More on Ganesha Festival

One version of a legend relating to the source of Ganesha’s elephant head goes that at the behest of the Gods, who needed a deity able to remove obstacles from their path of action, Shiva himself was born from Parvati's womb, under the form of Gajanana.

According to the Linga-Purana, Ganesha was created by Shiva in order to triumph over the enemies of Gods and the image of a child was born from Shiva’s mind which had the head of an elephant. Looking at the child, Parvati took him on her lap and made the vow that any undertaking, would not be successful unless Ganesha be first worshipped. Shiva declared the child to be Ganapati, Lord of the Ganas (celestial hosts).

In the Varaha-Purana, Ganesha is depicted as a young man originating from the glittering forehead of Shiva absorbed in deep meditation. Parvati was disappointed that the boy was born without her intervention. So, she wished that his head became the head of an elephant. However, when she saw the elephant-headed child, she loved him immediately, and declared that any human or divine undertaking, should not be successful unless Ganesha be worshipped first.

Another Puranic legend tells that Parvati longed for a child and informed Shiva about her desire. He requested she observe a one-year penance. Thus, the Sage Sanatkumara submitted Parvati to various tests in order to ascertain the force of her will. Eventually a glorious child was born and the Gods and nine Planets (Navagrahas) went to Mount Kailash to admire him. One of the Planets, Shani (Saturn) would not raise his eyes to look at the child. Parvati requested him to view and admire the baby. When Shani raised his eyes and looked at the child, the baby's head instantaneously separated from the body.

In response Vishnu left on his vehicle Garuda in search of a new head to replace the lost one. On the banks of the Pushpabhadra River, he met a herd of sleeping elephants. Choosing a resting animal, whose head was turned northwards, he cut if off and brought it back. According to a version of this legend, this elephant was actually a Gandharva who desired to obtain liberation from his terrestrial life. On Vishnu’s return, the elephant head was attached to the child and Vishnu gave him the following eight names: Vighneshvara, Ganesha, Heramba, Gajanana, Lambodara, Ekadanta, Soorpakarna and Vinayaka.

The current Ganesh Chaturthi festival ends with Visarjan or immersion of the idol in water. Normally the immersion ceremony takes place on the Ananta Chaturdasi day. In 2008, the date of Ganesh Visarjan is September 14th however as this Festival is not codified, the date of the immersion ceremony is arbitrary with no strict rules and depends upon the wishes of the person performing the Visarjan.

Ananta Chaturdasi is believed to be the day when Lord Vishnu appeared in the form of Anantapadmanabha, the Ananta Sayana form of Lord Vishnu in which he is reclining on Ananta.

Wood carving at Suddhananda Ashram

Many folk at Tiruvannamalai completed the immersion ceremony at the beginning of the Ganesha Festival and the next three photographs are of an immersion at the local Tamari Nagar Tank here at Tiruvannamalai. 

Procession of many Ganesha idols on way to Tank

Tamari Nagar Tank and Arunachala

Immersion

Many places throughout India have made concerted efforts this year to persuade people to return to the immersion of traditional, plain mud Ganesha idols and NOT use representations that are made from highly toxic materials. 

To see photographs of the aftermaths of the immersion festival which involves Ganesha statues that are not made of ‘mud’ here are several profoundly sad photographs of the day after a previous Ganesha Visarjan Festival at Mumbai.

Arunachala Newsletter -- September, 2008

If you are not yet a subscriber to the monthly Arunachala Grace Newsletter, delivered direct to your email box, please check out the facility at the left column of this page in order to become a free subscriber.

In the September 2008 issue of Arunachala Grace News there is a narrative of the dispute between Brahma and Vishnu and information about the Navagraha Mercury, of which Vishnu is the God. In keeping with the Vishnu connection (re: Krishna Jayanti August 23rd), the Arunachala flower highlighted this month is that of the Screw Pine, which features prominently in the story of the Column of Effulgence. To mark the anniversary of Sri Ramana (September 1st), there is a narrative of his first visit to Arunachaleswarar Temple upon his arrival at Tiruvannamalai. And to celebrate Ganesha Chaturthi (September 3rd) there is an account describing three lesser known Ganesha legends.

As for the rest of Arunachala Grace News, September 2008 issue, there is a potpourri of poems, inspirational anecdotes, folk tales (this month the folk tale deals with Nasruddin and Money), Arunachala Tidbits, an update on the work of the Arunachala Kattu Siva Plantation and finally a short description on a bird found throughout Tiruvannamalai District, i.e., the Common Woodshrike.

Ganesha Chaturthi

This year, Ganesha Chaturthi commenced on September 3rd. The Festival is in celebration of the birthday of Lord Ganesha. It is observed in the calendar month of Bhadrapada, starting on the Shukla Chaturthi (fourth day of the waxing moon period) which comes sometime between 20th of August and 15th of September. This year the festival culminates on September 14th. An important part of the festival that everyone looks forward to, is the immersion of the idol i.e. Ganesha Visarjan into tanks, wells or ponds.

The festival of Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated throughout India. Its observance was started by the Maratha ruler Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaja, to promote culture and nationalism and was later revived by the freedom fighter Lokmanya Tilak to defy the British who had banned public assemblies.

According to Hindu Mythology, once Lord Shiva was out hunting with his Ganas (attendants). Parvati, Shiva’s consort, was alone and desired to take a bath. But since there were no attendants to guard the entrance of the house, Parvati created a young Ganesha from mud and asked him not to let anyone inside. Soon, Lord Shiva returned and found an arrogant lad stopping him from entering his house. In a fit of fury, Lord Shiva cut off Ganesha’s head.

When Parvati came to know about the fate of Ganesha, she was overwhelmed with grief and her husband, Lord Shiva asked one of his Ganas to bring the head of the first animal he saw sleeping with its head towards north. The Gana returned with an elephant’s head and Shiva placed it on Ganesha’s body and restored his life.

I've noticed a couple of very large, fine statues of Ganesha that have been prepared and lavishly painted for the Festival and subsquent immersion, so hope to take and post some photos in upcoming days.

AKSP Update

Arunachala Kattu Siva Plantation (AKSP) has taken responsibility for the denuded Reserve Forest on the lower slopes of the mountain. The thrust of the project is social ecology. Eighteen rural persons - almost all illiterate - are engaged in water conservation strategies, bunding and check dams, seed collection, nursery work and plantation, maintenance and protection of saplings on the slopes.

The primary objective of the Greening of Arunachala is the rejuvenation of the artesian system. However the Arunachala Kadu Siva Plantation has a wider social ecological import:

To undertake responsibility for solutions to civic needs

To participate in the making of decisions about these solutions

To utilize and regenerate indigenous knowledge

To communicate the meaning of this work with villages and in the wider community.

Vediyappan Shrine at Plantation -- click on photo to enlarge

"Archeologists report that since time immemorial the mysterious wilderness - conducive to asceticism, meditation and contemplation, has always been juxtaposed with the cultivated terrain of Thiruvannamalai town. The prognosis for the future of Thiruvannamalai is a city with a mountain in the middle; the urban spread that will accomplish this is flourishing mightily right before our eyes. Yet Arunachala provides sufficient area designated as wilderness to support a flourishing botanical variety and habitat for many species of wildlife. The forest essential to enable this wilderness to be healthy will naturally replenish and regenerate the water table and eventually change our seasonalweather patterns. Such a forest therefore will ensure that the cultivated terrain presented in opposition to the wild mountain becomes truly synonymous with prosperity as it potentially is since the only sound economics in any nation lie in co-operation with natural processes."

[Aruna Apeethagiri - AKSP]

To find out more about Arunachala Kattu Siva Plantation and different aspects of Arunachala Greening and about the indigenous community and ethos of the area, you can visit Aruna Apeethagiri's excellent website at this link.

The Sage of Arunachala

"The Sage of Arunachala" is a 73-minute documentary on the life and teachings of Sri Ramana Maharshi with narration by John Flynn. The film takes us from the birth of the sage to his final moments when crowds of devotees pushed in from all sides to have their last look. The youtube 7:24 minute clip summarizes Sri Ramana's teachings, backdropped by archival films and photos, and takes us to the final day of his life.

Journey to Arunachala

Tomorrow, September 1st, is the anniversary of the arrival of young Venkataraman (later to be known as Ramana Maharshi) to Tiruvannamalai. At which place he was to spend the rest of his life. Below is an abridged version of the young boy's journey to Arunachala.

Journey to Arunachala

At about noon, Venkataraman (later to be known as Ramana Maharshi) left his uncle's house and hurried to the railway station. He bought his ticket to Tindivanam, boarded the train, and sat silently. At about three o'clock the next morning, he got down at Viluppuram. He waited till daybreak and then walked into the town where he ate. Venkataraman then returned to the railway station and spent his remaining money on a ticket to Mambalappattu, a place on the way to Tiruvannamalai. He reached Mambalappattu at about three in the afternoon. From there, he set out, intending to walk the remaining distance of thirty miles.

Earliest photograph of Venkataraman

After he had walked about ten miles, he reached the temple of Arayaninallur. Night had fallen and he sat down outside the Temple to rest. When the priest opened the temple for puja, Venkataraman entered and sat in the pillared hall. A brilliant light pervaded the entire Temple which he first thought must have been emanating from the image of God in the inner sanctorum. He searched for the source, but found it was not a physical light. When it disappeared, he sat in deep meditation until the Temple priests who needed to lock up the Temple roused him. Venkataraman followed them to a Temple in Kilur, and sank again into samadhi in the Temple. Late in the evening when the puja ended, the Temple drummer asked the priests to give his share of food to the young boy.

The next morning was August 31, 1896, Gokulashtami day (festival day honouring Lord Krishna's birth). Hungry, Venkataraman stopped at a house which happened to be the home of Muthukrishna Bhagavatar where he received a large plate of food. The only thing he had of any value was his ruby earrings, which he pledged for four rupees with the Bhagavatar who gave him a receipt so he could return and claim the earrings.

Venkataraman continued on his journey, tearing up the receipt right away because he knew he would never have any need for the earrings. At the train station he learned there would be no trains until the next day so he spent the night there. It was the morning of the 1st of September, 1896, when Ramana reached his Father's home, Arunachala. The command had been obeyed. The search had ended. Thereafter there was no parting ever.

Vintage India

The following photographs are of 19th Century India and around the time that Ramana was born. Its interesting to see how everything has changed so much, yet so very little!

Cows relaxing



Grinding flour



Hindu cemetry



Palmyra tree avenue



Cloth weavers

Brahma and the Lie

In the upcoming Arunachala Grace Newsletter there is a narrative on the Screw-Pine focusing in particular on its ayurvedic and medicinal uses. The Newsletter will be sent out within some days, so if you are not yet a subscriber, please check out the 'facility' at the left hand margin of this page and receive the free monthly Newsletter direct to your email inbox.

Even though the Screw-Pine did in fact lie to Shiva, I've always felt a great sense of compassion towards it - 'It wasn't his fault, he got bad advice! Give him another chance!'.

To find out about the Column of Effulgence (i.e. Arunachala), Brahma and the lie, and also to learn more about the Screw-Pine, read on:

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Brahma:

“. . . saw a white streak approach him and as it came near, he saw that it was a flower of the screw-pine. Though faded, it was very fragrant and pure. Brahma took it in his hands, whereupon the flower spoke to him, “Ah! Why do you stop me? I have been travelling for many thousands of years and am tired. Please let me go.”

Brahma turned to the flower and asked:

“Who are you? Where are you coming from?” It replied, “I am a flower of the screw-pine. I am sentient. I dwelt on the crest of this column for a long time at Siva’s command. I am now coming down as I desire to see the world.”

Brahma asked the flower:

“How far away is the top of this Column of Effulgence?”

The flower of the screw-pine derisively smiled at Brahma and said:

“Who are you? You seem to know nothing. You cannot know the origin of this column. There are crores and crores of Brahmandas inside this column. They are countless. Who can measure its dimensions? I have been coming down for many thousands of four-fold yugas. Yet I have not perceived the earth which is its middle region.”

When Brahma heard this he abandoned his pride, clasped his hands, bowed to it and prayed:

The Column of Light

“O great soul in the form of a flower of the screw-pine! I am Brahman, the Creator. There arose a dispute between Vishnu and myself. Both of us forgot the glory of Shiva. We became proud of our work, creating and sustaining the world. It is said that friendship arises even by exchanging seven words. You are a great soul. You must forgive my ignorance and be gracious to me. We began seeking the top and bottom of this Column of Effulgence in order to establish superiority over each other. Vishnu took the form of a boar and I, that of a swan. I am unaware of Vishnu’s fate. I who came to find the summit have flown for thousands of years and become weary. My life seems to be ebbing.

Friend! Fortunately I have met you. I am helpless. You are now my saviour. Pray, grant my wish. I beseech you. You must utter a life for me, your friend. Kindly avow in the presence of Vishnu that I have seen the summit of the Column of Effulgence and that you were witness to it since you (the flower) always decorates Siva’s head. Further, declare that I (Brahma) am superior to Vishnu.”

Implored thus, the screw-pine supported Brahma in his lie in the presence of the Column of Effulgence that the God had reached the summit. To punish them for this Shiva announced:

“Brahma . . . has uttered a falsehood, and I now cut off his fifth head for that perjury. Brahma shall not hereafter be installed in any Temple. And this screw-pine flower, which bore false witness, shall never again find a place on my head and shall not be used for my worship.”

[Abridged from The Glory of Arunachala]

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Screwpine

The Screw Pine is a shrub with fragrant flowers found wild in Southern India and grows in abundance along seacoasts and banks of rivers.

It is also known by the name of: Umbrella tree, Tamil: Thazhampoo and in Sanskrit: Ketaki. The shrub’s botanical name is Pandanus Odoratissimus of the Screw Pine family: Pandanaceae.

The Pandanus is also known as the Screw Pine due to the swirl of the leaves. It is one of the most useful plants in the tropics. Practically every part of the Screw Pine is used for all types of purposes: clothing, bowls, house building, food, medicine and fragrance.

It is only the male flowers of the tree that have a scent, which has been described as heavily fragrant, unforgettable and something similar to hyacinth-honey. The male flower of the Pandanus Odoratissimus can weigh two pounds or more and is also known as one of the five arrows of Kaman (the Indian Cupid).

Male Flower
A mature flower with opening petals. But, the flower is at its best as a bud.

Unripe Fruit


Ripe Fruit

Ganesan Lecture

For those who who enjoyed the downloaded broadcast of an interview with V. Ganesan on 'Touchstones' a spiritual programme on WCOM Radio, North Carolina, (U.S.), you may enjoy downloading and listening to a V. Ganesan Lecture at the Human Kindness Foundation. Right click and 'save target', this url:

http://www.wordtrade.com/essays/touchstones/audio/ganesanlecture0926.mp3

V. Ganesan with great uncle Sri Ramana

V. Ganesan is a wonderful story teller with a great memory and a very clear insight into the teachings of Sri Ramana. He grew up till the age of fourteen in the presence of his great uncle, Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi. After the mahanirvana of Bhagavan in 1950, Ganesan went on to get a Master’s Degree in Philosophy. After to return to Arunachala, where he was able to absorb reminiscences of Bhagavan that had never been recorded before. In addition to this, his close contacts with saints, sages and seers like Yogi Ramsuratkumar, Nisargadatta Maharaj and J. Krishnamurti, helped him to deepen and widen his understanding of the essence of Bhagavan’s Teachings.

Inner Path Walkabout

The following photographs are of part of the inner pradakshina path around Arunachala. Its very quiet and peaceful after the traffic, noise and action of the more generally used outer pradakshina pathway.

The post is Richard Clarke's and can be seen at this link here, where there are also lots more beautiful photographs.

Origin of Ramanashram

After the death of Sri Ramana’s mother, Alagammal on May 19th, 1922, it was decided to move her body from Skandashram to the foot of Arunachala as it is prohibited to cremate or bury a body on the Hill.

As to the decision to create a samadhi for his Mother Alagammal, Ramana declared:

“As there is no distinction in liberation and knowledge, a woman also liberated when alive should not be consigned to flames. Her body is verily a temple of God.”

Outside Mathrubuteswara Shrine

Consequently the body was interred in samadhi, and is now known as the Mathrubuteswara Shrine. The photograph above is taken from the adjacent Pali Thirtham, outside the Mathrubuteswara Shrine.

“After Mother’s* death I used to come now and then to the Samadhi and return to Skandasramam. One day about six months after Mother’s death, I went there on one such visit and after sitting there for some time, wanted to get up and go back. However something told me I should not go back but stay on there. It was as if my legs refused to get up. And I stayed on. That is how this Asramam began. Who knew then that all this would grow up?”

[Sri Ramana Maharshi]

* his own mother Alagammal

The Hill

Paul Brunton (1898-1981) was a British philosopher, mystic, and traveler. He left a successful journalistic career to live among yogis, mystics, and holy men, and studied a wide variety of Eastern and Western esoteric teachings. With his entire life dedicated to an inward and spiritual quest, Brunton felt charged with the task of communicating his experiences to others and, as the first person to write accounts of what he learned in the East from a Western perspective, his works had a major influence on the spread of Eastern mysticism to the West. He was also one of the first Westerners to first bring Arunachala and Sri Ramana Maharshi to greater public attention.

The following extract taken from Paul Brunton 1936 book ‘A Message from Arunachala,’ describes the Hill’s appearance and antiquity in a way which has not been bettered:

The Hill

Somewhere in South India there is a lonely Hill which has been honoured with a high status in Hindu sacred tradition and legendary history. It lies near the same latitude as French-ruled Pondicherry, yet does not enjoy the latter’s advantage of catching the cooling coastal breezes. A fierce sun daily flays it with darting rays. Its form is uncouth and ungainly – a tumbled, awkward thing whose sides are jagged and broken. Whose face is a mass of jumbled rocks and thorny scrubs. Snakes, centipedes and scorpions lurk beneath the crevices of its multitudinous stones. During the dry summer months, cheetahs make their bold appearance with dusk, descending the Hill in a snarling quest of water.

The whole peak offers no pretty panorama of regular outline, straight sides and balanced proportions, but rather the reverse. Even its base wanders aimlessly about on an eight-mile circuit, with several spurs and foot Hills, as though unable to make up its mind as to when it shall come to an end. Its substance is nothing but igneous and laterite rock.

A geologist friend from America who visited me lately proclaimed Arunachala to have been thrown up by the earth under the stress of some violent volcanic eruption in the dim ages before even the coal-bearing strata were formed.

In fact, he dated this rocky mass of granite back to the earliest epoch of the history of our planet’s crust, that epoch which long preceded the vast sedimentary formations in which fossil records of plants and animals have been preserved. It existed long before gigantic saurians of the prehistoric world moved their ungainly forms through the primeval forests that covered our early earth. He went even further and made it contemporaneous with the formation of the very crust of the earth itself. Arunachala, he asserted, was almost as hoary and as ancient as our planetary home itself. It was indeed a remnant of the vanished continent of sunken Lemuria, of which the indigenous legends still keep a few memories.

The Tamil traditions not only speak of the vast antiquity of this and other Hills, but assert that the Himalayas were not thrown up till later. Untold centuries, therefore, pressed their weight upon this time-defying pile which rose so abruptly from the plain.

And yet this unbeautiful and doddering greybeard among heights took my heart in pawn a few years ago and would not let me redeem the pledge. It held me captive in an intangible and indefinable thrall. It imprisoned me from the first moment when my eyes glanced at it till the last reluctant turning away of the head. I could no longer regard myself as a free man when such invisible chains clanged around my feet.

Krishna Janmashtami

Shri Krishna Janmashtami, or Sri Krishna Jayanti, celebrates the birthday of Lord Krishna. It is observed as Dahi Handi in Maharashtra, the formation of the huge human pyramids to break the pot hung high up. The festival is also known as Gokulashtami and Krishnashtami. In 2008, the date of Sri Krishna Jayanti in North India and East is August 24. In some parts of South India and in some parts of western India it is on August 23.

Shri Krishna is today one of the most widely revered and most popular of all Hindu Gods. He is worshipped as the eighth incarnation or avatar of Lord Vishnu. Krishna is also worshipped as a supreme god in his own right by numerous sects around the world.

To read the rest of this post go to this link here

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Krishna is one of the incarnations of Vishnu, the God who features very prominently in Arunachala mythology. This month's Arunachala Grace News will be featuring various narratives connected with Vishnu and his association with the Hill.

The September, 2008 issue of Arunachala Grace News will be sent out this upcoming week, so if you do not yet have your copy please go to the left margin of this page to the 'free subscribe' facility, in order to sign up for your subscription which will be delivered direct to your email inbox.

Thiruvannamalai - the movie

For those interested in the progress of 'Thiruvannmalai', the movie currently being shot in Tamil Nadu, the following updates are taken from this Tamil movie website.

“No one is sure about what’s so happening with heroines of Arjun’s films. First, in his film Durai, actress Padmapriya was removed and Keerath replaced her. Now, the same scenario occurs in his other film titled ‘Thiruvannamalai’ directed by Perarasu and Kavithalaya Productions churning it out. Mumbai based model Saaniya Vahilai was chosen by Perarasu to star opposite Arjun in the female lead role, he wanted to rope in a new actress with the belief that there wouldn’t any problems with the call sheets as the leading actresses do so. But things were completely different once photo shoot of Arjun and Saaniya was over. Mumbai missy didn’t give call sheets to the director and kept delaying in signing as well she was irregular and late to the shooting spot.

So, it all landed up Perarasu in the decision of changing the heroine and pursuit for the new one is going on now…”

“Director Perarasu has been rightly nicknamed "Oorarasu" as he names all his films after towns. He has to his credit "Thirupatchi", "Sivakasi", "Thirupathi" and "Dharmapuri". "Thiruvannamalai is the title of his latest film, starring Arjun and Mumbai import Sania Vakil. Pushpa Kandasamy produces this film on behalf of K. Balachander's Kavithalaya.

Perarasu is known for having sentiment and action in equal proportions in his films. But he comes out of this circle in "Thiruvannamalai". Instead of sentiment, he deals with the burning social issues that affect man's life. It revolves around politics which is getting dirtier by the day, increasing rowdyism and law and order problem. Man is dogged by a variety of problems, personal and social. In some cases man himself is a problem. How a man lives surviving these problems is the theme of "Thiruvannamalai". The film has also a liberal dose of spirituality.

Perarasu met the producer only with an outline and wrote the full story after the producer gave the go-ahead signal. Then Arjun was selected for the lead role.

Perarasu says "Thiruvannamalai" would be a new experience not only for him but also for Arjun. He is not doing it just as a commercial film. For Arjun also it is not another action film. They go beyond and make a new effort.

Arjun plays the role of a Cable TV operator. Sania Vakil is a school teacher. Karunas, who has been typecast as a comedian, is given a character role. Saikumar plays the villain.

The film is being shot in two parts - the first part in Kumbakonam and the second in Thiruvannamalai. The 'spectacular' scenes of "Girivalam", a special monthly event in Thiruvannamalai are a highlight. This mammoth procession of devotees around the hills on every full moon night, in fact, marks the story's turning point, says Perarasu. The background song 'Namma Nadai Pottuputta Veera Nadai..Nammappadai Singappadai," set to the music of Srikanth Deva, is sung by Perarasu himself.

Performing folk singers and artistes are featured in folk songs, Karagattam and Oyilattam. These songs have been recorded live.

The technical team includes Padmesh (cinematographer), 'Anal' Arasu (stunt), G.K. (Art), V. Jaishankar (editing). The story, screen and dialogue are by Perarasu.”

Simha Tank Renovation

In this earlier posting about King Harischandra, I mentioned work currently underway at the adjacent Simha Tank. The Simha Tank is one of my favourite spots around the Hill, as I very much like the iconic statue of the Lion standing sentinel at the front of the Tank. As previously mentioned the tank is being desilted and deepened. It probably will be difficult to believe but over the last few rainy seasons the water level of the tank actually overflows onto Chengam Road, and makes the spot look like a negative edge pool (i.e. infinity swimming pool).

In the below photograph, work continues on the inside of the tank, and very smart it looks too with its reinforced brick walls.

Hats off to the engineers for not damaging the abundant number of trees surrounding the tank.

However, we definitely have run into a problem with the Lion Statue and wonder who has sanctioned its new 'theme park' paint job?

I'm not surprised that they have covered his head - they probably want us to get used to him bit-by-bit. Surely showing him to us at one time would be too shocking!

Here he is again and in the below photograph one can get an idea of his head from the small opening at the edge of the cloth covering - Oh dear!

In addition his feet have also received a pedicure.

Below is a photograph of the Simha at the beginning of the tank renovation and also before his 'theme park' make-over. In comparison the new version looks ridiculous and its symbolic gravitas has been quite obscured.

I include here an earlier posting made about the relevance and symbolism of the Lion Tank.

"There are many religious and historical monuments at Arunachala but perhaps one of the most enigmatic is the wayside sphinx that appears in two places around the pradakshina road. Each sphinx stands next to a water tank (tirtham).

The sphinxes appear to have the head of a lion but, according to scholar Stella Kramrich, in fact are composed of three faces: the face of man, the face of the lion representing the Sun or Supreme Spirit, and the face of the dragon who, as the Destroyer of the Universe, stands for Transcendental Wisdom. Stella Kramrich further suggests that all three are superimposed on, and hence overwhelm the just discernible Death's head underlying them.

Speculating further on the history and meaning of the sphinxes, M. Bose writes in her book, 'The Hill of Fire':

. . . Today, these enigmatic sphinxes are used as mere shrines at which pilgrims, after taking a bath in the tank, make their offerings to Arunachala. But did they have a more important function in the past? For their symbology suggest that in long-forgotten rites they may have been gateways to the Sun, places of initiation where the neophytes, after being cleansed of sin and animal nature, received the highest knowledge that led to immortality in the Sun."

Swami Nithyananda Update

In the first week of August (August 1st-3rd) Swami Nithyananda visited Tiruvannamalai for a three day programme which comprised; a tree planting ceremony, question-answer talk, function at Arunachaleswarar Temple, homam at Dhyanapeetam Ashram, meditation session, Guru Puja at "Pavalakkundru", where Swamiji had his first self-realisation experience, walk to Skandashram, inauguration of the first Medical camp organized at Dhyanapeetam Ashram and night girivalam with Swami Nithyananda.

Temple Function

Homa at Dhyanapeetam Ashram

Pavalakkundru Function

For full report of visit go to this link here

Subsequent to Swami’s programme, I visited the developing Dhyanapeetam Ashram located by the side of Girivalam Pathway (across from Rajarajeshwari Temple) and was welcomed very graciously by the friendly sannyasins and sevas who man the Ashram. They told me that all are welcome to spend time at the Ashram where they can read literature and watch videos about Swami Nithyananda and his work.

The following two upcoming programmes will be available at Dhyanapeetam Ashram:

August 23rd and 24th an ASP * programme which is open to all and conducted in TAMIL.
August 23rd and 24th an NDSS (Nithyananda youth members training camp for ages 18-40 years) programme .

For registration and details for either of the above call: (0)999-45-58334 or (0)944-49-91089

Website dedicated to all Swami Nithyananda functions and events in Tamil Nadu check this site here.

* What is Ananda Spurana Program all about?

The Ananda Spurana Program (ASP) is an introductory level 2-day meditation program that works on the seven energy centers (chakras) in the human body . .

How are the ASP meditations different?

The ASP consists of a package of seven transformational meditation techniques drawn from all religions for all regions, and cognized and enriched by Swamiji's keen insight and knowledge. These meditation techniques dramatically restore the life energy; eliminate deep rooted Engraved Memories (Samskaras), thereby infusing good health and bliss. which is the innate nature of every being. These meditation techniques can be practiced by one and all and have been enriched to suit the modern man's mind and mind-set. The techniques allow the blossoming.”

Above excerpt on ASP taken from this link here.

Sparsa Hotel Update

What a nice surprise to visit Sparsa Hotel now that it is looking so green and luxuriant.

The pool is excellent and the management have wisely decided to surround it with bamboo covered creepers (they have yet to grow) in order to offer full privacy to their guests.

In the photograph below you can see the bamboo screen at the right side in closer detail.

From the concourse of the Hotel, a very nice few of Arunachala. The Hotel is located just off the girivalam roadway path, so very convenient for all those early morning walks.

The smaller buildings are part of the Hotel infrastructure and comprise shops, a health club, an ayurveda centre, an internet facility, a gift shop and various other bits and pieces.



Below -- the shop concourse from another vantage point.




In the next photograph some of the residential quarters with separate facilities upstairs and downstairs.

In the next photograph, the Hotel's internet facility, which is awaiting two more computers.

And the small reading room.

And lastly a photograph the very interesting 'retro' motor scooters given to guests to use during their stay at the Hotel.

New VodPod

There is now a new video pod at the bottom left hand column of this page. The four videos are:

Shiva Bhajan
Beautiful devotional Shiva Bhajan by Anuradha Paudwal from her Album Shiv Sagar

Nisgardatta Maharaj Talk

Talk with Nisgardatta Maharaj which is an excerpt from the “Extra Features” of the DVD “I Am That I Am”.

HWL Poonja Discourse

Discourse of HWL Poonja (Papaji) entitled, "Turn your face towards Consciousness,", in which he uses the analogy of a fish in the water crying "I am thirsty", to describe that Consciousness alone is.

Vande Mataram - Maa Tujhe Salaam

Video of A.R. Rahman's reinvention of India's national song Vande Mataram, 'Maa Tujhe Salaam' from his smash 1997 album 'Vande Mataram'.

Temple Timings

Arunachaleswar Temple daily opens at 5.30 a.m. and closes at 9.30 p.m. During the midday period of 12.30 p.m. to 3.30 p.m. all the shrines inside the Temple Complex, including both Shiva Sannidhi and Unnamulai Shrine, are closed. However several of the Gopuram Gates to the Temple are continuously open throughout the day, so one can enter and exit the Temple Complex without interruption.

During Deepam Festival and every Poornami (Full Moon) the shrines at Arunachaleswar Temple DO NOT close during midday.

Daily pujas performed at Shiva Sannidhi are as follows:

*6.00 a.m. Ukshakala Puoja
8.30 a.m. Kala Santhi Puja
*10.30 a.m. Uchikala Puja
*6.00 p.m. Sayaratchai Puja
7.30 p.m. Irandam Kala Puja
*8.30 p.m. Arthajama Puja

* Pujas marked with an asterisk are conducted during Poornamis – others excluded. Please note that the puja timings on the Temple website have not been updated and the above is correct.

click photo to enlarge
For information about ordering special pujas at Arunachaleswarar Temple (online) please go to the Temple website here.