5 May 2014

Water Problem at Samudram Eri


Tamil Nadu is likely to face a severe water crisis in the next half century. According to experts, what will contribute to the crisis is the fast-depleting groundwater table, and the increasing pollution of water sources. The crisis in the making in Tamil Nadu would be as much about the quality of water available as its shrinking availability. Experts want Tamil Nadu to reduce its dependence on water from neighbouring States and formulate alternative plans. 

As well as the concern that many rivers are already badly polluted in the State, another area of concern is the general over-exploitation of groundwater. According to experts, too many farmers are cultivating water-intensive crops and are indiscriminately exploiting groundwater for irrigation, which has led to a steep fall in the water table. In this respect agriculture accounts for 85-90% of the total use of water in the State. Even by the judicious planting of less water intensive crops and gaining a 10% reduction in the agricultural sector, would considerably ease the impending water shortage situation. 

To read an excellent and comprehensive report on the Tamil Nadu water problem please go to this link here

Encouragingly at this time the Madras High Court has recently stayed 'in-stream' sand mining and mining using machinery at 18 quarry sites in Thanjavur, Tiruchirapalli and Karur districts. The Justices of the Bench while banning in-stream mining in their order, allowed that manual labourers could be used to mine the sand. 

It said the Tamil Nadu government, which had allowed four quarries to operate in March, should follow the Environment Ministry's guidelines in all quarries and not use machinery. It was pointed out that Kerala, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh governments were not allowing mining of sand with machines and had also banned in-stream mining. 

It is heartening that serious steps are being taken to address the water scarcity in Tamil Nadu. But it is important that we here in this Shiva Sthalam take the necessary steps to secure the future for ourselves and our community. 

Tiruvannamalai is a drought area, it has no river or natural water supply and depends almost entirely on the monsoon rains to replenish its ground water. Around the town of Tiruvannamalai are a number of reservoirs and holding tanks, of which the Samudram Eri is one of the largest and most important (approximately 750 acres). During the monsoon, water channels divert rain falling on the Hill into the Samudram, which very quickly turns into a deep lake. As is required the water being held in the natural reservoir is thereafter pumped into the town’s holding tanks. 

With the rapid urbanisation of Tiruvannamalai and fierce competition between developers, many of the channels diverting monsoon rain into the Samudram have been closed up. Water tanks have been filled in, so that land can be rezoned and sold by the parcel, trees have been cut down and vegetation destroyed. 

Government of India websites are supplying us with good information about how to combat desertification. View original narrative at this link here


Combating Desertification 

"Land degradation has far-reaching consequences that affect many realms of life, sometimes far away, but land is above all a powerful element of the solution to the major challenges of our time. The major process of land degradation is soil erosion (due to water and wind erosion), contributing to over 71% of the land degradation in the country. Soil erosion due to water alone contributes to about 61.7% and that by wind erosion 10.24%. The other processes include problems of water logging, salinity-alkalinity. 

Land degradation results in soil erosion, decline in water table, reduced agricultural productivity, loss of bio-diversity, decline in groundwater and availability of water in the affected regions. All these affect the lives and livelihoods of the populations, often eventually precipitating forced migration and socio-economic conflicts. 

Unsustainable resource management practices are often induced by population pressures and poverty. People affected by desertification often need to draw on their limited assets in order to survive, which accentuates their poverty. This constitutes a vicious cycle linking deteriorating natural resources to deteriorating livelihoods as people need to encroach further on fragile soils, sparse vegetation and limited water resources to meet their basic needs for food, shelter and livelihood. 

As per the Desertification and Land Degradation Atlas of India published by the Space Application Centre in 2007, about 32.07 % of the land is undergoing various forms of degradation and 25% of the geographical area is affected by desertification. About 69% of the country’s lands are dry lands and degradation of these lands has severe implications for the livelihood and food security of millions."


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However it seems that in Tiruvannamalai, we are doing everything in our power not to combat desertification but to accelerate it. 

In this narrative, “Water Problem at Samudram Eri” I have posted “before” (around 2011) and “after” photographs of the current condition of our major water reservoir, the Samudram Eri where industrial level sand quarrying continues often for 24 hours a day with a plethora of heavy machinery. 



2011 and Before

Samudram Eri in dry season

Open area used extensively for grazing livestock

Samudram at beginning of rains

Thorny trees primary vegetation, can survive easily in flooded lake

Pristine Samudram beautiful homage to Arunachala



Current. April 2014


Samudram being mined by a plethora of heavy machinery

Already the area is looking like moon craters

This is the major water reservoir for Tiruvannamalai -- what could possibly go wrong?

Appropriate for 2014, Homage of capitalism and materialism to Arunachala!!!


For many years I lived in a “dry” house (i.e. one that had no independent source of water) so I am aware of the complications in not having water "on tap". What is currently occuring at the Samudram Eri is disturbing. What needs to happen is:


(1) STOP immediately all sand quarrying. 
(2) Reopen old water channels from Arunachala to the reservoir 
(3) Desilt and clean existing water channels 
(4) Plant trees and curb the further cutting of existing trees around the Eri Bund. 
(5) Ban the closing up of agricultural water tanks in the area around the Eri. 
(6) Increase vegetation around the Eri. 

4 May 2014

2014 Chittarai Vasantha Ursavam Invitation


Arulmigu Arunachaleswarar Temple Tiruvannamalai 
Chittarai Vasantha Ursavam 
Invitation for May 3, 2014 Saturday to May 12, 2014 Monday 



Vasantha Utsavam is a ten days festival depicting the blossoming of love between Lord Shiva and the Goddess. 


Festival Programme



Day 1: 03.05.2014 Saturday Night Special Puja and Abhishekam 
Day 2: 04.05.2014 Sunday Night Special Puja and Abhishekam 
Day 3: 05.05.2014 Monday Night Special Puja and Abhishekam 
Day 4: 06.05.2014 Tuesday Night Special Puja and Abhishekam 
Day 5: 07.05.2014 Wednesday Night Special Puja and Abhishekam 
Day 6: 08.05.2014 Thursday Night Special Puja and Abhishekam 
Day 7: 09.05.2014 Friday Night Special Puja and Abhishekam 
Day 8: 10.05.2014 Saturday Night Special Puja and Abhishekam 
Day 9: 11.05.2014 Sunday Night Special Puja and Abhishekam 

Day 10: 12.05.2014 Monday 
Morning: Bath at Ayyankulam Tank (Outside Arunagirinathar Temple) 
Evening: Special Puja and Abhishekam at Gopal Vinayaka Temple (near State Bank of India) 
Night: Around 10.00 p.m. at Flagpost, Siva Sannidhi, Arunachaleswarar Temple. Manmathan Dhaganam Function with crackers and fireworks 


Each day during the above function there will be a feeding at Arunachaleswarar Temple. If devotees wish to donate, Rs.6,000/- pays for the feeding of 300 pilgrims per day. 


For devotees that wish to pull the Golden Radham (chariot) around the Temple Prakaram, a donation of Rs.1,500/- is suggested. 


Temple Office details for donations: 

Office 
Arulmigu Arunachaleswarar Temple, 
Tiruvannamalai, Tamil Nadu 606601 
Landline:  (0)4175-252438 

Lord Muneswarar, Nallavanpallayam


Lord Muneswarar, who is popular throughout Tamil Nadu, is considered to be a form of Shiva and is worshipped as a family deity in many Shaivite homes. His Temples and Shrines are set in village groves where he presides as protector of the community. He can be viewed as either a fierce God or a peaceful God and his Shrines generally incorporate the worship of Shakti. 


Arunachala darshan from Shrine

There are several Muneswarar Shrines at Arunachala, a major one being near Adi Annamalai near the Vayu Lingam. The photographs below are of a well attended revered, powerful Shrine set in a grove at Nallavanpallyam at the back of the Samudram Eri. 


Shrine set on hillock in Grove

The origin of Lord Muneswarar goes something like this: Sati who was the youngest daughter of the chief of the Gods, Daksha, loved Lord Shiva from her earliest childhood. In the Swayamvara ceremony of the young girl which had been arranged to find her a husband, all the Gods and Princes were invited except Shiva. Sati threw her flower garland into the air calling upon her Lord to receive it; immediately Shiva appeared with the garland around his neck. Reluctantly Daksha, Sati’s father, allowed the marriage to take place. 


Fierce aspect of the manifestation

When a great horse sacrifice was arranged by Daksha again all were invited except for Lord Shiva. His bride Sati suffering from the intense humiliation of such an insulting omission, released her inner fire and fell down dead. 



Lord Muneswarar



Enraged Shiva tore from his head a lock of hair and cast it upon the earth, Virabhadra sprang from it. The Lord directed VÄ«rabhadra: "Lead my army against Daksha and destroy his sacrifice,” Legend has it that in order to protect innocent souls, Shiva created Muneswarar who was possessed of seven qualities. As Muneswarar is representative of various incarnations, devotees believe that with his blessings they can achieve bliss and good health in life. 


Shakti aspect represented at Shrine

25 April 2014

Reading of the Panchangam 2014


One very important aspect of the Tamil New Year (celebrated April 14) is the reading of the Panchangam at Arunachala’s main Temple, Arunachaleswarar Kovil. 

It is the Panchangam which is referred to when setting the dates of certain Festivals and Functions as it indicates (to one who knows how to read it) the right time to do certain things and also the time to avoid certain bad celestial aspects. 


The Panchangam, April 14, 2014

Arunachaleswarar Temple, April 14, 2014

6 a.m. at Arunachala


To avoid the fierce heat of the day, I take my dogs out for their daily jaunt early each morning. The below photographs were taken around 6 a.m. Most early mornings, there is a beautiful ethereal haze surrounding the top of Arunachala.


Arunachala Darshan through Haze

Early morning haze. Temple Gopurams right of Hill

Spur of Arunachala with Lord Murugan Shrine 

Close view of rock formation on Spur with shrine set further back


Even though Arunachala is known primarily for its association with Lord Siva, other Gods are also worshipped at this place. As mentioned in my recent post Panguin Uthiram -- Celestial Wedding at Arunachala, during this time the Wedding of the Gods is celebrated. At the top of an Arunachala Hill Spur (at Rajiv Gandhi Nagar near Sri Nannagaru Ashram), is a lovely Shrine dedicated to Lord Murugan at which the Celestial Wedding of Lord Murugan was celebrated during the recent Festival. 

The Shrine during Festival this year was visited by a large number of Murugan devotees, and from a distance during the nights of the celebration the Shrine at the top of the spur was beautifully lit up. If you ever want to have a nice view of the surrounding area and are not up to climbing to the top of Arunachala, one gets very nice darshan from the top of this Hill spur while also benefiting from a visit to the sweet Lord Murugan Temple 


Abandoned Horse and Rescue


One morning last week while walking my dogs, I noticed a horse tied up in a field. As the horse looked in good condition, I didn't think too much about it. However in the early evening when taking my doggies out again, I noticed the horse tied in the exact same place in the field. As my doggies were very excited seeing a horse, I didn't try to get too close to the creature. But the next morning decided that if the horse was still in the field I would investigate more closely.

There was no water or food anywhere near the young horse so went to my house to collect a bucket of water, fruits and vegetables. It must have been some time since he had been given water, because he got through the water bucket in no time flat. Its difficult to understand the mentality of people that abuse animals and in this case you wonder whether the owner is evil or just plain stupid. Here is a young horse tied up in an open field just twenty feet away from the cover of several cooling trees, but the owner has chosen to tie up the horse in a spot with no shade or water. Nowadays the average midday temperature is around 103 degrees fahrenheit, so the days it spent neglected in the field must have been torture for the creature.


Beautiful young horse, helplessly tied up on open land
Several cooling trees only twenty feet away
Lovely young horse
Finally water and food . . . its been a long time!


I have talked with Leslie Robinson founder of the Arunachala Animal Sanctuary and Rescue Centre a number of times on the changing consciousness in Tiruvannamalai towards animals. Previous to the establishment of the Animal Shelter, dogs would be regularly culled throughout the area and their bodies thrown onto the back of a cart. From what I understand the labourers working on the cull, were paid per carcass. Through unremitting pressure from the Shelter the regular dog culls were stopped and the Animal Shelter took responsibility for maintaining a manageable number of dogs in the area by offering free dog sterlisation.

Nowadays locals seem to have become more sensitive to suffering animals and you often see wounded or abandoned creatures brought into the Animal Shelter by strangers. Previously there was no-one to call for help, but now in the case of emergencies the Arunachala Animal Shelter is always ready to give their support.

In the case of the lovely neglected horse, he is now living happily at the Arunachala Animal Shelter and enjoying the comfort of good food and water, lots of shady trees and the company of a bunch of friendly dogs residing at the Sanctuary. 


Getting lots of love at the Shelter

Cool, fed safe and with friends. Nice.


It is hoped that if anybody visits the shelter to claim the young horse as their own that they can give a full explanation of why the helpless creature was left for days without food, water or shelter and tied up in an open field under the remorseless heat of a Summer's sun. 

Check out the Tiruvannamalai Animal Shelter at their website here and their emergency contact numbers below.


14 April 2014

Puthandu 2014 -- Tamil New Year


This morning at 5.00 a.m. friends and I visited the much loved Rajarajeshwari Temple off the Girivalam Roadway  to attend abhishekam puja. A perfect way to celebrate Puthandu -- Tamil New Year, which falls today April 14, 2014. 



Goddess Rajarajeshwari at Arunachala



The Goddess


WISHING ALL READERS A JOYOUS AND PEACE-FILLED 2014 FROM THE GODDESS AT ARUNACHALA 


Panguin Uthiram -- Celestial Wedding at Arunachala


The first day of Panguni Uthiram which was celebrated at Arunachaleswarar Temple yesterday (Sunday April 13, 20134) is known as the time of celebration of the Celestial Wedding of Lord Siva and Goddess Parvathi. 

The below photographs celebrated the following programme:- 

Evening 6.00 p.m. At Amman flag post Arunachaleswarar came in procession and there was performed the exchanging of garlands. 

8.00 p.m. Arunachaleswarar and Parashakti after exchanging garlands moved to the Thirukalyanam Mandapam. 

11.00 p.m. Thirukalyanam Mandapam, the Thirukalyanam Festival occurred.




Exchanging of Garlands

Exchange occuring in front of Unnamulaiamman Temple

Exchange occurring late Sunday night







Inside the Thirukalyana Mandapam for Marriage Function




Sani Pradosham April 12, 2014 -- Big Temple


The last few days at Arunachala have been full of functions and festivities occurring in both Lord Siva and Lord Murugan Temples. Arunachaleswarar Temple has been packed with devotees enjoying the various programmes and even now crowds are pouring into Tiruvannamalai to perform what will be a very BUSY Arunachala girivalam this evening. 

The below photographs are a pictorial representation of the April 12, 2014 Sani Pradosham which took place at the Big Temple. 















12 April 2014

Tetrad Pheonomenon


Girivalam during the full moon (Poornima) at Arunachala this coming week (April 14) will be even more special because of the unusual and rare phenomenon which is known as Tetrad. The moon itself will be what is known as Blood Red because the light bouncing off the moon is refracted through the Earth’s atmosphere giving it a coppery hue. 


Blood Moon


To read more about the Tetrad phenomenon, visit Arunachala Mystic at this link here.


Hundial Count March Poornima



Below are two photographs of March Poornima Hundial money count at Arunachaleswarar Temple. 








10 April 2014

Panguni Utthiram – Thirukalyanam Festival


Panguni Uthiram is celebrated during Panguni Month (March-April) during Uthiram Nakshatra day. In 2014 Panguni Uthiram date is April 13. Panguni is special because of the coming together of the star Uthiram and Pournami (April 14, 2014). 

Panguni Uthiram (Falgun Purnima) full moon day is known as the time of celebration of the Celestial Wedding of Lord Siva and Goddess Parvathi; Lord Muruga and His consort Goddess Devayani and Lord Vishnu and His consort Goddess Andal. This day also celebrates the divine wedding day of Lord Rama and the Goddess Sita. 

This celebration of Divine marriage also emphasises the protection of marital life from separation. It is believed that offering prayers to God at this time will give good mental equilibrium to couples and bestow them with strength, love, affection and understanding. 



Arulmigu Arunachaleswarar Temple, Thiruvannamalai 
Panguni Utthiram – Thirukalyanam Festival 
Invitation Sunday 13th April, 2014 Friday 18th April, 2014 





Schedule of Festival on first day Sunday 13th April, 2014 

At 11.45 a.m. in the Garbagraha of Annamalaiyar Temple and Unnamulai Temple Marriage Festival. 

Evening 6.00 p.m. At Amman flag post Arunachaleswarar will come in procession and the exchanging of garlands will occur. 

8.00 p.m. Arunachaleswarar and Parashakti after exchanging garlands both move to the Thirukalyanam Mandapam. 

11.00 p.m. at Thirukalyanam Mandapam, the Thirukalyanam Festival will occur. 

12.00 p.m. Lord Arunachaleswarar with Goddess Ambal will come out on the Rishaba (bull) Chariot procession. 


After that daily, the Panguni Festival will occur. Everyone is invited. 





Schedule of Festival from Monday April 14th, 2014 to Friday April 18th, 2014 

Monday April 14, 2014: Night 8.00 p.m. Swami Annamalaiyar travels in procession to Eilnathur Village to have feast food celebrating the marriage. 

Tuesday April 15th, 2014: Night at the Thirukalyanam Mandapam, the Nalagu Festival will occur. (The giving of saris and bangles to married ladies). 

Wednesday April 16th, 2014 Evening at Thirukalyanam Mandapam, there will be the Ungal (swing) Festival 

Thursday April 17th, 2014 at Thirukalyanam Mandapam special homam takes place in morning Evening there will be Ungal Urcharvam. 

Friday April 18th, 2014: At Midday Lord Shiva, Goddess Ambal will visit Thamari Nagar Tank and on their return stop at Kumara Kovil Temple for special arthi. 

Nighttime: Music function and procession at Arunachaleswarar Temple as part of marriage celebrations. 


20 March 2014

Sri Ramana Reminiscences


A very interesting book entitled, “Face to Face with Sri Ramana Maharshi,” was released in 2011 which is full of anecdotes and reminiscences of devotees of the Maharshi. A large number of passages in the book give fresh perspectives of the Sage and his interaction with devotees. 

The first of the below quoted passages describes the example of Maharshi’s own life by way of inculcating simple rules of sattwic living to his devotees:-

 
In Bhagavan’s daily life one noticed personal cleanliness, tidiness of dress, habitual wearing of vibhuti and kumkum on the forehead; equal sharing of all enjoyment with those around him strict adherence to a time schedule; performing useful work however ‘low’ it may be; never leaving a work unfinished; the pursuit of perfection in every action; incessant activity except while sleeping or resting after a spell of hard work; never considering oneself superior to others; speaking the truth always, or strict silence if the expression of truth would hurt or lower the reputation of others; perfect self-help; never asking another to do a piece of work which can be done by oneself; taking full responsibility for failure if any, without shifting the blame on others; accepting success or failure with equanimity; never disturbing the peace of others; leaving the leaf plate clean after eating; complete non-interference in the affairs of others; never worrying about the future. These are the lessons Sri Ramana taught by example to his devotees. 

(By Professor Aiyer—p.139 
Face to Face with Sri Ramana Maharshi) 



Ramana Maharshi on Arunachala


The second passage taken from the book Face to Face with Sri Ramana Maharshi, encapsulates some of Bhagavan’s spiritual instructions to his close devotee M.G. Shanmukam:-


During my 24 years of personal association with Bhagavan, I found that he seldom preached elaborately. He would give hints which keen seekers had to absorb carefully. He once said categorically, practising atma vichara everyday is auspicious. All other sadhanas require external objects and congenial environment, but for atma vichara nothing external to oneself is required. Turning the mind within is all that is necessary. While one is engaged in atma vichara one can attend to other activities also

. . . . . 

Some of Bhagavan’s personal instructions to me were: 

(i) If you observe the breathing one-pointedly, such attention will lead you into kumbhaka (retention), which is jnana pranayama. 

(ii) The more you humble yourself, the better it is for you. 

(iii) You should look upon the world only as a dream. 

(iv) Except attending to the duty-work in life, the rest of the time should be spent in atma nishta (absorption in the Self). 

(v) Do not cause slightest hindrance or disturbance to others. 

(vi) Do all your work yourself. 

(vii) Both likes and dislikes should be discarded and eschewed. 

(viii) With attention focused on the first person and on the heart within, one should relentlessly practice, ‘Who am I?’ During such practice, the mind might suddenly spring up; so you have vigilantly pursue the vichara, ‘Who am I?” 

(By M.G. Shanmukam—p.362 
Face to Face with Sri Ramana Maharshi) 

18 March 2014

March 2014 Arunachala Poornima


The below three photographs were taken during the recently completed March 2014 Arunachala Poornima. Even though it has begun to get hot in these parts, large crowds patiently waited inside the Arunachaleswarar Temple in order to take darshan of the Gods. 


East Side of Temple outside Mandapam off Car Street



Large crowds patiently waiting for chance to take darshan




Outside the Shiva Sannidhi during March 2014 Poornima


The information on Girivalam on my website Arunachala Samudra has been updated, and to plan your visit to Tiruvannamalai, visit this link here, to find out about road distances, road routes, train schedules, current and long range weather forecasts and to view the full moon calendar for 2014. 


13 March 2014

Ramana Hymns Chanting


To those who like chanting the Ramana Hymns in Tamil (as occurs in the evenings in the Ramana Ashram Samadhi Hall here at Tiruvannamalai) please check Arunachala Samudra website at this link here to chant in Tamil the below Ramana Hymns. 


Chanting at Ramana Maharshi Ashram


Tamil transliteration and the English meaning is given for each hymn: Arunachala Akshara Mani Malai, Arunachala Padikam, Arunachala Navamanimalai, Arunachala Ashtakam and Arunachala Pacharatna



Ladies side at Samadhi Hall, Ramana Ashram


In the same section on Arunachala Samudra at this link here there is a beautiful audio of the 108 names of Shiva with transliteration and English meaning for simultaneous chanting.