Nithyananda Update and Photographs

Received these photographs today and am posting them below as they represent the last 'happy' visit of Swami Nithyananda to Tiruvannamalai and Arunachaleswarar Temple. The photos are from the beginning of 2010 during his visit to Tiruvannamalai (which is his native place) in celebration of his Birthstar.

Right-click on photographs to view enlarged version

To read a balanced and insightful posting about the lessons one can learn from the Swami Nithyananda scandal, go to this link here. While there also check out the comment section of the posting.

Swami Nithyananda Rebuttal Interview

This Saturday, March 13th, Swami Nithyananda in an interview at Haridwar with “Times Now” spoke about the now infamous sting tape of himself with actress Ranjitha. To read a short article of this interview go to this link here.

You can watch the whole 16.14 minute interview in the embedded YouTube video below.

Mahashivaratri E-Darshan

This 2010 Mahashivaratri, Arunachaleswarar Temple launches a new e-darshan facility with infrastructure including, wireless laptop, 700 megapixel movie camera with MPEG-4 technology, and 8 MBPS broadband connection. All Temple Festivals (excluding those taking place inside the Sanctum Sanctorum) will be webcasted utilising this facility. The link for Live Feeds for Arunachaleswarar Temple is here to watch a video of the Temple in five parts go to this link here.

A Live Feed will also be available through the Temple’s own website at this link here.

Hopefully the feed will be activated at this evenings commencement of Shivaratri Functions and thereafter will be automatically uploaded during Temple Festivals and Functions. Hope today’s trial run works okay, but just in case suggest bookmarking the links for upcoming live darshans.

2010 Mahashivaratri Timings Arunachaleswarar Temple

Right click on photographs from last year's Mahashivaratri to view enlarged version.









Mahashivaratri falls on the fourteenth day of the dark fortnight of Phalguna (February-March), and is dedicated to the worship of Lord Shiva. Mahashivaratri this year will be celebrated at Arunachala Shiva Sthalams on the night of March 13 through March 14, 2010.

On this night Shiva Temples in Tiruvannamalai will follow the lead of the famous Arunachaleswarar Temple and stay open all night. To those who wish to make plans to attend the Big Temple through the night of Mahashivaratri, check my earlier posting at this link here with FULL details as to the timings and functions at Arunachaleswarar Temple. And its Siva Sannidhi will remain open THROUGHOUT the night of March 13 and 14, 2010.

Nithyananda Promises Clarification

“Bangalore: Swami Nithyananda of the Nithyananda Dhyanapeetam, in the news for his alleged involvement in a sex scandal, will appear in public “in a day or two” with a clarification on the controversy surrounding him, said the Dhyanapeetam authorities in their first formal media appearance after a private TV channel telecast objectionable video images of him.

The so-called sex-scandal involving the godman was a creation of “surgical precision” by the electronic media, which had a “hidden agenda,” said the Dhyanapeetam's spokesperson Nithya Sachidananda at the Ashram premises in Bidadi. He said the godman was now participating in the Kumbh Mela at Haridwar.

“There is a threat to the Swamiji's life and he has been receiving threatening calls,” he said. “We are contemplating legal action against those responsible for tarnishing the image of Swami Nithyananda and the ashram . . . "

(Extract from The Hindu – India National Newspaper,
Tuesday, Mar 09, 2010]

To read full report go to this link here:

Tiruvannamalai Vignettes

The below series of photographs is a pictorial vignette of Arunachala then and now.

Right click on all photographs to view enlarged version.


The first photograph is of an uncluttered Arunachaleswarar Temple taken in 1950.

The next photo is of the Deepam cauldron of about 60 years ago. Previously the cauldron used to remain at the top of Arunachala, but starting from about 70 years ago, the Deepam cauldron only remains on Arunachala during the Festival and when not in use is stored inside the 1000 Pillared Hall at Arunachaleswarar Temple.

The large grounds of the Arts College off Chengam Road (direct south of the Hill), is a favourite spot for lads eager to show off their cricketing skills. On Sundays the whole area is packed with a multitude of cricket matches.

The sides of the roads are popular places for migrant workers from North India to make and sell their Festival statues.

Below one of the very few traffic lights at Tiruvannamalai. Arunachala is nicely in the background.

Visiting the vegetable market off Thiruvoodal Road at the back of Arunachaleswarar Temple. Great spot to buy vegetables and just watch the world go by!

Took the last two photographs specially for this posting. They show Veera Supermarket which is located at the back of Seshadri Ashram (next to Ramana Ashram) off Chengam Road (Girivalam Roadway).

As well as being one of the major supermarkets in the Ramana Nagar area, it also of topical interest now with the current Nithyananda fracas.

Much has been said of Nithyananda hailing from Tiruvannamalai but people nowadays more familiar with his worldwide notoriety -- don't realise of just how much a local lad he was. His father (with house in town) was a merchant in rice and ragi and Veera Supermarket would be a regular customer for deliveries sent by the merchant. And it would be the young schoolboy Nithyananda who would make the deliveries to this and other shops.

At that time he was studying at V.D.S Higher Secondary School in Gandhi Nagar (until the 10th standard), but even though he hailed from town and near the Big Temple, he spent much of his youth at Ramana Nagar. Making deliveries on behalf of his father at the local shops, enjoying the Ramana Ashram library, taking darshan of Yogi Ramsuratkumar, and also working for about a year at the bookshop in Ramana Ashram.

Further to the current Nithyananda fracas, it was announced yesterday that Nithyananda would be giving a press release sometime in the coming days with information about the now infamous videos. More to come.

Extensive Sand Quarrying

And so it starts:


To fuel the housing and development boom throughout Tiruvannamalai District, areas such as the lake bed of Samudram Erie are being extensively quarried for sand. Recently a test court case was brought attempting to restrain the Public Works Department (PWD) from using machineries like Poclains and JCBs in connection with quarrying sand in the Palar riverbed in Kancheepuram and Tiruvannamalai Districts.

Unfortunately lobbyists for the construction trade have won the day and an interim stay order from the Court will now allow extensive sand quarrying in Tiruvannamalai District aided by the use of heavy quarrying equipment and vehicles.

It seems like this would be a good time for conservationists to start prioritising their agenda and instead of spending so much time and energy in the reforestation of the slopes of Arunachala Hill and surrounding area, concentrate on trying to protect what already exists from further debasement.

Ironically, in the long term those interested in making money in Tiruvannamalai would find it much more lucrative concentrating on creating ecological and tourist friendly zones, like bird and animal sanctuaries, rather than use the area as a limitless building resource.

Godman? No, Just Human

The below article entitled 'Godman? No, Just Human' by Vikram Muthanna raises some interesting points about Nithyananda’s current situation. I’ll post my own thoughts and updates as to the climate in Tiruvannamalai towards the ‘scandal’ over the next few days. But for now read on:


Godman? No, Just Human

"They called him ‘Swami’ Nithyananda, they laid their hearts at his feet as they performed ‘pada puja’. They laid out their life savings for a boon from him and in return he shattered their hopes and hearts. But Nithyananda’s sex scandal has also woken his devotees up from their Rip van Winkle slumber of blind faith and ignorance. The message is clear, Godmen are as human as the rest of us. Nithyananda who took his name a little too seriously, Nithya Ananda — “always happy,” is not the first nor will he be the last swami to succumb to mortal desires. As long as there is misery in the world, there will be godmen giving hope, even if it’s only placebo.

Nithyananda certainly seems to have made some people’s lives better. He smiled his ‘toothpaste smile’ all the time. But to be happy he needed more than just ‘pada pujas’ and money, it seems he also needed ‘intimate healing sessions’. Now the question is, did Nithyananda do something wrong by having sex? Legally, No. Two consenting adults had sex, it’s a non-issue. But the problem is that he said he was a Swami and a Brahmachari. Accordingly, he was treated like god by his devotees who now feel he defrauded them. To be sure, there are also other criminal charges of destroying evidence and the possession of illegal materials. But why is everyone so surprised? Nithyananda is a 33-year-old man and like all men his hormones would be ravenous for a little bit of sexual intimacy."

To read the rest of the article click here.

Hanuman Temple, Girivalam Roadway

In response to a request from a reader of Arunachala Grace I am posting the below photographs of the Veera Hanuman Koil located off the Girivalam Roadway. The Temple which is managed by the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR and CE) Department is comparatively new, and the Chief Priest informed me that its only about 30 years old.

The Temple is set on two acres of land off the Girivalam Roadway near the Rajarajeshwari Koil. Thus far I have not been able to find out its history or the reason why a Hanuman Temple is located here at this Shiva Sthalam and if any reader has information on this Temple I would be very happy to hear from you.

A sign of the times -- a sannyasin chatting on a mobile at the Temple.

The Temple gardens have several shrines, including one of Lord Krishna and another of Lord Vishnu. There also seems to be several sadhus situated in the compound. This Temple is extremely popular with local town folk and Sundays is a day of pilgrimage and many town folk head out to the Hanuman Koil for puja and blessings.

With a little attention this Temple set in two acres of garden could be quite lovely, but currently seems to be underfunded and neglected. Need some help here Mr.Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR and CE) Department!

Nithyanada Current News

To find out about the current situation of the Nithyananda scandal, read below:

“The sex scandal allegedly involving Swami Nithyananda and a Tamil film star Ranjitha got even murkier on Thursday with a web of fresh charges and sinister scenarios popping up, even as the self-styled godman is believed to be “somewhere in the Kumbhamela festival”, either in Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh or in Puri in Orissa.

Nearly two days after a Tamil TV channel beamed amorous pictures of the sexual intimacies that landed both the protagonists in a soup, the ‘Nithyananda Dhyanapeetam’, the worldwide institution for meditation and harmony the Godman founded, broke its silence this evening as his lawyer claimed that the pictures were not that of Nithyananda.

Hours after having moved a civil suit here, the spiritual Guru’s lawyer, M Sreedhar told a press conference amid near chaos in the hall, the whole episode was part of a “much larger conspiracy” to malign both Nithyananda and his institution by projecting his “morphed” images with an actress.”

Click here to continue reading article

There are several websites online which have been set up to 'debunk' the mystique of Nithyananda. One of these websites provides intriguing and curious information which perhaps could go some way towards explaining how this still very young Swami has dug himself into such a very deep hole.

And one particularly fascinating posting (extract below) discusses Nithyananda’s apparent usurpation of power intended for different aspects of the Divine.


“Oh, yes, there's your Vedic temples. That should be a strength we can build on. But, then again, there's those mantras where you inserted your name in them, those idols that are specifically made in your image so people can worship just to you, while the other legitimate Hindu deities you renamed with your name attached to them, your thrones have images of Divine Deities right on the seat so you sit firmly on top of them, etc. Gee, 'Swami' Nithyananda, we thought that your Vedic Temples might be a strong point, but then again, maybe not.”

Nithyananda Scandal

There is currently a large amount of information available online about the ongoing Nithyananda situation which is having substantial consequences at his campuses and ashrams throughout India.

Yesterday on my way to Adiannamalai, I passed the Tiruvannamalai Nithyananda Ashram and noticed film crews hanging around near the entrance gate. There was also a very large security personnel present guarding the ashram from agitation and unrest from locals.

The first I learnt of this affair was during yesterday morning's rickshaw drive on the girivalam roadway. And I sort of agree with my rickshaw driver who on our way passed the Ashram, commented: 'Well that's him finished in Tiruvannamalai.'

Below is the beginning of one of the more interesting articles currently available online:-


"Bangalore/Chennai March 3: The video flicks showing a saffron-clad man with flowing, dark manes spread-eagled on a bed canoodling with women is bad karma for the swamiji alleged to be the 33-year-old Paramahamsa Nithyananda.

In his sprawling 25-acre ashram, 35 kilometres south-west of Bangalore in Kalluguppahalli in Bidadi Taluk of Ramanagara district, off Mysore Road, Nityananda's press coordinator Nitya Sachidananda does not see hedonism and spirituality militate against each other. At the Nityananda Dhyanapeetam, Indian ascetism has been clearly, cleverly and conveniently redefined.

"The Swamiji has permitted his disciples at Nithyananda Dhyanapeetam to pursue both hedonism and spiritualism because he believes they should live intensely," the 45-year-old Sachidananda, who claims to have lived and worked as a scientist in the United States, told Deccan Herald.

Sachidananda, who hails from Andhra Pradesh, met Nityananda in Chicago in 2003 when the self-proclaimed Swamiji established his order at the age of 26. He was instantly taken in by what he described as Nityananda's "quantum spirituality", a concept which Sachidananda thinks he understood and grasped well, but could not shed much light on. The "truth" and "enlightenment" Sachidananda experienced were passed on to him by Nithyananda whose educational attainments are as obscure as his origins in Tiruvannamalai in Tamil Nadu."

To continue reading this article click on to this link here.

Shirdi Sai Baba

Woke up this morning with the strong idea to visit the Shirdi Sai Baba Temple near Adi Annamalai. In previous posts on Arunachala Grace I wrote about the day that, ‘I travelled to Shirdi Sai Baba’, after hearing that a statue of Shirdi Sai was sitting in a crate on the site that would become its Temple Home. Subsequent to that visit, I also attended a beautiful function connected with the installation of the statue.

So today would be my first visit since the statue’s installation and Temple’s completion. Upon arriving at the Temple I learnt that today is also the ninth anniversary (in connection with this Temple) of Sri Sai in the aspect of ‘Akshaya Sri Sai’ – the ever-full vessel (of Grace and auspiciousness).

The Temple founder told me the story of seeing a statue of this Sri Sai aspect and immediately feeling compelled to acquire and bring the statue to Tiruvannamalai. This occurred nine years ago and now the same statue is installed in its own small shrine outside the main Sri Shirdi Sai Baba Temple.

Below are a few photographs of ‘Akshaya Sri Sai’ – the ever-full vessel (of Grace and auspiciousness)

And inside the main Temple, some beautiful paintings and photographs of Sri Shirdi Sai Baba.

And the statue of Sri Shirdi Sai Baba.

For those who 'look' to Sri Shirdi Sai Baba, please visit a very nice website dedicated to him which has a 'question and answer oracle feature'. It can be most inspirational.

Hope and Healing, Animal Sanctuary

We are always happy to update information on the wonderful work the Arunachala Animal Sanctuary is undertaking here at Tiruvannamalai. To read the following article about the shelter entitled ‘Hope and Healing’ please visit this link in the National Newspaper, The Hindu.

The Sanctuary is located a 5 minute walk from Ramana Ashram, just off Chengam Road (Girivalam roadway). Those at the Shelter are always happy to show interested persons around their facilities, so consider dropping by and learning more about the excellent service they extend to animals of this area.

Their own website, with information, case histories and photographs can be found at this link here.

*****

I myself happily adopted an abused, destitute animal from the Shelter and below provide my own before and after snaps to show just how BIG a difference the Shelter is making in the lives of our sweet brethren.

Victor Before

Victor Today

Vallalan Maharaja

In response to the recent request of a reader of Arunachala Grace about more information on King Vallalan Maharaj, below is a short extract of the King and explanation of his significant connection with Arunachaleswarar Temple. To find more in-depth information about Vallalan Maharaja, visit this link on my website.

Briefly, the Arunachala Purana describes King Vallalan as an embodiment of all human virtues renowned for his uprightness, generosity and love for Lord Arunachaleswarar.

The story goes that King Vallalan had no issue, and Siva tested him for his piety and thus became a child at the hands of the King and his wife. King Vallalan embraced the child and later Lord Siva disappeared. When the king prayed for a child, Lord Siva assured him that he himself would perform all his funeral rites as he had become a child to the king.

Even now in the month of Masi (February) when the annual anniversary of King Vallalan’s death occurs, at the instruction of Lord Arunachaleswarar, the Lord is taken in procession with great Ceremony to the village Pallikonda Pattu, where the funeral rites take place. This festival is known as 'Masi Maga Theerthavari' Urchavam.

The Screw Pine

For those of you interested in learning more about the infamous Screw Pine, which is allowed in the worship of Shiva only during the night of Mahashivaratri, below is information about this fragrant, beautiful flower:


Screw Pine

The Screw Pine is a shrub found wild in Southern India. It is a small, slender, branching tree with a flexuous trunk supported by brace roots. With rosettes of long-pointed, stiffly leathery, spiny, bluish-green, fragrant leaves. The shrub’s botanical name is Pandanus Odoratissimus of the Pandanaceae Family with common names: Fragrant Screw Pine, Umbrella Tree, Screw Tree, Thazhampoo (Tamil) and Ketaki (Sanskrit). The term ‘screw’ in this shrub’s name is motivated by the spiral, screw like arrangement of its leaves.The flowers of the male tree are 2-3 cm long and fragrant, surrounded by narrow, white bracts. They are fragrant, white in colour and attar is obtained from them - "Kewda attar" is one of the most popular perfumes extracted and has been used in India since ancient times.






All the parts of the plant have tremendous medicinal value. The roots are used as anti-septic. In ayurveda these are useful in vitiated conditions of "kapha and pitta", skin diseases and leprosy. The roots juices are used for curing wounds, ulcer, fever, diabetics, sterility and spontaneous abortions. The leaves are said to be valuable in the treatment of leprosy, scabies and diseases of heart and brain. The anthers of the male flowers are given in earache, headache and diseases of blood. The juice of the flowers is useful in rheumatic arthritis. Kewda oil is considered as stimulant and antispasmodic and is useful in cephalagia and coxalgia. The Screw Pine (like the mandrake in Europe), is viewed in parts of India as both a soporific and aphrodisiac.

For more extensive information of this fragrant flower go to this link here.

Thazhampoo, Ketaki, Screwpine

It is only on the day of Mahashivaratri (third Kala Puja) that the Screwpine flower is used for the worship of Shiva. As a result of a dispute between Brahma and Vishnu the Lord declared that henceforth the flower which hitherto had adorned his head in worship would no longer be used in his adoration.

The story of the dispute goes like this:


Dispute of Brahma and Vishnu

In the days of antiquity a controversy arose between Brahma and Vishnu as to which of the two was greater. Brahma said to Vishnu, "I have created the five elements and all the living beings with their endless differences in form and sound. Therefore I am the Absolute God." Vishnu said, "The whole universe is but an aspect of mine. Of what use is your creation if I do not protect it? It is my thought-power that creates, sustains and destroys the whole Universe. So I am the Absolute God" Their dispute resulted in misery in the manifested world. Supreme Being Parameshwara saw this and was filled with compassion. To settle the discord and subdue their pride, Lord Shiva appeared before them in the form of blazing column of light and a voice issued from it asking them to seek its upper and lower limits and he who found either of these is the superior one. Both gods stopped fighting and decided to explore the ends. Brahma took the form of a swan and flew up to reach the top of the column of light, whereas Vishnu became a boar and started burrowing into the earth to find its base.

A thousand years passed as Vishnu dug deep into the nether worlds and the journey seemed endless. With all this power he could not discover the base and he got lost in meditation with the result that he experienced the Supreme Light which dwells in the hearts of all. He soon realised and recognised that his true strength was derived from this Supreme Light, that is Lord Shiva. He prayed to Shiva seeking His pardon and then returned to earth. Brahman who flew up as a swan was mounting the sky and the higher he soared, the column of light rose higher before him. He was growing despondent and was about to return when he saw a fragrant flower called Ketaki (screw-pine) falling towards the earth. On asking from where it had come, the flower revealed that it had come from the crest of the fire column that was none other than Shiva himself and that it had been descending for thousands of four-fold Yugas. Brahma requested the flower to say that both of them came down after seeing the crest and thus the flower swore to Vishnu in the presence of the Column of Effulgence that Brahma had reach the summit.

Splitting asunder the column of Light, Shiva appeared before the two Gods. When the lotus-eyed Vishnu saw him, he danced with joy. The guilty Brahma on seeing the Lord’s true form was confused and frightened. Mahadeva said, "The two of you need not be ashamed for having transcended your limits. Hari (Vishnu) pondered deeply and became enlightened. But Brahma has uttered falsehood and I now cut off his fifth head for that perjury. Brahma shall not hereafter be installed in any Temple. And this flower, which bore false witness, shall never again find a place on my head and shall not be used for my worship." After cursing Brahma and the screw-pine flower thus, Shiva turned to Vishnu and said, "Child! Be composed, I am pleased with you. You are one of my foremost devotees. You originated from me and are my sattwic part. At the end of the kalpa you shall merge in me."

Brahma and Vishnu prayed to Shiva to abide there forever as a Tejo Lingam. In answer to their heartfelt request, Parameshwara established himself as the Arunachala Hill and also as a small Siva Lingam at the eastern foot of the Hill for the welfare of the world and for those who desire to worship Him and obtain illumination.

[Abridged – The Glory of Arunachala]

For those of you interested in learning more about the infamous Screw Pine, which is allowed in the worship of Shiva only during the night of Mahashivaratri, go to this link here.

Mahashivaratri Temple Timings

Mahashivaratri falls on the fourteenth day of the dark fortnight of Phalguna (February-March), and is dedicated to the worship of Lord Shiva. Mahashivaratri this year will be celebrated at Arunachala Shiva Sthalams on the night of March 13 through March 14, 2010; NOT in FEBRUARY. On this night Shiva Temples in Tiruvannamalai will follow the lead of the famous Arunachaleswarar Temple and stay open all night. To those who wish to make plans to attend the Big Temple through the night of Mahashivaratri, below are listed the sequence of pujas which will occur either in or around the Siva Sannidhi of Arunachaleswarar Temple:

Mahashivaratri Kala Pujas: March 13th – March 14th, 2010

1st Kala Puja [9.00 p.m. – 11.00 p.m.]

2nd Kala Puja [12.00 a.m.– 2.00 a.m.] Lingodhava Puja

3rd Kala Puja [3.00 a.m. – 4.00 a.m.] Thazhampoo (Flower) Puja

4th Kala Puja [5.00 a.m. – completes before sunrise]

Above major Pujas to be followed by pujas to Chandikeswara and Bhairava

While almost all other festivals are celebrated during the day, Mahashivaratri is celebrated at night, which stands for all that is evil: injustice, ignorance, darkness, sin, violence, treachery, falsehood, and misfortune. Mythology says that Shiva appeared to save the world from Tamoguna (darkness and ignorance).

Shiva symbolizes the atman (self), and worship of Shiva denotes meditation and contemplation by an individual on his or her own self. Thus the only way to achieve peace and happiness is by worshipping Shiva at night, that is, by meditating on one's own self during the night when the individual is free from the distractions of the physical world. In the case of Arunachala, premier Shiva site of South India, circumbulation of Arunachala Hill will be observed by many.

The name Shiva signifies a quality that means 'Auspicious' or 'The Auspicious One'. To a few, Shiva is Paramatma, Brahman, the Absolute, but many more prefer to see Shiva as a personal God given to compassion for his worshippers, and the dispenser of both spiritual and material blessings. Related to the Absolute concept is Shiva as Yoganath, the Lord of Yoga, wherein he becomes teacher, path and goal. As such he is the Adi Guru or Highest Guru of sannyasins who have renounced the world to attain the Absolute.

Even though the Temple Mahashivaratri functions will not be celebrated at this Shiva Sthalam until March, many pilgrims (especially from Andhra Pradesh) are already arriving to perform girivalam during this most auspicious time.

To view photographs of celebrations at Arunachaleswarar Temple in 2009 click this link.

Mahashivaratri 2010

Mahashivaratri in Tamil Nadu is traditionally celebrated in Maasi Month -- not Thai. This is based on astrology connected with both the sun and month. Working on these calculations Mahashivaratri will be celebrated at Arunachaleswarar Temple on March 13, March 14 NOT in February.

That means the Temple will NOT be open all night in February BUT will be opened and all accompanying functions and pujas will be held through the night of March 13, March 14.

All Shiva Temples in Tiruvannamalai will follow the lead of Arunachaleswarar Temple. Today spoke with the Chief Priest of Adi Annamalai Temple and he tells me that Kapaleswarar Temple in Mylapore, Chennai will also be celebrating Mahashivaratri on March 13, 14. Word has it that Chidambaram Temple and Kalahasti Temple will also be having functions for Mahashivaratri in March (although Chidambaram might also in addition be already committed to February).

Will be posting more information on Mahashivaratri 2010, in the coming days.

Garuda Puja

For many years families of Brahminy Kites have taken to nesting in the tops of coconut trees on the edge of Samudram Erie near Anaipirandhan Village. Even though Arunachala is regarded as a Shiva Sthalam, the area of Samudram has a long history with the worship of Vishnu. So its particularly appropriate that these beautiful birds have chosen to situate themselves in this area.

In Hindu mythology the various Gods are each associated with a particular 'vahana' which symbolises qualities and powers manifested by that God. In this respect the Garuda (which in India is supposed to be represented by the Brahminy Kite) is the vehicle associated with Lord Vishnu.

The villagers of Anaipirandhan zealously protect their nesting Garudas and often during the evenings you can see groups of folk looking up to take 'darshan' of their favoured birds.

Around this time every year a beautiful puja and feast is arranged in celebration of Lord Vishnu and his mount, the Garuda. But this year through the sterling efforts of a local villager, Venkatesha, sufficient money was gathered to build a small Garuda shrine close to the coconut trees so favoured by the birds.

Venkatesh with wife and child



Garuda with Lord Vishnu on his shoulders



Shrine dedicated to Garuda

150 kgs of rice was cooked to feed the large groups of pilgrims visiting the function and opening of the new Garuda Shrine. A very tasty lunch was served under a shamian with Arunachala in the background.

The local cows had a wonderful feast snacking on tasty banana leaves and lots of left overs.

And below one of the nesting Anaipirandhan Brahminy Kites looking down serenely at the gathered crowds of devotees.

A truly wonderful day had by all.

Mattu Pongal at Anaipirandhan

This morning I walked in the Arunachala countryside and visited the village of Anaipirandhan. I was on my way to the home of my local milkman Bharat, who daily delivers fresh cow milk to my house and for which I wanted to give his cows a BIG THANKS.

On the way to the village I passed locals going about their normal day. Below a friendly lady (with her two kids) doing her laundry.

On my way to Bharat's house, I passed lanes covered with kolam decorations and also noticed that many of the simple, rustic cottages had state-of-the-art antenna TV dishes to pick up as many stations as possible.

And finally I arrived at Bharat's house and was introduced to his five cows. And time for their morning Mattu Pongal bath. Later the cows would be decorated, their horns painted and heavily garlanded in time for their beautiful cow puja -- of which they would be the honoured recipients.

HAPPY PONGAL TO ONE AND ALL.