the primary mandate of reforestation of the Arunachala Hill and surrounds. 

As well as reforestation, the organisation also grows young saplings for sale to the general public and has several properties that they rent to long staying Tiruvannamalai residents. As well as accepting donations towards the upkeep and development of the ARS, this Society also takes a proactive position in raising funds for their work. In this respect over the years they have allowed their beautiful grounds to be the venue for various ecological courses such as permaculture and also as a venue for groups who wish to facilitate various spiritual and cultural courses. 

Within the upcoming month, I will be posting an in-depth history and report of the work of the ARS on my website, Arunachala Samudra. But in the meantime will be making a few posting on Arunachala Grace, showing the beautiful land and facilities of the ARS. 

Annamalai Reforestation Society



To view more photographs click on below link.