Sri Nannagaru Ashrams

Popular Ashrams to stay at Tiruvannamalai are those of Sri Nannagaru. Sri Nanngaru (a Guru from Jinnuru, Andhra Pradesh) has two Ashrams located on the southside of Arunachala; at which pilgrims, visitors and retreat groups are welcome to stay whenever the Ashrams are available. Sri Nannagaru visits Arunachala around 4 times a year, including his visit during the festival of Deepam (this year, Bharani Deepam, the night of the lighting of the flame on Arunachala falls on November 24th, 2007).


Sri Nannagaru Ashram:

The below photograph is the view of Arunachala from the front gate of Sri Nannagaru Ashram, which is located just off the pradakshina road about 1 1/2 kms east of Ramana Ashram. In this respect Sri Nannagaru Ashram is as close you can get to the area of Ramana Nagar (which is a preferred place because of ashrams and facilities) yet still be in the comparative peace of the countryside.

Sri Nannagaru ashram has 20 modern rooms available (with ensuite Western style bathrooms) for accommodation purposes, a bamboo covered waterproof roof and kitchen on the top floor and a meditation hall. Meal arrangements and motorcycle/bicycle rentals can be made through the manager of the Ashram.

The below is the outside of the Ashram's meditation room (which is always available to visitors)

The next photograph is of the spectacular darshan of Arunachala from the Ashram roof. Sri Nannagaru Ashram is a very popular venue for Retreat Groups (both from overseas and India). In such cases special group requirements can be arranged.

Andhra Ashram, (which has approximately 10 accommodation rooms available) is located in Ramana Nagar about a 2 minutes walk from Ramana Ashram.

It is located on a quiet, leafy street and is perfect for those who want to remain in Ramana Nagar; close to major ashrams and shops.

The below photograph is of the pretty street on which Andhram Ashram is located and which leads up to the main pradakshina road

Rooms at Andhra Ashram are more rustic and although most rooms have ensuite bathrooms, they are of the Indian variety. There is a large meditation room on the Ashram ground floor, that is available to visitors. As in the case of Sri Nannagaru Ashram, rooms at Andhra Ashram are only available at the times the Guru is out-of-station.

If you would like more information about either of these ashrams for either your own purpose or for group/Retreat stays, please get in touch with: arunachalana@fastmail.fm

Hail to Thee, part 3

To read verses 1-9 inc of Hail to Thee! O’ Arunachala, go here and for verses 10-20 inc, here





21. O' Dancing Beggar of the Cremation pit
By Your command I stand, a spendthrift
Cast now upon me Thy Graceful Glance
Ere I squander this soul’s inheritance

22. Thy Will addicted this mind to pleasure
Now luring me if You wait your leisure
This soul will drink Maya's stagnant water
Like sand swallowed by the crazed traveler

23. Which parent lets a child play with fire?
Can Thou see me fall, standing as my Sire
Play no longer this mischievous game
Lest the world speak of You in shame.

24. Kama devour'd Vishwamitra in a trice
Can I win freedom then from this vice?
You who consumed Kama in a stray Glance
Are my refuge, O' Lord, my only Deliverance

25. Dazzle me not with Maya's peacock fan
Lurking b'neath is Thy serpent's fang
Stand forth my Lord blazing bright
Consume me in Thy Eternal Light

26. My vasanas crash on me evermore
As surging waves on the ocean shore
Borne by the weight of my Karma
They shatter my resolve of Dharma

27. As an infant building castles of sand
I struggle in my Sadhana to stand
O' Saviour of Parvati's sand idol
Enfold me in Thy Arms Bridal

28. O' Lord of all beings, worlds and lands
Weighted by failings, condemned I stand
I come seeking Thy sanctifying Grace
Turn me not away from Thy Embrace

29. O' Hunter of souls, Divine Archer beyond compare
Was errant Thy Gaze as Thy Arrow shot here
And grazed my heart with this unhealing wound
Now Knowledge reigns not with Ignorance unswoon’d

30. Or is it Thy sport, that You prefer
To see this soul move in dazed stagger
Grasping by turn at scripture and worlds
In vain quest for relief as agony swirls

31. Be Still and Surrender Thou said
'Tis easy for Thee to speak from Thy bed
When even surrender is by Thy command
Who shall bow to whom, I pray demand

Sparsa Update

Several people have been in touch asking about the construction progress of the area's new luxury hotel, Sparsa Tiruvannamalai. I was wondering about that myself, so yesterday, Wednesday, June 13th, decided to check out work at the new hotel.

At the site, one of the supervisors mentioned that construction of the Hotel complex would be finished within a month. If you would like to look at the interior of the Hotel's rooms, click here. For earlier postings following Sparsa Tiruvannamalai's progress, visit 5th February posting, and 24th April posting.

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Anyhow, first off on the current trip is a photograph of the administrative and shop area. Shops in the Hotel Compound will include a flower shop, coffee shop, internet facility and a gift shop. Other facilities at the complex will also include an ayurvedic health centre and a health club.

In the next photograph, workers are finishing the thatching on one of the shop's roofs. As well as for purely aesthetic reasons, the roof thatch is also functional in helping buildings maintain a constant temperature. However the lovely straw roof is not actually structurally relevant to the building, as it is only a facade covering of a regular style roof; so no need to worry about drips coming through the roof in the middle of a storm!

Here is a photograph of a recently completed thatch roof. I was told by the roofing master, that these roofs will last up to 7 years before they need to be replaced.

Quite different from the style inside the accommodation rooms, in the below photograph, is an example of floor tiling of shops and administrative offices.

In the next photograph is a row of accommodation cottages. Each cottage has two rooms upstairs and two downstairs, all with a view of Arunachala. All that remains to be done in this area is the pathways (which I've been told will in most cases be made of flagstones) and the garden landscaping.

The below is of two mandapams (halls) which will be utilised for meetings, retreats, talks, meditation or group meetings.

One essential in any comfortable hotel is the swimming pool; which in this case is facing Arunachala. The various buildings around the pool comprise, changing area and showers, a restaurant, upstairs viewing platform and outdoor restaurant, and to the right (and out of the picture) a large two storey conference hall and kitchen.

Even in the building of such a sophisticated project, most of the work is done in the traditional Tamil way i.e. by hand.

The below is of the inside of the conference room.

The next photograph is taken from the upstairs roof on top of the rooms around the pool, including changing rooms and showers, restaurant, conference room and kitchen. The roof which faces Arunachala will be transformed into an outdoor restaurant.

Looking down from the roof we can see progress on the Hotel's swimming pool. As well as this public pool, one of the accommodation villa's has its own small private swimming pool.

Looking from the roof into another direction, I can see sheafs of hay lined up drying in the sun and waiting to be used by roofers to thatch the rest of the office buildings. In the background, behind the bushes and small trees, is Arunachala.

The Hotel is situated in a quiet, undeveloped area and this is one of the views of the outlying countryside.

In another direction and outside the Hotel compound, is a very beautiful recently constructed local Temple.






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Opening Day of Sparsa, Tiruvannamalai, is set for the first week of August. Room rates are as follows:

Per day single occupancy U.S.$75, double occupancy U.S.$90, each additional bed in room U.S.$10. Deluxe room with private pool U.S.$115. There is an additional 12.5% luxury tax on the above prices.

If you would like additional information or assistance to make a reservation, please contact us at:

arunachalana@fastmail.fm

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The eco-sensitive design group responsible for Sparsa, Tiruvannamalai, is 'Inspiration', Architects, Engineers, Designers and Craftspersons from Kerala. The below photographs are from a recent architectural Indian magazine including some of the Company's recently completed projects.

'Inspiration' is a design group associated with the eco-sensitive concepts of the renowned Laurie Baker.

For more about Laurie Baker please check our recent posting.

We will continue updates on the above.

Dakshinamurti

Maharshi: . . . which is the real power? Is it to increase prosperity or bring about peace? That which results in peace is the highest perfection.

Devotee: But peope in Europe and America would not appreciate such an attitude and would desire a display of powers and instructions by lectures, etc.

Maharshi: Lectures may entertain individuals for a few hours without improving them. Silence on the other hand is permanent and benefits the whole of humanity.

Devotee: But silence is not understood.

Maharshi: It does not matter. By silence, eloquence is meant. Oral lectures are not so eloquent as silence. Silence is unceasing eloquence. The Primal Master, Dakshinamurti, is the ideal. He taught his Rishi discipes by silence.

Devotee: But then there were disciples for Him. It was all right. Now it is different. They must be sought after and helped.

Maharshi: That is a sign of ignorance. The power which created you has created the world. If it can take care of you, it can similarly take care of the world also.

[Talks with Sri Ramana Maharshi]

Saron Church

Before visiting the Saron Boarding School for Boys, we first attended mass at the adjacent Arcot Lutheran Saron Church compound. The church is over a hundred years old and is large and spacious. The service was well attended and Rev. Daniel Jeyapathy performed mass and also gave a long and well received sermon.

Another view of Saron Church, Tiruvannamalai.

After attending mass, we then given a guided tour by Rev. Jayapathy Daniel, of the neighbouring Saron Boarding School for Boys, where we met and spoke with many of the young lads at the School. Later on we visited with Rev. Jayapathy Daniel and his wife at their home in the Saron compound.

Below is a photograph of Rev. Jayapathy Daniel's wife, who also studied theology, but who has not been ordained and is not a practising pastor.

Here we are upstairs in their apartment on top of the beautiful colonial house at the Saron compound. The house is over a 100 years old and has lots of old fashioned 'Tamil' touches, with verandahs, arched doorways, beamed celings and enclosed terraces. Rev. Jayapathy Daniel who has been pastor of the Arcot Lutheran Church and head of Saron Boys Boarding Home, Tiruvannamalai for the last 4 years, was previously Pastor (also for 4 years) northeast of Tiruvannamalai for 10 villages at Portonovo, near Cuddalore.

Below is one of the old fashioned ceilings (in the lovely colonial house) made from wooden rafters and tiling.

In the next photograph you can see the verandah which goes around the whole of the upstairs floor of the colonial house.




So our very nice day visiting at the Saron Boarding Home for Boys was finished off with a very delicious lunch with Rev. Jayapathy Daniel and his wife at their home.

Saron School

The below shows Rev. Jayapathy Daniel, pastor of the Arcot Lutheran Church and head of Saron Boys Boarding Home, Tiruvannamalai. The boarding school houses around 480 boys through classes 1 to 12, all of whom are supported by Lutheran Partners in Global Ministry. Here Rev. Jayapthy Daniel (who also pastors the church adjacent to the school campus) is standing by the school's new dormitory which was donated by Prairie Lutheran Church, Eden Prairie, Minnesota, U.S.A., and dedicated January, 2006.

The below is a photograph of the new 2-storey Prairie Dormitory which houses 275 boys between the ages 12-18 years old.

Some of the Saron School boys who were following us around during our tour of the School and facility.

This is one of the standard rooms in the Prairie dormitory. At night the bedding is put out on the floor and in the morning folded up and put away.

While visiting the Saron facility, we were able to see the kitchen and dining room just before lunch. Some of the older boys were helping the school staff prepare individual lunch plates for the boys. As expected meals are of the traditional South Indian variety i.e. rice, sambhar, vegetable curry, rasam and buttermilk.

Rev. Jayapathy Daniel told me that the boys' schedule is as follows:

5.30 a.m. get up, exercise, bath
7.00 a.m. prayers, study
8.15 a.m. breakfast (Tamil dishes like pongal, iddli, uppmavu)
9.00 a.m. school lessons
12.40 p.m. lunch (Tamil meals)
1.30 p.m. school lessons
4.30 p.m. school over, play and snacks
6.30 p.m. prayers
7.00 p.m. dinner (Tamil meals)
9.00 p.m. bed younger boys
10.00 p.m. bed older boys

The school is effectively non vegetarian in that the boys are given eggs three times a week, and chicken twice a month.

Below is a photograph of one of the older dormitories. As in Prairie Dormitory, bedding is rolled up during the day and put out only at night. That means lots of running around space in all the time in between!






The Boys Boarding Home was originally set up at Siloam, Tirukoilur and a Girls Boarding Home located at Saron, Tiruvannamalai. Later on, because of administrative reasons, the schools switched location, and now the boys have their Boarding Home at Saron, Tiruvannamalai and the girls at Siloam, Tirukoilur. Both establishements were founded in 1907 and over the last 100 years there have been many changes, improvements, new building works, renovations and landscaping. However there are still many instances of traditional Tamil building techniques. Many of the ceilings are of the old fashioned variety, with wooden beams and rafters; something rarely incorporated in new buildings nowadays.

Below are some Saron boys acting out for the camera in front of the dormitory for younger boys. This dormitory is home to approximately 150 boys between the ages of 6-10 years old!






While visiting last Sunday (which is a 'no-school' holiday for the boys) we were able to meet alot of the kids and talk with them. More than 50% of the boys at Saron have one parent who is dead. In some cases their remaining parent is working far distant from Tamil Nadu. But whatever the childs' individual circumstance, this is India, home of the extended family and during school holidays, ALL children leave campus to go and stay with their nearest relative.

The boys have a good success rate in national exams. Besides formal education, the Saron Boarding Home gives practical teachings on agriculture, singing, dancing and dramatics and many boys in the Saron School's 100 year history, have gone on to high administrative positions in the Government.

The Saron Boarding Home, Middle School was upgraded into a High School in 1984. At this facility there are three acres of agricultural cultivation land and a large playground in which one of the favourite sports is football. Seven wardens look after the boarders who number approximately 480 boys.

In the below photograph some of the boys are clowning around for their guests. It was nice talking with the young lads, and although very 'energetic', they were respectful and good natured.

The size of the campus is approximately 7-8 acres and although located close to the Big Temple and also to the main thoroughfare to Tirukoilur, the whole campus is very peaceful. I think probably because of all the wonderful trees planted throughout the facility and also because of the high, compound wall skirting the entire campus permieter.

The below is a photograph of the Arasamaraam Tree which is known for giving out large quantities of oxygen and is meant to be very beneficial to sleep under.

It is also worshipped by Hindus as the 'sacred tree of knowledge'. The Arasamaraam Tree (sacred since Vishnu, during one of his incarnations, reposed under its mighty shade and there taught humanity philosophy and sciences) is called the 'Tree of Knowledge' and the 'Tree of Life'. Under the protective umbrage of this king of the forests, Gurus would teach their pupils their first lessons on immortality and initiate them in the mysteries of life and death.

In occult philosophy arasa-maram is a mystic word.

Below is the beautiful colonial house (which is over 100 years old) and being currently used as home for Rev. Jayapathy Daniel and his family, administrative offices and also to accommodate visitors.

At the back of the school campus, is a large enclosure, in which 3 acres is set aside for agricultural purposes. In the enclosure there is also a playground for the boys and a Cemetry (for some of the deceased connected with the Church).

And saving the best for last, this is the view from the school playground. As well as a spectacular view of Arunachala, also visible at the front of the Hill is the Raja Gopuram of Arunachaleswarar Temple.

In 1996 LPGM (Lutheran Partners in Global Ministry) began a relationship with the Arcot Lutheran Church of South India by partnering with them on the education and support of very poor village children. In this respect, their 'Project Education India' supports over 1,700 children in ten boarding homes in India.

As well as the support of LPGM and the Prairie Lutheran Church, Tiruvannamalai, Danida (the Danish International Development Assistance) are actively involved in the improvement and maintenance of Saron Boarding Home for Boys. In this respect, since 1986, Danida has financed the renovation of houses in the compound, construction of a new primary and higher secondary school complete with 18 classrooms, a new dining room, worker houses, overhead tanks and other development programmes.

Hail to Thee! [part 2]

[Cont'd from June 6th, 2007]

Hail to Thee! O'Arunachala!

10. Never again my gaze shall I turn
From Your Beacon that does ego burn
Nor leave for long Thy Name, that chant
That thrilled my being as honey to an ant

11. Gripped since in the jaws of Your Gaze

Guided hence through life's maze
Thou let me win and lose with freedom
And revel in Thee with sporadic abandon

12. Thy Leash's on my neck, Your Hill is the peg
Now letting me range and graze as far as I beg
Tasting bitter herbs and lush sweet grasses
And drinking the waters of faraway places

13. Enough this spurious freedom! This fake liberty!
This granting of pleasures sweetened by adversity

Tighten Thy Leash and destroy my range
Bring me home no foreigner strange.

14. O' "I Am" revealed, shining forth as all
How could Thou let this delusion fall?
Can the One be confused as the Many?
If Thy will did not veil this epiphany

15. Verily by Thy Hand does this Delusion prevail
Show Thy Mercy and remove mankind's travail
That brother may not slaughter brother
And Thy Holy Lands be not torn asunder

16. Standing silent, Thou put to shame
Scholarly intellect's vain-glorious claim
To grasp Thee with duality's meager span
"Be Still", Thou said "And know That I Am"

18. Didn't Thy Elder Prince, Divinity's Fruit winner
Beg Immortality's Nectar from the Cave Dweller
That we may taste the flavor of liberation
In crumbs from their table of deliberation

19. Such Thy Greatness, what merit does now shower
The favor of Thy disdain on this hapless beggar
O' Lord! Grant my eyes Thy eternal Light
The glorious blaze that puts fear to flight

20. Ego hast made a janitor of me, the king
Granting me a refuse cart for the hauling
Bestow now the Grace of Thy sweet fragrance
And destroy the stench of this foul existence

Milk

In the agriculture heartland of Tamil Nadu, do we really want to go from this idyllic conceptualization of the 'perfect time' to . . .

This gross, ugly exploitation of other living beings?

In respect of the future of agriculture in Tamil Nadu, an analysis was recently brought out by the Human Development Centre entitled 'The Road Ahead: Tamil Nadu in the New Millennium'. One very interesting section of the report is: 'Income, Employment and Poverty' as the economy of Tiruvannamalai District is primarily based on agriculture.

What used to be a peaceful family enterprise of raising cows and selling off the milk to homes and the Government's milk Company 'Aavin' is now quickly developing into an intensive, and highly competitive commercial venture. In this respect many large private dairies have opened up around Tiruvannamalai specifically to supply large quantities of milk to the new milk processing plants in town. As well as this, there are currently plans to open a large powdered-milk plant in the Tiruvannamalai District.

What follows is an excellent article entitled 'Milk in the Age of Convenience by Arun Deva' talking about the current commercialisation of milk production.

"As with all great treasures, milk comes with certain caveats. As our society further distances itself from nature and turns gradually more synthetic, these caveats turn into dire warning signals. A look at milk's qualities as expressed in the magnificent Ayurvedic text, the Caraka Samhita, shows the potentiality of both misuse and overuse. Caraka lists milk's qualities as sweet, cold, soft, lubricant, unctuous, smooth, slippery, heavy, slow and pleasant. In Ayurveda, milk is almost never drunk cold, as it is harder to digest and thus turns the milk from sattvic to tamasic in nature. Sattva is a state of lightness, equanimity, clarity, and, in this case, fortification, strength and vitality. Tamas, on the other hand, reflects dullness, confusion, sloth, and in this case, the process of compromising its quality, leading to ill health and the potentiality of allergies. But what exactly is "compromised" milk?" . . .

To continue reading this excellent article, right click here . . .

Pachaiamman Temples

At Kailash, Lord Shiva and Parvati blessed the world with peace, prosperity and happiness. Goddess Parvati, deciding to shower her bountiful grace on human beings by enacting a drama, closed the eyes of Shiva with her hands. As a result the Universe was engulfed in total darkness. The Devas and other celestial beings flocked to Kailash and Shiva gave asylum to them and opened his third eye thereby dispelling darkness and bathing the area in brightness.

The Goddess, in the form of Pachaiamman, prostrated at the feet of Shiva, who knew of her Divine design, to establish peace and harmony in the world. Since she was responsible for drowning the world in darkness Lord Shiva wanted her to atone by proceeding to the world in order to perform penance.

The Goddess appeared in many spots which became holy by her presence. She appeared in Kasi and spread the Vedas and Sastras and also at shrines at Thirumullaivaayal and Mangadu. The Goddess also went to Kanchi to perform penance under a mango tree to propitiate her Lord Shiva. At Sengodu, near Tiruvannamalai, she observed tapas standing on a needle. It is believed that she performed penance at Arunachala, at an Ashram located in what is now known as Pavalakunru.

The Goddess was victorious in all her endeavours. Since she is believed to appear as Pachaiamman in Thirumullaivaayal, she has a famous Temple dedicated to her there which is situated near Vaishnavi Devi Temple near Ambattur, North Chennai. Pachaiamman is called the goddess of marriage and blesses those entering wedlock.





Here at Arunachala, we also have a famous Pachaiamman Temple which has a long history attached to it. The most recent of which is that over the last 3 years the Temple, its tank and compound are undergoing extensive renovation.

In 1905 when there was a plague crisis in Tiruvannamalai, Ramana Maharshi moved to Pachaiamman Koil for six months during the worst of the epidemic and returned to the caves on the southside of Arunachala when the plague crisis was over. Again in 1908 Ramana Maharshi returned to Pachaiamman Koil and lived there with Ganapathi Muni and others for about three months.

I hope to re-visit Pachaiamman Koil soon and check out the progress of the renovation programme.

Popular Ashrams

In the interests of new pilgrims and visitors to Arunachala who need Ashram contact information, I hope in the course of the next few days to mention the most prominent Ashrams at Tiruvannamalai that welcome guests. In the previous posting I mentioned Suddhananda Ashram at Adi Annamalai, which is most suitable for a quiet Retreat.

However, two of most popular Arunachala Ashrams are located near the giripradakshina pathway and in the area known as Ramana Nagar. Several supermarkets, fruit stands, internet facilities and small shops are conveniently located at Ramana Nagar. Travelling to and from the Big Temple or other places is either by walk or auto rickshaw. Autorickshaws are inexpensive and always available outside major Ashrams.

If you would like to find out more about either Sri Ramanashram or Sri Seshadri Ashram, please refer to this early posting.

In the case of Ramanashram, arrangements needs to be made prior to staying; NO DROPPING IN. In this respect you can either write or email to the below:

Sri V.S.Ramanan

President

Sri Ramanasramam P.O.

Sri Ramanasramam

Tiruvannamalai

Tamil Nadu 606 603 India

Phone : +91-(0)4175-237200

E-Mail : ashram@sriramanamaharshi.org

Ramanashram has a very nice dining hall for meals. Rooms at the Ashram are traditional with fans and often Indian style toilets. However Ramanashram now has several new compounds near their main Ashram complex, that have modern styled rooms with ensuite Western bathrooms. Payment is done on a donation basis. If you are unknown to the Ashram, generally speaking, shorter stays are encouraged.

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Seshadri Ashram is more flexible in their visitor requirements, and if they have accommodation, will be welcoming to drop-in visitors and pilgrims. However, nowadays because of festivals, full moons and the very long 'busy' season, generally lasting from October-March, it is better to get in touch prior to turning up. Seshadri Ashram offers traditional, old fashioned Ashram rooms with Indian toilets or more modern rooms with ensuite Western style bathrooms. The Ashram also has fully air conditioned rooms (you need to ask for them), which is a very nice luxury during the hot, summer months. Specific room rates are set for different style rooms, you should make sure you know this information at the beginning.

Seshadri Ashram does not have a dining room but it does have a restaurant facility located inside their compound which is open from early morning to late evening.

For more information it is best to telephone accommodation office direct:

+91-(0)4175-236999 or 238599