A Devotee

'. . . So, I am a simpleton. Not only can I not define (even to myself), but that lifelong obsession of mentally grasping has dropped; even the desire to 'know' this or that has dropped. It is futile. The mind will never, and can never know anything except its own concepts. So ultimately all we can do is to describe a concept, and from a literary point of view it can be entertaining, but I don't think there is anything truly revelatory or long lasting about it all. It doesn't really make an impact and that is why, whatever really does is a complete mystery and cannot be described. And Arunachala does make an impact, it is a chemical, so subtle, like a breeze. And so, for my life, to be here close to the fire of this holy place, this ancient embodiment of Shiva, who could possibly express their thanks for this destiny?

Who can even comprehend the grace to be here: to have the eyes fall upon this Arunachala at any moment; being outside, going to town the hill is there, doing pradakshina or just sitting in a field, it is there. Looking out the bedroom window, it is there; in the darkness the silhouette of its shape stands out. The many moods of light and cloud upon the surface of the Hill, now green, soon brown and again the monsoon and green again. It is a palpable life force ever present, our father and mother. Sometimes pure fire, sometimes sweet tenderness. It is alive and full of power and you drink it in whether aware or not aware, this energy permeates my very being down to the smallest cell. Atom to atom it fills me and transforms the heart in secret, unknown ways. Such a mystery this Silence of the Hill, such a mystery.'

[Nan Richards]

Tamil Nadu

To give you an idea of Tamil Nadu and the exact location of Tiruvannamalai District here follows a short profile of the State and a map of its current delineation into Districts:

Tamil Nadu, the southern most State of India, has a very ancient history going back some 6,000 years. The State represents Dravidian culture, which preceded Aryan culture. The four great kingdoms of the Cholas, Cheras, Pandyas and Pallavas that ruled this area until the 10th Century A.D., left behind a rich legacy in art, architecture, music and literature and created lasting political, economic and agrarian systems. An intervening period of unstable Muslim rule that allowed the State to slowly disintegrate into several petty kingdoms coincided with the arrival of the East India Company in Madras in 1639. Soon most of south India came under the hegemony of the British.

In 1947 when India attained independence, the Madras Presidency comprised of present day Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Kerala. The agitation for a separate State for the Telegu speaking region forced the central government to bifurcate the Madras Presidency and create Andhra Pradesh. Under the State Reorganisation Act of 1956, Madras was divided further and the States of Kerala and Mysore (Karnataka) came into being. In 1967 Madras State was renamed Tamil Nadu; today it is the fourth largest State of the country. It has a population of approximately 70 million, about 6% of the total Indian population, and 30 Administrative Districts.

Child Labourers

More than 50 child labourers from several tribal villages in Jawadu hills were rescued in Tiruvannamalai by the Terre Des Home Core Trust over this last week.

The children, mostly girls, were about to be sent to cotton fields near Attur in the Salem District. The children who are between the ages 10-14 were compelled to give up their school studies to work. All the rescued children have now been handed over to the Child Welfare Committee.

A spokesman for the Terre Des Home Core Trust has reported that a member of their Trust keeps watch at Tiruvannamalai Bus Stand for incidents of child trafficking and that local people, (including auto rickshaw drivers) have also been asked to be vigilant in reporting cases of the suspicious transit of young children from the Bus Stand. The spokesman for the Trust reports that it has been their increased vigilance in Tiruvannamalai that has exposed this child trafficking trade and have insisted that action be taken against the perpetrators.

The main reason for the exodus of children from hill villages is poverty. Previously there have been sporadic instances of child labourers being rescued. But what makes this trafficking of young children to the cotton fields more serious is the inherent dangers of working in such heavily contaminated areas. For more information here is an extract from a report entitled: "Children's development undermined by pesticide use in India":

'A unique study investigated the chronic impacts of pesticides on children in India.

In 2003, researchers with Greenpeace India tested almost 900 children living in cotton-growing areas in six States for their developmental abilities, using a range of tests designed to measure analytical abilities, motor skills, concentration and memory. They found that children living in regions in which pesticides are widely used performed significantly worse in these various developmental abilities than children in a control group living elsewhere.

The investigation reveals that children from regions as diverse as Tamil Nadu and Punjab, who have nothing in common but their exposure to pesticides, appear to share an inability to perform simple play-based exercises; such as catching a ball or assembling a jigsaw puzzle; simply because they have been exposed to pesticides over a period of time.

Cotton uses some of the most highly toxic pesticides, including significant levels of organophosphates, which affect the nervous system. The quantities of chemicals applied are massive: while cotton occupies less than 5% of cultivated land in India, it uses more than 50% of all agricultural pesticides. India is a major user of pesticides . . .'

To read the full report please check link:
http://www.pan-uk.org/pestnews/pn65/pn65p12.htm

Base Map

Tiruvannamalai, which is 13.64sq km and southwest of Chennai (previously known as Madras), attracts visitors and pilgrims in their hundred thousands every full moon day. As the town is the only urban centre in the region of a radius of 25km and the major trade centre for 50 villages, there is a tremendous strain on the town's infrastructure particularly during Full Moon and Festivals.

An urban renewal plan for Tiruvannamalai has been planned as intervention in the problems being experienced due to the huge influx of visitors. Part of the physical intervention plan to improve the Town's infrastructure, has been to create a Base Map of Tiruvannamalai showing all existing features and contour levels.

Tiruvannamalai Municipality doesn't have an authentic town Base Map with land details. For implementation and maintenance of service projects the knowledge of the town topography is a necessity. For this reason a Base Map for the town showing all natural and manmade features is being prepared using IKNOS, satellite imagery and ground surveys which when complete will serve as the basis for all future engineering works in Tiruvannamalai.

The Polls

The first phase of local polling in Tiruvannamalai Revenue Division passed off peacefully yesterday, Friday, October 13. The second phase of polling takes place tomorrow, Sunday, October 15.

But for three minor incidents reported in the first phase, there were no major law and order problems anywhere in the State during these local elections.

One of the three incidents reported in Tiruvannamalai District and was of a clash between two groups in Melvahaipadi for which cases have been registered and there is an ensuing investigation.

In other parts of Tamil Nadu there were some incidents of booth capturing; a wonderful euphemism which translates into 'somebody stole the ballot box from the polling booth! Help!' An occurrence that happens with some frequency at local elections. However, it's good to hear that Tiruvannamalai District, apart from the above-mentioned lone incident, was almost 100% peaceful during polling.

Other parts of Tamil Nadu had road blockages occurrences for which rival political parties were responsible, but in all cases the barricades were broken up quickly by the authorities and there were no reports of related traffic problems.

The poll percentage has been roughly estimated to have exceeded 70% in Tiruvannamalai District with a respectable 64% poll percentage in the Muncipality. Which is indeed a very healthy polling rate for any country.

Arunachala Stuti

'The Primordial Lord of the Universe, whose form is unbroken consciousness, whose feet are adored by the Vedas, who destroys sins of those who bow to him, the Lord of the Mountains! Bestow on me a sidelong glance with thy eyes moistened with compassion, lest I should end my life living like an animal.

Arunachala, the embodiment of the 8-fold form of the Universe, in order that the worldly afflictions may cease to torment me, please cast they look of Grace to help cut asunder the ego-knot without feeling its pangs.'

[By Ramana Maharshi]

Inner Peace

When people talk about Arunachala, they often talk about how it brings peace into their lives. In this respect here is a beautiful description by the famous wandering lady, Peace Pilgrim, of the signs of inner peace:

A tendency to think and act spontaneously rather than on fears based on past experiences.

An unmistakable ability to enjoy each moment.

A loss of interest in judging other people.

A loss of interest in interpreting the actions of others.

A loss of interest in conflict.

A loss of the ability to worry.

Frequent, overwhelming episodes of appreciation.

Contented feeling of connectedness with others and nature.

Frequent attacks of smiling.

An increased susceptibility to the love extended by others as well as the uncontrollable urge to extend it.

[Peace Pilgrim]

Sacred Sites

The famous sacred sites anthropologist Martin Gray asserts that according to his studies, he had been led to identify 32 separate categories of power places according to the factors contributing to the presence of energy fields at those places. These categories include; sacred mountains, healing springs, ancient astronomical observatories etc.

But whatever the catgegory of the sacred site, it is the actual combination of different factors that catalyzes the psychological and physiological effects in humans.

These factors are the geophysical characteristics of the sacred site location, the visual beauty of the sacred site location and the location of sacred sites according to regional configurations of sacred geography.

Arunachala Ashtakam

Ah! What a wonder! Arunachala stands as an insentient Hill. Its action is mysterious, past human understanding. From the age of innocence it had shone within my mind that Arunachala was something of unsurpassing grandeur, but even when I came to know through another that it was the same as Tiruvannamalai, I did not realize its meaning. When it drew me up to it, stilling my mind, and I came close, I saw it unmoving.

When I approach Thee regarding Thee as having form, Thou standest as a Hill on earth. If with the mind the seeker looks for Thy form as formless, he is like one who travels the earth to see ever-present ether. To dwell without thought upon Thy boundless nature is to lose one's separate identity like a doll of sugar when it comes in contact with the ocean of nectar and when I come to realize who I am, what else is this identity of mine but Thee, O Thou Who standest as the towering Aruna Hill?

Extract from Eight Stanzas on Sri Arunachala
Sri Ramana Maharshi

Perandai

Perandai [Cissus quadrangularis]

Perandai is an indigenous medicinal plant of India found in great quantities all around Arunachala. The use of this plant (by common folk) for promoting fracture healing is an old practice. It has been prescribed in ancient Ayurvedic texts by Bhava Prakash and Chakra Dutta as a general tonic especially for the fracture patient.

It contains high amount of vitamin C, carotene A, anabolic steroidal substances and calcium. These anabolic steroidal principles promote fracture-healing by influencing early regeneration of all connective tissues. In clinical trials Perandai has been found to cause reduction in the healing time of fractures by 55-33%. It is shown to neutralize the anti-anabolic effect of steroids like cortisone in healing of fractures.

Postmenopausal women are at particular risk to osteoporosis because the loss of estrogen associated with menopause leads to bone loss. Perandai (cissus quadrangularis) is likely to exert beneficial effects on recovery of bone mineral density in postmenopausal osteoporosis.

The stem of perandai is recommended in Ayurveda for the treatment of irregular menstruation, asthma, as an analgesic in eye and ear diseases and for complaints of the back and spine. Scientific studies have revealed perandai extract to possess cardiotonic and androgenic property.

It will improve appetite, remove constipation, kill stomach worms, cure piles and is also act effective for loose motion, or dysentry.

The quantity regarded as optimum by herbologists is a gramme. In Tamil homes perandai is often taken with clarified butter or in the form of a tasty chutney.

Chutney: Tender perandai add tamarind, chillies, cumin seeds and ghee, salt, fresh garlic and onion and grind till smooth. Very tasty as a condiment eaten with rice.

Panther update

Further to my earlier posting of October 7, about the wild animal, thought to be a Panther, attacking livestock in the area; the latest report is that the mysterious animal, which killed some cattle in the District last week, has now been identified from footprints found in the forest, as a hyena.

Around 20 forest department personnel and 100 locals are currently in search of the animal in the Nedungunam reserve forests.

Again I repeat how sad that an area only 50 years ago replete with tigers, cheetahs, leopards, hyenas, panthers, wild antelope and even elephants has become so sanitised and cleansed of indigenous forest life, that the possibility of the presence of ONE HYENA is regarded as so inimical to man's welfare and interests; that over 120 people armed with weapons, metal traps and snares are in pursuit to catch and kill it! What a tragedy that we have come to this.

Hill Temple

A beautiful photograph to enjoy of the Arunchaleswarar Temple in the foreground and the Hill of Arunachala at the back. You can notice from this photograph how the architects from ancient times, perfectly aligned the Temple at the southeast slope of the Hill.

Yeh T'ai Poem

[This poem was written by Yeh T'ai, a Chinese Mountain Hermit. It was written about another place and another time; but the words are completely Arunachala.]


At a true site . . . there is a touch of
magic light. How so, Magic?
It can be understood intuitively, but
not conveyed in words. The
hills are fair, the waters are fine, the
sun handsome, the breeze mild;
and the sky has a new light: another
world. Amid confusion, peace;
amid peace, a festive air. Upon
coming into its presence, one's
eyes
are opened; if one sits or lies, one's
heart is joyful. Here the breath
gathers, and the essence collects.
Light shines in the middle, and
magic goes out on all side. Above
or below, to right or left, it is
not thus. No greater than a finger,
no more than a spoonful; like
a dewdrop, like a pearl, like the
moon through a
a crack like the
reflection in a mirror. Play with it,
and it is as if you can catch it;
put if off, and it cannot be got
rid of.
Try to understand!
It is hard to describe.

Work of AKSP

'Wilderness needs to be allowed to be. The wildest part of Arunachala is being regenerated by the Arunachala Kattu Siva Plantation, a group of rural men and women from villages surrounding the feet of Siva.

. . . we are contributing towards the covering of a sacred mountain with living forms so that our artesian basin will regenerate. We are engaged in this because it is our contribution to the future inhabitants of this sacred place, which we believe has an unimaginable potency entirely irrelevant to ecological considerations. We are doing this because we want to, because we believe that the maha mangalam absorbs the illusory conditioned mind.

We are encouraged to believe it a good thing for other persons devoted to Arunachala to know about our work and for this purpose have created the website:www.aksp.org.'

The Babies

This is the little dairy next to my house. It has got larger now with nearly 40 cows and lots of calves. Mooo!

Its very tragic to see how cows in South India are treated. Theirs is always a life of imprisonment. For instance in this photograph each of the cows is tied up to a railing or a peg. And thats how it is day and night, and night and day. It's so rare for cows to just be allowed to be cows and wander around.

I will keep talking with the owners of the dairy and hope to get a lifestyle improvement for the cows. But compared to other cows in this area; these little ones have a grand life! At least its nice and peaceful, the air is clean and fresh and there is lots of good grub. But my question is, 'How is it possible for man to care so much for his own comfort and so little for the comfort of others'?

Statistics

Tiruvannamalai District was formed by bifurcation of the 188 year old North Arcot District on September 30, 1989. The total geographical area of the district is 6355.61 sq kms. Tiruvannamalai and Cheyyar are the two Revenue Divisions in the District. There are 6 Taluks namely Tiruvannamalai, Arni, Chengam, Cheyyar, Polur and Vandavasi. There are 18 Panchayat unions covering 875 Panchayat villages with 1067 Revenue villages. The District has 4 Municipalities namely Tiruvannamalai, Arni, Cheyyar and Vandavasi.

Bandh

A couple of days ago Tiruvannamalai was affected by a Statewide bandh taking place in the neighbouring State of Karnataka. All Government and private vehicles, including Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation buses, were stopped at Hosur and not allowed to continue onwards.

The bandh which was called by parties sympathetic to the ongoing State boundary issue between Maharashtra and Karnataka, affected all interstate traffic between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.

The most affected were labourers from Tiruvannamalai, Cuddalore and Villupuram. More than 50,000 people from these areas on returning to Bangalore for their work, were left stranded at Hosur because of the bandh. The bandh also affected more than 20,000 Hosur-based employees, working in night shifts at various industries in Bangalore.

Thankfully the above bandh although inconvenient to many, did go off peacefully; but sometimes bandhs can become nasty and violent. In affect a bandh is a General Strike and in an important one, even small shop-keepers will not dare break open their shops for fear of reprisals from strike organisers.

It is not unheard of when a Chief Minister or important movie star dies, that a bandh will be called. Some mourning bandhs have involved extreme and tragic displays of grief even, in some cases, leading to self-immolation.

Panther

A few days ago a number of cattle were found killed at Nandhiyambadi near Chetpet in the Tiruvannamalai District. The cattle had been missing for sometime and when found in the forest the carcasses of the dead beasts bore the trace of an animal attack.

Forest officials have not put out any official word regarding the mutiliated cattle but villages suspect a panther may be on the prowl in the area.

How sad it is that in the last 50 years we have eradicated so many species of wonderful creatures in this area. Until recently there were leopards, cheetahs, tigers, wild antelopes and even elephants in great numbers throughout what is now Tiruvannamalai District.

Our success in obliterating these wonderful creatures is so excellent that the possibility of a stray panther is news. Sadly for the panther no doubt the villagers will be out on a hunting spree to catch the 'dangerous beast'!

All is One

This is an inspirational story submitted by Susan that shows how each of us are a vital thread in another person's life tapestry. Our lives are woven together for a reason and when one of us is threatened, we are all at risk. We are all involved AS ONE in this journey called life:


A mouse looked through the crack in the wall to see the farmer and his wife open a package. 'What food might this contain?' The mouse wondered. He was devastated to discover it was a mousetrap. Retreating to the farmyard, the mouse proclaimed the warning. 'There is a mousetrap in the house! There is a mousetrap in the house!'

The chicken clucked and scratched, raised her head and said, 'Mr.Mouse, I can tell this is a grave concern to you but it is of no consequence to me. I cannot be bothered by it.'

The mouse turned to the pig and told him, 'There is a mousetrap in the house! There is a mousetrap in the house!'

The pig sympathized, but said, 'I am so very sorry, Mr. Mouse, but there is nothing I can do about it but pray. Be assured you are in my prayers.'

The mouse turned to the cow and said, 'There is a mousetrap in the house! There is a mousetrap in the house!' The cow said, 'Wow, Mr.Mouse. I'm sorry for you, but it's no skin off my nose.'

So, the mouse returned to the house, head down and dejected, to face the farmer's mousetrap; alone. That very night a sound was heard throughout the house, like the sound of a mousetrap catching its prey. The farmer's wife rushed to see what was caught. In the darkness, she did not see it was a venomous snake whose tail the trap had caught.

The snake bit the farmer's wife. The farmer rushed her to the hospital and she returned home with a fever. Everyone knows you treat a fever with fresh chicken soup, so the farmer took his hatchet to the farmyard for the soup's main ingredient.

But his wife's sickness continued, so friends and neighbours came to sit with her around the clock. To feed them, the farmer butchered the pig. The farmer's wife did not get well; she died. So many people came for her funeral, the farmer had the cow slaughtered to provide enough meat for all of them.

The mouse looked upon it all from his crack in the wall with great sadness.

Invitation

I would like to invite stories, experiences, impressions, poems or narratives from devotees of Arunachala for possible inclusion in either our recently redesigned website:
www.arunachalasamudra.org or in our monthly Newsletter, Arunachala Grace News.

For new visitors, there is a monthly Newsletter; Arunachala Grace News with a free subscription facility on the left hand side margin of this Blog.