Happy Pongal 2014

Wishing all readers of Arunachala Grace a most auspicious and joy-filled Pongal. 

To read more about Pongal -- the time of Sunny Celebrations, go to this link here.

Garuda Puja, 12 January, 2014

Last Sunday January 12, 2014, I attended a local community puja held at the Vishnu Temple on the side of the Samudram Eri. For many years pujas have been held at this time in celebration of our local nesting Brahminy Kites, a bird which is regarded as Garuda, the vahana (vehicle) of Lord Vishnu. 

Previously tables were set up in the fields near the nesting area, and the puja conducted there, however nowadays the puja is conducted most graciously in our small Vishnu Temple. 

Arumurgan distributing Temple prasad

Priest inside Shrine

Lord Vishnu

Coconut Grove

Brahminy Kite nesting in tree

Brahminy Kite, Vishnu vahana

Arunachala Darshan from Temple

Meals after Puja

Community Feast

I have written about Garuda Worship at Samudram Eri several times on Arunachala Grace, and those interested in learning more about the mythology of the Garuda and its worship in the form of the Brahminy Kite go to this link here.

To read my narrative about legendary birds in Hinduism including the Chataka (Pied Crested Cuckoo), the Hamsa (the Swan), the Chakor and Garuda go to this link here.

Garuda, Vehicle of Lord Vishnu

To learn more about the Brahminy Kite, the bird that is believed to be none other than the manifestation of Garuda, go to my Arunachala Bird blog at this link here.

Animal Sanctuary Homam, January 2014

Last week I attended a puja at the Arunachala Animal Sanctuary and Rescue Shelter. The Sanctuary is located very close to Ramana Ashram, and I urge all animal lovers to visit the Sanctuary during their stay at Tiruvannamalai. Their presence has led to a great improvement in animal care in this area and in particular dog numbers nowadays are managed by neutering operations rather than by the previous regular and inhumane methods of culling. The Tiruvannamalai community is grateful to the presence of this Sanctuary, which currently houses over 150 dogs, for its work with both domestic and farm animals.

 

Shelter at foot of Arunachala

Inside the Animal Sanctuary

Dr. Raju, senior Veterinary Doctor at Shelter

Dr. Kamala Pattu, Veterinary Doctor at Shelter

Permanent Altar at entrance of Shelter

Puja inside examination room, puppy below peeping in

Puja Table

Preparations for start of Homam at Shelter

Leslie Robinson, Shelter Founder and Vishwa, Shelter Manager

Homam at Shelter

January 10 -- Puja at Animal Shelter

If you are in Arunachala this coming Friday (January 10, 2014) at around 5.30 p.m. do come and attend the puja that will be performed at the Arunachala Animal Sanctuary and Rescue Centre about one kilometre west on the Chengham Road after Ramana Ashram.

I will be attending the puja and will post photographs of the event shortly thereafter. The Arunachala Animal Sanctuary and Rescue Centre does extraordinary work with animals, please visit their website at this link here to find out more about them.

Happy 2014 from Arunachala

BEST WISHES TO ALL READERS OF ARUNACHALA GRACE FOR A HAPPY AND WONDER-FILLED 2014.

The first photographs were taken on January 1, 2014. The first three at Arunachaleswarar Temple and the fourth photograph of the Goddess at Rajarajeshwari Temple on the Arunachala girivalam roadway. 

Goddess at Rajarajeshwari Temple

Rukku Gone on Holiday

On December 19, Rukku our 15 year old female elephant from Arunachaleswarar Temple started off from Arunachaleswar Temple in the back of a lorry on her way to her 48 day vacation. This is her fourth such vacation, and from all reports boarded the transport lorry very enthusiastically. 

Rukku having bath at Temple

This holiday is part of a yearly elephant rejuvenation camp started in 2003 at Mudumalai (Theppakadu) sanctuary by the Chief Minister J Jayalaitha. In 2012-13, the rejuvenation camp was shifted to Thekkampatty in Mettupalayam on the banks of Bhavani. 

As many as 43 elephants from Temples and Mutts and for the first time 55 elephants maintained by the Forest Department will participate in the camp to be held for 48 days. 

Our Rukku

Have a Wonder-filled Holiday sweet Rukku.

Arudra Darshanam Nataraja Abhishekam

A form of Siva is that of Lord 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 Siva 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.

Arudra denotes a red flame and Lord Siva has also a name called "Semporjyoti" or "Golden Red Flame," and thus Nataraja is the manifestation of Siva as a Light.

This Festival celebrates the cosmic dance of Lord Siva and is observed in the month of Marghazhi , on the day when the Arudra Star and the new moon coincides. This year the Festival fell on December 18, 2013. In this festival Abhishekam of Lord Nataraja takes place early in the morning and then He comes outside amongst his devotees.

Legends of Arudra Darshanam 

One time while Lord Vishnu was lying down on the serpent Adisesha, the serpent felt the Lord was very heavy. On asking the reason, Vishnu responded that he was remembering and enjoying the great dance of Lord Siva. 

A devotee of Lord Siva known as Viyagrapadha prayed to his Lord that he may attain the legs of a tiger so that he would be able to pluck flowers early in the morning for puja, before insects touched the flowers. He also prayed that he would receive darshan of the Lord in the form of Nataraja dancing the Cosmic dance. God appeared to the devotee on the day of Thiruvaadirai to grant the devotee his wish.

Special Puja, Arunachaleswarar Temple December 14, 2013

In the previous posting entitled: December 14, Arunachaleswarar Temple Pradosham, I posted photographs of Sani Maha Pradosham. Sani Pradosham, the Pradosham which falls on a Saturday, corresponds to the planet Saturn and to read an earlier posting giving information about its significance and relating the Legend of Sani Pradosham, go to this link here. 

In connection with this special day, in the early morning an elaborate puja; Kalasa Abhishekam, Gaja Puja and Maha Rudra Pua with Siva Achariyas chanting the Rudra Mantra was performed at Arunachaleswarar Temple. 

Young Siva Achariyas chanting the Sri Siva Rudra

Priests carrying the Kalasas (pots of sanctified water)

Ghee being poured on the Homam

Worshipping our lovely Rukku

December 14, Arunachaleswarar Temple Pradosham

The below photographs are of the December 14, 2013 pradosham observed at Arunachaleswarar Temple. Take a note of the ever increasing crowds of pilgrims attending the pradosham observances. 

Sri Ratu Peranda Visits Arunachaleswarar Temple

At the beginning of this month a group of 32 visitors from Indonesia spent about a week at Arunachala. The leader of the group was Ratu Peranda, Head of Hinduism in Indonesia. Many of those accompanying Ratu Peranda on his visit to Arunachala were coming here for the first time.

Ratu Peranda and Rukku

Ratu Peranda, Head of Hinduism in Indonesia

Soma Temple (creator of Aum Rudraksha Designs) and a devotee of Ratu Peranda and organisor for their visit got in touch with us here at Arunachala Grace for help in organising a trip to the Big Temple. That visit occurred on December 7th and included two beautiful abhishekams at the major Shrines of Arunachaleswarar Temple.

Group outside Mother Shrine after Puja

After the puja at the Shrine of Unnamulai, a senior Priest from the Temple adorned Ratu Peranda with a beautiful shawl and presented him with a laminated photograph of Arunachaleswarar Temple. All other members of the group were also presented individual prasadam packages from the Temple.

After Presentation to Ratu Peranda

Presentation of Prasad Packages to all Group

Ratu Peranda visiting from Indonesia

Group from Indonesia

Group performing Arunachala Girivalam

To learn more about the teachings of Ratu Peranda in English please visit 'Dharma Talks for the World' at this link here, and also for photographs his Facebook link here. 

Holy Christmas to All

Have many wonderful postings of Arunachala to make in the upcoming days, so please check back to read about Rukku’s (our Temple Elephant) vacation, photographs of the beautiful Natarajar Abishegam recently performed at Arunachaleswarar Temple, the visit of Ratu Peranda (Head of Hinduism, Indonesia) with devotees to Arunachala and the very special Ruthra Abishegam Kaja Puja performed on December 14, 2013 at the Big Temple. 

In the meantime wishing all readers a very Holy Christmas, and to while away those seasonal moments, please click on this link here to take you to three jigsaw puzzles of Arunachala Deepam 2013.