Merchants

As is always the case around Indian Temples, merchants set up stalls and small shops to sell their wares. These particular merchants are selling bangles, sacred threads and different sorts of puja miscellaneous.

Rickshaws

Action is finally being taken to regulate the autorickshaw trade. Unlike cities such as Chennai, Tiruvannamalai rickshaws neither use meters to standardize fares or comply properly with regulations regarding overloading.

However, this Friday, August 11, 52 auto rickshaws were booked near the Easanya Lingam (east side) in Tiruvannamalai for overloading vehicles with excessive numbers of school children on their way to school.

Auto rickshaws are designed for a maximum of three (small size) passengers at the back of the vehicle with the driver sitting solo in the front. But in many cases drivers have been ferrying children to school mornings and evenings cramming over 20 kids willy-nilly into the vehicle.

Fortunately authorities have now decided this perilous situation needs to be addressed and have started to take the necessary steps to ensure the safety and well being of local school kids.

Next let us hope the authorities start insisting drivers install and USE meters thereby standardizing fares!

Massage Therapist

This is Suresh Raj with his lovely wife and young child, Jacob. He met his wife in Chennai at a Pentecost Church and they made a love marriage (that means not an arranged marriage) in August, 2005. Suresh is the only ayurvedic massage specialist in the Arunachala area, and consequently much sought after. He specialises in blood circulation and nerve and spine massages.

He says Ayurvedic Massage is mainly concerned with spine work and thus very helpful in cutting paranoia and fear. It helps the body to revitalise and energetically feel better. Suresh believes the energy field at Arunachala (like Lei Lines) is conducive to Ayurvedic Massage.

He is so sensitive that when he touches people he can immediately tell if the client is bad or troubled, as it affects his own breathing by making him short of breath. Of course I just had to ask Suresh Raj whether most of the clients who come to him at Tiruvannamalai are good, adjusted people? Happily (or diplomatically?) he answered, Yes!

I Love Cricket

Well, whatever else happens in India, there never seems to be a diminution of love for that game cricket! This photograph is of playing fields adjacent to the Government Arts College on the Chengam Road. The area is used as a public thoroughfare and of course the ideal spot for lots of lads to get in a quick game of cricket after school. The background of this particular game is rather more spectacular than most sporting venues!

Red Flowers

If one worships the Lord of Aruna with red flowers on Sunday he will prosper and gain sovereignty.

Monkey Games

Two types of monkeys live at Arunachala. The less frequently seen is the Langur, and the more common is the Bonnet Macaque (pictured above).

Most of the Bonnet Macaques are socialised and the females and young uns will even take food directly from people. They are smart, inquisitive and seem to have a cheeky sense of humour! There are still some Macaque colonies on different parts of the Hill, but other groups have found life as scavengers on the pradakshina path and in town, much more to their liking.

Bonnet Macaque monkeys are also very mischievous and seem able to find trouble wherever they go! One day I watched a group of them tease some peacocks quite mercilessly; they just would not leave them alone. Eventually a peacock would have enough and take a flying leap into a nearby tree with its long tail fanning out behind; invariably one of the monkeys would jump up and grab some tail feathers as a trophy!

Obviously the peacocks weren't that distressed because they kept coming down from the trees and the whole game started up again! It all seemed like serious family rough-and-tumble!

Hidden Glory

. . . when I was living in the Virupaksha Cave, I closed my eyes. I felt I was walking on the Hill itself towards the north-east. I saw at one place a nice flower garden, a big temple, a fine compound wall and a big Nandi. There was a strange light. It was extremely pleasant. As I was looking at all these, it was time for Puja. The bell was rung and immediately after that I opened by eyes.

Sri Ramana Maharshi
Letters from Sri Ramanashramam by Suri Nagamma

Mahans

Photograph above of the Temple in Palani (Lord Muruga Temple, Tamil Nadu) which fulfills ones prayer and a visit to Vaitheeswaran Temple (Lord Siva Temple, Tamil Nadu) cures all kinds of diseases.

Similarly, today many undertake pilgrimages to Ayodhya the birthplace of Lord Rama, Mathura the birthplace of Lord Krishna and Kaladi, the birthplace of Adi Sankara. The birthplace of a Mahan, the place where he lived, and everything connected with him, all become pure and holy. Mahatmas purify the whole world by their actions and very Presence.

If these above mentioned places are Holy then what to speak of the glory of Tiruvannamalai?

Vallala Maharaja

There once lived a King, Vallala Maharaja, who was deeply devoted to Lord Arunachaleswara and renovated and built a huge tower in Arunachaleswarar Temple called Vallala Maharaja Gopuram. As the King was heirless he prayed to Lord Shiva for a son. The Lord said that He (the Lord) would Himself be his son. True to His word, the Lord performed the death rites for this King as one of the duties of a son is to perform annual sraddha (death) services for the deceased father.

Even today after 600 years, on every Masi Makha (the Tamil month Masi when the star Makha is on the ascent) the anniversary of the day of the death of the King, the Lord (i.e. Lord Arunachaleswarar Temple) performs the annual sraddha (death) rites for the King!

The tradition of the Lord (murti) going to the nearby village Pallikondanpattu to perform the annual death rites is followed scrupulously by Arunachaleswarar Temple. This goes to show the glory of Lord Arunachaleswara is also the glory of the Temple.

Note: This is the direct entrance and exit between the Fifth and Fourth Prakarams. The Vallala Maharaja Gopuram was built between 1318(AD) and 1343(AD).

Local Museum

The State and Local administration have allocated a total of Rs.15 Lakhs to the development of a Museum at Tiruvannamalai. The buildings, currently under construction, will be situated on Chengam Road (near Ramana Ashram).

At the beginning the Museum will be comprised of three blocks; namely historical, biological and zoological sections. But depending on availability of exhibits, these classifications may be later adjusted.

The District Collector of Tiruvannamalai, Sathyabratha Sahoo said:

Tiruvannamalai is famous for hills and temples. We can display various historical evidences relating to the monuments along with the descriptions. We have many excavated objects from Chengam Taluk, which can also be placed.

Rare species of plants available in the district can also be displayed in the museum.

We are planning to run the museum either with the help of municipal staff, self-help groups or NGOs. (non-governmental organisations).

Behave!

Arunachala is a place singularly earmarked for the righteous among Shiva devotees. Those who enter the place with wicked ideas will be plagued by many diseases.

Direction

The direction of circumambulation depends on religion: Tibetan Buddhists go clock-wise while followers of Bon-Po religion go counter-clockwise. The same holds true of encircling a stupa (Buddhist hemispheric building), a chorten or setting in motion the revolving wheels, symbol of rotation and setting in motion the forces of the universal and moral law. Direction thus seems to hold an important role in many religions and this is reflected in pilgrimages. In Tibetan Buddhism as in Yogic traditions the clock wise motion is the direction of evolution.

It is enjoined by the Puranas and Saints that giripradakshina of Arunachala should ALWAYS be performed in a clockwise direction. Sadhakas are also advised to only walk on the left hand side of the road, leaving the right hand side free for the movement of departed spirits and ghosts.

Newsletter

For your convenience I have included a subscribe facility to Arunachala Grace Newsletter in the left hand column of this Blog (under the Email Button). This free Newsletter e-zine is monthly and comes via your email address. To let you have a look at a Newsletter I'm including a link in this post which will take you to a copy of the August issue of Arunachala Grace News.

www.mynewsletterbuilder.com/home/published.php?action=view&newsletter_id=1409573758

Over and Over

Walking around Arunachala is not the only way to perform pradakshina. Here this earnest sadhu is rolling his way around. A slow and very painful process which will usually be taken slowly, stretching over 2-3 days with multiple stops for rest and recovery.

This is not an uncommon sight and usually associated with the observance of a vow. One will see both women and men undertaking such tapas. But one thing is essential and that is traffic protection assistance!

Sometimes highly esteemed or rich folk have a whole posse of people in their retinue - and the lucky ones will even have taken the precaution of having a person preceding the 'roller' cleaning the roadways of gravel and bits of stone.

Ramana Report

Sri Ramana Maharshi on many occasions reported on the extraordinary happenings on and inside the Hill. In the book, Letters from Sri Ramanashramam by Suri Nagamma, some of these conversations are reported in great detail:

Recently (c.1949) when the Temple in Adi Annamalai was renovated, it was reported that in the Sanctum Sanctorum of the Temple a large tunnel was found,and when people tried to find out its extent they saw that it was extending to the very centre of the Hill. As they could not go in very far, they came back. I therefore thought that that which had occurred to me and that which is in the Purana appeared to be true, and that the tunnel was the way to the place I had seen.

It is reported that Siddha Purushas come from the cave inside to the Temple through the tunnel night after night and go back after worshipping Iswara. Why so far? Recently, something like that was seen even here. I was going on to the hill as usual when, as I was getting near the steps over there, a big city appeared before me. There were huge buildings of several varieties; well-laid thoroughfares; good lighting; and it appeared to be a great city. At one place, a meeting was being held. Chadwick was with me. He was even saying, Bhagavan, all this is so self-evident. Who will believe if we say this is all a dream! Everything appeared as if it was actually happening . . .

In tune with Nature

When the Goddess Parvati performed protracted penance at Arunachala it was said that strange things were witnessed. She was a manifestation of peace and effulgence and emanated an aura in harmony with nature. Clouds would only bring timely rains, trees and plants were full of fruits and flowers. Wild animals notorious for their born enmity lived together in harmony and man finished with the torture and killing of animals. In that idyllic place created by the tapas of the Goddess Parvati ALL FEAR HAD FLED.

Sri Ganesha

All around the outer Arunachala pradakshina road are well-maintained shrines and statues of Gods, Snakehills, Wishfulfilling Trees and Tanks.

Here is a very nicely adorned Ganesha on the outer pathway.

Animal Clinic

On June 30th, 2006 the Municipal Council gave the free use (for five years) of land and existing structure on the Chengam Road to the Karuna Society for Animals and Nature (Tiruvannamalai Branch). Mrs. Maneka Gandhi, Honorary Chairman and Clementien Pauws, Founder.

The area of land is approximately 11,000 sq feet and the building upon it 1,200 sq feet. Currently work is underway to renovate the existing structure and add additional ones.

When complete the facility will be comprised of: Clinic, pre-operating room, sterile operating room, post recovery area, convalescent area and isolation area. The additional structures will include kitchen, office and animal restraining area.

As well as the above the Municipality has also agreed to provide the Society with permanent use of a lorry (with fuel), driver and two dog catchers.

Once set up, the Clinic will offer free sterlisations to both male and female dogs but to begin with the emphasis will be sterlising female dogs.

Banyan Tree

On the northern peak of Arunachala a certain banyan tree is seen, at the root of which stays Mahesvara perpetually in the guise of a Siddha.

Its shade is very extensive and is always circular in shape. It is always seen by Devas and human beings overwhelmed with surprise.

It shines splendidly on being served by eight Lingas all round, worshipped by the eight Guardians of the Quarters and stationed in the eight directions.

[Skanda Purana]

Tiruvannamalai

It is stated that Arunachala is the one kshetra where the Hill, the Temple deity and the town all bear the same name. The name in Tamil is Annamalai, which means the mount which is beyond all reach, not even Lord Vishnu and Lord Brahma could reach either its top or bottom, according to the Skanda Purana.

The name Annamalai has now become Tiruvannamalai. The prefix Tiru means Sri i.e. blessed auspiciousness.