Our Real Size

This video is a heady and at the same time a humbling experience, because it shows how very 'small' we are, but also sublimely inspirational to realise that we are no different to that which pervades the Universe. All is I.

If you cannot see the video, please enable 'cookies' on your browser at tools>internet options:

I AM THAT I AM
BE STILL AND KNOW THAT I AM GOD

Surrender

Surrender to the Source.

Surrender to Awareness,

This is the only place of protection.

Surrender your heart and you will know all.

Surrender to Consciousness and Bliss.

Surrender means to surrender your bondage
and simply Be Freedom.
Surrender is the ego bowing down to its Source.
No more demands or commands,
but just putting all in the hands of the Source.
Surrender is to submit your stupidness, your wickedness,
To the will of Existence, to Consciousness and Bliss
And being happy.

Surrender.
Let Silence have You.

[By Sri HWL Poonja]

Mortgaged Property

Chairperson of the Debts Appellate Tribunal recently said (at a Chennai meeting), that Banks should be required to take steps to register mortgaged properties. At present equitable mortgage is not reflected in encumbrance certificates issued by registration offices. Thus, people buying mortgaged properties come to know of an encumbrance only when the property is put up for sale.

If such a regulation was put into effect, it would go some way in ensuring potential property purchasers (throughout Tamil Nadu, and in particular Tiruvannamalai District) would know right at the beginning of negotiations the extent of all existing mortgage encumbrances on the property they wished to purchase.

Mountain of Medicine

I previously made a posting about the Mountain of Medicine, a reforestation programme at Arunachala which is located on the South Side of the Hill and near to Sri Ramana Maharshi Ashram. Anyhow, I revisited this reforestation programme a few weeks ago to see their progress, and was delighted to see great improvements.

To find out more about the name Mountain of Medicine, and Sri Ramana Maharshi's explanation of the herbal properties of Arunachala, please refer to this posting.

The Mountain of Medicine has a nice quiet, contemplative, seating area with this pretty water feature.

Below another water feature in the quiet section of the Mountain of Medicine.

A local artist is currently painting granite slabs, which will be placed at the sides of various walkways at the Mountain of Medicine. Most of the paintings are depictions of local water birds and indigenous animals.

The below looks like a kingfisher and at the back of the granite slab, you can identify packets of seedlings that will later be transferred to various spots on Arunachala Hill.

The below is a favourite of mine and depicts the very commonly found Bonnet Macaque monkey; one sees these mischievous monkeys on the Hill, off the pradakshina road and also in town. The Bonnet Macaque is highly intelligent and very adaptive, and can quickly acclimate to new situations. If you want to find out more about this adorable, roguish monkey check out: Bonnet Macaque and monkey games.





The below shows part of the Children's Park at the Mountain of Medicine, which was recently opened and which is quickly proving a BIG success with local kids.

Another shot of the Children's Park at the Mountain of Medicine.

Rows of seedlings and plants, some of which will be later transferred and planted on the Hill, the rest of the seedlings will be sold to visitors, for their own gardens or driveways.

One very interesting feature of the Mountain of Medicine is that the organisation has built a rocky lane starting from their compound, which leads directly to the inner pradakshina path around the Hill. Most pilgrims prefer performing circumbulation of Arunachala by going around the outer pathway because they enjoy visiting outlying Temples and the Asta Lingams, however the inner path is particularly peaceful and favoured by those that want to perform silent and undisturbed girivalam.

A view of Arunachala and the local countryside from a vantage point at the Mountain of Medicine.

The below is the view of Arunachala from the gateway leading to the Mountain of Medicine. In a few years the planted trees will have grown and the pathway will be a veritable leafy avenue of trees.





You may like to refer to an earlier posting on this Blog written by Govinda Bowley, the founder of the Mountain of Medicine, in which he talks about the current greening situation of Arunachala.

Bird Sanctuary

Over the last few years there has definitely been a shift in consciousness in the area regarding our animal brethren. Many good people have taken up the mantle of promoting animal welfare and are participating in improving the quality of animals' lives in Tiruvannamalai. An example of this is the great courage shown by the young woman, of the previous posting, when facing down a group of very angry hunters. Also such people as Lesley from the U.S. have greatly benefited the quality of life of cats and dogs of the area, by their excellent work in setting up the newly opened, very successful Animal Shelter and aligning it to the Karuna Society of Puttaparthi.

Arunachala Grace Network is also very active with its work dedicated to animal welfare. And in this respect we have been engaged over the last few years in both feeding numerous homeless dogs in the Lake area and also in ensuring all plastic, trash and other animal hazards around the Lake is regularly picked up. Its been our dream for many years to participate in the development of a Bird Sanctuary around the Lake and now that the Municipality is beginning to express an interest in this venture, we hope that only sincere animal lovers will be selected to undertake work on behalf of the Municipality.

So, I have talked alot about Samudram Lake, and here is a spectacular view of the lake from the embankment with its magnificent view of Arunachala.

These photographs are also taken from the Lake embankment and show the proximity of Arunachala and gives one an idea of what a blessing it would be to maintain and ensure a pristine area dedicated to the joyful simplicity of the welfare of birds, both migratory and local.

Lots more news on all aspects of animal welfare to come.

No Fishing!

The below is a photograph of something I never hope to see by the side of Samudram Lake after this year. It is a hut for fishing folk that are trawling the gradually receding Lake for fish. Currently there are three such huts around the Lake. Last year the Municipality issued fishing permits giving rights to fishermen to stock and thereafter fish the lake. Sadly what was a lucrative business for them, was chaos and madness for the many visiting birds. Because the lake had many fish and freshwater shrimps and crabs, many hitherto unseen birds were attracted to visit and stay at Samudram Lake.

As is usually the case in man versus animal in food competition; man won and many birds were hunted, killed and frightened to prevent them eating the fish stock of Samudram Lake. This year the Lake was not stocked as before, but there is still a residual harvest left over from the previous year, hence several fishing huts have appeared around Samudram Lake.

While I was visiting at the Animal Shelter this afternoon, a young lady brought in a bag filled of 'dead' endangered migratory waterbirds that she had taken from some hunters who where loitering near her home. Wishing to bring the extent of the hunting of endangered birds to the notice of officials, she brought the bag filled with the 'dead' birds to the Animal Shelter for their advice and support. It was very brave of her to face down several hunters in order to confiscate the evidence of the dead birds. Hopefully the protection of birds and wildlife in this area can now start on an 'official level'.

What was particularly distressing to learn is that it is the fisherman and local agriculturalists who are calling in hunters in order to destroy the competition to the food chain.

Samudram Lake is about 550 acres and gets fully flooded and filled during the rainy season. For about 3 months the lake is filled to overflowing and then after the rainy season is over, increasingly the hot, sunny days and demands on the Muncipal water table, slowly lower the Lake. Eventually it dries out to just a watery puddle.

The Collector (the person in charge of the Local Municipality and its major decision maker) was recently approached regarding turning Samudram Lake into a protected bird sanctuary. He is currently considering proposals, but seems to be quite interested. Eventually all the farms around the lake will be sold to developers and adjacent lands will get built up with houses and flats; at that time having the Samudram Lake, well maintained and protected for migratory and local water-birds will be like New York with its park right in the middle. [Central Park in New York is 843 acres, and Hyde Park in London 608 acres].

However as Indians are generally not as 'health conscious' as Westerners, Samudram Lake won't need bicycle or jogging tracks around the perimeter! That's a relief!

The below picture is taken last year from high up, when the water of the Lake had receded from the trees skirting the perimeter of Municipal land. As Samudram Lake is a natural water catchment for water during the rainy season, it cannot be developed; or at least not in our life-time, maybe later when land will be HUGELY EXPENSIVE, all of a sudden like Bangalore, things will change and some bright spark will decide to try converting some of the lake land into building tracts!

The below is of a nice sunny day at the lakeside.

Lots and lots more information and posting about Samudram Lake to come. So keep checking back.

Fix that auto!

A few days ago I posted an entry about a brand new state-of-the-art Rs.180,000/- (U.S.$4,500) autorickshaw. Well, the man in the below photograph is working on his old, beaten up and weathered auto and is probably even happier with his lot; at least he didn't have to take out a bank loan to finance the purchase!

So, I was walking home on my way back from my appointment at the dental clinic at Rangammal Hospital and was enchanted by the sight of this friendly mechanic working on his auto with Arunachala in the background and his adoring puppy at his feet.

But will that adoring pooch leave his master alone for long enough for him to do his work? Well pooch didn't give Dad a chance during the time I was chatting. But after all its a long day!

Indian Trends

In the years 1972-73, in India, food items accounted for about 75% and 66% of household expenditure in rural and urban areas respectively. Nowadays household expenditure money (designated for food items) has fallen to 55% and 53% in urban and rural areas. With thebalance of monies being used to pay for manufactured items and services.

[The above is taken from The National Sample Survey Organisation (NSSO) which recently released their report on employment and expenditure in India].

Mercury Platform

The crafting of an affordable platform, named Mercury, to deliver medical services in regions that might be otherwise difficult to reach and service is now being deployed in Tamil Nadu. The platform, which works on an "always-on" connection, harnesses the Internet as the communication backbone to link patients to hospitals and to experts who might even be on another continent.

When the Tamil Nadu Telemedicine Project has been completed, it will link the Government Royapettah Hospital, Chennai with six Government Headquarter Hospitals at Tiruvannamalai, Tiruvallur, Kancheepuram, Krishnagiri, Udhagamandalam (Ooty), and Rameswaram.

Eucalyptus

Insect threatens Eucalyptus

An insect, new to India, which is believed to have migrated from Australia, has started to damage large swathes of Eucalyptus plantations in South India. The insect is feared to pose a threat to an estimated 8,000,000 hectares (a hectare is 2.47 acres) of plantations. Eucalyptus is an important pulpwood species, which is widely used in paper and rayon industries. First reported in Malakampadin area in Tamil Nadu, the damage has now spread to neighbouring States of Kerala, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.

The Eucalyptus tree was introduced to Tiruvannamalai District in recent times and is now commonly found in the immediate surrounds of the town of Tiruvannamalai.

A local plantation of young Eucalyptus trees

Authorities first noticed the menace when they found parts of Eucalyptus trees in Andhra Pradesh forests damaged due to the insect. The insect is of a group which lays eggs inside tree leaves and stems and blocks the sap flow to the tip of the plants, causing shoots to droop and thereby affecting normal growth.

In 2000, the infection was first reported in the Middle East and thereafter subsequently spread to Mediterranean countries and northern and eastern Africa. Though no specific pesticides are available to kill the tree insect, research suggests early treatment can halt damage. It is recommended that as soon as the insect problem is located, one should prune or cut off the parts that are affected and apply systemic pesticides, which will go inside the plant and kill the insect.

I AM

O, raise up thine eyes to eternal sky

In thy bondage strike out to be free

Hush the whispering voice of the infinite why

With "I am and I was and I ever will be."

[Anonymous]

Ramana Pradakshina

"What is there superior to pradakshina? That alone is sufficient. Even if you sit and do japa, the mind will wander, but if you do pradakshina that mind will remain one-pointed even though the limbs and the body are moving. Doing japa or meditation with a one-pointed mind, while moving about, without having any thought other than the japa, is known as absorption while moving (sanchara samadhi). That is why in the olden days pilgrimage on foot, without using any other conveyance, had so much importance.

Giri pradakshina is unique. As there are many types of herbs on the hill, the breeze that blows over them is good for the body. Even today there are many siddhas and great souls on the hill. They too go around the hill, but we cannot see them. Because of this, when we do pradakshina we should keep to the left of the road. If we do this, we do pradakshina without causing any inconvenience to them. We also get the merit of walking round these great souls, thereby receiving their blessings. As we do pradakshina, the body becomes healthy and the mind attains the peace of the Self. Because of all these things, pradakshina is an extraordinary sadhana."

[Ramana Maharshi]

Taurus Moon

Girivalam
Taurus Moon

As expected thousands of devotees thronged Tiruvannamalai on Tuesday night (May 1st) to perform circumbulation of Arunachala and have darshan of Lord Annamalaiyar at the Big Temple (Arunachaleswarar Koil).

The period of this month's Poornima began at 2 p.m., Tuesday and continued until 3.57 p.m., Wednesday. However due to the heat and bright sunlight, a large number of devotees waited until after 5 pm Tuesday to start their Hill giripradakshina.

As mentioned in a previous posting Poornima during the month of Taurus signals the birth of the Buddha, and after Karthigai Deepam festival attracts the largest annual gathering of pilgrims and visitors to Tiruvannamalai.

Some new arrangements designed to make giripradakshina easier for devotees were unveiled for the first time this month. These arrangements include the opening of a newly laid tiled pathway on part of the girivalam roadway from Anna Arch to Abhaya Mandapam. Also fire service personnel took measures inside Arunachaleswarar Temple to mitigate the distress of bare footed devotees walking on the scorching stone flooring inside the Temple premises.

Blue Moon

The month of May, 2007, in India has two full moons. A Blue Moon is commonly the name given to the second full moon in a month.

A more traditional explanation of 'Blue Moon' refers to the 4th full moon in a season. That is, each of the 4 seasons of the year has 3 months, and will usually have 3 full moons. Each of these 12 moons has a name like "Harvest Moon", or "Hunter's Moon" etc. However, when a season occurs that contains 4 full moons, there is no name for this occasional moon and it was given the name, "Blue Moon".

Although the expression Blue Moon nowadays is taken to mean the second Full Moon in a single calendar month, the Moon doesn't actually change colour, despite the name! However, there have been occasions when the Moon has appeared to be blue in hue. The phenomenon is caused by dust or smoke high in the Earth's atmosphere which is thrown up by a major volcanic eruption or smoke from a large forest fire. Tiny particles have a strange effect on moonlight passing through them. They scatter the light in every direction, but red light is scattered more strongly than blue light, so that less red light passes directly through the dust or smoke. Thus the Moon has a blue tinge.

The expression 'Blue Moon' as a way of saying 'not very often' was first used about 150 years ago. By that time it was clear that visibly blue Moons, though rare, did happen from time to time. So the phrase "once in a blue Moon", originated to mean 'an infrequent event'.

To view the calendar of all upcoming full moons at Arunachala until December, 2009, check link.

Devanandal Farm

Shanti Vanam Trust of Tiruvannamalai have asked Arunachala Grace to give information about a farm under their control that they wish to sell. I have already posted this information on the May Arunachala Grace News which goes out this evening, but am posting additional photos of the farm on this Blog. If the farm is not sold to a private party, eventually it will get sold to a developer who will break it up for individual plot sales.

Anyhow, the area of the farm is northside of Arunachala near Devanandal village. As you can see it is in a undeveloped, unspoilt area with a spectacular view of Arunachala, which is probably about 3 kms distance.

The below photograph is of the small fruit plantation on the farm.

The farm has been well maintained and the soil is in good condition. The land is mostly flat with an excellent water supply.

This is one of the two agricultural water tanks on the land. Again everything in pristine and well maintained fashion. There is even a small rustic cottage on the land near the banana plantation.

Here the land is on an elevation and is well populated with indigenous trees. Again a spectacular darshan of Arunachala.

The below is of the protected water reservoir which is around 250 acres large. In the photograph there is not much water left in the reservoir, but it will get well filled during the next monsoon. As it is a natural water collector, development for building purposes will not occur, thus giving the pristine 11 acre farm an adjacent 250 acres of unspoilt land that will remain undeveloped.

If you are interested in finding out more about this farm, please get in touch with the Shanti Vanam trust at:

shantivanam@rediffmail.com

AEED Trust

The AEED Trust (Arunachala Education and Environment Development Trust), was set up in 2006 for the purpose of addressing such issues as pollution of; noise, water and land in this locality. This area comprises a total of approximately 750,000 people in the following villages: Anaipiranthan, Athiyandal, Usalimedu, Kaveriyampoondi, Ayyampalayam, Ayyampalayam Pudier, Chinnakottankal, Periyakottankal, Adi Annamalai, Kosalai, Adaiyur, Vengikkal and hamlet villages and also the town of Tiruvannamalai itself.

Already substantial success is evident from the work of the AEED Trust; one major outcome being that during the recently completed Margazhi month at the beginning of this year, the usual noise pollution of early morning Temple music was severely curtailed. In this respect most Temples made efforts to fall in line with the announced 'restrictions of loud speakers in Tiruvannamalai and surrounds' by not operating their speaker systems between 10p.m. to 6a.m., and during the allowed broadcasting times 6a.m. to 10p.m., noise was restricted to 40 decibels, and in all cases box type speakers, instead of funnel types were instructed to be used.

P.K. Dhananjayan (Trustee)

To inform the general public about the hazards of noise, water and land pollution, rallies have been organised by AEED throughout the area. At these rallies it is emphasized that Tiruvannamalai is predominantly a spiritual and pilgrimage centre attracting vast crowds to visit and enjoy the benefits of giripradakshina (circumbulation of the Hill). This is one of the primary reasons that efforts should be maintained; to ensure a calm and peaceful ambiance throughout the area. In addition to visiting pilgrims, particularly during the time of full moon and the Karthigai Deepam festival, ordinary residents of the area including school children need to be protected from the harmful effects of noise pollution. It has been shown that noise pollution leads to a loss of peace, physical and mental disease, stress, lack of attention and an inability to concentrate. These severe consequences affect all living beings including our animal brethren.

In the case of water pollution, AEED concentrates on placing emphasis on extolling the merits of reforestation and also in protecting and ensuring purity of all water resources. The Trust also addresses requirements associated with air pollution especially in relation to automobile smoke and the firing of non-degradable materials affecting atmospheric oxygen. An important part of maintaining cleanliness and order around Arunachala is the avoidance of plastic which as well as being grossly unsightly, is dangerous to all animals and also hazardous to natural water courses and channels. In this respect AEED, as well as maintaining observation of 'regular hill clean-up', is also attempting to educate merchants and others in the need to avoid plastic wares and return to the previously used types of paper and leaf plates and cups.

Arunachala Grace will be maintaining close contact with AEED Trust in supporting their efforts of converting Tiruvannamalai area into a pure and healthy environment for all its inhabitants (man and creature) and visitors.

If you wish to get in touch direct with this organisation, please contact:

P.K. Dhananjayan (Trustee)
Email: aeedtrust@yahoo.com
Phone: +91-94426-37450

Wesak Full Moon

Here at Arunachala full moon during the Karthigai Deepam period is regarded as the most powerful poornima of the year. However the upcoming Wesak Festival (Taurus full moon) is globally considered to be the most powerful full moon of the yearly cycle. It is the time of the Buddha's Blessings. In this respect it is also considered to be a particularly auspicious time to perform Arunachala giripradakshina.

In 2007 the Festival of the Wesak (full moon in Taurus) occurs on Wednesday, May 2 at 10:09 a.m. GMT. An ancient legend says the Taurus Full Moon is the one time a year the Buddha leaves the High place where He works and dwells to return to the earth and BLESS the WORLD. This festival is not only celebrated at Wesak, North India, but also at spiritual centres throughout the world.

Wesak Valley

The three major spiritual Festivals which form a high point in the annual cycle: Festival of Easter (at the Aries full moon) Festival of Wesak (at the Taurus full moon) Festival of Goodwill (at the Gemini full moon)

The Wesak Legend
[Alice A. Bailey]

"There is a valley, lying at a rather high altitude in the foothills of the Himalayan-Tibet ranges. It is surrounded by high mountains on all sides except towards the northeast, where there is a narrow opening in the mountain ranges. The valley is bottle-shaped in contour, with the neck of the bottle to the northeast, and it widens very considerably towards the south. Up towards the northern end, close to the neck of the bottle, there a huge flat rock. There are no trees or shrubs in the valley, which is covered with a kind of coarse grass.

Approaching the time of the full moon of Taurus, pilgrims from the surrounding districts begin to gather. The holy men and the lamas find their way into the valley and fill the southern and the middle parts, leaving the northeastern end relatively free. There, so the legend runs, gathers a group of those great Beings Who are the Custodians on Earth of God's Plan for our planet and for humanity.

This group of knowers of divinity are the main participants in The Wesak Festival. They arrange Themselves in the northeastern end of the valley, in concentric circles, and prepare for a great act of service. In front of the rock, looking towards the northeast, stand Those Beings Who are called by Their disciples The Three Great Lords. These are The Christ, Who stands in the center; the Lord of living forms, The Manu, Who stands at His right; and The Lord of Civilization, who stands to His left. These three face the rock upon which rests a great crystal bowl, full of water.

Behind the grouped Masters, adepts, initiates and senior workers under God's Plan are to be found the world disciples and aspirants in their various grades and groups (either "in the body" or "out of the body"), who at this time constitute the New Group of World Servers. Those present in their physical bodies have found their way there by ordinary means. Others are present in their spiritual bodies, and in the dream state. The "dream", which they later relate, has been uniformly registered by people throughout the world, and bears the testimony to the recollection of an inner spiritual happening.

As the hour of the full moon approaches, a stillness settles down upon the crowd, and all look towards the northeast. Certain ritualistic movements take place, in which the grouped Masters and Their disciples of all ranks take up symbolic positions, and form on the floor of the valley such significant symbols as the five-pointed star, with The Christ standing at the highest point; of a triangle, with The Christ at the apex; or a cross, and other well known formations, all of which have a deep and potent meaning. This is all done to the sound of certain chanted words and esoteric phrases, called mantrams.

The expectancy in the waiting, onlooking crowd becomes very great, and the tension is real and increasing. Through the entire body of people there seems to be felt a stimulation or potent vibration which has the effect of awakening the souls of those present, fusing and blending the group into one united whole, and lifting all into a great act of spiritual demand, readiness, and expectancy. It is the climax of the world's aspiration focussed in this waiting group. These three words; demand, readiness and expectancy, best describe the atmosphere surrounding those present in this secret valley.

The chanting and the rhythmic weaving grows stronger, and all the participants and the watching crowd raise their eyes towards the sky in the direction of the narrow part of the valley. Just a few minutes before the exact time of the full moon, in the far distance, a tiny speck can be seen in the sky. It comes nearer and nearer, and grows in clarity and definiteness of outline, until the form of The Buddha can be seen, seated in the cross-legged Buddha position, clad in his saffron-colored robe, bathed in light and color, and with his hand extended in blessing.

When The Buddha arrives at a point exactly over the great rock, hovering there in the air over the heads of The Three Great Lords, a great mantram, used only once a year, at The Festival, is intoned by The Christ, and the entire group of people in the valley fall upon their faces. This Invocation sets up a great vibration or thought current which is of such potency that it reaches up from the group of aspirants, disciples and initiates who employ it, to the Being we know as God. It marks the supreme moment of intensive spiritual effort throughout the entire year, and the spiritual vitalization of humanity and the spiritual effects last throughout the succeeding months.

The effect of this great Invocation is universal or cosmic, and serves to link us up with that cosmic center of spiritual force from which all created beings have come. The blessing is poured forth, and The Christ, as the representative of humanity, receives it in trust, for distribution.

Thus, so the legend runs, The Buddha returns once a year to bless the world, transmitting renewed spiritual life, through The Christ. Slowly then The Buddha recedes into the distance, until again only a faint speck can be seen in the sky, and this eventually disappears. The whole ceremonial blessing, from the time of the first appearance in the distance until the moment The Buddha fades out of view, takes just eight minutes.

The Buddha's annual sacrifice for humanity (for He comes back only at great cost) is over, and He returns again to that high place where He works and waits. Year after year He comes back in blessing; year after year, He and His great brother, The Christ, work in the closest cooperation for the spiritual benefit of humanity. In these two great Sons of God have been focussed two aspects of divine life, and They act together as Custodians of the highest type of spiritual force to which our humanity can respond. Through The Buddha, the wisdom of God is poured forth. Through The Christ, the love of God is manifested in humanity, and it is this wisdom and love which pour forth upon humanity each Wesak full moon.

When The Buddha has again disappeared, the crowd rise to their feet; the water in the bowl is distributed in tiny portions to the Masters, initiates and disciples, and they then go their way to their place of service. The crowd, who have all brought their little cups and vessels of water, drink of them and share with others. In this beautiful "water ceremony of communion" is portrayed the symbol of the new age which is upon us, the Aquarian Age, the age of the Water Carrier.

In this ceremony is perpetuated for us the story of the universality of God's love, the need for our individual purification, and the opportunity to share with each other that which belongs to all. The water, which has been magnetized by the presence of The Buddha and of The Christ, carries certain properties and virtues of a healing and helpful nature.

Thus blessed, the crowd silently disperses.”

Subhalakshmi Amma

This is the view of Arunachala from the gate of Sadhu Om Colony which lies south of the Hill.





The next photograph is of the outside of the house in which Sri Tinnai Swami lived for over 40 years.





The below is of Subhalakshmi Amma, widow of the late C.P. Nathan, in whose home the atma-jnani Sri Tinnai Swami lived on a verandah masonry bench (tinnai) for over 40 years; attaining samadhi on Deepam Day, 7th December 2003. Subhalakshmi (who now lives with her daughter-in-law, Radha, in the Sadhu Om colony), for most of her life was in the blessed position of being able to serve and cook for two atma-jnanis; Sri Tinnai Swami and Sri Sadhu Om.


When I met Subbhalakshmi Amma this week, she told me of some of her experiences at Tiruvannamalai and memories of the saints living in her compound. She also recalled that the first time she came to Tiruvannamalai, with her husband C.P. Nathan, to take blessings from Ramana Maharshi was in 1946. At that time Subbhalakshmi was just 20 years old, and did not speak to Bhagavan, in its place she bowed to him.




In 1947 the C.P. Nathan family were able to make a permanent home a short distance south of Ramana Ashram, and were then able to offer a home to both Sri Tinnai Swami and in the family's adjacent home, Sri Sadhu Om. Subhalakshmi's two sons Arunachala Ramana and Amritalingam (and their wives) were also committed to the service of the saints living in their home. As well as serving the two saints, Subhalakshmi Amma has also been fortunate to be able to cook for many of the saints who occasionally visited her compound including such luminiaries as Yogi Ramsuratkumar and Sri Muruganar.

Subhalakshmi's daughter Radha (widow of Subhalakshmi's youngest son Arunachala Ramana) maintains the tradition of cooking for sadhus and pilgrims in her home at Sadhu Om and at her sattwic kitchen, Tamil food is served three times a day to visiting pilgrims and sadhakas.

The below photograph is of the pretty and serenely peaceful Sadhu Om Colony.




The current Sadhu Om Colony now comprises the samadhis of both Sri Sadhu Om and Sri Tinnai Swami. The below photograph is of the samadhi of Sri Sadhu Om.




And below is a photograph of the samadhi of Sri Tinnai Swami. As in life both saints lived in two adjacent homes of the same family, in death (samadhi) the tombs of both great atma-jnanis are positioned next door to one another.



The colony is also comprised of several beautiful cottages maintained by the Subhalakshmi family and occupied by visiting sadhakas and pilgrims.




"During the many years that he lived on their tinnai, C.P. Nathan, and his family were blessed with the good fortune of providing him with the little food, clothing and shelter that his body required, and in the early years in spite of their then state of poverty they performed such service not only to him but also to Sri Sadhu Om and other sadhus and devotees of Sri Bhagavan. Sometimes they even had to sell their cooking vessels in order to purchase provision to feed visiting devotees. All of us who had the good fortune to know Sri Tinnai Swami will be very grateful in particular to Mrs. C.P. Nathan, who in spite of many hardship serviced him with great devotion in every way she could especially providing him food, as she did till the end in spite of her advanced age and physical weakness."

May Newsletter

The May issue of Arunachala Grace Newsletter will be sent out directly to your inbox at the end of the week. If you do not already have a free subscription to Arunachala Grace News; which gives updates and information about this month at Tiruvannamalai, then you can use the 'subscribe' facility on this Blog which you will find at the left hand column underneath the 'email' banner.

This month's Arunachala Grace News, includes an article on the legend of the upcoming Wesak, which is globally believed to occur during the most powerful full moon of the yearly calendar. A narrative about a Herbal Farm on the girivalam road and our usual article on a specific herb/fruit (this month we concentrate on the properties of 'amla', the Indian Gooseberry). May issue of Arunachala Grace News also includes poems, sayings, a short story about a 'non-fighting bird' and information about new hotels and ashrams in this area. We also give an update on the attempts of a local organisation that is spearheading an anti-noise pollution campaign in the Arunachala area.

New Autorickshaw

Everyone who has visited India, is familiar with the autorickshaws plying in all the major towns and cities. Where would we be without them? Indispensable part of ordinary life. Tiruvannamalai is small but too big to move about entirely by walking. Nowadays the autos are getting bigger and fancier. This is one of the new models that are manufactured in Pune. Lots of legroom!

Whenever one buys something in this country, particularly if it is going to be used for business or transporation, its traditional to perform a puja at one's favourite Temple. This autorickshaw went through the 'puja' formalities yesterday and is now ready for the open road.

Its never going to look this good again!