Aarti at Pavala Kundru

The below photographs are of Pavala Kundru (Coral Rock) Shrine, situated on a spur of Arunachala. The current Temple dates from not earlier than the end of 18th Century, as historical records date the destruction of the original Shrine by the forces of Tippu Sultan to have occurred in 1790. 

View of Temple from main road towards bus stand

The opening hours of the Temple are somewhat erratic, and this week was the first time in about six visits, that I visited at a time that the Shrine was actually open. This was particularly satisfying as one has to climb 150 steps on the side of the slope to reach the Temple. 

Beginning of a long, steep trek

A fascinating stele in a shrine on the side of the walkway

A beautiful Nandi statue on the side of the walkway

Side view of Temple

Nandi in front of Temple, facing the Lingam in Shrine Room

Nandi front of Temple. Board with information about Sri Ramana

The Temple was recently renovated with the support of Shantimalai Trust and Ramana Ashram. 

Outside the front door of the Temple is a board placed by the Ashram, which reads: 

The first instruction imparted by Sri Ramana Maharshi was to his Mother at Pavala Kundru in 1899: 

"The ordainer controls the fate of souls in accordance with their past deeds. Whatever is destined not to happen will not happen; try how hard you may. Whatever is destined to happen will happen. Do what you may to stop it. This is certain. The best course, therefore, is for one to be silent.” 

North Side Arunachaleswarar Temple from Pavala Kundru

Ardhanariswarar

Puja at Shrine of Pavalagiriswarar and Ardhanariswarar

One of the most unique features of the current Temple is that there is both the Pavalagiriswarar Lingam and a statue of Ardhanariswarar in the Shrine room. 

Goddess Muttambikai

 

In a nook outside the main shrine room there is a statue of the Goddess Muttambikai, and to the right of that nook is a tiny room in which Sri Ramana Maharshi used to meditate during his six month stay at this Temple. 

View of Arunachala from Pavala Kundru

Unique view of Pavala Kundru on Arunachala spur

I hope to be soon posting more detailed information about the history and mythology of this unique Temple on my website Arunachala Samudra. But for now, as well as some photographs, have also uploaded a short video of aarti being performed in the main Shrine Room. 

Navaratri Kolu Celebration

Navaratri is a joyous, major Festival celebrated throughout India each year around late September or early October. This year the nine day Festival concluded on Vijaya Dasami (Day of Victory) which falls on October 14, 2013. 

It seems that around Tiruvannamalai Navaratri is not celebrated as lavishly as in other parts of India. Perhaps one reason is that many residents of the area are already anticipating the upcoming Deepam Festival. 

This year some friends and I were invited to the homes of two Brahmin Priest families connected to service at Arunachaleswarar Temple. The below photographs of the Kolu displays were taken in their homes. The last photograph in this posting was taken of the Kolu display at Yogi Ramsuratkumar Ashram. 

Kolu Display

One very fascinating aspect of the Navaratri Festival, of which I have never written about is Kolu (Tamil = Golu) which means “Divine Presence”. This celebration incorporates the exhibition or display of dolls and figurines on numbered tiers or steps in the home and in some cases at Ashrams and public halls. 

Top 3 Tiers of Display more detail

Preparations for Kolu begin well in advance. Many families have dolls dating back from several generations and between each year’s Celebration, the dolls are carefully wrapped and packed in large trunks. The figurines can be simple or very complicated and based upon marriage occasions, musical instruments, shops, current affairs, Gods and Saints, or depictions of the Epics and Puranas (i.e. Mahabharata, Ramayana, Krishna Leelas etc.). 

Another section of Display

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. 

Display in another Priest's Home

Start of the celebration 

An auspicious time is chosen before placing the Kalash and dolls for worship with which the Kolu festival begins. A Kalash is a small pot made up of silver or brass containing rice, sticks of Turmeric, Toor dal and a rupee coin. A coconut and mango leaves are placed at the mouth of the pot. 

After placing the Kalash, the Kolu dolls are arranged in tiers of more than nine levels. There is a specific order in arranging the dolls. 

Generally they follow a set sequence as below:- 

Steps 1 to 3—Dedicated to Gods. The kalash is always kept on the first step and arranging the kalash on first step marks the initiation of the ceremony. The different idols of various Gods and Goddesses are arranged in these three steps. 

Steps 4 to 6—The next three steps are devoted to saints like Sai Baba, Swami Vivekananda, Demigods and national leaders. 

Figurine of Lord Iyyapan

Step 7—On this step dolls depicting festivals, celebrations and occasions are displayed. 

Step 8—Scenes of everyday life, such as shops, bus stop, cars, street scenes etc. 

Step 9—On this step, traditional Marapachi Bommai are placed along with other dolls symbolising living things in the world. (Marapachi Bommais are a pair of male and female dolls carved out of a special medicinal redwood called ‘Marapachi’ is a These dolls are a traditional part of South Indian Brahmin marriages in which male and female dolls are gifted to the bride). 

Figurine of Wooden Ther (chariot)

After arranging the dolls, friends, neighbours, visitors and relatives are invited to view the Kolu. 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 is moved a bit towards North to mark the end of that year’s Kolu. 

Figure depicting Ravana in the Ramayana

My Favourite: Cricketing Ganesha facing multiple Ganesha outfielders

Prayers are offered to thank the God for the successful completion of the year’s Kolu and for the hope of a successful exhibition in the following year. Then the Kolu is dismantled, packed and stored for the next year. 

2013 Kolu Display at Yogi Ramsuratkumar Ashram

Navaratri Alangarams, Arunachaleswarar Temple

Today, Vijaya Dasami, concludes the 2013 Navaratri Function. To learn more about the significance of this Festival go to these links here and here. To read more about kolams (an essential floor decoration at all Festivals) go to this link here. For a nice explanation of the significance of Vijaya Dasami, visit this link here. 

The below photographs are of pujas performed in the Mandapam Hall at Arunachaleswarar Temple, on the 7th day of the Festival, Saraswati Alangaram and the 8th day of Navaratri, Amman Lingam Alangaram. 

Saraswati Alangaram, 7th Day Navaratri Festival

Amman Lingam Alangaram, 8th Day Navaratri Festival

Elaborate Hair Details back of Goddess

Chakra covering over Alangaram

Devotees entering Mandapam on way to Alangaram

2013 Arunachala Navaratri Functions

This year renovation work is being undertaken at the famous Durga Amman Temple at Arunachala, so there will be limited Navaratri celebrations at that Shakti Temple. For the most elaborate and beautiful pujas at Tiruvannamalai over the 2013 Navaratri festivities, its best to visit Arunachaleswarar Temple, where special pujas are conducted in their Mandapam. 

Navaratri Rishabha Vahanam -- 5th Day

 

Another spot to visit over this Festival is Ramana Ashram, which always puts on very beautiful puja functions for each day of Navaratri. 

In this posting I am including information on Navaratri Rishabha Vahanam, which is the fifth day of celebrations at that Ashram. To view photographs of the puja go to this link here, and a video at this link here. 

Visit to an Elephant

Being that I love elephants and also enjoy a nice, celebratory procession, I visited Sri Seshadri Ashram yesterday (Saturday October 5, 2013) in order that I could view the procession connected with the Raja Parivara Puja, which was scheduled to leave that Ashram at 4.00 p.m. As things usually get off to a slow start I turned up at Sri Seshadri Ashram at about 4.30 pm. But was disappointed to see that neither the horse nor cow (for the puja) had arrived, and that arrangements for the procession seemed to be delayed.

Fortunately the sweet elephant from Trichy was on time and was waiting patiently at the Ashram whilst snacking on some nice greens. I was told that she had been transported from Trichy by lorry, which I suppose in these days of speeding vehicles on overburdened roadways is the safest solution. In quieter times elephants would have a nice walk to functions. In days previously whenever Sri Sathya Sai Baba was switching from his Puttaparthi Ashram to his Whitefield Ashram, his elephant Geeta, would be taken between those stops by a long, leisurely walk. 

I waited at Sri Seshadri Ashram till about 5.00 p.m. but as not much progress was being made starting up the procession, decided to leave and go upon my household shopping duties. 

Having a little munch

Checking it all out

Wearing freshly painted face decorations

Pots inside Sri Seshadri Siddhar Hall

Young lads with their musical instruments

The sweet elephant wearing her "fancy dress" outfit

Rudra Pasupathi Nayanar

Rudra Pasupathi Nayanar was born at Thiruthalayur in a Brahmin family of Vedic Scholars. The Nayanar who was a fervent devotee of the Lord, made a practice of chanting the Sri Rudram, one of the most purifying holy hymns of Lord Shiva standing in neck deep water. He performed this tapas both in the early morning and evening with utmost devotion and faith. Nayanar achieved moksha because of his austere life and perpetual devotion to Lord. 

Sri Rudram: Namakam-Chamakam in Devanagari, English translations

Sri Shiva Rudram: Namakam-Chamakam slokas in Devanagari Sanskrit with English translations. Sri Rudram is a Hindu strotra dedicated to Rudra (Shiva), taken from the Yajurveda. The text is also famous for its mention of the namah shivaya mantra. Chanting the Rudram is considered to be of great benefit. Legend reports that Lord Shiva, after Bhasmasura was killed with the help of Lord Maha Vishnu, performed the Tandava Dance and then chanted the "Rudra Yagna" at the place where the "Sri Kalahasti" Temple stands now, (one of the 5 Pancha Moorthis). 

The story of Rudra Pasupathi Nayanar story goes thus: 

“The country watered by the Kaveri is a famed one rich in its fertile fields. Tiruttalaiyur was a city in it, great in its inhabitants of high ancesty, flourishing together, knowing no want. The sacrificial fires of the Brahmins rose up to the skies there (a landmark from afar for celestial bliss), the dense groves rich with blooms dripped honey, the cows yielded the five-fold products meet for the adoration of the dancing Lord. Well this place was the home for benevolence, righteousness and true culture. 

The righteous Pasupatiyaar hailed from a noble family of Brahmins dedicated to Vedic learning, in the city. He duly served the Lord of the bull-mount, who gloried in His Better-half, the daughter of the golden mount! With a heart over-flowing with love, he incessantly and zealously chanted the “Rudram” in praise of the Supreme Lord whose feet Vishnu could not divine of yore. 

Before the dawn of each day, responding to the twitter of the birds that were astir, and the humming of the bees in the flower groves he would betake himself to the water-brimming pool, where the flaming lotus blooms lifted their heads with leap of flashing fish at the base. 

Then he would get into the cool water up to this neck, fold his hands above his head and chant the “Rudram”, in faultles accents, expressive of his love for the Lord of the matted tresses wherein sports the Ganga of the white waves. He would repeat this chant, the essence of the Vedas, at noon and night too, without fail. 

Thus he shone like the four-faced Brahma, seated in the lotus-bed. In due course, the Lord who had given his left side joyously to His consort Uma, desired to raise up this saint. The Lord, source of all, was greatly delighted at the rgular chant of the ”mantras” in the prescribed way, in time with the gorious austerity of the passionate devotee and showered His grace on him, who then reached the bounds of the immaculate Abode of the Lord. 

By virtue of his faultless chanting of the “Rudram”, with an over-flowing heart, he then found himself close to the dancing feet of the Lord. Therfore, he became known in this wide world by the hallowed name Rudra Pasupatiyaar. 

Ah, the Lord of the Trident shows His grace to the loving, perfect chanters of “Sri Rudram”. This is one way to reach up to Him.” 

Pradosham, October 2, 2013

It can be seen from the below photographs of the October 2, 2013 Pradosham at Arunachaleswarar Temple, that the number of visitors attending this bi-monthly function seems to be increasing exponentially.

Nandi

Crowds of Pilgrims in the Temple Compound

Crowd at Large Nandi, which faces direction of the Shiva Sannidhi

Counting the Cash

I don't know the difference between Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu in relation to how they govern Temples that fall under the Hindu Endowment Charitable Trust, so maybe Temples in Tamil Nadu have certain restrictions compared to Temples from other States. I don't know how it works. But wouldn't it be great if our own Arunachaleswarar Temple invited committee members from the famed Tirumala Venkateswara Temple at Tirupati and asked for their suggestions in how to develop our own Temple and its subsidiary Temples and Shrines (i.e. Adiannamalai Temple, Asta Lingams, Durga Amman Temple, Surya Lingam etc).

Tirupati Temple

The Tirumala Venkateswara Temple at Tirupati is the busiest and richest Temple in the World and the wealth of the Temple through donations from its devotees help finance a very generous scheme for visitors to that place, keep the area in a pristine and immaculate condition and also helps finance the development of many other smaller Temples in Andhra Pradesh.

Now that the illustrious Arunachaleswarar Temple is receiving ever increasing financial support in the form of donations and sponsorship, maybe it would be a good time for its management to have some serious brain storming sessions in how to most effectively utilise that support.

Counting out cash from Hundials

Cash from Arunachaleswarar Temple's Hundials

Mahapuja for 18 Siddhars, Arunachala

While visiting various Swamis and Shrines off the Girivalam Roadway a couple of days ago, noticed this large poster telling about a nice function scheduled for a few days time. Years ago I attended such a Raja Mahapuja and it was a grand, beautiful occasion. 

If you don't have time to go to the various functions at Sri Seshadri Swsamigal Ashram or at the Viji Marriage Hall (off the Girivalam Roadway) then think about having a nice view of the celebratory procession that will be moving its way on the Chengam Road early this Saturday morning. Below are details of the upcoming Function.

The Maha Guru Mutheri Dhayana Sanga Peetam invites all to a Raja Parivara Puja which will be performed for the 18 Siddhars at Tiruvannamalai. 

Right click on poster for enlargement to read 

Poster in Tamil with full details

On October 5th, 2013 in the evening at 4.00 p.m., a procession will start from Sri Seshadri Swamigal Ashram and end at the Viji Marriage Hall on the Girivalam roadway. The procession will be very grand and include (as in such Rajapujas), an Elephant, Horse and Cow and celebratory music. The Kumbhas will be kept at a special tent and poojas will be performed at that place which is adjacent to the Marriage Hall on the girivalam roadway. 

On October 6th, 2013 in the early morning at 4.00 a.m., a special Mahakumbha Puja will be performed for 18 Siddhars with 18 Mahakumbhams at the above place. 

Mottayan Swami and Kootankuchi Swamigal

On October 20, 2009 I received a note from Dr. S. Ananthakrishnan which became lost in my computer files and which I unearthed only recently whilst clearing my files. On going through the note thought it was time to make an effort to respond to the questions raised by Dr. S. Ananthakrishnan. 

Kottankuchi Swamigal

The note went thus: 

"Have you heard of the mouna Swamigal on the Girivalam route? . . . I have personally met him and it was a casual meeting near the main Annamalaiyar Temple. His appearance is of a young person not less than 30-31, with a naturally formed French beard and he wears the Kaavi dress like the Kanchi Paramacharya style. This Mouna Swamigal himself wrote and told me when he visits the Mottayan Swami, that Mottayan Swami makes him sit in his lap. Still this mouna Swamigal preserves the photo of the Mottayan Swami though the edges of the photo are slightly damaged.

I would request you if you could post the photo of this Swamigal and his current whereabouts. Recently (note: i.e. at the end of 2009) on Zee Tamil T.V., they showed a video on the research on the Parakkum Siddhar. During the show they showed Mottayan Swami and this mouna Swamigal . . . “

Current house of Kootankuchi Swamigal

After stopping at several places and talking with another Swami (who I will write about in due course on my blog Arunachala Mystic) residing in a house near the old Shantimalai Trust Gokulam, I and my friend arrived by auto rickshaw at the house of the silent Swami now residing just off the Girivalam roadway (near the Rajarajeshwari Temple). The mouna Swamigal is still in silence but responded to my questions occasionally by hand signs and sometimes by writing his answers in a notebook. 

Kootankuchi Swamigal's compound right of Sai Mandir, Girivalam Road

Swami goes by the name Kootankuchi Swamigal. As he is a sannyasin, he did not wish to answer many questions regarding home and previous family but he did give several bits of information. His age is around forty years old and even though he is in silence he is available to visitors. He worships the Divine Mother in the form of Varahi. His guru is the now deceased Jangalidas Maharaj who has an ashram about seven kms from Shirdi. Kootankuchi Swamigal stayed at that place for six months many years previously. 

Kootankuchi Swamigal has been living at Tiruvannamalai for a number of years and for the last 10 years has been maintaining a verbal silence. He had great love for Visiri Samiyar (Yogi Ramsuratkumar) and spent a lot of time with him in earlier days. 

When asking Kootankuchi Swamigal whether the story of him sitting in the lap of Mottayan Swamigal was true. He said that previously (over 7 years ago) Mottayan Swamigal would sometimes come and meet with him and at that time, Mottayan would often lie on the floor resting his head upon Kottankuchi Swamigal and sometimes sitting in his lap. I asked Kottankuchi Swamigal as to his opinion of Mottayan Swami. He bowed his head in great reverence and indicated in writing that Mottayan Swami was a great Siddha. 

Jolly workers building Swami's house

I visited the Kootankuchi Swamigal with a friend Mr. Hari Prasad and my regular auto rickshaw driver Gandipan. Whilst there a number of personal questions were asked by us all, which Kottankuchi Swamigal answered (in writing and by gesture) clearly and at length. On a personal level I found that his advice was in line with the advice I have received through my own prayers and meditation upon the Divine Mother. 

Kottankuchi Swamigal is currently building his own house a short distance from his rental accommodation and as soon as that is complete (probably not before the beginning of 2014) he will shift from his current abode. 

Construction of House underway

I have made many postings of Swami Mottayan (also known as Mookupodi Swami = snuff Swami as he is in the habit of daily taking snuff). As it has been sometime since I last saw him, early this morning I stopped at the new Navagraha Shrine (near Rajarajeshwari Temple) on the girivalam road, where I had heard that he currently stays at. 

Mootayan Swami (Mookupodi Swamigal)

A crowd of about thirty people were standing silently and reverently close by the Navagraha Shrine taking silent darshan of Mottayan Swami whist he was drinking his morning tea at an adjacent tea stall. I have heard that nowadays there is often a crowd of pilgrims and visitors surrounding him. 

Crowd watching Swami take his morning tea

The times that I was able to get easy access and even sit with him on the verandah of a local school playing with thayam stones seemed to be a very long time ago. To view some of the posts on Mottayan (Mookupodi) Swami on Arunachala Grace, go to this link here. 

Mottayan Swami (aka Mookupodi Swami)