Pictures from Ramana Ashram 25 August 2013 Mahakumbhabhishekam

The below are photographs I took yesterday at the Mahakumbhabhishekam Function at Ramana Ashram, August 25, 2013. I arrived at the Ashram after the Mahakumbhabhishekam had just completed on the roof of the Ashram, and the crowds on the roof were beginning to file down. And be replaced by other pilgrims wanting to go onto the roof to pranam at the Kumbhas of the Gopuram and two Vimanas. 

There seemed to be so much going on simultaneously. Puja to the various Gods in the Mother Shrine had already been completed. The outside temporary dining area was just about to be prepared with leaves and tumblers for the first lunch sitting. Young workers were carrying out large pots of food to various outside eating areas. Artisans were completing the flower work to enshrine the Sri Ramana Mahaharshi Mahalingam. 

Large crowds were waiting outside the old and new dining-halls in order to make the first sitting in those places. Some other devotees were trying to squeeze into the already congested Samadhi Hall and Mother Shrine, in order to watch the Maha Abhishekams. Even though there was quite a crush, most remained patient and good natured throughout what was a very beautiful and well organised 3-day function at Sri Ramana Maharshi Ashram. 

Sri Ganesha Mother Shrine

Lingodbhavamurti outside Mother Shrine

Goddess Durga outside Mother Shrine

Flower artisans crafting flower arrangements for Sri Ramana Shrine

Ready to lay leaves and tumblers inside temporary dining structure

Young workers beginning to carry out heavy food pots

Crowds coming down from roof and milling around

Kumbhabhishekam is a Hindu Temple ritual that is believed to homogenize, synergize and unite the mystic powers of the deity. Kumbha means the Head and denotes the Shikhara or Crown of the Temple (usually in the Gopuram) and Abhishekam is ritual bathing, (hence the term Kumbha + Abhishekam). 

During this elaborate event, homams conducted according to the agamas, are performed by priests in the Yagasala outside the Temple over the preceding days. These homams infuse divinity and spiritual power into kalasas (sanctified pots) filled with consecrated water. 

Divine Power is transferred back to the deities by performing an abhishekam (salutary bathing) to the Vigrahas and Vimanas (pinnacles) on the roof with the sanctified holy waters from the kalasas accompanied by Vedic chanting and special rites. On that day at the designated auspicious time the Kumbha is bathed with the charged and sanctified holy waters contained in the sacrificial pots. 

Kumbhas on top of the Ramana Ashram Gopuram

Young priest trying to escape from the burning hot roof

After completion of the Function, devotees climb the scaffolding

Kumbha on top of Mother Shrine Vimana

Climbing down from Ramana Maharshi Vimana

Kumbha on top of Sri Ramana Maharshi Vimana

Devotees waiting for lunch, first sitting in New Dining Hall

Crowds milling around at front of Ramana Ashram

Maha Deeparadhanai, Sri Ramana Maharshi Samadhi

Maha Deeparadhanai

Maha Deeparadhanai at Matrubhuteswara Shrine

A serene looking little girl at Ashram Function

A little 'un playing in the trees at back of Ashram

Mahakumbhabhishekam -- Ramana Ashram -- August 25, 2013

For two days (August 23rd and 24th) Homams were performed in the specially constructed Yagasala outside the Shrines at Ramana Ashram in order to infuse divinity and spiritual power into sanctified pots (kalasas) filled with consecrated water. 

Today during the Mahabhishekham programme Divine Power was transferred back by performing a salutary bathing (abhishekam) to the Gopuram and two Vimanas on the roof with the sanctified waters from the Kalasas. This ritual was performed while being accompanied by Vedic chanting and special rites. 

After the consecration on the roof of the Ashram, worship was then performed inside the Sanctum Sanctorums of the Ramana Maharshi Samadhi and Mother Shrine (Matrubhuteswara Shrine), in which further powers/energy were transferred to the Shrines. 

Left to Right: Gopuram, Mother Vimana, Sri Ramana Vimana

Left Mother Vimana, right Sri Ramana Vimana

Vimana over Matrubhuteswara (Mother) Shrine

Vimana over Sri Ramana Maharshi Shrine

Devotees watching Maha Abhishekam, Sri Ramana Shrine

Pouring the sanctified water over Mahalingam

[Thanks to Sethu, an officially accredited photographer for these remarkable photographs]. 

Roof of Ramana Maharshi Ashram

On the roof of Ramana Ashram on top of the entrance to the old hall is a Gopuram, which is an ornate tower that forms a dominant feature of Dravidian style Temples and Shrines in South India. 

Gopuram is positioned on top of Old Hall

In addition, on the roof over each of the samadhis of Sri Ramana and his mother (also in line with South India Dravidian style Temples/Shrines) are individual domed Vimanas (towers). 

Gopuram

Gopuram from another angle

Vimana over Mother Shrine

Statue of Sri Ramana at base of Mother Vimana

Painters preparing the Gopuram and Vimanas

Constructing bamboo ladders leading to top of Shrines

Arunachala Darshan from Roof

As is traditional, Sri Ramana Maharshi was entombed in his samadhi in a sitting position and (according to his direct instructions) facing Arunachala. The Lingam over his entombed, sanctified body is directly over his head. It is easier to visualise on viewing the photograph of the Vimana which is positioned on the roof directly over the mahalingam on top of Sri Ramana’s samadhi. 

Samadhi Hall

Stairway for priests to consecrate Vimana

Vimana centre of Arunachala. Sri Ramana facing hill with top of head directly under Vimana centre

Mahakumbhabhishekam is held either to formally consecrate a new Temple/Shrine or reconsecrate an old one, and generally occurs at twelve-year intervals or specifically following renovation, extensive cleaning or renewal which is the case of the Mahalingam and Sri Chakra shrines at Ramana Ashram. 

Mahakumbhabhishekam is a ritual that is believed to homogenize, synergize and unite the mystic powers of the deity. Kumbha means the Head and denotes the Shikhara or Crown of the Temple/Shrine and Abhishekam is ritual bathing, (hence the term Kumbha + Abhishekam). 

During this elaborate event, homas have and are currently being conducted at Ramana Ashram (according to the agamas), by priests in the specially constructed Yagasala outside the Shrines. To view photographs of yesterday’s Homams check this previous link here. The point of such Homams is to infuse divinity and spiritual power into kalasas (sanctified pots) filled with consecrated water. 

Divine Power is then transferred back by performing an abhishekam (salutary bathing) to the Vimanas (pinnacles) on the roof with the sanctified waters from the kalasas while being accompanied by Vedic chanting and special rites. 

Tomorrow, August 25, 2013 at the time (see programme link here) which has been designated as most auspicious, the Kumbha will be bathed with the charged and sanctified holy waters contained in the sacrificial pots. After the consecration of the Vimanas on top of the shrines of Sri Ramana and his mother, worship will be specifically performed inside the Sanctum Sanctorums, in which further powers/energy will be transferred to the Shrines. 

Ramana Ashram Function 23rd August, 2013

The following series of photographs were taken at Ramana Ashram today, August 23, 2013 during the morning programme of this special 3 day Function which started at 7.00 a.m. and included: 

Anujani, Sri Vigneswara Puja, Sankalpam, Punyaha Vachanam, Acharya Varnam, Sri Ganapati Homam and Navagraha Homam. 

While at Ramana Ashram today I took some beautiful photographs of the Gopuram and Vimanas on the Ashram roof, which I hope to post tomorrow. As there is so much detail and information to give about this 3 day Function, I hope to upload a full report onto Arunachala Samudra within a few weeks.

"Who is Shiva?"

I expect Sri Sathya Sai Baba has always been present for me as Sadguru, but it was only in the early 1980s, that I first became actually aware of him in this lifetime. He loved Arunachala and spoke about it many times in his speeches. But his first words glorifying this sthalam was in his very first spiritual discourse when he was a young lad of 14 years of age. 

Subsequently he gave many inspirational discourses on the Self, the Nature of the Mind and below an extract from a speech on ‘Shiva, the Divine Consciousness.” 

For additional speeches by Sri Sathya Sai Baba on the mind and self enquiry, go to this link here.

“Who is Shiva?” 

The following is a speech made by Sri Sathya Sai Baba on Shiva, the Divine Consciousness: 

“Who is Shiva?” Divine Consciousness which pervades all living beings is none other than Shiva. This Divine Consciousness permeates not only human beings, but all other creatures. Shiva-consciousness is all-pervading. “With hands, feet, eyes, head, mouth and ears pervading everything, He permeates the entire Universe.” 

All that we witness is Shiva Consciousness; nothing else. Shiva does not mean a particular form with matted hair and tiger skin. Wherever we look and whichever form we come across – whether a child or an elderly person, whether a woman or a man, in every form Shiva Consciousness is resplendent. 

How can you describe the all-pervading Shiva-consciousness or limit it to a particular time and place? God is described by different people in diverse ways depending on their imagination and understanding. But the nameless, formless God is omnipresent and all-pervading 

Who can describe such Divinity? There is only one sign for Divinity, that is, Consciousness. In whichever form this Divine Consciousness permeates, it will assume that form – it may be the form of a dog, a crow, a crane or a human being. 

All that you witness in this objective world is a manifestation of Shiva. It pervades the three worlds; earth, space and nether world and exists in the three periods of time; past, present and future. It is indescribable. 

Man today searches for God everywhere, not understanding that he himself is an Embodiment of Divine Atma. 

One has to realise Divinity by cultivating love for God. It is only love that can bind God. Through such Divine Love, the oneness of God has to be realised. If the attributeless God has to be described, the description would be “One without a second, eternal, pure, unchanging, witness to all functions of the intellect, beyond one’s imagination and beyond the three conditions (gunas).” 

The best sadhana is to realise unity in Divinity and worship God as such. “To see the One in all you see.”

Words by Sri Sathya Sai Baba

[Shiva Image]

2013 Pradosham Dates, Arunachaa

Its clear to see from the regular photographs posted on Arunachala Grace of pradosham, that this auspicious time dedicated to Lord Shiva, which falls on the 13th day of every lunar fortnight, is attracting increasingly larger crowds to Arunachaleswarar Temple. To read about the significance of Pradosham go to this link here. 

Below are photographs of Pradosham observed on August 18, 2013 here at Tiruvannamalai. 

As this is such an auspicious time to visit Tiruvannamalai, below are the dates for upcoming 2013 Pradoshams. The dates below apply to India and IST, Pradosham dates in other countries may vary. 

[Pradosham which falls on Mondays is known as Soma Pradosham, on Tuesday are as Bhauma Pradosham and Pradosham which falls on Saturday is called Shani Pradosham]. 

Pradosham 2013 
September 2, 2013–Monday 
September 17, 2013–Tuesday 

October 2, 2013–Wednesday 
October 16, 2013–Wednesday 

November 1, 2013–Friday 
November 15, 2013–Friday 
November 30, 2013-Saturday 

December 14, 2013-Saturday 
December 30, 2013-Monday