AKSP

The Arunachala Kattu Siva Plantation (AKSP) refers to a group of local persons engaged on restoration of forest on the western end of Arunachala in the area stretching from below the peak above Kattu Siva Thirthum on the inner path route to the end of the hill slopes at the feet of Siva.

The indelibly stated aims of its work are as follows:

1. To regenerate our artesian basins by reforesting Arunachala hillock in co-operation with natural processes, preserving diversity in genetic, soil and water sources;

2. To gradually re-structure the contours of the hill from Kattu Siva to Vediyappan on all sides in order to maximize water conservation;

3. To take responsibility for plantation, maintenance and protection of forest growth in a sustainable manner;

4. To nurture seedlings for plantation in our own nursery for a wide variety of species particularly indigenous;

5. To extend our knowledge of all aspects of ecological management within our organically functioning group;

6. To include supervisors of our working group in discussions about planning and management and enable workers to extend their experience and expertise in training, encouraging their work towards stable empowerment and self determination.

We are over-ripe for some of our group to go away for further training. This requires additional funds: funding which I invite you to consider since the further education of Green Workers creates ripples of influence far into the community, perhaps more pervasive and more truly beneficial than any other form of contribution.

Land to be used for new Plant Nursery

We have also been offered an acre of land adjacent to our area on the other side of the hill for developing a nursery (see above photo). This is a great boon to us. We will need to raise funds for the fencing of the land and the sinking of a bore down the well since the water table has diminished so much in recent years. These are the most urgent foundational needs.

Aspect of Hill

There is a photo for you to see the aspect of the hill from this land. We shall begin rock work on this side of the hill during the coming dry months of summer so we would like to establish a vermiculture system as soon as possible so that we can improve the soil up on these degraded slopes.

Spreading Vermiculture

Now we have seasonal workers digging pits up on the slopes, adding vermiculture to improve the eroded soil up there and the women have the arduous task of carrying water to drought threatened trees. We are somewhat impatiently waiting for the second rains so that we can plant but a heavy nocturnal cloud hangs over our whole area making nights much cooler than is normal while the days are March to April days, which doesn't augur well for rain. However Deepam is coming up soon and it almost always rains then.

Apeetha Arunagiri

The Deed of the Trust will be registered by November 5th. Once we have our Registration Number we can open a new bank account. Until that time, to remit donations please contact apeetha@hotkey.net.au to learn how funds can be sent by cheque or money order, or by electronic transfer. Please visit us at our website to find out more about the Arunachala Kattu Siva Plantation. With Thanks. Apeetha Arunagiri.

Love that Watermelon!

Put down this watermelon on the compound floor (no dogs allowed) so this rather nice Bonnet Macaque monkey could have a nice snack.

He definitely is a smart fellow as immediately he got the watermelon he went off to find himeself a safe place to tuck into the fruit.

Slowly, elegantly and with every sign of enjoying his undisturbed snack, our Bonnet Macaque monkey finished off the watermelon before any of his 'tribe' appeared on the scene!

U.S. College Visit

St. Olaf a liberal arts College of the Lutheran Church located in Northfield, Minnesota, USA., is comprised of some 3,000 students representing 45 US States and 18 foreign countries. It is a College that inspires students to act on intellectual and ethical ideas to better the world at home and abroad. The students’ time in India is concentrated on lectures, discussions and field trips to facilitate a better understanding of the history, traditions and contemporary practices of religious expression in this country.

For the last 39 years St. Olaf College has offered a Global Semester comprising a five-month academic program offering five courses in different parts of the world. This year’s group of 28 students, 2 supervising faculty members and their teenage son are undertaking a global trip taking the group on visits to Switzerland (the United Nations Headquarters in Geneva), Egypt, India, Thailand, Hong Kong, China and South Korea.

Arrival of the student group to Quo Vadis

The travelling group, currently in the midst of its India Trip, was hosted by Quo Vadis Interfaith Dialogue Center and the Arcot Lutheran Church (ALC) on October 18th and 19th at Tiruvannamalai, Tamil Nadu. On the first day of their visit the students performed Arunachala Girivalam on four brightly decorated bullock carts, lunched at ALC Lebanon Compound, visited Arunachaleswarar Temple where a special puja was performed on their behalf, toured Ramana Ashram and enjoyed a cultural programme and dinner at the newly inaugurated Quo Vadis Inter Faith Dialogue Center. On Friday, 19th October, the group participated in a walking meditation on Arunachala Hill before leaving Tiruvannamalai for a short visit to the ALC at Cuddalore, Tamil Nadu. After the group’s Tamil Nadu itinerary is complete they will return to resume their study course at the Ecumenical Christian Centre, Bangalore (Whitfield).

The students on the girivalam bullock ride through Tiruvannamalai

After India, the group head towards Thailand for a week’s vacation before continuing their Global Semester in Hong Kong, mainland China and Korea before returning to the U.S. around January 25th, 2008.

Mini-buses for Girivalam pilgrims

The Annamalayar Temple administration is planning to operate two 35-seater buses for Girivalam pilgrims. The buses will start from the Alankara Mandapam and are expected to be utilised by pilgrims, who cannot walk the 14km stretch along the Girivalam path. A guide or a member of the Temple staff will be present on every bus to explain to pilgrims important temples, lingams and theerthams, situated along the Girivalam path. The buses will not operate Girivalam tours on Pournami days due to heavy crowds.

Financial Inter-dependence

The following report appeared in Tamil Nadu papers on October 10th giving information about some of the consequences of the changing rate of the rupee against the dollar and how it is affecting industry and employment in South India:

“It has been a virtual mayhem in select sectors due to the hardening of the rupee against the dollar, and all these sectors have been traditionally high export revenue grossers.

The knitwear industry in Tirupur in Coimbatore, which put the country on the international map long before IT and ITES became the buzzwords, is in severe crisis, and faces the possibility of nearly 100,000 people losing their jobs. Another 40,000 are facing threat of being laid off in the granite industry. The powerloom sector and the cotton yarn industry are also in a tailspin, as rupee appreciation has resulted in fewer export orders, and lesser margins.

The knitwear industry, which had grossed Rs 10,000 crore in exports last year, will find it difficult to maintain the 20% growth rate it has been clocking the past few years. “The situation is really alarming. We should be lucky if we even manage a 5% growth this year,” says the president of Tiruppur Exporters Association. Of the total workforce of about 400,000 in the industry, the cut-back in the orders has already led to 7,000 jobs lost, and unless there is a dramatic turnaround the figure could easily climb to 100,000 by the end of the year.

If knitwear is concentrated mainly in Tirupur, the effect on granite industry covers a much larger geographical area. The industry employs around 100,000 people, most of them in the quarries in Districts like Tiruvannamalai, Madurai, Dharmapuri, Krishnagiri, Salem and Tiruchy. The State accounts for nearly 40% of the country’s total export of Rs 4,450 crore.

Though the industry had shown a steady export growth (last fiscal it was 40%), this year the target was scaled down to 25-30%, and now further downsized to 5-10%, as about half of the 120 export units are already experiencing serious losses. According to industry sources, the margins, which used to be between 3-10%, have now shriveled to nil or even negative in many cases. The demand of the exporters for an upward revision of prices by about 5% has been met with resistance by the importers, who find the cost of import from China competitive.

More seriously affected is the powerloom sector, where Tamil Nadu accounts for almost 65% of exporting units. According to the Chairman of the Powerloom Development and Export Promotion Council, already 3,000,000 people have been rendered jobless throughout the country due to the crisis in the industry. Just six months ago, the exporters were getting a margin of 10%, but are now facing losses as high as 5%. Moreover, orders are also moving off to China and Bangladesh, whose currencies have weakened against the dollar. The litany is almost similar in the textile industry, where the bottomline of cotton yarn exporters has been severely dented.”

My Kids

For absolutely no reason other than these little angels are my pride and joy, here is my family.

Three brothers (left to right; Casper, Oscar, Wally) with matching jaunty, genetically flawed left floppy ears, that make them look like they have just returned from a night on the town. The little princess (green collar) in the front, is Holly.

The newest addition to our family is Muffin, a labrador type (?), who spends his days following and grovelling at the feet (paws!?) of the little princess Holly.

Swimming - a Poem

Swimming
[by Stephanie Sharon]

I am the ocean
That can only be itself.
Deep, ever present,
With waves that have no destination or purpose.
Dive deep and drown in my sacred water.
Leave your memory on the shore...
It serves no useful purpose.

Stripped naked of concepts,
My current will dissolve whatever's left of you.
So what if you've never been a swimmer?
Trust in your own buoyancy.
But be careful not to rest long in it
Or claim it as an achievement.
Just let yourself finally drown
And fulfill your human purpose.

What use has this sense of "I" ever been to you
Except to create the illusion of separation?
In truth, you've always been submerged in my ebb and flow,
Dreaming of the further shore.

Some try to describe me as everything.
Others claim I'm nothingness.
Don't believe a word of it, it's all hearsay.
Find out for yourself. Seek your own origin.
Beyond the womb of your barren mother,
Transcending all holy books and rumors of time.

Don't believe anything you can see
But trust everything you can feel
That can't be linked to words.
Celebrate your death
For I am the ocean
That can only be itself.

Swami Ramanananda

The photograph is of Swami Ramanananda which I took during a recent visit to his peaceful home near Arunachala Hill. During our interesting chat Swami made the interesting remark, “The current T.V. style of approach to spirituality in India has undermined and lowered the spiritual relationship even at the village level as everything is being touted by the media for a mass market consumption.”

Swami also mentioned that a well connected visitor from Kanchipuram once told him of a remark that the (now deceased) Shankaracharya Saraswati Chandrasekhar was believed to have made:

“Tiruvannamalai is going to become a Universal Centre of spirituality comprising all the faiths of the world.”

Seethamma

I recently attended the 11th day ceremony of transition after death of Seethamma, a widow from Gajulanka Village, Palakullu, Andhra Pradesh. Her husband died in 2005 and left her with 3 grown children, a son and two daughters. Seethamma was a devotee of Ramana Maharshi and Sri Nannagaru and dedicated the later part of her life in service to the Guru and studying the teachings laid down in his words and speeches.

Although I never spent personal time with Seethamma, I often noticed her at both Ramana Ashram and Sri Nannagaru Ashram and it was inspirational to see the joy she obviously received in dedicating her life to the Guru.

So, in a way it was interesting that I happened by the transition ceremony which was held at Siva Sannadhi, where I was welcomed to celebrate Seethamma’s passing by partaking of a nice, tasty lunch.


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Information about death and the ceremonies surrounding it:


"Death is not treated as a mystery or entirely unwelcome like other cultures, as long as it is not a premature death (death of a child, accident, or suicide). When a Hindu has performed his/her duties; meaning got their children educated and married, seen a few grand kids, has made a pilgrimage to a holy place etc., in some circles, they are even jovial about death saying, "I am waiting for death", “When is my turn?” There is a firm belief that if one has done what is expected of them, it is time go to the feet of God, the Supreme-being. So when a Hindu has completed his/her task he/she sees the fruits of their labour and can be satisfied in knowing that everything is taken care. This is due to the fact that the majority of Hindus live in joint families; where grandparents, children, and grandkids all live together. Another reason for openness about death is that joint family means elderly people are rarely alone and are reasonably taken care of removing any anxiety about incapacitation, loneliness, and fragility.

After the cremation the actual grieving process begins. Hindu bereavement process various in length from anywhere up to 16 days from the occurrence of the physiological death. During this time the family is in mourning and is considered to be non-auspicious (dirty). Men don’t shave; women wear plain (non-coloured) cloths and don’t put on make-up or wear excessive jewellery. There is unspoken sadness and quietness settles in. There will be no celebrations unless and otherwise it had been pre-planned and can’t be cancelled like a wedding or was the wish of the deceased. Family never visits others. Depending upon the caste/social system the amount of rituals performed can vary from 3 days to 16 days. Upper caste and usually well-do-to people tend to carry out all the rituals and others do restricted versions of it.

Depending on the arrangement of the individual family the transition period is marked by friends and relatives gathering for a cleansing/thanksgiving ceremony, inclusive of food.

The person who has died occupies a revered position in the family. It is very common to see pictures or photos of them decked with flowers and garlands. The pictures are positioned besides favourite gods and goddess. There is a belief that if one doesn’t do all the rituals properly ill could come to the family. Children and grand children routinely pray to the deceased and are expected to get good fortunes from them. In one sense the perceived presence of deceased person makes everyone feel that they have never left. It is also customary to name a child born immediately after the death after the name of the deceased.”

[V. Narayanan]

My dear sad Rukku

A couple of days ago I went to the Big Temple (Arunachaleswarar Koil) for the first time in a while. As always when visiting, I wonder why its so long since the last visit. It’s that amazing! There are lots of Temples in South India, but there is everything extraordinary about this Temple and its miraculous backdrop of Arunachala – in fact it quite takes one breath away.

While at the Temple I walked through the gardens and reforested areas, and it was quite beautiful. Some ladies were picking flowers for Temple pujas (worship), a gent with his son where doing a very nice puja at a Ganesha shrine, kites (the bird variety) were gliding in the air currents swirling around in front of the gopurams and some noisy green parrots were fighting in one part of the garden; in fact other than the rowdy parrots, a serene, still and inspirational morning.

That is, until I arrived at the elephant house, which is the home of dear little Rukku. This is the place that she spends her evenings and nights when her other mind-numbing tedious work is over for the day. The pictures are truly heartbreaking and my happy mood evaporated in compassion for the dear elephant. You can see from the photographs that no effort has been made or money paid, to give her any quality of life, provide her with toys or implements to entertain or interest her, or even to give her a comfortable living situation – and considering all the work she does – that is something really rather shabby.

When Jayalalitha was the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister she implemented a programme to provide all (State) Temple Elephants with a month’s holiday in the forests. I heard that one Temple elephant in the first year of the programme, sulked and was moody when her keeper tried to get her into a conveyance to transport her to the Forests, but the next year, when it was time to go on her month’s vacation, apparently the same elephant literally ran into the transportation conveyance – she remembered the great holiday and was very eager to repeat the experience. About three years ago Jayalalitha was replaced as Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and sadly since then all Temple Elephant vacations have been put on a permanent HALT.

So now that our dear little Rukku doesn’t have her annual holiday to look forward to, what kind of life can she expect? Well we have been told (by a reputable source) that the treatment of the elephant at this Temple is less barbaric than at other Temples – after all there is a reason why so many Keepers get killed by their own Elephants each year!) So maybe Rukku’s treatment is semi-barbaric, and maybe she gets a jab with an iron hook or other unpleasant implements just sometimes instead of often! Certainly the food is probably not very good, as most of the good stuff a person gives the elephant in the Temple, goes to the Keeper and his chums as does the money he collects through her trunk blessings.

On the floor of Rukku’s nasty elephant enclosure is a delightful choice of two different types of restrainers she will get tied to for the night where she can also enjoy standing in her own urine and feces.

So our dear sweet Rukku, who never gets to meet other elephants or go on proper walks, is manacled all night in a way she is barely able to move. So, after the undiluted misery of her night, there should be at least something to look forward to in her day? – but no, the day brings her 8 hours of mind numbing, painful, standing in one spot to beg on behalf of her Keeper and get coins from pilgrims for blessing them on the head with her trunk. How can it be a blessing for a pilgrim when the cost of it is the torture of the one giving the blessing?

Try standing for eight hours, not being able to move just hopping from foot to foot, and you will get an idea of the horror of dear Rukku’s day. I took the photograph of her to help me tell this story, but I felt so ashamed of her treatment that it was difficult to look at her and her sad, sad eyes.

A message to all visitors to India remember that by going to the Kerala processions (and similar functions), allowing elephants to bless you with their trunk, going on elephant rides or visiting Temple Elephants, Circuses, Processions or Elephant Sport Functions IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE EXPLOITATION AND (OFTEN) TORTURE OF THIS MAGNIFICENT, SOCIAL AND HIGHLY INTELLIGENT BEING. Please support the Elephant by not supporting its enslavement, abuse or torture.

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For more information about stressed, mistreated elephants and also information about the death of trainers by their elephants (animal rights groups say the increasing number of mahouts being killed by elephants in Kerala indicates serious flaws in captive elephant management and maintenance), check out this previous posting.

Peace

The below is part of a speech given during one of Sri Nannagaru’s trips to Arunachala:

“Peace is essential to human beings. I give the utmost importance to undiluted peace, unbroken peace. Peace is above money and power and beyond everything related to the world. If there is no peace, neither the wealthy or healthy are in a good condition. Peace is above money, peace is above power, peace is above everything.

Peace is essential, peace is a must, to everyone, to each religion, to every part of the world - to the whole of humanity. Without peace we cannot progress in any branch of life. To maintain economic wealth and prosperity or for the purpose of living comfortably and happily, it is essential to have peace. The gain of the whole world is not equal to peace. The body requires comfort, the mind requires peace. If there is no peace on the individual level, then there will be unrest, disturbance, and chaos throughout the world.

If you want peace you have to come out from ignorance, if you want peace you have to come out from wrong identification, if you want peace you have to come out from wrong thinking, if you want peace you have to come out from wrong habits, if you want peace you have to come out from wrong behaviour - peace is essential. We cannot buy peace in the market, we have to grow peace in the heart. We have to grow it in the mind.”

Pack that Bike!

Information from Chennai reports that the NEW compulsory helmet regulations for a motorcycle driver, are being sporadically enforced. However, at this time, there is no legal necessity for passengers to wear helmets and in fact there is no legal compulsion to restrict the number on the motorcyle to a measly two. In what seems almost like a homage to the mad days of the record breaking ‘how many college students can fit into a telephone kiosk?’, it appears that the newest fad in Tiruvannamalai is, ‘how many people can fit onto a moving motorcyle?’

In the above photograph a small effort has been made to fit four well sized people onto a motorcycle, but the number is certainly not a record. We can definitely do better than that!

Dalits in Temple

The following report is about Dalits gaining entry into a Temple in Tiruvannamalai District. Seems difficult to believe that this is truly the year 2007!

Express News Service
Tiruvannamalai, Oct 4:

The Thirugnaneeshwarar Temple in Thamaraipakkam Village here was forcibly rid of its age-old practice of denying entry to the so-called ‘untouchables’ when, on Thursday, a group of Dalits from the village successfully entered the Shiva Temple and offered prayers.

According to people of the village, the Temple, situated on the banks of the Cheyyar River, is more than 1,000 years old. The Dalit population of the village has been denied entry to the Temple since time immemorial. The Communist Party of India (Marxist) had even taken up the issue and represented it to the officials concerned for remedy. In fact, the party had also decided to enter the Temple along with Dalits on Thursday if caste Hindus of the Village stuck to their stand of not allowing them into the Temple.

Sivakumar, District President of the Tamil Nadu Agricultural Labourers’ Association, who was among those who participated in the Temple entry said, “I first came across the Dalit issues when, sometime ago, I saw in a small hotel in the village idlis being packed in bare newspaper without using a plastic sheet or banana left for Dalit customers alone. Later, I came to know about the discrimination in the Temple”.

After gaining entry in the to the Temple, the agitating Dalits went to one of the tea shops where the ‘two-tumbler’ system was allegedly in practice. The shopkeeper broke the tradition and served them tea in the same type of cups used for other people in the village.

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In the Indian caste system, a Dalit, often called an untouchable, or an outcaste, is a person who according to traditional Hindu belief does not have any "Varnas". Varna refers to the Hindu belief that most humans were supposedly created from different parts of the body of the divinity Purusha. The part from which a varna was supposedly created defines a person's social status with regards to issues such as who they can marry and which professions they could hold. Dalits fall outside the varna system and have historically been prevented from doing any but the most menial jobs. (However, a distinction must be made between lower-cast people and Pariahs.) Included are leather-workers (called chamar), poor farmers and landless labourers, night soil scavengers (called bhangi or chura), street handicrafters, folk artists, street cleaners, dhobis etc. Traditionally, they were treated as pariahs in South Asian society and isolated in their own communities, to the point that even their shadows were avoided by the upper castes.

Discrimination against Dalits still exists in rural areas in the private sphere, in ritual matters such as access to eating places and water sources. It has largely disappeared, however, in urban areas and in the public sphere, in rights of movement and access to schools. The earliest rejection of discrimination, at least in spiritual matters, was made as far back as the Bhagavad Gita, which says that no person, no matter what, is barred from enlightenment.

To read more of this information on Dalits please click here.

Pattali Youth Association Conference

On Saturday October 6th, a rally was held by The Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) on the occasion of the 15th Conference of the Pattali Youth Association, the youth wing of the PMK. The Conference’s intention was to publicize what the Party terms ‘the 10 commandments’ drafted by the Association to channel youth towards a constructive path as the Party’s founder believes that the modern youth in India is habituated to drinking alcohol.

In this respect it was claimed during the Conference that no other political party in India has tackled the problem of youth drinking in such a way. It was further stated that the number of TASMAC Shops (Government approved liquor shops) has doubled in Tamil Nadu during the tenure of the present Government. After the ‘10 Commandments’(drawn up to constructively channel youth) was read out, members of the Youth Association took a pledge promising to abstain from alcohol.

And this series of photographs are of the temporary facility constructed for the function. To view more pictures of the construction click here.

The above is the preparation of the parking lot for cars and coaches for the Conference.

Side view of the large, open space of the Conference facility.

Word has it that the total cost of the function came to 30 Lakhs (i.e. U.S.$77,000)! As well as the huge cost of the function there was also the complication of organizing a large security personnel force to ensure the political rally went off peacefully – and happily it did, the whole function was trouble free. Also they have done a very good clean up job after their well attended function. The people of Ramana Nagar, Tiruvannamalai thank them for it.

Sorry for the silence

Dear readers of Arunachala Grace, I have been busy accumulating lots of interesting stories and news of Arunachala which sadly, due to problems with my internet connection at home, have not been able to post. Today I came into town (i.e. Ramana Nagar, Tiruvannamalai) to an internet facility to upload information onto this Blog, but none of the photographs successfully uploaded. So I suppose its a matter of waiting a couple of more days (until my connection at home is working again) so I can nicely update this Blog. Lots of very interesting information and news to report, some great photographs and also a very nice home movie entitled "Arunachala Pilgrims". So please check back in a couple of days.

Hill Structures

The latest poll on Arunachala Grace Blog asked the question 'What construction should be allowed on Arunachala?' From the response 56% believe that there should be absolutely no construction on the Hill, 32% polled responded that Temples and Shrines should be allowed with a further 9% believing that it was also acceptable to have Ashrams on Arunachala Hill. 24% respondents polled answered that illegal structures and encroachments should be demolished.

New Times

Images representing the changing face of Tiruvannamalai. The below series of photographs are of the construction of a temporary structure for an upcoming political rally to be held in this area.

The last such event we had in this area was of a large political rally some years back. At that time a huge temporary roofed structure was erected at the grounds of the local Arts College. But in that case it was all done by hand and made of bamboo.

In the below a different sort of crew from before is taking a rest before continuing with their work.

Somehow the pre-machinery people-friendly days of before seem much more attractive!

Face Off

I was wandering down Perumbakkam Road when I spotted a new to the area variety of feisty ram tied on a tether and periliously close to a horned cow. Wondering at the wisdom of this, because I've seen just how feisty these recent imports can be, I took out my camera and waited.

Low and behold and directly on cue, the feisty ram decided to take on the horned cow for chomping down on grass, located on mutual territory.

Sadly, I missed the next shot on my camera, but I can tell you that the two had a vigorous and noisy head butt. Although probably painful it seemed to work, because both feisty ram and horned cow immediately went about their business of grass munching until the nearby farmer moved them to a safer distance from one another.

Safe Nests

With careful attention to detail during renovation of Adi Annamalai Temple, the little openings at the top of the compound walls surrounding the Temple were preserved so they could continue to remain as nesting places for: parrots, doves, pigeons, sparrows, owls and bats.

In the below photograph a very nice little nook which opens up inside the compound wall to provide a secure nesting place for lots of the local birdlife.

A little chap has found his perch for a while.

The unintentional birds' nests from a distance. And the reason they are so popular is that they are safe from the usual local predators such as, monkeys, cats and squirrels - in fact the perfect home!

Lots of prime real estate all around the inside wall of the Temple Compound.



When entering the Temple Compound of Adi Annamalai during bird nesting season, you will often be met with clouds of parrots and doves going on flypast. And looking up you will spot the occasional sleepy looking owl standing sentry at the doorway of its nest.

The name of this Temple, Adi Annamalai means 'first' or 'ancient' Annamalai (Arunachaleshwarar). Its size is small and it occupies only 1/2 acre in size – compared with the 25-26 acre size of Arunachaleswarar Temple on the Tiruvannamalai side of the Hill. The legend of Adi Annamalai recounts that Brahma, after His dispute with Vishnu about the fiery column, made a lingam and went to the other side of the Hill to worship Shiva. Thus, this lingam is supposed to be the first, ancient and original lingam of Annamalai and hence the name Adi Annamalai.

Five Stanzas

1. Ocean of Nectar, full of Grace, engulfing the universe in Thy Splendor, Oh Arunachala, the Supreme Itself be Thou the Sun and open the lotus of my heart in Bliss!

2. Oh Arunachala! in Thee the picture of the universe is formed, has its stay, and is dissolved, this is the sublime Truth. Thou art the Inner Self, Who dancest in the Heart as ‘I’ ‘Heart’ is Thy name. Oh Lord!

3. He who turns inward with untroubled mind to search where the consciousness of 'I' arises, realizes the Self and rests in Thee, Oh Arunachala! like a river when it joins the ocean.

4. Abandoning the outer world, with mind wide open to meditate on Thee within, the Yogi sees Thy Light, Oh Arunachala! and finds his delight in Thee.

5. He who dedicates his mind to Thee and, seeing Thee, always beholds the universe as Thy figure, he who at all times glorifies Thee and loves Thee as none other than the Self, he is the master without rival, being one with Thee, Oh Arunachala! and lost in Thy Bliss.

[By Ramana Maharshi]