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.

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. 

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. 

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. 

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) 

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. 

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.

Arunachaleswarar Temple, East Side

A short time back I visited the area east of the Temple specifically to take photographs of the gutted spot left by the devasting December 2013 fire which occurred very close to the main Raja Gopuram entrance. A compilation of various reports reads thus: 

“Late in the evening on Thursday, December 13, 2013, a major fire broke out in a metal shop located a few yards away from the Rajagopuram of Sri Arunachaleshwarar Temple in Tiruvannamalai, on Sannathi Street. Goods worth about 70 lakh was destroyed in nine metal shops. It has been suggested by officials that the shops greatly exceeded the limit of their storage capacity. 

Local metal shop untouched by fire

Front of gutted area now boarded up

Sanyasis sleeping in front of the metal shops noticed thick smoke emanating from M Veeratalingam’s Gandhimathi Metal Store around 11.45 pm on Friday. The sanyasis informed a group of shop owners and workers, who were working nearby. 

Shop remains

The fire quickly engulfed nearby shops. A distress call was received by the District Fire and Rescue Station, located 7 km out of town, at 12.05 am and it took the fire service personnel 16 minutes to reach the spot. However, the fire had spread and fire personnel found it difficult to bring the blaze under control as each of the shops locked with two or three locks. An official said, “It took over 6 hours for the fire to be brought under control and 47 personnel were engaged in the operation. Electric short-circuit is suspected to be the cause of the fire.

9 metal shops razed to the ground

Two fire tenders from Tiruvannamalai, one each from Polur, Chengam, Keelpennathur, and Thandrampet fire station were engaged in the dousing operation.” 

Gutted shops east of Raja Gopuram

Raja Gopuram East Gate, Big Temple

While spending time in the area around the East Gopuram, I checked to find out whether flower and archana stalls have been allowed back into the area. Previous to the 2013 Deepam Festival, very stringent regulations were enforced limiting the presence of stalls in and around the major entrance to the Big Temple. Locals and pilgrims were surprised that the most important Shiva Temple in India should effectively be banning the sale of puja requirements near the main entrance to Arunachaleswarar Temple. 

Car park in front of Temple main entrance

It was even more puzzling that the area previously dedicated to the service and assistance of visiting pilgrims, should have been transformed into a carpark for shop owners and V.I.Ps. 

The shops and stalls have not returned to the area previously dedicated to the sale of archana items, but happily some tradespeople have set up mobile shopping areas were pilgrims can purchase flowers, coconuts, camphor, agarbatti and other archana necessities. 

Flower garlands again available outside Big Temple

Hope things return to normal

Beads, Rudrakshas and Threads for sale

In front of Main Temple Gate

The December 2013 fire outside the big Temple was not an anomaly. There had been in fact another recent fire, which took place in 1996 and destroyed the then 16 pillared mandapam (which is meant for Murtis during processions). That mandapam has been replaced by the now current 44 pillared mandapam.

New Mandapam in front of Temple East Gate

Mandapam with a variety of uses

Resting and chatting being a most important use

Many sadhus and saints have slept in and around the Big Temple

Some things have remained the same from days of yore