Electrical Problems?

If you are experiencing computer difficulties - it could be due to an electrical crossed line!

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Chavin De Huantar

A regular reader of Arunachala Grace, S. Damodharan sent us the following information which will be of interest to all Arunachala devotees.

"In his book of reminiscences Sadhu Arunachala (Major Chadwick) mentions that Bhagwan was so sure that the Holy hill had its other end at the exact opposite spot on the earth and in fact asked for an Atlas brought to verify the lattitude and longitude at the other end. The exact spot was in the sea to the West of Peru and apparently there was no hill. The matter was dropped there. After the demise of Shree Bhagwan the Sadhu learns that there was a secret spot in Andes where somekind of spiritual worship was done. No mention of the exact place and there was no follow up.

Recently, while viewing the Holy hill in Google Earth by a sudden inspiration I checked the opposite point of the Hill. (The Hill is 79' 03" degrees East and 12' 13" North) Though the exact opposite point lies west of Peru in the Sea as described in the book, I came across another spot close by called "Chavin de Huantar" which is also a hill located at 77' 13" West and 9' 33" South, a difference of 2 to 3 degrees on either side.But the real interesting information is a look at the hill of Chavin de huantar.

I attach the Wikipedia image of the hill. See for yourself and come to your own conclusions. I shall be glad if interested people can through more light."

[S. Damodharan]

Place your LIFE

"Place your LIFE
at the feet of the Lord of the Universe
who accomplishes everything.
Remain all the time steadfast in the heart,
in the Transcendental Absolute.
God knows the past, present and future.
He will determine the future for you
and accomplish the work.
What is to be done will be done
at the proper time. Don’t worry.
Abide in the heart and surrender your acts
to the divine."

[Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi]

Sri Nannagaru Visit

Yesterday, 16th June, Sri Nannagaru arrived at his Ashram, Sri Nannagaru Ashram, Rajiv Gandhi Nagar, Tiruvannamalai for a ten-day visit. While here he will be available to devotees and pilgrims. Early morning is a favourite time for some of Swami's devotees, and he generally gives a long darshan in the early mornings around 6 a.m.

I hadn't visited Sri Nannagaru Ashram since Swamiji's last visit, so the new structure covering the roof came as a very nice surprise - definitely feel nervous about bamboo roofs since my own flew off during gale force winds a couple of months ago!

Very nice job too, and also much more comfortable in times of rain and inclement weather.

The below photographs is of Sri Nannagaru with a photograph of his Guru, Sri Ramana Maharshi, in the background.



After a long time sitting, Swami wandered about the roof looking at Arunachala.

To find out more about this Advaitic Master, please check out his website at this link. I have also made many earlier postings on Swamiji, which you can access through the new 'search box' at the top left hand column of this page.

More information on Swami's visit to come.

Sri Matrubhuteswarar Mahapuja

Today I visited Ramana Ashram to attend part of the celebratory Sri Matrubhuteswarar Mahapuja, commemorating the mukti (Liberation) of Sri Bhagavan’s mother Alagamma. It was observed at the Ashram today, Thursday, May 29th and according to the Hindu Calendar corresponds with Vaishaka Bahula Navami. Special abhishekam and puja to Sri Matrubhuteswara Lingam over the Mother’s Samadhi was performed. On the evening of the previous day, a Classical Carnatic style Ramana Music by Dr. Ambika and Dr. Sarada was performed.

Most of my photographs were taken after the occasion, when the crowds of devotees had decreased. To view the official Ramana Ashram photographs of both the musical evening and the puja, go to this link. To watch an official video of the puja, click here.

After a very delicious prasad lunch at the Ashram, I had a nice stroll of the beautifully maintained Ashram grounds. Of particular interest was a visit to the well (outside the samadhi hall) to see how the fishy inhabitants are doing.

In the below photograph, at the left is the Ashram kitchen where they cook all the delicious Ashram food, and to the right is a dormitory for longterm male sadhakas. At the background you can just see the tip of Arunachala peeping out from behind the trees.



In the next two photographs separate pictures of two different peacocks.

And then a walk around some more of the Ashram grounds.

The below yellow house, is the place Sri Ramana Maharshi attained mahanirvana in the evening of April 14th, 1950. You can peep in through the glass door of the mahanirvana house and see various artifacts used by Bhagavan during his life.

New Videos Posted

Thought it would be a good idea to update the vodpod at the bottom left hand margin of this page. So, have deleted the old videos and in their place now have:

1) Angel by Enya - which is very beautiful, soothing, inspirational song by a Celtic singer. The lyrics of the song are in a scroll immediately over the Video Pod.

2) Ramana Maharshi Rare Video - is the second video on the Vodpod. It has footage of Sri Ramana that I have never seen before. Probably one of the nicest video compilations I have seen of Bhagavan.

3) Chariots of Fire - The beautiful, inspirational theme song of a very old movie called Chariots of Fire which is about courage and dedication to one's beliefs. ''But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and be not weary; and they shall walk, and not faint." The composer of the music is a Greek man, and in this clipping he is the person playing the electronic piano in a wonderful Grecian setting.

4) India My Love - A music clip of the song "India My Love" by Shantam Arjun, with images of Arunachala. Its definitely one of the nicest musical videos I have seen of Arunachala - except for the part with the bullock!

Newsletter, June -- 2008

Yesterday, Arunachala Grace News for June, 2008 was sent out direct to subscribers' email inboxes. This month there is an extract from the Arunachala Mahatmyam, talking about the nature and glory of the Hill, Arunachala Tidbits full of local news and information about whats happening in the area, a short story about God's Will, poems and inspirational quotes. This month, information is given about the Drongo, a commonly found bird of this area and the properties and uses of the Papaya (which curiously enough is not indigenous and was actually brought in from Mexico). To become a free subscriber to the Newsletter please use the subscribe facility at the left margin of this page, and you will be sent a copy of the current issue.

Eucalyptus Cultivation

I have recently made several postings on the Eucalyptus Tree and its cultivation in the Tiruvannamalai District. There is no doubt that the Eucalyptus is a fantastic tree with a host of ayurvedic properties and benefits – but perhaps it would have been better to have left the tree in its native Australia and Tasmania. Already there are several Eucalyptus plantations around Samudram Lake, (south of the Hill) which is probably not a good decision considering severe water shortages often experienced in this area.

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"The recent move of the Tamil Nadu Forest Department to reintroduce large-scale cultivation of Eucalyptus trees in the State invites stiff resistance from environmentalists on the ground it would create ecological imbalance.

Experts have raised concern over the extensive cultivation of this species. “Monoculture of Eucalyptus cannot be recommended. If the intention of the Forest Department is to increase forest cover in the State, it should plant indigenous species of trees and herbs and maintain the bio-diversity of the region,” said a representative of the Tree Foundation. In a study on ‘Eucalyptus in India,’ it was pointed out that extensive cultivation of Eucalyptus was introduced in the country in the 1960’s. Since then some of the States took advantage of the centrally sponsored scheme and raised Eucalyptus plantations by felling even moist deciduous forests.

The Forest Department wants to increase the forest cover in Tamil Nadu from the present 23,023 sq km (21.25%) to 33%. To achieve this target, it will have to promote social forestry on at least 20% of the total 75 Lakh hectares owned by them. “This project is to be carried out on privately owned land and trees will be grown like any other cash crop. Earlier the mass cultivation, was carried out on land possessed by the Government and hence there was an uproar against it,” said a representative of World Wide Fund for Nature.

Others believe that growing Eucalyptus in ‘vulnerable zones’ like arid areas, will destroy the hydrological balance of the region. The tree is water intensive and reduces water available for other species, effectively out-competing them. Particularly vulnerable are arid areas with annual rates of precipitation that correspond to the lower range of eucalyptus demand at about 700 mm.

Studies have revealed that in arid areas, the consequent suppression of other plant life, coupled with a high water demand, reduces soil moisture, preventing the recharge of groundwater and can reduce local water tables. This is exacerbated by a high transpiration rate indicative of the inefficient use of water. Being nutrient intensive, it creates deficits for other plant life, a process that is exacerbated by the low returns in leaf litter to the soil. It does not contribute to the long-term fertility of the soil, as other species might, resulting in an overall nutrient impoverishment of the soil.

Eucalyptus is toxic, due to allelopathic properties which inhibit the growth of other plants due to bimolecules released by it. The plant also is detrimental to soil micro and macro fauna."

[With thanks to G.G. Jens]

Water Sustainability

Extract from Report on Rain Fed areas by Planning Commission, New Delhi

“About 12 per cent of India suffers from the threat of desertification in the arid northwest and in a broad semi-arid zone from the Punjab in the northwest to Tamil Nadu in the south. There is an estimated 1.7 million km2 of arid land in India and Pakistan.”

With the huge increase of private borewells being sunk in Tiruvannamalai, the below extract from 'Report on Rain Fed areas by Planning Commission, New Delhi,' is very relevant and definitely something that needs to be considered by local Government.

“The most important aspect of groundwater is that it is a common property resource, the means of access to which is privately owned. We generally access groundwater through private wells and tubewells. But withdrawal of water from our source can adversely affect the water in our neighbour’s water source. Depending on the hydrogeology of the watershed, the question “who is my neighbour?” gets answered. If the watershed is in an alluvial tract, for example, my deep draw of water can affect a farmer even hundreds of metres away. Thus, how farmers decide to collectively manage the groundwater resources of the village could have a deep bearing on how long groundwater survives. It could actually determine the entire efficacy of the watershed programme. Indeed, one could go as far as to say that sustainable and equitable management of groundwater could be the key area of rural governance in the 21st century

The unique aspect of the situation is that water below my land is not "mine". Groundwater is a non-stationary, "fugitive" resource that merges into water under another's land in a fluid sort of way. By lowering the depth of his tubewell, my neighbour can squeeze all water out of my well. Without proper collective arrangements for groundwater use, there tends to be an infinite regress of competitive extraction, with farmers outbidding each other in depths of drilling. Competitive extraction of groundwater leads to disastrous outcomes, the worst of which are observable in coastal areas of Tamil Nadu and Gujarat, for example. Here, saline ingress of sea-water poses a virtually irreversible environmental hazard for farmers who have engaged in competitive pumping of groundwater.”

Palm Leaf People

And to start off the proceedings here is Ganesha made from a dried Palm Leaf.

The below sequence of photographs are of what the artist calls the 'Palm Leaf People'. Each of the iconic figures of Indian life (Tabla Player, Sadhu, Lord Krishna etc) are made from dried palmyra leaf. The artist, Christian, has had art exhibitions of both paintings and artifacts in many cities in India and overseas.

The above is a macrame owl, who looked so great in Christian's garden that I took a photograph of it.

If you are interested in finding out more about these 'Palm Leaf People', to either purchase or commission your own 'Person', please get in touch with Arunachala Grace at the email address at the top left column of this page.

Happy Buddha Poornima

Dear Arunachala Friends:

Sorry for the long absence in postings but life has been hectic and unpredictable the last couple of months. It all began with a snake bite which I received while taking my doggies out on Samudram Erie for their nightly walk and led to me receiving Hospital outpatient treatment for over a month. Once that started getting better, I had the rather unfortunate event occur of my bamboo roof being completely blown off my roof during evening gale force winds. Winds that have been so fierce and violent that in some areas, even electric posts have been uprooted. Unfortunately my nice, expensive new bamboo roof on its way off was responsible for a fair amount of damage to the structure of the roof. Oh well!Lets get that bad karma out of the way in one go!

Within the next few days I hope to be back posting regularly. And also plan on sending out the monthly newsletter for June, albeit it may be a few days late.

One good thing is that I have spent the last few 'quite' weeks thinking about Arunachala Grace and the possibilities of new areas that would be interesting to explore on certain aspects of the Hill. So look forward to sharing results of my research with you all.

In the meantime may you all receive Love and Light this Blessed Buddha Poornima (Wesak) time. Back soon. Yours, Meenakshi Ammal

Arunachala as Manipura

The Skanda Puranam is recognised to be the definitive scripture setting out the history and importance of Arunachala, however the Hill is mentioned in countless other scriptural sources. In the Vyaghrapura Mahatmya (15.18-33) various holy places in India are referred to as corresponding to particular chakras, and Arunachala is designated the chakra of Manipura.

Varanasi = Ajna
Kalahasti = Vishuddi
Cidambaram = Anahata (heart)
Arunachala = Manipura
Jambukesvara = Svadhisthana
Tiruvarur = Muladhara

Deities connnected with the Manipura:

counterclockwise bottom: Vahni, Rudra, Lakini

"On the physical plane the Manipura Chakra signifies metabolism, the process whereby we turn food (matter) into energy and action.

Digestion troubles, stomach troubles, hypoglycemia, diabetes, ulcers, or addictions to stimulants (such as caffeine) are all related to malfunctioning of the third chakra. Weight problems may also be an indication that the body is not properly turning its matter into energy.

We can also assess the health of this chakra by examining our body structure at this level: tight, hard stomachs, sunken diaphragms, or large potbellies are all indications of third chakra excess or deficiency.

Examining your relationship to the properties of fire can give further clues to the nature of your third chakra. Are you frequently cold, physically or emotionally? Do you get overheated, hot-tempered? Is your style quick and energetic, or slow and lethargic?

When the third chakra is closed down, one may feel tired, afraid, shaky, quiet, or withdrawn. There is a fear of taking risks, confronting people or issues, taking charge, and with all this, a lack of energy. There may be too much seriousness and not enough laughter, ease, or fun, all of which help the third chakra open and relax. Pleasure, from the chakra below, helps make the fire warm and easy; without it, our fires are cold and hard.
If the chakra is too open, then we have a kind of bully archetype—someone who always needs to be in control, to dominate, to seek power, prestige, ambition. As the lower chakras in general are more ego-oriented, third chakra excess can make a person narcissistic or self-centered.

An appropriate concept for a healthy balance in this chakra is the archetype of the warrior—standing strong, staying in touch with feelings, confronting only when appropriate and quietly maintaining a sense of power. A healthy third chakra can take on a task and complete it, take on a risk and not be bound by perfectionism, or act in the role of leadership without domination or self-aggrandizement."

(With thanks to A. Judith)

Nithyananda Ashram

“A grand inauguration ceremony was conducted at the new ashram in Tiruvannamalai on April 19th 2008. With the majestic Arunachala as backdrop this is one of the most beautiful and going forward will be the most visited Nithyananda ashram in India. Being a full moon day, the day was also celebrated in Tiruvannamalai as Giri-Dakshina Giri Valam (14km barefoot circumambulation of Arunachala). At least 1 million people have been estimated to have walked around the mountain that day and almost everyone who walked were drawn into the ashram by the intense energy field of 1008 shiva lingas and an inner circle of deities all placed strategically in a circle around the main deities Sri Anandeshwara and Anandeshwari, Subramanya and Ganapathy.”

Abhisheka to Gods Anandeshwara and Anandeshwari

Swami Nithyananda

To read further and for a full compilation of photographs of the Inauguration of Nithyananda’s Ashram at Tiruvannamalai on April 19 th, 2008, to this link here>>>

Animal Shelter Update

At the Arunachala Animal Sanctuary there are seven staff members and a part-time cook (lots of doggie meals to make!). In the below photograph, the two Animal Shelter vets, both with post graduate degrees from the renowned Chennai (Madras) Veterinary College. Dr. Pushpalata (the lady) focuses primarily on clinic duties and Dr. Rajasekaran’s main focus is the ABC Sterlization Programme.

This is a before photograph of a little monkey named Baby, currently resident at the Shelter. You can read more about him at this link.

And now below the wonderful 'after' photographs of Baby. He is sitting with a friend (another injured monkey brought into the Shelter by a member of the public). Baby is in the foreground and see how all those terrible wound have healed -- his new friend is sitting in the back with a very loving hand on Baby's arm.

There is even a third young monkey resident in the 'monkey cage' at the Animal Shelter. So lots of playtime!

Below one of the resident Shelter dogs, checking out all the noise and commotion coming from the 'monkey cage'.

The Shelter comprises two main buildings. One houses a sterile operating theatre, a modern clinic examination/treatment room, a small isolation ward, a small dispensary, a reception verandah, and a large retaining cage. The other building has three large retaining cages -- and a fully equipped kitchen.

A painting on the outside wall of the Animal Sanctuary, shows Mahatma Gandhi with his famous humantarian words: "The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated."

In utilising an ABC and Anti-Rabies Programme, the Animal Shelter aims to control population and eliminate rabies. Homeless street dogs are captured, brought in, sterlized, given anti-rabies injections and allowed to remain at the Shelter for up to six days to recuperate and are then returned to their original territory. Since the opening of the Centre well over a 1,000 dogs have been sterlized and given anti-rabies injections.

In addition to ABC sterlization programmes for homeless dogs, many locals bring in dogs (both street dogs and pets) to the Shelter’s Clinic for veterinary attention. As well as dogs, all small animals (and sometimes farm animals in emergency situations) are provided with care and assistance. The Arunachala Sanctuary is open seven days a week and provides emergency services 24 hours a day.

The Shelter also provides hospital facilities especially in the case of animals who need isolation or have to be kept in retaining areas. For animals that cannot survive on their own, the Shelter offers them sanctuary for the rest of their lives. Dying animals are given intensive loving care at the Shelter; including IV’s, pain killers, antibiotics and lots of good food.

The grounds of the Shelter are now grass-covered and filled with plants and saplings. Around the grounds are coconut leaf huts for dogs to hide during those hot summer days. Lots of space and room for puppy and doggie games and fun.

Below is a photograph of Leslie Robinson, co-founder of the Animal Shelter. A lover of animals who hails from Ann Arbor, Michigan, U.S. He worked as an Actuary in the States until he met his guru, Swami Muktananda in 1975. The meeting was to totally change his life and Leslie travelled with Swami Muktananda and spent ten years in Swami’s ashrams in the States and India. Leslie is currently living at Tiruvannamalai.

And here is Gina Suritsch, co-founder of the Shelter. Gina was born in Vienna, Austria. In the late 70's Gina relocated to Findhorn, Scotland where she lived for five years. After several years in Italy living at Ananda Community, Gina started visiting India in 1985. She now spends much of her time at Tiruvannamalai.

If you are not yet a subscriber to the monthly Arunachala Grace News, please check out the facility at the left margin of this site. This month we are featuring information on Wesak, the upcoming Buddha Festival, Arunachala Tidbits, a short narrative on a very unusual Bear, narratives on the Indian Treepie (common in Tiruvannamalai District), and Erythrina Indica and its properties (Indian Coral Tree). As well as some features about the mythology of Arunachala -- Arunachala Grace News will also have a narrative on the history of the Animal Shelter and why Leslie Robinson and his friends felt compelled to create the Sanctuary. Arunachala Grace News, May 2008, issue will be sent out direct to subscribers email inboxes within the next few days -- remember to sign up for your free subscription.

What's the Best Distance?

(Nandikesvara tells Markandeya)
"There is in the Southern Region, O ascetic, in the land of Dravidas, a great sacred place named Aruna associated with the Lord with the crescent-moon for his crest-jewel.

It extends to three Yojanas. It is worthy of being adored by Sivayogins. Know it to be the heart of the earth, attractive and thrilling to Siva.

There the Lord Sambhu himself has assumed the form of a mountain. He has the name Arunachala. He is conducive to the welfare of the worlds."

[Chapter 4, The Greatness of Arunachala

Skanda Purana -- I.iii(U).4.12-23]

Siva said:

"I ordain that residence within a radius of three Yojanas of this Hill shall be itself suffice to burn off all defects and effect union with the Supreme."
[Skanda Purana]

A yojana is a Vedic measure of distance used in ancient India. The exact measurement is disputed amongst scholars with distances generally being given in the order of 7-8 kilometres.

The etymology of the word ‘yojana’ is derived from the same root that gives us both the English word ‘yoke’ and the Indian term ‘yoga’. It is thought that ‘yojana’ initially meant ‘being yoked’, and that it was used as a unit of measure to indicate the approximate distance that a cow could pull a cart to which it was yoked.

The yojana is used extensively in ancient descriptions of Buddhist cosmology (and, presumably, Hindu cosmology as well). The size of layers of the Earth, the heights of mountains, and the depths of seas are all described using yojanas.

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SO HERES THE GREAT NEWS. It is still possible to buy beautiful land, silent, pristine, undeveloped and countrified close to Arunachala and at AFFORDABLE PRICES.

Our website, Arunachala Land will be posting information of beautiful land all within 30 kms of Arunachala perfect for an ashram, farm, country living, community or animal facility.

Today Arunachala Land has posted information about two such great parcels of land. The first within ten kilometres of Arunachala with a beautiful view of the Hill and comprising up to thirty acres of pristine land.

The second parcel of land is approximately twenty five kilometres from Arunachala and comprises up to ninety acres of immaculate land with impeccable water supply. In both cases it is not necessary to buy the whole parcel.

At the beginning of this post I quote from the definitive scriptural work 'Skanda Purana' about the area of power radiating from Arunachala as being three Yojanas (approximately 30 kilometres). So heres the best thing of all, YOU CAN AFFORD to live in a large, unspoilt environment and also be in the ambit of Arunachala's Grace.

International Earth Day

Throughout the World on April 22, Earth Day will be celebrated, a date which marks the anniversary of the birth of the modern environmental movement in 1970. This is not a day that is reserved for activists in wealthy Western countries, it is in fact a day that needs to be observed by everyone in every place. Certainly here at Arunachala, we need to become aware of how the expanding population is having a serious and deletrious affect on the quality of life of animals and people.

"Earth Day is the first holy day which transcends all national borders, yet preserves all geographical integrities, spans mountains and oceans and time belts, and yet brings people all over the world into one resonating accord, is devoted to the preservation of the harmony in nature and yet draws upon the triumphs of technology, the measurement of time, and instantaneous communication through space.

Earth Day draws on astronomical phenomena in a new way – which is also the most ancient way – using the vernal Equinox, the time when the Sun crosses the equator making night and day of equal length in all parts of the Earth. To this point in the annual calendar, Earth Day attaches no local or divisive set of symbols, no statement of the truth or superiority of one way of life over another. But the selection of the March Equinox makes planetary observance of a shared event possible, and a flag which shows the Earth as seen from space appropriate."

[Margaret Mead]

To find more about Earth Day you can visit the official site of the International Earth Day, at this link.