Pradosham, October 2, 2013

It can be seen from the below photographs of the October 2, 2013 Pradosham at Arunachaleswarar Temple, that the number of visitors attending this bi-monthly function seems to be increasing exponentially.

Nandi

Crowds of Pilgrims in the Temple Compound

Crowd at Large Nandi, which faces direction of the Shiva Sannidhi

Counting the Cash

I don't know the difference between Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu in relation to how they govern Temples that fall under the Hindu Endowment Charitable Trust, so maybe Temples in Tamil Nadu have certain restrictions compared to Temples from other States. I don't know how it works. But wouldn't it be great if our own Arunachaleswarar Temple invited committee members from the famed Tirumala Venkateswara Temple at Tirupati and asked for their suggestions in how to develop our own Temple and its subsidiary Temples and Shrines (i.e. Adiannamalai Temple, Asta Lingams, Durga Amman Temple, Surya Lingam etc).

Tirupati Temple

The Tirumala Venkateswara Temple at Tirupati is the busiest and richest Temple in the World and the wealth of the Temple through donations from its devotees help finance a very generous scheme for visitors to that place, keep the area in a pristine and immaculate condition and also helps finance the development of many other smaller Temples in Andhra Pradesh.

Now that the illustrious Arunachaleswarar Temple is receiving ever increasing financial support in the form of donations and sponsorship, maybe it would be a good time for its management to have some serious brain storming sessions in how to most effectively utilise that support.

Counting out cash from Hundials

Cash from Arunachaleswarar Temple's Hundials

Mahapuja for 18 Siddhars, Arunachala

While visiting various Swamis and Shrines off the Girivalam Roadway a couple of days ago, noticed this large poster telling about a nice function scheduled for a few days time. Years ago I attended such a Raja Mahapuja and it was a grand, beautiful occasion. 

If you don't have time to go to the various functions at Sri Seshadri Swsamigal Ashram or at the Viji Marriage Hall (off the Girivalam Roadway) then think about having a nice view of the celebratory procession that will be moving its way on the Chengam Road early this Saturday morning. Below are details of the upcoming Function.

The Maha Guru Mutheri Dhayana Sanga Peetam invites all to a Raja Parivara Puja which will be performed for the 18 Siddhars at Tiruvannamalai. 

Right click on poster for enlargement to read 

Poster in Tamil with full details

On October 5th, 2013 in the evening at 4.00 p.m., a procession will start from Sri Seshadri Swamigal Ashram and end at the Viji Marriage Hall on the Girivalam roadway. The procession will be very grand and include (as in such Rajapujas), an Elephant, Horse and Cow and celebratory music. The Kumbhas will be kept at a special tent and poojas will be performed at that place which is adjacent to the Marriage Hall on the girivalam roadway. 

On October 6th, 2013 in the early morning at 4.00 a.m., a special Mahakumbha Puja will be performed for 18 Siddhars with 18 Mahakumbhams at the above place. 

Mottayan Swami and Kootankuchi Swamigal

On October 20, 2009 I received a note from Dr. S. Ananthakrishnan which became lost in my computer files and which I unearthed only recently whilst clearing my files. On going through the note thought it was time to make an effort to respond to the questions raised by Dr. S. Ananthakrishnan. 

Kottankuchi Swamigal

The note went thus: 

"Have you heard of the mouna Swamigal on the Girivalam route? . . . I have personally met him and it was a casual meeting near the main Annamalaiyar Temple. His appearance is of a young person not less than 30-31, with a naturally formed French beard and he wears the Kaavi dress like the Kanchi Paramacharya style. This Mouna Swamigal himself wrote and told me when he visits the Mottayan Swami, that Mottayan Swami makes him sit in his lap. Still this mouna Swamigal preserves the photo of the Mottayan Swami though the edges of the photo are slightly damaged.

I would request you if you could post the photo of this Swamigal and his current whereabouts. Recently (note: i.e. at the end of 2009) on Zee Tamil T.V., they showed a video on the research on the Parakkum Siddhar. During the show they showed Mottayan Swami and this mouna Swamigal . . . “

Current house of Kootankuchi Swamigal

After stopping at several places and talking with another Swami (who I will write about in due course on my blog Arunachala Mystic) residing in a house near the old Shantimalai Trust Gokulam, I and my friend arrived by auto rickshaw at the house of the silent Swami now residing just off the Girivalam roadway (near the Rajarajeshwari Temple). The mouna Swamigal is still in silence but responded to my questions occasionally by hand signs and sometimes by writing his answers in a notebook. 

Kootankuchi Swamigal's compound right of Sai Mandir, Girivalam Road

Swami goes by the name Kootankuchi Swamigal. As he is a sannyasin, he did not wish to answer many questions regarding home and previous family but he did give several bits of information. His age is around forty years old and even though he is in silence he is available to visitors. He worships the Divine Mother in the form of Varahi. His guru is the now deceased Jangalidas Maharaj who has an ashram about seven kms from Shirdi. Kootankuchi Swamigal stayed at that place for six months many years previously. 

Kootankuchi Swamigal has been living at Tiruvannamalai for a number of years and for the last 10 years has been maintaining a verbal silence. He had great love for Visiri Samiyar (Yogi Ramsuratkumar) and spent a lot of time with him in earlier days. 

When asking Kootankuchi Swamigal whether the story of him sitting in the lap of Mottayan Swamigal was true. He said that previously (over 7 years ago) Mottayan Swamigal would sometimes come and meet with him and at that time, Mottayan would often lie on the floor resting his head upon Kottankuchi Swamigal and sometimes sitting in his lap. I asked Kottankuchi Swamigal as to his opinion of Mottayan Swami. He bowed his head in great reverence and indicated in writing that Mottayan Swami was a great Siddha. 

Jolly workers building Swami's house

I visited the Kootankuchi Swamigal with a friend Mr. Hari Prasad and my regular auto rickshaw driver Gandipan. Whilst there a number of personal questions were asked by us all, which Kottankuchi Swamigal answered (in writing and by gesture) clearly and at length. On a personal level I found that his advice was in line with the advice I have received through my own prayers and meditation upon the Divine Mother. 

Kottankuchi Swamigal is currently building his own house a short distance from his rental accommodation and as soon as that is complete (probably not before the beginning of 2014) he will shift from his current abode. 

Construction of House underway

I have made many postings of Swami Mottayan (also known as Mookupodi Swami = snuff Swami as he is in the habit of daily taking snuff). As it has been sometime since I last saw him, early this morning I stopped at the new Navagraha Shrine (near Rajarajeshwari Temple) on the girivalam road, where I had heard that he currently stays at. 

Mootayan Swami (Mookupodi Swamigal)

A crowd of about thirty people were standing silently and reverently close by the Navagraha Shrine taking silent darshan of Mottayan Swami whist he was drinking his morning tea at an adjacent tea stall. I have heard that nowadays there is often a crowd of pilgrims and visitors surrounding him. 

Crowd watching Swami take his morning tea

The times that I was able to get easy access and even sit with him on the verandah of a local school playing with thayam stones seemed to be a very long time ago. To view some of the posts on Mottayan (Mookupodi) Swami on Arunachala Grace, go to this link here. 

Mottayan Swami (aka Mookupodi Swami)

Tremors felt at Tiruvannamalai

Tiruvannamalai District experienced earth tremors on Thursday morning, September 26th, after a gap of nearly 25 years, according to the Centre for Disaster Mitigation and Management, VIT University, Vellore. 

Vellore and Tiruvannamalai Districts have become seismically-active since 2002 and they have been reclassified into zone 3 (prone to quakes with up to 6.9 magnitude) from zone 2 earlier (up to 4.9 magnitude). 

Last Thursday at Tiruvannamalai, residents of Pudu Theru (i.e. Theru = Street), Pey Gopura Theru, Muthuvinayaga Theru and Mathalangula Theru; came out of their homes after the vessels in their houses fell down at about 8.20 a.m., as they feared more serious tremors. No damage to property or life has been reported. Residents returned to their houses only after ascertaining that there were no aftershocks. 

Thiruvoodal Theru leading to Pey Gopura Theru

 

The Indian Meteorological Department reported the Tiruvannamalai earthquake to measure 3.3 on the Richter scale and lasted for about three to five seconds. The epicentre of the Tremor is suspected to be in the Polur and Tiruvannamalai region, where an existing fault (planar rock fractures) passes from Salem to Tiruvallur. 

Earth tremors are a common phenomenon restricted to local conditions due to the readjusting of faults. In this respect around 105 tremors have occurred in Tamil Nadu in the last 200 years, with the majority measuring less than a magnitude of 5. Only a few of the earth tremors had a magnitude of more than 5; which included an earthquake in Coimbatore in 1900 (magnitude of 6) and one off the shores of Pondicherry in 2001 (magnitude 5.6). There are estimated to be around 286 fractured faults in Tamil Nadu, of which only around 47 have been found to be active. 

Tiruvannamalai District has only witnessed five tremors in recorded time. The first major one recorded was in 1822 at Vandavasi with a magnitude of 5, and later between Polur and Tiruvannamalai with a magnitude of 5. The same region witnessed another tremor in 1984 that had a magnitude of 3.3. 

[Information compiled from The New Indian Express]

Whisper into my Ear

September 17, 2013 Pradosham, Arunachaleswarar Temple

The first two photographs are of Nandi taken at Arunachaleswarar Temple during Pradosham which fell on September 17, 2013.

Nandi the Bull, Arunachaleswarar Temple

Whisper into my Ear

Nandi is the Gate keeper of Lord Shiva's abode, thus it is believed to be important to seek his blessings before praying to Lord Shiva.

It is thought that by whispering our prayers into Nandi’s ear, it will induce him to act as our interlocutor (messenger) and those prayers will reach Lord Shiva. When whispering into Nandi’s ear, some close one of his ears while whispering into the other, to prevent the wish leaving through the other ear.

When whispering it is believed that one shouldn’t stand in-between Nandi and Lord Shiva while praying. First one touches the feet of the Bull, then whispers into the ear and then goes to Nandi’s back.

Nandi on Girivalam Roadway

As seeing the Sivalingam in the Siva Sannidhi from in-between the ears of Nandi is also said to be a form of worship as it is believed that Shiva is looking at the world from between those ears and head. Thus in the case of Nandi at the side of the Girivalam Roadway, one should stand at the back of the statue and look at the Arunachala Lingam from in-between the Bull’s ears.

Next time you visit Arunachala and perform girivalam (giripradakshina), try whispering your thoughts and needs into the Bull’s ears. I found it a powerful and happy experience.

Postings of my Arunachala Blogs from September 2 to September 16, 2013

Below are links and short extracts of postings on my various Arunachala Blogs from Monday, September 2, 2013 to Monday, September 16, 2013 

Arunachala Grace 

Palayam Puja -- Durga Amman Temple, September 2013: Puja conducted at the start of renovations and repairs at the Durga Amman Temple, Tiruvannamalai. 

Aadi Pooram Photographs—Friday August 9, 2013: Photographs of the most beautifully dressed and adorned Goddess Rajarajeshwari in Festival celebrated at that Temple during Aadi Pooram. 

Vinayagar Immersion September 11, 2013: Photographs of Vinayagar procession and immersion in the Tamari Nagar Tank at Tiruvannamalai. 

Nice Clay Ganesha Idols: Photographs of beautiful and eco-friendly clay Ganeshas at Tiruvannamalai.

Ganesha Chaturthi at Tiruvannamalai: Narrative celebrating Ganesha Chaturthi and explaining the importance of making it as eco-friendly as possible. 

What If: Inspirational Poem by Samuel Taylor Coleridge.

Panthakal -- September 8, 2013: Photographs of the function heralding the upcoming 2013 Arunachala Karthigai Deepam.

Soma Pradosham, September 2, 2013: Photographs of Soma Pradosham and narrative about the relationship of the moon with Lord Shiva. 

Tiruvannamalai Womens' Self Help Groups: Art work explaining and popularising Tiruvannamalai Womens' Self Help Groups.

Panthakal Karthigai Deepam 2013: Invitation to Function celebrating the offical beginning of lead up to the great 2013 Karthigai Festival.

Pavala Kundru Temple adjacent to Arunachaleswarar Temple: Spectacular view from inside top of Raja Gopuram of Arunachaleswarar Temple of surrounding Tiruvannamalai.

Home at Last: Celebration of anniversary of Sri Ramana’s arrival to Tiruvannamalai.

Arunachala Birds 

Rock Pigeon or Rock Dove: Narrative and photographs of the Rock Pigeon, including Cycle of Pigeon Hatching. Video of nesting bird. 

Arunachala Land 

House for sale, adjacent Samudram Eri: Newly constructed, modern 3 bedroom house for sale close to Ramana Ashram. 

Adiannamalai House specifications: Details and house plan of house for sale near Adiannamalai Temple.

House for Sale, Adiannamalai: Photographs of house currently under construction and available for purchase located near Adiannamalai Temple and with sublime darshan of Arunachala.

Arunachala Mystic 

Letter to Sri Siva Jothi Mona Siddhar: Letter from Swami’s devotee with details of a dream and its connection with their guru. 

Lord Shiva as Chandrasekhara: Escoteric meaning of Lord Shiva in his manifestaion as Chandrasekhara. 

Palayam Puja -- Durga Amman Temple, September 2013

A Palayam Puja was performed at Durga Amman Temple on September 11, 2013 in connection with restoration and renovation work that is to be undertaken at the Temple. After the renovation work is completed next year, it will be followed by an elaborate Mahakumbhabhiskeham. 

Homam being conducted, Palayam Puja

Head Priest of Big Temple (in gold centre) in charge of Function

Blessing areas that are to be renovated, restored

The Durga Amman Temple is the only Tiruvannamalai Temple that actually participates in functions with Arunachaleswarar Temple during Karthigai Deepam. 

One reason for this is supposed to be because of the battle beween the Goddess Durga with the demon Mahishasura (see ‘The Fight with Mahishasura'). Before her battle the Goddess appointed four noble Bhairavis (celestial damsels) to keep watch on all four sides of Arunagiri. She ordered: 

"Admit only those who have come to worship Arunachala and are tired, hungry and thirsty. Others should not enter. She then appointed strong men to guard the boundaries of Arunachala and continued Her penace at Her ashram." [The Glory of Arunachala] 

For this reason, the first day of Deepam Festival is always a celebration of the Goddess, who is recognised as a Guardian of Arunachala. 

Aadi Pooram Photographs—Friday August 9, 2013

After a long delay I finally connected with Swami at Rajarajeshwari Temple on the Arunachala Girivalam Roadway, and picked up photographs of the Aadi Pooram Festival as it was celebrated at that Temple. 

Below are two photographs of Sri Rajarajeshwari at Arunachala, specially dressed for this most auspicious Festival. I will be posting a more complete narrative with photographs onto my website Arunachala Samudra. To read more about this wonderful Temple, please visit my website at this link here. But for the time being below, two most sublime photographs. 

Right click for photo enlargement

Adi Pooram is celebrated in all Hindu temples in Southern India in the month of Adi, which corresponds to the English months of July-August, when the asterism Pooram (Delta Leonis) is in the ascendancy. As the Festival fell on a Friday this year, the occasion was regarded as even more auspicious. This Festival is observed to propitiate the Sakti Goddess who is said to have come into the world on this occasion to bless all. She is thus worshipped in order that one may secure happiness for oneself and for loved ones.

Vinayagar Immersion September 11, 2013

The below photographs are of the 2013 September 11, immersion of Vinayagar Statues in the Tamari Nagar community water reservoir.

Procession through town on the way to Tank

 
Nowadays the use of heavy lifting equipment marks a departure from the more rustic, labour intensive immersions of years previously. 

The Big Guy needs a crane for lift off!

Lets just enjoy these photos, and try harder to have an ecologically sound Festival next year!

Tamari Nagar Water Reservoir with Arunachala in background

To give you an idea of labour intensive Vinayagar Immersions pre-cranes, the below is a photo of the 2008 Immersion also at the Tamari Nagar Housing Board Tank at Tiruvannamalai. Nowadays this size statue would be crane assisted!

Nice Clay Ganesha Idols

Below are a series of photographs of more eco-friendly mud Ganeshas, which are safer and more environmentally friendly. However these type of mud statues should be purchased without the gold paint, glitter or piercing eyes! Craftspeople creating ecofriendly mud Ganeshas are all around Tiruvannamalai, the below photographs were taken off the Chengham Road, opposite both Seshadri and Ramana Ashrams. 

Householders brought their own small kolam adorned benches with them in order to welcome their completed Ganesha idols.

Right click on all below photographs to view enlargements. 

Beginning the day with a vast mountain of mud

Pressing the mud into Ganesha Moulds

The group co-operating in their street assembly line

Ganesha coming out of Mould

Getting ready for a final tidy-up

Adding to some statues piercing red eyes

Putting the Ganesha onto Househoulder's kolam-board

A very handsome Ganesha on his way home

Golden Ganeshas radiating throughout Tiruvannamalai

Ganesha Chaturthi at Tiruvannamalai

This week is the very joyous and celebratory Ganesha Festival a favourite of both kids and adults alike. To learn more about this festival go to this link here. Also included in the link is information and photographs of what harm toxic-loaded statues can do to the environment. 

Thankfully over the years many excellent organisations are constantly spreading the message that we need to keep the Ganesha Festival toxic-free by celebrating it in an eco-friendly manner. 

I am made from 100% toxic material. Please become more eco-friendly.

The below information appeared in article about celebrating the Ganesha Festival in an eco-friendly manner in The Times (India) newspaper. To read the full article go to this link here. 

“Even as the city is gearing up to celebrate Ganesh Chathurthi, environmentalists and green activist are worried about the pollution of water bodies due to the immersion of Ganesha idols. The Pollution Control Board and Coimbatore district administration have already issued instructions to the devotees to ensure minimum water pollution of the waterbodies in and around the city. 

Even though I look more eco-friendly, my paint and glitter is toxic to ALL life

. . . The PCB has also instructed the public to ensure that the idols are made of raw clay and does not have any chemical or toxic dyes. They have also asked the public to opt for medium-sized idols and avoid immersing idols made of Plaster of Paris. 

"We want to make the people aware of the fact that they should try to observe the festival without polluting the waterbodies," said a District environmental engineer for the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB). 

According to environmental experts, organisms in the waterbodies are adversely affected by the zinc oxide, ferric oxide and chromium oxide chemicals found in the dye and paint used on the idols. And sometimes turperntine and kerosene are also mixed as thinners which are deadly to the fish and other organisms.” 

Remember that immersion of toxic statues into our community water bodies (the most popular dunking ground in Tiruvannamalai during this season will be the Tamari Nagar tank in the Housing Board) affects us all and will impair our health and our children's health. Think before purchasing eco-unfriendly statues that eventually will be immersed in a water body. 

I am a 100% toxic and WILL endanger your health

A loving and innocent decision to purchase a pink chemical-laden Ganesha could hurt your child.

What if?

What if you slept 

And what if 

In your sleep 

You dreamed 

And what if 

In your dream 

You went to heaven 

And there plucked a strange and beautiful flower 

And what if 

When you awoke 

You had that flower in your hand 

Ah, what then? 

[Samuel Taylor Coleridge] 

Panthakal -- September 8, 2013

Early this morning the Panthakal Function was performed at the Big Temple to mark the official beginning of the rituals and ceremonies preceding the Karthigai Festival (Mahadeepam is November 17, 2013). 

As well as blessing the front of the Temple, outside the Raja Gopuram, the priests also blessed the chariots and vehicles which will be later used in the upcoming Festivals.

Soma Pradosham, September 2, 2013

Lord Shiva is also known as Chandrasekhara, which literally refers to the 'Person who wears the moon'. In some cultures the appearance of the new crescent moon has been celebrated as a return of the moon from the dead. This celestial body is a powerful influence on the human psyche. Its influence which is always available at Arunachala is celebrated in disparate ways during Sivaratri and Poornima. It is also recognised in all Pradoshams that fall on Mondays, as did the last Pradosham (in the below photographs) which was observed on September 2, 2013.

Gods at Soma Pradosham

Soma Pradosham, September 2, 2013

As you come into Tiruvannamalai via the Chengham Road, in front of the Agni Tank, there is Rotary Club sign proclaiming this place to be Moon City. What a wonderful name for our Tiruvannamalai. 

Hinduism propounds the idea that the (nine) Navagrahas (of which Chandra is one) are 'markers of influence' -- living energies which put out waves which affect our awareness by seizing our consciousness when we come under their influence. Reports of psychics and seers agree that Grahas cause a direct energy influence upon the energy bodies and minds of all life on earth. The nine planets (Navagrahas) are transmitters of Universal, archetypal energy and the qualities of each planet helps maintain the overall balance of polarities in the solar system. 

Lord Shiva wears on his head the crescent of the fifth-day moon. Placed near his fiery third eye this shows the power of Soma, the sacrificial offering, which is the representative of Moon and signifies that Shiva possesses the power of procreation co-existent with that of destruction. Chandra has the following associations: the colour white, gender female, metal silver, gemstones; pearl and moonstone, element water, direction north-west, season Winter, body part blood, food rice, taste salt, day Monday, guna Sattwa. The sun is the indicator of the soul and the moon is the vehicle of the mind that receives the light of the soul. Even though all the Navagrahas are represented at Arunachala, the moon with its particular association with Lord Shiva (Chandrasekhara) has an extraordinary influence. 

Moonlight

In one legend, Chandra is considered the son of the ocean as he was one of the fourteen ratnas (Jewels) that emerged from the ocean during its churning and was gifted, by the Gods and Demons to Lord Shiva, who wore the crescent moon on his head. 

Chandra is a lovable God; pleasing to children as well as elders. Sages and devotees invoke the Goddess in Chandra. A benefic Moon is often found in the charts of doctors, healers or psychologists, as well as good mothers and wives. A strong Moon can give power and creates a good administrator or leader open to the needs of his people and indicates relationship, interchange, and communication. A strong Moon also shows sensitivity, receptivity, caring for others and a nurturing attitude in life. It gives emotional maturity, responsibility and the capacity to have a beneficial effect upon society. 

To read a wonderful legend explaining why the Moon's light is so soft, and cool, and beautiful even to this day go to an earlier posting “Moonlight,” at this link here. 

Meditations of the Moon 

Half of the human race lives in manifest obedience to the lunar rhythm; and there is evidence to show that the psychological and therefore the spiritual life, not only of women, but of men too, mysteriously ebbs and flows with the changes of the moon. There are unreasoned joys, inexplicable miseries, laughter and remorse without a cause. Their sudden and fantastic alternations constitute the ordinary weather of our minds. These moods, of which the more gravely numinous may be hypostasized as gods, the lighter, if we will, as hobgoblins and fairies, are the children of the blood and humours. But the blood and humours obey, among many other masters, the changing moon. Touching the soul directly through the eyes and, indirectly, along the dark channels of the blood, the moon is doubly a divinity. 

[Aldous Huxley]