Fascinating Movie about India

Even though I am living in the spiritual centre of the world at Arunachala, that doesn't mean that I am not a person with ordinary interests. In this respect I love animals, gardening, nature and MOVIES (but generally not musicals). Even though lots of folk have multi-channel cable TVs in Tiruvannamalai, I have elected not to have a TV and instead watch the occasional movie DVD on my computer. But even when I don't watch them, I keep up-to-date with new movie releases. One that I am very eager to watch, when it becomes available on DVD, is a movie currently on general release in the States entitled "Slumdog Millionaire". I am below posting a fascinating review of the movie which currently appears on an International movie website.

For those who love India or are interested in learning more about this country, I believe this movie will be truly insightful.

"Slumdog Millionare" Review

“Bereft of original ideas, Hollywood has been self indulging in tiresome sequels and mining old TV shows and comic books to ensure sure takes at the box office the past several months. So what a relief it is to take in Danny Boyle's visually stunning Slumdog Millionaire. The director of Trainspotting and “28 Days Later” borrows heavily from Bollywood tradition to deliver a real crowd pleaser set in the slums of Mumbai, India. Although the film approaches the genre's schmaltzy melodrama, Boyle's dynamic camera angles and lively pacing memorably tour the Indian landscape and introduce its remarkable culture.

Having recently visited India, I found Boyle's adaptation of Vikas Swarup's bestselling “Q and A” delightfully authentic. Sixty years after independence, India remains a study in contrasts—amazing architecture thriving alongside garbage strewn streets ... extreme wealth arising from abject poverty ... unmistakable beauty adjacent to stomach turning filth. Slumdog Millionaire juxtaposes these contradictory images naturally throughout the narrative.

A deceptively simple Dicksonian story, Boyle begins as 18-year-old orphan Jamal (Dev Patel) wins the top prize in the Hindi version of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire—20 million rupees (a little over U.S. $400,000). Illustrating the still existant caste system, the show host (Anil Kapoor) ceaselessly condescends to the unflappable youth as a tea server and remains incredulous that an uneducated boy from Mumbai's slums can answer the multiple choice questions. Immediately after coming within one question of winning the top prize, Jamal is arrested and tortured by the police to discover how he is cheating.

This provides the framework for a series of flashbacks to see Jamal and his older brother Salim over three significant time spans. The police inspector (veteran Indian actor Irfan Khan of “The Namesake”) plays back clips of the show and insists that Jamal explain how he knew the answer, giving the youth opportunity to go back in time to tell his life story, ranging from the fateful day his Muslim mother was killed by rioting Hindus, to the terrifying time he and his brother escape a despicable creep who wanted to mutilate him for monetary gain, to how they survive by scamming western tourists at the Taj Mahal. A life of hardships endear Jamal, and we're clearly drawn in to his story and long for him to succeed at his true life's ambition to re-connect with his love interest Latika (Freida Pinto).

The rags to riches story offers no real surprises, but Boyle delivers big time on insights into the Indian lifestyle and culture. Dazzling visual sequences akin to "City of God" follow young Jamal darting through Mumbai's colorful shantytown—striking overhead visuals panning over colorful tin roofs. More than anything, Jamal's serious steadfast character acts as metaphor for India as a whole. He is a survivor, and even if he fails to become the latest TV celebrity by answering the final question, he remains content because his greatest wish will be fulfilled regardless.

Certainly the narrative itself remains sentimental, but we don't care. Those who've grown to appreciate traditional Bollywood fare may question the lack of a choreographed song number, but fear not. Boyle delivers that as well at the close of the film with a lively sequence over the film's final credits, making Slumdog Millionaire a great cross-over film that will introduce a much larger audience to India's very real charms."

http://oldschoolreviews.com/rev_2000/slumdog_millionaire.htm

The Beautiful Langur Monkey

Yesterday (i.e. Monday afternoon) while visiting Temples on the south-east side of Arunachala kept a close look-0ut for the beautiful Tufted Grey Langur Monkey to point out to friends who I was showing around the Hill.

The Bonnet Macaque, of which I have written extensively in previous postings (see: Moral of the Monk, A Mother's Love, Love That Watermelon, and many others) is commonly found throughout Tiruvannamalai District and in fact in the view of some folk the Macaque is much too common and cheeky, particularly when it decides to go on scavenging hunts in residential areas by breaking into homes and raiding kitchens! Now that I live in an area not often visited by the naughty Macaque I can be more philosphical and good-natured about them and generally carry buns and snacks while performing Hill Girivalam in order to feed the Macaque Monkeys hanging about the sides of the Girivalam pathway. However I do have memories of certain incidents of maraudering naughty monkeys while I was living in a more urbanised part of Tiruvannamalai!

The below are photos I took yesterday of the beautiful Tufted Gray Langur Money. The colony was hanging about in trees feasting on leaves. They were playful and charming and continued with their romps as we were looking on.

On writing this posting did a bit of research on the Langur Monkey and came up with the following:

Gray Langurs are a group of Old World monkeys made up of the genus Semnopithecus which includes:

Tufted Gray Langur
Nepal Gray Langur
Kashmir Gray Langur
Tarai Gray Langur
Northern Plains Gray Langur
Black Footed Gray Langur
Southern Plains Gray Langur

It is the Tufted Gray Langur that is found inhabitating the slopes of Arunachala specially on the south east side. All of the Langur species are largely gray with a black face. In Indian mythology, this is because Hanuman, the monkey warrior, burnt his hands and face trying to rescue Lord Rama's wife.

The Langur feeds on leaves, fruit, buds and flowers. However their diet is seasonable, with mature leaves being eaten only as a fall-back food during the winter months. In the summer, especially before the monsoon season, fruit is their chief diet supplemented with insects, tree bark and gum.

Though the Langur sleeps in trees, it spends more time on the ground and lives in medium to large groups, usually with a frequently changing dominant male.

To read more about the delightful Langur Monkey you can visit this link HERE.

Arunachala’s True Shape

“From every angle Arunachala presents a different aspect. But the Sivalinga, representing the Hill, symbolises its true shape, that of the formless including all forms . . .

I approach Arunachala generally by bus from the east as I come to Tiruvannamalai from Madras. Arunachala becomes visible from about ten miles away. At first it is only a vague cloudlike shape but as I come nearer it becomes clearer. It assumes the form of an irregular cone somewhat longish at the base with a curved spur on its northern side. This shape lasts only until I come to the temple of Arunachaleswara. It changes gradually when I proceed to the Ashram and finally when I reach the Ashram it assumes a familiar beautiful shape. It reminds me of Mount Kailas as it looks in the familiar photographs of that sacred mountain. Others have also noticed this resemblance.

I have seen Arunachala not only from these two angles but also from numerous other angles too. While going round the Hill on the holy circuit it looks different from each spot. Names like the ‘five-faced Arunachala’ and the ‘four-faced Arunachala’ have been given to those aspects in which it appears to possess five peaks or four peaks. When one comes to the northern side the appearance changes completely. It becomes more rugged and massive. Arunachala has many faces and many shapes. From every angle it presents a different aspect, reminding us of the ever changing flux of creation, the motionless dance of Arunachala-Siva whose unity penetrates all diversity!

Some devotees of Siva believe that Arunachala, the Hill, is Siva himself or a huge Siva linga in the form of the Hill. The puranas elaborate this. That is why one walks round it barefoot reverently all the eight miles of the way. Siva linga is simply an emblem of Siva, in its manifest form as the Hill and the linga of fire without beginning or end, as mentioned in the well known story of its first appearance, symbolises its unmanifest transcendence. Thus Siva is rupa (with form) and arupa (without form). He has many forms and at the same time can reveal himself as formless:

“When I approach regarding Thee as having form, Thou standest as a Hill on earth. If (with the mind) the seeker looks for Thy (essential) form as formless, he is like one who travels the earth to see the (ever-present) ether. To dwell without thought upon Thy (boundless) nature is to lose one’s (separate) identity like a doll of sugar when it comes in contact with the ocean (of nectar) and when I come to realize who I am, what else is this identity of mine (but Thee), O Thou Who standest as the towering Aruna Hill?”
[By Aquarius]

Worship of Shiva Lingam

“At the Paris Congress on the History of Religions, Swami Vivekananda was an invited speaker. At this congress Vivekananda said that the worship of Shiva Linga originated from the famous hymn in the Atharva Veda Samhita sung in the praise of the 'Yupa Stambha', the sacrificial post.

In that hymn a description is found of the 'beginningless and endless 'stambha' or 'skambha' and it is shown that the said skambha is put in place of the eternal Brahman. Afterwards the Yajna (the sacred fire) and its flames gave place to the conception to the brightness of Shiva's body. Yajna's smoke was symbolized as Shiva's dark matted hair, the Soma plant used in the Yajna was symbolized as Shiva's blue throat, the ashes of the Yajna became the ashes applied to Shiva's body and the ox that used to carry on its back the wood for the Yajna, was conceptualized as the carrier or Vahana of Shiva. Just so, the Yupa Skambha, in time was symbolized as the Shiva Linga and was deified to the high Devahood of Sri Shankara. In Atharva Veda Samhita, even the sacrificial cakes are also extolled along with the attributes of the Brahman.”

[By Swami Vivekananda]

Puppies not Camels!

Today one of the local auto rickshaw drivers told me that he heard the camel driver had left Tiruvannamalai with his group of four camels. Big disappointment -- but then felt a sense of relief as I'm sure the working camels would have been in poor condition and the whole thing would have been just one big heartache. However on the subject of camels, I post below a fascinating photograph taken around 1908 of a very interesting travelling camel.

On the subject of animals glad to announce that this is puppy season in Tiruvannamalai, and there are lots of young puppies in all kinds of interesting places. Here is a brick kiln in a field (you can see the tip of Arunachala in the background) that is currently home to four very sweet young pups. I have been short cutting through the brick kiln area and am currently surrogate Mum to the little fellows - who have made a secure and fascinating home for themselves running through the chambers of the brick kiln.

Here they are hoping I have brought them milk -- and at the same time keeping a watchful interest in a couple of ladies peeping over a nearby wall checking out what was happening.

And now that they have reassured themselves that all is safe -- they are eager for their milk breakfast. There are in fact four puppies, with a shy one hiding in the back probably hoping I leave before all the milk is gone!


The very excellent local Animal Shelter has assured me that they will come and pick up the puppies and take them to their Sanctuary, where they will live until they are either old enough to fend for themselves or are adopted. Whatever happens they will be safe and well-fed and have the opportunity to put on weight, get strong and socialise with lots of other puppies. If you are visiting Tiruvannamalai and Ramana Nagar make a point of checking out the great work at the Animal Shelter which is currently home to a large number of dogs (some handicapped), Lakshmi the cow (who has had to have part of her back leg amputated but is mobile and very happy), an injured crow and a nice group of young monkeys.

Thiruvannamalai Movie Update

In Los Angeles, the movie district is known as ‘Hollywood,’ in Mumbai ‘Bollywood,’ and in Tamil Nadu the movie district (located at Chennai) is affectionately known as ‘Kollywood’.

In this respect the Kollywood drama entitled ‘Thiruvannamalai’, is eagerly awaited in these parts – especially as there are many shots of the Temple and Arunachala. The movie is currently in post production and will be ready for screening in the New Year, 2009. However due to compensation irregularities suffered after screening the Rajinikanth movie ‘Kuselan,’ the Tamil Film Exhibitors Association has announced that it will boycott all films distributed by ‘Pryamid Saimira’ which include Kavithalaya Production’s, ‘Thiruvannamalai’ and ‘Naan Kadavul’ with Arya. So unless the situation is regularised one may have to wait for sometime before being able to view the upcoming musical movie, ‘Thiruvannamalai’ in Tamil Nadu.

The below is a still from the movie to view several more shots from 'Thiruvannamalai,' go to this link HERE.

In the meantime the movie score of the movie is now complete and available online. To download Thiruvannamalai Mp3 songs (.zip format) which needs WinRAR/WinZip software for extraction, please go to this link HERE.

The songs are typical of a Kollywood musical – so probably will only be appreciated by young, musically fashionable Tamilians. There is not much in the way of spiritual inspiration in any of the songs – however they are loud and jolly. Included in the soundtrack are the following:

Adiyai - Udit Narayan, Suchithra
Emmaiyaalum - Shankar Mahadevan
Kaadai Kauthare - Senthil Dass, Renuka, Maghi
Namma Nadai - Pushpavanam Kupusami, Suchitra Raman
Siva Siva - Shankar Mahadevan

Arunachala Grace Update

Some regular readers may have been wondering at the unaccustomed lack of recent postings on this Blog -- which is due mainly to my own recent ill health. However things are much better and hope to be posting regularly from now on -- particulary as the great Deepam Festival is almost upon us.

Even though I haven't been posting I do in fact have lots of interesting information to share. The most curious being the news of a visit of a group of four camels to Tiruvannamalai who have travelled from distant Rajasthan -- definitely hope to get some nice snaps of them soon.

Also work has started on the current Arunachala Grace Newsletter -- which will have lots of information on the legends and stories surrounding Deepam -- a Festival not only celebrated in Tiruvannamalai, but all around Tamil Nadu -- albeit with different stories and mythologies explaining the relevance of the Festival.

AKSP -- 2009

Arunachala Greening -- Report by Apeetha Arunagiri

"As everyone can see, the hill is definitely greener now.

Ramana photo taken in mid 40's



Photo taken at same spot in 2006

The Arunachala Kattu Siva Plantation is a registered Trust engaged for the past six years on restoration work contributing to the ongoing task of greening the Holy Hillock. The artesian reserves surrounding Arunachala desperately need regeneration so that the children of the future have good water here; the only way is by a reforested hill.

The Managing Trustee of AKSP - Apeetha Arunagiri, initiated the now very evident greening process by forming The Arunachala Reforestation Group in the mid eighties, which later became The Annamalai Reforestation Society. Her intention in originating this smaller project (AKSP) was to confront the social aspects of ecology that require a different structure than that imposed by the structure of ARS. For this reason indigenous rural women and men are engaged from the villages close to the project site on the more protected western slopes of the hill; the thrust of the project is to enable these workers to develop a keen working consciousness of taking responsibility for restoration work in the face of our savage civic environmental problems, on behalf of their own community.

We have learned much by our experience in the past six years. Now in 2009 we are poised for a shift into higher gear:

- our workers are ready for further training out of station where they will transform their capacities and meet other persons engaged in the global struggle towards ecological health,

- many of them are now capable of taking supervisory roles and there is plenty of work to engage seasonal labourers on essential reconstruction ground work as well as plantation in season,

- land has been offered us for a second nursery on the Adianamalai side of the hill so that we can begin plantation there. This land needs to be developed now and in addition the slopes on that side need drastic water conservation strategies.

One of our Trustees - Mr. Kasiviswanathan, is an organic farming specialist who fortuitously purchased this land many years ago. We hope eventually to create a chapter of the Trust to develop a model organic farm adjacent to the nursery. When Kasiviswanathan was working as a Permaculture and Organic Farming teacher in ARS he had the opportunity to train several persons who we are hoping to engage on this work. The view of Arunachala from this site is shown to the right above.

Although the fire problem has diminished and the hill does appear greener, the area still to be planted is vast. We encourage those with the hill in their hearts to consider their capacity to contribute towards the support and development of this work into the future. We invite you to visit our website to learn more about the project operations - details of which are given here below."

Contact Details:
Project Manager: Hari Prasad in Thiruvannamalai (telephone 09362152674; General Trustees: Kannan in Thiruvannamalai (telephone 09443435830) and Kasiviswanathan in Hyderabad (09490690792)

Email: arunachalagreening@gmail.com
Website: www.hotkey.net.au/~apeetha/index.html

Road Repair

The below is a very interesting photograph of a local road tarring machine. Its a worrying thing to watch roads being tarred because most of the workers wear either no shoes at all or just wrap plastic bags around their feet! Lets hope with the wage increases for construction and road workers, some of the labourers will now decide to invest in their own safety!

click to enlarge photo

Mother Meera Meeting

In respone to queries, am now repeating information about the meeting with Mother Meera at Tiruvannamalai on the 13th November here at Tiruvannamalai. The meeting will take place at the same Hall as previously, i.e., Meenakshi Kalyana Mandapam which is located on Kamatchi Amman Koil Street near the Arunachaleswarar Temple. The time of the meeting is 6 p.m. A large crowd is expected so suggest you arrive early.

From the 16th – 18th November Mother Meera will be at Madanapalle, Andhra Pradesh.

Western lady's meeting with Ramana

The below is a very interesting narrative by M.A.Piggot, who is believed to be the first English lady who visited Sri Ramana:

"I have visited India before, but my first visit off the beaten track was in1932-33. It was my wish to meet one of the holy men of India, but so far it had been a vain one. Then I was told of Ramana Maharshi. The friend who gave me the welcome news offered to take me to him, and so we arrived at Tiruvannamalai.

He was seated on a divan in front of which sandal sticks were burning. About a dozen people were present in the hall. I sat across-legged on the floor, though a chair had been thoughtfully provided for me. Suddenly I became conscious that the Maharshi's eyes were fixed on me. They seemed literally like burning coals of fire piercing through me. Never before had I experienced anything so devasting - in that it was almost frightening. What I went through in that terrible half hour, by way of self-condemnation and scorn for the pettiness of my own life, would be difficult to describe.

When we returned for the evening meditation, the hall was compellingly still. The eyes of the Holy One blazed no more. They were serene and inverted. All my troubles seemed smoothened out and difficulties melted away. Nothing that we of the world call important mattered. Time was forgotten. From that time onwards started a routine that was to be the same for many weeks. The rickety cart would turn up at six in the morning. It took me to the Ashram and came back again for the evening journey. I soon acquired a technique of the balance that promised safety in the cart. I was given a small hut, seven feet by seven, for my use during the day; the Ashram did not provide night accommodation for ladies in those days.

Among those who had turned up at the Ashram was the well-known author, Paul Brunton. We had many enlightening talks. Asking questions in the open hall was rather an ordeal, but backed by him I lost some of my diffidence. An interpreter was always on hand; for although the Maharshi understands English he does not speak it with ease. He knows immediately, however, whether the exact shade of meaning has been accurately translated, and if not, he perserves until one has understood him completely.

One day we brought up the question of guruship and asked, "Is it necessary for spiritual attainment to have a guru?" The Maharshi ordered a certain treatise to be read, in which it was stated that as in all physical and intellectual training a teacher is sought, so in matters spiritual the same principle holds good." "And", he added, "it is hard for a man to arrive at the goal without the aid of such one."

One day a man rushed in and flung himself face down before the Maharshi. He was crying bitterly. Great sobs tore his body. The Maharshi said nothing. His head was turned aside, and he seemed indifferent. After some little time, the violence of the man's grief subsided and gradually he became quiet. Then at last, reverently the man arose and made a deep salutation. The Maharshi turned his head and smiled upon him. I felt suddenly as if all the flowers of the world had poured their fragrance into our midst.

Another time a poor person who had been bitten by a snake was brought in and laid before him. We all watched, fear gripping our heart. Not so he, who sat looking into the far distance, while the victim writhed in pain. Calm and compassion was in that look, and infinite peace. After what seemed like hours, the twitching ceased and the appeared to be in sleep. Then the one who had brought in the sufferer gently touched him. The man rose, prostrated himself before the Maharshi and went out cured. But this was unusual. The Maharshi did not heal in the accepted form of the world. Talking about it one day, I asked him if one could use spiritual power for healing. He remarked, "Yes, if you think it worthwhile," but added, "it requires a great deal of force, which might be used more profitably in other directions."

That afternoon I had my farewell talk with the Maharshi. He was so gentle and human. I again asked about the relation of body to the 'I'. He gave his smile, and said, "You came up from the bungalow this morning in a cart, yet you do not say, "The cart came." You say, "I came up." You did not make the mistake of identifying yourself with the cart. In the same way, look upon your body as you do the cart. Treat it well, and it will be a good servant and instrument. But do not be deceived into thinking it is 'I'. At the end of our talk, he quoted that wonderful saying from the Upanishad, "When, to the man who understands, the Self has become all things, what sorrow, what trouble can there be, to him who has once beheld this unity?"

I had been in despair of ever getting the Maharshi alone. It is hard to unburden the soul before a crowd. One morning, I went into the hall early and found him there unattended, emanating a wonderful stillness and peace. I asked quietly if I might talk with him. He nodded and smilingly sent for someone to translate. My first question was, "What are the hindrances to the realization of the true Self?" He said, "Memory, chiefly habits of thoughts, accumulated tendencies." When I enquired, "How does one get rid of these hindrances," his answer was:

"Seek for the self through meditation by tracing every thought back to its origin, which is only the mind. Never allow thought to run on. If you do, it will be unending. Take it back to the starting place - the mind - again and again, and the thought and the mind will both die of inaction. The mind only exists by reason of thought. Stop that and there is no mind. As each doubt and depression arise, ask yourself, "Who is it that doubts?" What is it that is depressed?" Go back constantly to the question, "Who is the 'I'? Where is it? Tear everything away until there is nothing but the source of all remains. Live always in the present; there is no past or future, except in the mind."

Regarding meditation, he said, "Meditate on what you are in Reality. Try to realise that you are not the body, emotions or intellect." As the days passed, I saw more and more clearly that this was no theoretical philosophy. He himself lived it continuously and joyously. He was one of the few I have met who were not only happy but untroubled. Not that the sorrows of the world left him untouched, but he knew where they belonged and was not identified with them. To any sufferer his compassion was unlimited."

Diwali Distress

We are in the middle of the Diwali Festival and most of my dogs are hiding in different parts of the house, distressed by the noise of neighbourhood crackers and fireworks. We live in a sparsely populated area but even so the noise is constant, unpleasant and distressful. Its easy to see the affects on wildlife as many birds have taken shelter in our garden and other habitual visitors are noticeably absent from the area.

I feel distressed for the cows of the area who are tethered tightly on short ropes near their masters' home as they can't escape the noise of bursting fireworks being set off on the streets and lanes by neighbourbood kids. I also worry about the street neighbourhood dogs who don't have the luxury of living inside a house and consequently have nowhere to hide from the constant onslaught of noise and danger of bursting fireworks and crackers. During Diwali not only is there a huge noise pollution, but also as a result of burning chemicals of the firework - atmospheric pollution increases 5%.

So, Happy Diwali? -- well I don't know how much 'happiness' can be gained based on the torture and misfortune of so many creatures and people. I will be posting facts relating to the degree of pollution during Diwali (in this area) in upcoming weeks.

Mother Meera at Tiruvannamalai

Mother Meera was born on December 26, 1960 in the village of Chandepalle in Southern India. The state of samadhi soon became constant for Her. Under the auspices of Her uncle, she lived for some time in Pondicherry. She now lives at Thalheim, a village in Germany. It is said of her: "Darshan is Her silent bestowal of Grace and Light through Her gaze and touch. Mother gives darshan in silence. It is Her gift to humanity".

On November 13th of this year, Mother Meera will give darshan at Tiruvannamalai,with venue to be announced. From the 16th – 18th November Mother Meera will be at Madanapalle, Andhra Pradesh.

Swami Suddhananda Ashram

I have previously written about the beautiful Suddhananda Ashram on the Adiannamalai side of the Hill.

The Suddhananda Ashram in Tiruvannamalai (which welcomes visitors) is part of the Samvit Sagar Trust, founded by Swami Suddhananada to reach out to people in all walks of life and enable them to live happily. The purpose of the Ashram is not only for imparting Self-Knowledge but also to promote Swami Suddhananda’s humanitarian vision by providing care for the under-privileged sectors of society through orphanages and educational institutions.

Swami Suddhananda

To find out more about Swami Suddhananda and his work check out this link here.



Suddhananda Words


Love for self: Everybody should love himself/herself. A garbage given to us is that loving yourself is selfish. That is rubbish. On an airplane, if the cabin pressure falls you're asked to first wear the oxygen mask and then help the child. That is not selfish, because if you want to help somebody, you must first find strength in yourself.

Happiness: Be happy, an unhappy man cannot give happiness to others. If he does, he will demand his pound of flesh.

Faith: Often, in the name of faith they ensure that your sense of self is sacrificed from childhood and your spine is broken. If you don't question god, how will you understand yourself?

Leaders: We lack real leaders; when a mob selects leaders, what kind of leaders are you creating?

Following rules: On a small road if two people ride a cycle, both will be very careful. But the moment you have four-lane highways and powerful cars, don't expect the fellow with a Ferrari to go in the last lane at slow speed. He'll go in the first lane at the fastest speed; he has both power and speed. At one point in society everybody followed rules but as more money and power came in so did decadence and degeneration. Don't expect the rich and the powerful to follow rules.

Essence of change: A small car can be made powerful by changing the engine, tyres, steering. But the driver must also change; otherwise, there will be havoc.

Yoga: Its purpose is to go into the stage of samadhi or absolute freedom. But today yoga is associated only with asana, out of the eight limbs people are stuck to only one limb and thus is yoga vulgarised. In the US they now have doga... yoga for dogs. When people come for yoga with their pets, the pets are taught doga!

Meditation: Meditation has become a business with gimmicks, a job... telling people hold your nose, close your eyes, listen to music, dance or stand on one foot. Temporary suspension for 15-30 minutes is touted as meditation. If suspending your mind for half an hour is so good, what about the deep sleep that god has given? Forget god if you don't like god... in deep sleep any average person is suspended continuously for 7-8 hours. If seven hours of natural suspension doesn't enlighten you, how will 30 minutes of suspension do that?



Upcoming programmes at the Ashram are as follows:


Health Camp-Diabetes Management from 11-11-2008 to 16-11-2008
Self Knowledge Camp from 20-11-2008 to 30-11-2008
Deepam Camp from 08-12-2008 to 14-12-2008

Contact Information

Suddhananda Ashram
38 Girivalam Road
Adiannamalai
Tiruvannamalai 606604

Phone Number:
+91-(0)4175-233553


****************************

Most recent contact information for Swami Suddhananda is as follows:

http://selfknowledgeonline.com/contactus.php

SUDDHANANDA FOUNDATION FOR SELF KNOWLEDGE

3/143 V V V Salai
Suddhanandapuram,
East Coast Road, Uthandi,
Chennai - 600 119, Tamilnadu, India.

Phone: +91 44 2453 0638/24530813

Tiruvannamalai Traffic

This is a fun, short video giving you an idea of 'light' traffic activity on Car Street in Tiruvannamalai. Car Street is a main thoroughfare of the city which runs directly in front of Arunachaleswarar Temple, which is regarded as the centre of Tiruvannamalai. Towards the end of the short clip, the cone- shaped figures in both corners of the video are the 'garages' for the ceremonial vehicles that carry statues of the Gods during processions around the Temple at Deepam.

Traffic on Car Street

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.