Seasons and Rhythms

The rainy season has started and everything is now cold and damp. This evening by the time I generally take my dogs for a walk, it was already dark and gloomy because of a heavily overcast sky; with rain clouds both going out and coming in. Taking opportunity of the lull in the rain, I immediately started to prepare my six doggies for their regular walk. Three of whom absolutely refused to leave their protected seated area on the verandah, but the other three were willing and eager to wade through muddy fields and risk the possibility of getting caught in a thunderstorm. So off we went.

This climatic and seasonal change reminded me of an interesting narrative I had read about the affects cycles and rhythm have on the body’s physiology. On returning home I dug out the narrative and post it below.


Dancing with the Universe

"Our body, our mind, our emotions; everything in our physiology is changing moment to moment, depending on the time of the day, the cycles of the moon, the seasons and even the tides. Our body is part of the Universe, and everything that happens in the Universe ultimately affects the physiology of our body. Biological rhythms are an expression of the rhythms of the Earth in relationship to the entire cosmos, and just four rhythms: daily rhythms, tidal rhythms, monthly or lunar rhythms and annual or seasonal rhythms; are the basis of all of the other rhythms in our body.

As the Earth spins on its axis, we experience a 24 hour cycle of night and day that we call the circadian rhythm. This rhythm is based on the spinning of the Earth, and everything in our body, being part of the Earth, is also spinning and following the rhythm of the Earth. Tidal rhythms also have an effect on our physiology. These rhythms are the result of the gravitational effect of the sun, the moon and the stars in the distant galaxies on the oceans of planet Earth. We have an ocean within us that is similar to the oceans of our planet. More than 60% of our body is water, and more than 60% of our planet is water. So we experience a low tide and a high tide, and the tides ebb and flow in our own physiology. When we feel out of sorts, our body is out of synch with the body of the universe. Spending time near the ocean, or anywhere in nature, can help us to synchronize our rhythms with nature's rhythms.

The lunar rhythm is a 28 day cycle that occurs as a result of the movement of the Earth, the sun and the moon in relationship to one another. This rhythm is evident in the waxing and waning of the moon. As the Earth moves around the sun, we experience seasonal rhythms as distinct biochemical changes in the body-mind. Seasonal changes affect not only the biochemistry of the human body; they affect the biochemistry of trees, flowers, butterflies, bacteria and everything throughout nature.

To separate the body-mind from the rest of the cosmos is to misperceive things as they really are. The body-mind is part of a larger mind; it's part of the cosmos, and cosmic rhythms result in profound changes in our physiology. The universe is truly a symphony of the stars. And when our body-mind is in synch with this symphony, everything is spontaneous and effortless, and the exuberance of the universe flows through us in joyful ecstasy.

When the rhythms of our body-mind are in synch with nature's rhythms, when we are living in harmony with life, we are living in the state of grace. To live in grace is to experience that state of consciousness where things flow effortlessly and our desires are easily fulfilled. Grace is magical, synchronistic, coincidental, joyful. It's that good-luck factor. But to live in grace we have to allow nature's intelligence to flow through us without interfering.

Once we start to synchronize our rhythms with the cosmic rhythms, the body feels quite different. It feels vital; it doesn't get fatigued. We feel more energy subjectively. We begin to experience that state of consciousness where everything in our life is flowing with ease. Vibrant health is not just the absence of disease; it's a joyfulness that should be inside us all the time. It's a state of positive wellbeing, which is not only physical but emotional, psychological and ultimately even spiritual. What will make us healthy is to be aligned with the forces of the universe, to feel that our body is part of the body of nature, to commune with nature, to commune with our soul by spending time in silence and solitude. "

[Abridged – By Deepak Chopra]


Shiva as Nataraja

Shiva is often referred to as the Destroyer but since he is often associated with creation that comes out of destruction, he is also a God of Transformation. In addition he has different aspects that appear at different times. One aspect is that of Shiva Nataraja, The term 'Nataraj' means 'King of Dancers' (Sanskrit nata = dance; raja = king). It is believed that the energy from this dance of bliss (Ananda Tandavam) sustains the cosmos, and when Shiva is finished with this dance, the Universe will end and a new one will begin. The dance is said to symbolize the five divine acts (pancha krityas) of creation, sustenance, dissolution, concealment and bestowment of grace.

To read a full and earlier posting of Shiva as Nataraj, go this link here

Mantra and the Flame

Tara Dhatu is an organization dedicated to empowering and uplifting humanity through the sacred arts. It was formed at the request of His Eminence Tai Situ Rinpoche, an accomplished Tibetan Buddhist master who had witnessed the Dance of the “21 Praises of Tara”, which was choreographed by one of his students (Prema Dasara). He asked that an organisation be established to protect the dance’s integrity as a Vehicle of Liberation.

The Artistic Director of Tara Dhatu is Anahata Iradah and its spiritual director is Prema Dasara. It was through a pilgrimage to South India that the two met J Jayaraman. As well as Librarian of Ramana Library (Tiruvannamalai), J Jayaraman is also an acclaimed writer and musician and a permanent resident of Ramana Ashram well known to many visitors to Tiruvannamalai.

The organisation of Tara Dhatu teaches groups (all over the world) working closely with Tibetan Buddhism and using Tibetan Buddhist methods of mind training. The work is participatory and not performance-orientated and is about achieving the human potential through prayer, ritual and meditation.

click on schedule to enlarge and read

The above is the Brazilian schedule of ‘The Mantra and the Flame,’ facilitated by Anahata Iradah and Prema Dasara of Tara Dhatu, with J Jayaraman participating as a special guest from Tiruvannamalai, India.

It is hoped that sometime in the near future the Tara Dhatu organisation will revisit India and Arunachala with their dance programmes. To view their current schedule check their link here.

The Ubiquitous Crow!

One of the most common and to some definitely the most annoying bird to be found throughout Tiruvannamalai District is the ubiquitous crow. Of which the most usual varieties seen are the house crow and the jungle crow. The crow has lately been in the headlines as its being proclaimed, in some scientific circles, to be even more intelligent than the ape.

the jungle crow

To read more about the differences between the house crow and jungle crow check out my Tiruvannamalai bird blog at this link And to find out more about the intelligence of crows go this link here.

Dancing Bear

Local animal officials here at Tiruvannamalai were recently notified that two sloth dancing bears are currently performing for the public in a village about 20 kms distant. It is expected that local animal officials from Tiruvannamalai with the appropriate organisation will work to rescue the bears and transport them to the nearest bear rescue facility.

As well as an inhumane barbaric custom, bear dancing is also illegal and if you ever see a 'dancing bear' while travelling in India, please get in touch with Wildlife SOS, the India Bear Rescue Organisation at:

email wsos@vsnl.com or phone : 09837042266

To get full information about the rescue facilities that are now home to the bears and where you will be able to visit and spend time with some of these beautiful creatures. Check out Wildlife SOS's link at:

http://www.wildlifesos.org/IBR/bearhome.htm

Thus far 491 bears have been rescued from a life of suffering and torture.

undisturbed sloth bear

The Cruelty Behind The Dancing Bear Spectacle

“Qalandars, a nomadic gipsy tribe date themselves and the origin of bear dancing back to the 13th century and the pre- Mughal era. Qalandars gained prominence as the royal entertainers in the courts of the Mughal emperors where they also performed magic tricks and staged wrestling bouts. Once the emperors and kingdoms became history, they started to perform 'Bear dancing' for the general public.

Domestic and international visitors to India would often see these bear dancers on the highway between Delhi, Agra and Jaipur. Today, about 800 dancing bears are performing on the streets across the country. In India, bear dancing is banned by the Wildlife Protection act 1972. But various socio-economic and political factors have made it a difficult task to implement this law.

Qalandars purchase the sloth bear cubs from tribal poachers/traders and then train them to dance and respond to commands using the crude tools of pain and fear. At the tender age of just six months, a crude iron needle is heated and driven through their muzzle without anesthesia or any other antibiotic, and a rough rope is pulled through the sensitive swollen muzzle. This agony of grossly swollen muzzles and torn tissues together with a fair amount of beating and systematic starvation usually teaches the bears who the master is. The bears live the rest of their lives at the end of a four foot long rope and with no stimulation at all, thus causing several mental and stereotypical symptoms. Male cubs are also castrated at a very young age to keep their owners safe, again crudely by use of a razor, without anesthesia or antibiotics. Canine teeth are removed when one year old, by knocking them out with a metal rod.

For the rest of its life, the bear will dance on the road to earn money for the Qalandar. The wound on the muzzle will never heal and often be infested with maggots. Most of the bears will "bear" the suffering only for a few years since they will die due to Tuberculosis, Leptrospirosis or Rabies. We have noted that a large number of dancing bears are blind due to malnutrition but were still being used by the Qalandars for dancing.”

[Taken from the Wildlife S.O.S Website]

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For more information of the Dancing Bear please check out the excellent organisation International Animal Rescue which is dedicated to the rescue and rehabilitation of suffering animals. You can read a full PDF report of the Dancing Bear and watch a video of its sad life at this link here.

Visit to the Shelter

Stopped by the local Animal Sanctuary to meet with Dr. Raju about my doggies and also to get up-to-date with whats happening -- but definitely don't need an excuse to go to the Shelter as I'm always happy to visit the ever growing animal family there. And one of the first doggies I met was this nice little fellow hiding in a large bundle of hay. It certainly seems like he's found a comfortable spot!

Oh my, this is sooo snuggy!

All through the Animal Shelter compound there are little hideaways and bamboo leaf huts for the animals. And in the below hut I found Lakshmi the cow.

She is around eight years old and proved to be a good mother and milker, sadly she damaged her leg and her owners sent her in her weak and injured condition to the slaughterhouse. The Animal Shelter intervened while the cow was in transit, appropriated her and brought her back to their facility.

Below is Leslie Robinson the founder of the Animal Sanctuary at Tiruvannamalai spending time with what has now become a BIG favourite of his - Lakshmi the cow.

Below a photograph of her damaged leg. It is expected that Lakshmi will stay at the shelter for several months and then move to a large farm facility some kilometres distant where she will live a life of ease and retirement -- and good for her after all the milk she has produced in this lifetime!





Couldn't leave the shelter without checking on my own favourite -- 'Baby' the monkey. Check out the March Posting to view photographs of the little monkey when she arrived at the Shelter and the improvement of her injuries and condition just five weeks later at this posting.


Little 'Baby' gets lots of time and spoiling at the shelter and in the below photograph she is preparing to eat her nice crunchy snack. She looks loved and contented - quite a change from the horrors she experienced at such a young age. Before the opening of the Animal Sanctuary at Tiruvannamalai there was no facility in the area that was either interested or capable of intervening in such cases. Now everyone in town knows that they can get help for their own animals or for any creature in distress or difficulty.

Navaratri Pujas

To keep track of the wonderful daily pujas undertaken at Ramana Ashram throughout the whole of Navaratri Festival, check out the official Ashram site at this link, where they have photographs and videos of each day's puja.

Navaratri
Navaratri is celebrated in the lunar month of Ashvina (September-October). Hindus observe the Festival in a wide variety of ways, depending on their region, local history and family influences. Some see it as a way to commune with their own feminine divinity. A widespread practice honours the Goddess in every woman by inviting young girls to the family's home, feeding them and offering new clothes. During the Festival, women also perform tapas and selfless acts. Families in Tamil Nadu traditionally prepare in their homes a kolu, an exhibition of small dolls, figurines and small artifacts on a stepped, decorated shelf. At least one murti of Shakti must be present, as well as wooden figurines of a boy and a girl together to invoke auspicious marriages.

The Navaratri festival or 'nine day festival' becomes 'ten days festival' with the addition of the last day, Vijaya-dasami (day of victory) its culmination. This year the dates of the Festival are September 30th to October 9th. On all these ten days, Mother Mahisasura-mardini (Durga) is worshipped. According to the narrative from the Devi Mahatmya of the Markandeya Purana, the form of Durga was created as a warrior goddess to fight a demon. The demon's father Rambha, king of the demons, once fell in love with a water buffalo, and Mahisha Asura (the demon Mahisha) was born out of this union. He is therefore able to change between human and buffalo form at will (Mahisha means "buffalo"). Through intense prayers to Brahma, Mahishasura was given the boon that he could not be defeated by man or god. He unleashed a reign of terror on earth, heaven and the nether worlds which met its end when he fought and lost against the Goddess Durga.

In South India the Goddess is worshipped in three forms. During the first three nights, Durga is revered, then Lakshmi on the fourth, fifth and sixth nights, and finally Saraswati until the ninth night. Durga ("invincible" in Sanskrit) is the epitome of strength, courage and ferocity. Her devotees approach Her, sometimes with difficult penances, for those qualities and for the protection she Bestows.

A more gentle worship is observed for Lakshmi also called Annapurna "Giver of food," Lakshmi is the Goddess of abundance, wealth and comfort. She is the ever-giving mother, worshipped for well being and prosperity. A traditional way of invoking Her is chanting the Sri Suktam. In Her honour, food is prepared and offered to neighbours and all who visit, thus strengthening community ties. On the full moon night following Navaratri, it is believed Lakshmi Herself visits each home and replenishes family wealth.

The last three days of Navaratri, exalt Saraswati, the form of Shakti personifying wisdom, arts and beauty. Her name literally means "flowing one", a reference to thoughts, words, music and the Saraswati River. Mystically Saraswati is believed to be the keeper of the powerful Gayatri Mantra, which is chanted during the festival to invoke Her supreme blessings. Devotees meditate for days on this mantra alone, as it is considered the door to divine wisdom.

Before and After

Here are some great archival photographs of Arunachala before the current reforestation.

The below photograph of Big Street, Tiruvannamalai which eerily reminds me of a Western movie - it looks so different -- maybe its the sandy street. Sort of expect horses to come galloping along! Nonetheless a brilliant snap.

The next is taken at Ramana Ashram from where the Hill looks sadly denuded -- not a tree in sight.

Below a more recent photograph of the same area with a nice collection of trees and greenery.

The next two photographs are taken of the pathway on the way to Skandashram. If you would like to see a collection of recent photographs of the scenery on the way uphill to Skandashram and of that Ashram, check out this link.

Temple Museum

A museum featuring various aspects of the history of the Arunachaleswarar Temple will be set up in the Thousand Pillar Hall of the Temple. As well as the historical aspect, it is hoped that the museum will give an opportunity to the devotee and visitor to view the unique sculpture of the Hall.

The foyer, situated near the Raja Gopuram of the Temple, which houses the Thousand Pillars with their wonderful sculptures was once used as warehouse by the Tamil Nadu Civil Supply Corporation and for a long time was filled with bags of rice that were said to harbour a large infestation of rats! When the Government vacated the warehouse it was turned into a resting shed for Temple elephant Rukku. A few years ago Rukku moved to a Hall near Thirumanjana Gopuram.

Traditionally there are only two occasions in the year when one was able to enter the Thousand Pillar Hall, i.e. Ani Thirumanjanam and the Arudhra darshan Festival. Due to the influence of art lovers and concerned parties the Government decided last year to establish a Museum in this Mandapam. At that time the Temple administration sent a letter to the Commissioner of Museums seeking suggestions on the setting up of a Museum. Acting on this request the Commissioner visited the Mandapam and thereafter sent detailed recommendations to the Temple authorities.

Subsequently engineers were consulted and the task of setting up the first phase of the Museum was handed over to the District Building Centre. According to Temple authorities 8,000 square feet in the western side of the Mandapam is to be utilized for the first phase. In this phase pillars will be stone varnished and separate enclosed rows devoted to different themes i.e.; paintings, portraits, wood carvings and stone sculptures. In this respect a section of 108 portraits representing different dance postures of Lord Shiva will be on display.

It is proposed that unprotected objects of antique value found in other Temples in Tamil Nadu will be diverted to the Arunachaleswarar Temple Museum. The first phase of this work is estimated at Rs.15 Lakh. Temple authorities have assured devotees that the Museum will be opened as soon as possible.

Arunachala Newsletter -- October

The October issue of Arunachala Grace News will be sent out within the next few days direct to subscribers’ email inbox. If you do not yet have a subscription please check out the ‘subscribe facility’ at the left hand column of this page.

This October issue of Arunachala Grace News has an article about the ongoing Navaratri Festival and an extract from the related Durga mythology of the slaying of the demon Mahishasura at Arunachala. As well as the usual section of Arunachala Tidbits, this October Newsletter features the Tiruvannamalai herb “Withania Somnifera” – often called the ‘Indian equivalent to Ginseng’.

The bird in this issue is the ubiquitous, noisy crow (both House Crow and Jungle Crow), and the Navagraha in this month’s Arunachala News is 'Shukra' which is identified with the planet Venus. As well as the usual pot-pourri of inspiration, poems and extracts, this month’s Newsletter also has a lively, amusing story about an Arunachala monkey called “Buddy,” from Apeetha Arunagiri who is currently associated with the reforestation programme of Arunachala Greening.

Temple Crowd Management

We have all been saddened by the news of tragic incidents at Temples in this country and for this reason feel it relevant and important to give some feedback from the police authorities about security systems undertaken at our own Arunachaleswarar Temple here at Tiruvannamalai. The following extract was put out by local State news organisations:


“The police force in Tamil Nadu have devised scientific methods to manage crowds — be it at Temples or otherwise. In Temples, particularly during festive occasions, the police work in close co-ordination with Temple authorities to monitor the movement of devotees and rush in at the first sign of possible disorderliness.

Perhaps the explaination of the rarity of stampedes in Temples in Tamil Nadu is that whenever there is a huge gathering of devotees, police use modern gadgets to monitor the crowd movement and never allow the concentration of people beyond a level at one point. In many Temples, CCTV cameras are installed to check that people do not cluster at any point.

The three methods devised by police for crowd management are: Spatial segregation, time segregation, and structural stability. “We first find the space availability of the Temple and the average time a devotee takes for performing the rituals. Based on that we enforce security,” said the local Superintendent of Police.

“For instance, if three lakh devotees (i.e. 300,000) visit Arunachaleswar Temple in Tiruvanamalai for Deepam festival, we would allow them in queues and barricades would be placed to control the devotees’ movement,” adding. “The inflow and outflow of the crowd would be monitored through CCTV cameras.” He further said that barricades play a decisive role in crowd management. ”

Animals at Arunachala

Fido on Arunachala looking at the world

Glad for the rest from pulling that cart!

Is this angle okay?

Ahhhh!

I've always wanted to be a jockey!

Peacock fanning atop Ramana Ashram

Swami Ramanananda Saraswati

Swami Ramanananda Saraswati (Sri T. N. Venkataraman) On December 26th, 2007 Swami Ramanananda Saraswati (Sri T. N. Venkataraman), former president of Sri Ramanasramam, died peacefully at the Ashram. Swami Ramanananda was Assistant Manager of Ramana Ashram from 1938 to 1950 and its President until 1994 when he took sannyasa and gave over the managing of the Ashram to his eldest son, Sri V. S. Ramanan. 

I previously made a posting on Swami Ramananda (Sri T.N. Venkataraman) at the time of his death, which was a beautiful excerpt from The Silent Power entitled "The Fortunate Boy". I recently read a short narrative on the life of Sri Venkataraman which is quite interesting in that it mentions little known details of the Ashram during Bhagavan’s life. Below is an abridged version of that narrative which first appeared in the ‘1974 Souvenir, Venkatoo’. 

“T. N. Venkataraman (nickname Venkatoo) was born on May 26, 1914 son of Sri Ramana’s younger brother, Nagasundaram Iyer. When Venkataraman was two years old, his mother Mangalam died and his father, Nagasundaram Iyer, went to Arunachala where he took sannyasa under the name of Sri Niranjanananda Swami. The child Venkatoo was brought to Tiruvannamalai on visits two or three times a year to see Sri Bhagavan who was then living in Skandashram. Because women were not allowed to stay in Skandashram, Bhagavan himself took responsibility for the child. On such occasions Sri Ramana would put Venkatoo to sleep, and in the mornings bathe the child and help him brush teeth in the morning! 

At the end of 1938, the course of Venkatoo’s life changed when at that time he received a letter from the Ramana Ashram summoning him to Tiruvannamalai for good. On arriving he worked in the office, assisting Sri Niranjanananda Swami, the Sarvadhikari, whom he was to succeed as President in 1953. 

Sri Bhagavan had always shown love and interest in Venkatoo. When Sri Seshadri Swami’s body was interred, Sri Bhagavan asked Venkatoo to join him and others in placing vibhuthi (sacred ash) on the samadhi pit. When Gandhiji visited Madras in 1946, Venkatoo wanted to go and meet the Mahatma and it was Sri Ramana’s encouragement that led to Venkataraman spending time with the Mahatma.

Sri Ramana with Venkatoo

Sri Bhagavan gave a general power of attorney to Sri Niranjanananda Swami, who became the Ashram Agent and Sarvadhikari. In the legal proceedings that followed, Bhagavan had to make a deposition, and on that basis, the Court declared the Ashram to be Private Property. To avoid similar troubles in future, devotees drew up a Will under which the Ashram was to be maintained as a spiritual center and its management vested in the Sarvadhikari and, after him, Sri Venkataraman and his descendants. 

For the installation of the Sri Chakra Meru and the Kumbhabhishekam of Mother’s Shrine (Sri Mathrubhuteswara Temple) Sri Venkataraman officiated in all the rituals on behalf of Sri Bhagavan and the Ashram. Again, when Sri Bhagavan attained Nirvana on April 14, 1950, the ceremonial acts of bathing, puja and burial on the following day were all performed by Sri Venkataraman.

Swami Ramanananda Saraswati

Sri T. N. Venkataraman played, an active role in both the ritual observances and practical administration of the Ashram. After the samadhi of Sri Niranjanananda Swami, he had to go to Court and obtain a certificate of succession to administer the Ashram. In March, 1954 the Court declared that Sri T. N. Venkataraman was entitled to manage the properties under the Will of the Maharshi. When he took over the management, the Ashram was heavily in debt. Venkataraman retrieved it from this position and built up capital and property. Even a casual visitor to the Ashram can notice the substantial improvements; the number of new residential buildings, the facilities now available and the smoothness and efficiency of the whole administration. 

In spite of such preoccupations and administrative worries, Venkatoo always managed to keep cheerful. His dealings with devotees and Ashram inmates were characterized by warm affection and thoughtful concern. The devotees, in their turn, held him in loving esteem and regarded him like a brother or father. At home he was very simple. His children called him ‘Anna’ (elder brother). The family could not have a comfortable life till after the eldest son had gotten a job; but, in spite of the hardships, he gave all his children higher education. Likewise he discharged in full his duty towards elders in the family. 

All his children married except Sri Ganesan, the second son, who used to work as the Managing Editor of the Mountain Path and also assisted his father in running the Ashram. With the blessings and presiding guidance of Sri Bhagavan, the gracious good wishes of elder devotees and willing cooperation from fellow workers, Sri Venkataraman cheerfully carried on the management to the satisfaction of all concerned. Understanding his limitations throughout his life helped him to be submissive without being timid, and flexible without being infirm. His achievements include completing Sri Bhagavan’s Samadhi, its Kumbhabhishekam in 1967, the opening of the Ashram Auditorium/Meditation Hall in 1970, and the renovation of Sri Mathrubhuteswara Temple (in 1967) and also bringing out many books on and by Sri Ramana. 

Anxious to keep the Ashram as it was in the days of Sri Bhagavan, he maintained the kitchen and quality of food that used to be served to the devotees. When once, there was a suggestion that in view of rising costs the kitchen might be closed and a canteen opened outside the Ashram, he became furious and said: ‘I will never allow it to happen. For, I remember vividly how Sri Bhagavan was reading a newspaper article on Him and read aloud appreciatively the passage, ‘There are two fires in Ramanasramam: one is Sri Bhagavan Himself and the other is the kitchen fire. They both will never cease to kindle the heart of any devotee visiting the Ashram!’ And so, I know how much Sri Bhagavan wanted the kitchen to be kept up and the devotees served good food.’”

Quarrying Update

The below is a photograph of part of the the now empty Samudram Lake (which will fill up when the rains come) previous to sand quarrying.

The rest of the photographs are after sand quarrying on Samudram and surrounding land. There are many serious consequences of sand quarrying, one being the fear that the continuous and unchecked quarrying of sand will result in the depletion of sand wealth thereby undermining the retention of groundwater at a higher level.

As well as the interference with the natural ecological balance of Samudram, there is the very serious safety hazard posed to people and livestock especially after monsoon rain when the deep pits fill with water and be invisible to sight.

Sand quarrying of this type is not legal and its curious vigorous official steps (as in Pondicherry) have not been taken to prosecute the local companies involved!

To read a previous posting about sand quarrying check out this link here. The sand is used for the process of brick making and you can see ph0tographs at this previous posting and another one here.

Mother Worship

While walking down Chengam Road on my way to Ramana Nagar, I noticed a little pathway off the main road. As there were bright colours at the end of the path, I knew there would be some kind of shrine set off the road.

So I followed the little road which opened into a pretty glade with various shrines and statues dedicated to the Divine Mother.

As well as the statues of the Mother there were also several small altars of stone iconic representations of the Divine Principle. Everything was well maintained and seems to be regularly visited by locals.

There are many legends associated with the Divine Mother at Arunachala, and hopefully in the runup to Navaratri and Deepam, I will try and give some information regarding Shakti Worship at Tiruvannamalai.

Further on my walk I passed travellers from Rajasthan who have come to Tiruvannamalai to make and sell statues in connection with the upcoming Navaratri Festival. In the above photograph a young man is preparing the molds for the statues.

They is a huge variety of different molds on hand.

Below is a collection of statues that have been prepared in the molds and now await painting.

As well as more expensive, traditional statues, the travelling families from Rajasthan are also preparing other kinds of statues to be purchased in conjunction with the upcoming Navaratri Festival.



The more orthodox statues are now getting a finishing touch.



The dates of Sharad Navaratri, 2008 are:

September 30th – Navratri, Festival of Nine Nights begins
October 5th – Durga Puja Begins - Durga Sashti puja
October 7th – Durga Ashtami Puja
October 8th, 2008 – Navratri Ends. Mahanavami Puja/ Saraswathi Puja and Ayudha Pooja in South India
October 9th – Vijaya Dashami and Dussehra

In olden times, this Festival was particularly associated with the fertility of Mother Earth. Navratri means 'nine nights'. The first three days of Navratri are dedicated to Goddess Durga (Warrior Goddess) dressed in red and mounted on a lion, next three to Goddess Lakshmi (Goddess of Wealth and Prosperity) dressed in gold and mounted on an owl and finally, last three to Goddess Saraswati (Goddess Of Knowledge) dressed in milky white and mounted on a pure white swan.