Gopal - my autodriver

This is a photograph of my auto rickshaw driver, Gopal. He has some interesting stories about different work he has done at Tiruvannamalai. The most fascinating of which is his story about the time he worked at a huge iron factory.

He is a strong young lad but he tells me that every night of the years he worked there, he would return home with his arms and shoulders aching and on fire. There is still a look of horror on his face as he talks of those days! Maybe I will be able to get inside the Dickensian factory and take some snaps.

Pradakshina Anthill

This is the front view of a rather magnificent anthill on the pradakshina road. It obviously has a very diligent minder, as it's being maintained very nicely. Often these vacated anthills get a snake as the new tenant - if that is the case here, then everyone would be very happy - including the snake.

Curiously in India there is a great distinction made between 'wild' snakes and 'worshipped' snakes - the former is greatly feared as there are many snake-related deaths throughout India each year - and the latter, i.e. the 'worshipped' snake is right on the gravy train - lots of fresh milk, raw eggs and other such delectables to tempt its snake's palate!

This is the back view of the same anthill. It's rather interesting the way the dirt seems to pour over the rocks - obviously, some very artistic ants used to be the residents of this pradakshina anthill!

Protect Bio-Diversity

Tiruvannamalai District:

As it is the responsibility of the urban community to protect bio-diversity, people living in cities should be sensitised so as to support traditional varieties of food grains, said scientist Dr V Arivudai Nambi, at a Workshop organised by the Tamil Nadu Science Forum.

Speaking at Chengam on Monday (24th July), he said that the Government under the National Bio-diversity Act, 2002, had set up a National bio-diversity authority. According to the Act, a Bio-Diversity Management Committee would be set up in every local body.

The main function of the BMC was to prepare a Peoples Bio-Diversity Register in consultation with the local people. The register should contain comprehensive information on the availability of local biological resources, like medicinal use of herbs, animals in their habitats, etc.

By maintaining such a register, societies could claim their rights in the particular area, Nambi said and added that before these developments took off, societies should be sensitised about them and fine-tuned towards the protection of bio-diversity.

India was rich in flora and fauna genetic resources. Without these resources newer and hybrid varieties could not be produced. We, therefore, cannot afford to lose these varieties, he said, adding that gene banks were preserving traditional seeds of crops like paddy.

This arrangement will ensure extended life to seeds but this method, called ex-ritu conservation, cannot preserve them for ever. Only by cultivation called in-situ conservation, these varieties can be preserved for the future, he said.

Only if urban societies bought and consumed traditional rice varieties cultivated using traditional organic farming pattern, farmers could cultivate those varieties, he said. So, we should speak about bio-diversity to the urban community and not to rural custodians of bio-diversity, he added.

Nomadic tribes were helping in the preservation of rich animal genetic resources and if societies allowed them to vanish the resources would also go away with them, he added.

Divine Wrath

Devi said:

This is always the abode of pious devotees. Those who do evil to others here will, after suffering ills, be destroyed. Wicked persons will be completely bereft of their power to do evil here. Do not fall into the burning fire of the anger of Lord Arunachala, who has assumed the form of the Hill of fire.

[Skanda Purana]

Poppy

This is Poppy. My favourite from the large cow nursery next door. She is always sooo happy to see me, but I think her fascination stems from the fact that I seem to have an inexhaustiable supply of delicious eatables. Clever little un!

Fishing Family

I recently visited the very nice gent Subramanian in his home near the Big Temple. In the above photograph he is surrounded by some of his adoring great-grandchildren. Subramanian is the head of the fishing family responsible for lighting and maintaining the flame during the yearly Deepam festival. The Arunachala Puranam relates the story between Siva and the Asuras which explains the historical reason why a fishing family is in charge of this very auspicious work (more about the Puranam story in later postings).

Subramanian is 75 years old and has been going on top of Arunachala for this work for the last 55 years. He is now a great grandfather, and it is his own five sons: Ramesh, Samandan, Annamalai, Bala Gandhi and Rajendran, who take turns (in revolving years) to be in charge of the Deepam Flame.

However, Grandfather Subramanian still ascends Arunachala EACH Deepam to oversee everything is taken care of in the proper way.

Arunachala Shiva

'One day I was walking on Arunachala with the Maharshi when he stopped and picked up a small stone from the path and held it out to me saying: “Someone from abroad has written asking for a stone from the most sacred part of the Hill. He does not know that the whole Hill is sacred. It is Siva Himself. Just as we identify ourselves with a body, so Siva has chosen to identify Himself with the Hill. Arunachala is pure Awareness in the form of a hill. It is out of compassion to those who seek Him that He has chosen to reveal Himself in the form of a hill visible to the eye. The seeker will obtain guidance and solace by staying near this Hill.'

[Dr. T.N Krishnaswamy - Ramana photographer]

August Newsletter

This week the August issue of Arunachala Grace News will be sent out to those who have submitted their email address. This month we cover news on reforestation, conservation, municipal regeneration and eco-friendly innovations of the Arunachala area. We also have writings of devotees and news of current events. If you are not yet receiving your monthly Newsletter, then please send email (left side of this Blog) to get on the e-zine list.

Arunagiri Yogi

In the early days of his time at Arunachala, Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi used to roam a good deal on the Hill. One day he found in a dried up watercourse a banyan leaf of such enormous size that it set him wondering what tree could produce such a leaf. Proceeding further he saw, from a distance, a huge banyan tree growing on what looked like sheer rock. Thinking the tree must be the one mentioned in the Mahatmyam, he tried to get closer to investigate, but was prevented getting near by a large swarm of hornets that blocked his path.

According to the Mahatmyam, Siva is reputed to sit permanently under a banyan tree on the north slope of Arunachala in the form of a siddha called Arunagiri Yogi.

Power of Pilgrims

It is said in the Puranas that the Gods themselves come to Arunachala to watch the progress of the pilgrims giripradakshina and that whoever goes around the Hill with a mind fixed on the Lord, will get the benefit of the Lords Grace to such an extent that the dust kicked up by their feet will serve as an instrument of immortality and when they leave, their feet will thereafter sanctify the roads of their own place.

E-Bike Information

Further to an earlier post about energy efficient electric scooters and motorbikes, for fuller information regarding the Company producing these for the South East Asia market, please check out the following two websites:

http://indochina.en.ec21.com/

http://www.planet-7.co.in/

Cauldron Facts

Last year during Karthigai Deepam, the flame on top of Arunachala, remained alight continuously for 11 days and at no time was the flame allowed to go out. Each day over 150 kgs of ghee (clarified butter) were fed to the flame, the ghee was donated by Arunachaleswarar Temple, although pious devotees continuously ascend the Hill to submit their ghee oblations.

Only on the first day are there cloths in the cauldron (in the form of a wick), on the second day the cloth remnants are taken out of the Cauldron and thereafter the pot is filled only with ghee. Other than the original cloths (wick), camphor and ghee, no other oblations are ever put into the Cauldron.

The giant cauldron takes 10 men (from the fisherman caste) more than three hours to haul to the top of Arunachala. The Temple of Arunachaleswarar plays no part in the proceeding. Women are not involved in carrying the Cauldron or tending it whilst it's on the Hill. However women are always welcomed on the Hill during the Deepam Festival.

Each Cauldron is used for about 10 years before being replaced. The current one was first used in 2004. The old Cauldrons are taken to metal workers to be broken up and recycled in the production of the new pot. Each pot takes around Rs.10,000 to make. After Deepam the Cauldron is taken down the Hill by the same fisher-folk and kept in storage at the Arunachaleswarar Temple.

Crossing Arunachala

Since Arunachala itself is the Lord and the Shiva Lingam, pilgrims are forbidden to cross It. Once Vali, son of Indra, was flying over the mountain and although, he saw the great Arunachala worshipped by all Gods, he ignored it. When Vali ventured to cross over the mountain, he lost his strength and fell to the ground! Then, commanded by Indra to make amends by worshipping the Shiva Lingam, Vali acted accordingly and regained his strength and powers.

Once a Gandharva named Pushpaka, tried to cross the mountain and instantly got the face of a tiger. His followers were wonderstruck by the extraordinary phenomenon. Brahmarshi Narada came to his rescue and enlightened him about the sanctity of the mountain. With great repentance, Pushpaka offered puja to the Lord of Arunachala and quickly recovered his looks.

Sarkarai Tank

This beautiful tank, situated on the corner of Sannidhi and Car Street, in front of the Arunachaleswarar Temple, has been recently restored to its former glory by The Paribalana Trust.

Shiva in Disguise

Arunachaleswarar is reputed to always be on the mountain in disguise. There is a mysterious and sacred banyan tree on the Northern peak of the mountain and Maheswara, disguised as a Siddha, is believed to be always at the root of that great banyan tree. The shade of the tree is itself supposed to very mystical and conforming to the shape of a mandala.

Blog Address

Due to problems with ISP servers, currently we have a situation in this country that certain websites (mostly with a blogspot address) are difficult to connect to. This is a problem being particularly experienced by people with Reliance mobile internet connections. If you ever have problems accessing this site with the normal address, then please use alternate address:

http://www.pkblogs.com/arunachalagrace

Cow Day

Picture of the cow nursery next to my home. Even though these young 'uns have been taken away from their Mums, still they have a nice peaceful, clean environment to live in, lots of good food and plenty of company. My farmer neighbour has 28 cows at this time, and about 20 of them are babies.

A local farmer on his way through the now waterless lakebed. Bullocks are still are major 'work' resource and are still used for transporting all types of loads, and they are still used for ploughing land - however tractors are beginning to be used by an increasing number of farmers.

The Sankaracharya

Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswati, the 68th Sankaracharya of Kanchi, used to be referred to as 'Periyaval', the great one. He is remembered as one of the foremost religious teachers of the 20th Century and for his work towards upholding the Eternal Dharma, revitalising the study of the Vedas and for unifying Hinduism. The Sankaracharya always had a great love for Arunachala and in December 1929, visited Tiruvannamalai and attended the Deepam festival. He stayed for more than a month, and whilst at Arunachala, performed regular giripradakshina, attended pujas and ceremonies at Arunachaleswarar Temple and also gave spiritual discourses.

It was in 1931 whilst staying at Chingleput (Tamil Nadu), that a famous meeting with Paul Brunton occurred. The details of the meeting are mentioned in Bruntons, 'A Search in Secret India', a book which has been responsible for bringing many pilgrims and seekers to Arunachala. It was during that meeting the Sankaracharya advised the Englishman to go to Arunachala, as it was there he would meet his spiritual master and Guru, Sri Ramana Maharshi.

Hill Fires

The main work and accomplishment of the organisation The Mountain of Medicine, has been to combat the fires on Arunachala that rage each summer, leaving the Red Mountain black. Many are of the opinion that the slopes of the Hill are nearly barren, but some time spent upon them will reveal the opposite to be true. There are countless little remnant pockets of the forests that would have once covered the Hill and all over the slopes small trees are regenerating naturally, both from root stock of cut trees, and from seeds born by birds and the wind.

If this regeneration process is allowed to carry on unhindered, it dwarfs any efforts that could be made through plantings. The Mountain of Medicine, in conjunction with other local concerned bodies and individuals, has put a great deal of effort into a variety of strategies to prevent the Mountain from burning. Three years into the process, and the organisation is (cautiously) optimistic about the way things are going.

Whereas previously the entire Hill would burn each summer without anybody doing anything about it, now there is a situation where, in the event of fire, gangs of schoolboys go upon the slopes to fight it. The boys are accompanied by workers of The Mountain of Medicine and the State Forest Department. Preventive strategies have ensured that fewer fires start in the first place. In 2004 less than 25% of the Hill was burned, in 2005 less than 15% and so far this year less than 3%.

[Thanks to Govinda Bowley for this post)

Miracle of Arunachala

Sri Siva:

Arunachala . . . abides as the bestower of all Siddhis - such as regaining eyesight to the blind, the ability to walk on (one's own) feet to the lame, begetting a son to the childless, ability to talk (fluently) to the dumb, conferment of all types of siddhis, dispelling all ailments and quelling of all sins."

[The Skanda Purana]