Mahashivaratri Retreat February 22 to March 8, 2014

Torsten Brugge and Padma Woolf have been bringing pilgrim groups from Europe to Tiruvannamalai over the course of the last 10 years. For each of their visits, the venue for their Retreat is Sri Nannagaru Ashram where they stay from between 9-14 days. The Brugge—Woolf Retreat is the only Retreat that I know of held at Sri Nannagaru Ashram, that Swamiji has personally blessed. 

In 2014 the dates of their Retreat Programme are scheduled for February 22nd – March 8th, 2014. And for the first time during their regular Arunachala Pilgrimage, their group will be at Arunachala during the sacred time of Mahashivaratri (February 28, 2014). As always the venue for their Retreat will be the peace-filled Sri Nannagaru Ashram. 

As well as their usual programme of satsang, guided meditations, talks and meetings, there will also be a special programme during the 24 hour Mahashivaratri Festival which will include an escorted group giripradakshina of Arunachala late in the evening of February 28, arriving at Arunachaleswarar Temple before midnight, in time to attend the myriad functions of Mahashivaratri. 

Early in the day of Mahashivaratri devotees will be creating colourful kolams

Beautiful Kolams depicting aspects of Lord Shiva

Devotees light lamps around Temple Tank on night of Mahashivaratri

To find out more about the splendid Mahashivaratri Festival, both its history and celebration at Arunachaleswarar Temple, please go to this link here. Arunachaleswarar Temple is open throughout the night of Mahashivaratri, during which several pujas are performed; the Kala Puja is celebrated inside the Siva Sannidhi and the Lingodbhavamurti puja is performed at the back of the Siva Sannidhi. 

Lingodbhavamurti Puja, behind Shiva Sannidhi

Throughout the evening of February 28 and into the morning of March 1, a cultural programme highlighting the best of Tamil dance and song, will be held in the open auditorium on the Temple grounds.

Music programme at an earlier Mahashivaratri Function

Large crowds gather at Arunachaleswarar Temple for the cultural programme

Traditional Tamil dancing and singing represented at the Cultural Programme

Over the coming months I will be posting photographs, narratives and reports from participants of the Brugge—Woolf 2012 Arunachala Retreat. However for more information about the upcoming Retreat please go to their website at this link here.

“Torsten and Padma offer self-enquiry in the tradition of Sri Ramana Maharshi and in the lineage of Sri Poonjaji, Gangaji and Eli Jaxon-Bear. The focus of the retreat will be to make Sri Ramana Maharshi’s profound self-enquiry and the silent power of Arunachala accessible to participants. Torsten and Padma offer daily Satsang-meetings on the roof-terrace of Sri Nannagaru Ashram. The group will also visit different abodes of Sri Ramana Maharshi on the mountain for silent meditation.

Padma Woolf and Torsten Brugge

In their dialogues with participants Torsten and Padma support spiritual seekers through traditional as well as modern approaches of self-enquiry to awaken to the inner freedom of our true nature and ground ourselves in that. To that end they also make their experience in Enneagram-work, Buddhist meditation, transpersonal psychology and other approaches available. 

The main transmission, however, consists in the message of Sri Ramana Maharshi: ‘We already are the formless, silent Awareness before, during and after all transient appearances. When we rediscover that, our limited sense of I dissolves and the natural bliss of our true nature shines forth.’” 

To watch a video of Torsten and Padma’s response to the question, “Many western seekers come to India looking for enlightenment as if it is an experience. What is enlightenment? Go to this video link here.

Shiva - The Mystic Night 

We conceive God as glory, as creativity and as austerity. Vishnu is glory and magnificence, Brahma is creativity force, and Shiva is austerity and renunciation. You might have heard it said that God is the embodiment of six attributes of which renunciation is one. You will be wondering how God can renounce things. He is not a Sannyasin. He is not an ascetic like a Vairagin or a Sadhu. What is He going to renounce? How do you conceive Shiva as an austere Yogin or a renunciate? What does He renounce? The all-pervading Almighty, what has He to give or abandon? Here is the secret of what renunciation is! It is not renunciation of anything, because there is nothing outside Him; renunciation does not mean abandonment of object. If that had been the definition of renunciation, that cannot apply to God. God does not renounce or abandon any object, because all objects are a part of His Cosmic Body. Then how do you represent God as an embodiment of Vairagya (dispassion)? 

Lord Shiva and his Goddess

Bhagavan, who is endowed with 'Bhaga' or glories of a sixfold nature, is also embodiment of Vairagya. Do you identify Him with a Sannyasin, possessing nothing? No, never. God is the possessor of all things. Then, how can you call Him a renunciate, a Sannyasin or a Vairagin? The secret behind the concept or the consciousness of Vairagya, renunciation is here, in the identification of this attribute with God. It is only when we interpret things in terms of God that things become clear. Otherwise, we get confused. We cannot know what goodness is, we cannot know what evil is, we cannot know what virtue is, unless we refer all these values of life to the concept of God in His Perfection. The only standard of reference for us in all matters of life's values, is the existence of God. So, the concept of renunciation, which has been very much misused, also gets rectified, clarified and purified when it is understood with reference to the existence of God whose special manifestation, in this context, is known as Lord Shiva. 

To continue reading this narrative go to this link here:

Sani Pradosham Arunachaleswarar Temple, 20 July 2013

The second Pradosham of July, 2013 fell on a Saturday and is thus known as Shani Pradosham or Shani Pradosham Vrata. According to Hindu astrology Saturn is known to affect one adversely on occasions when it placed in a certain position in one's horoscope. A prayer to God, especially on Saturdays, is said to mitigate one’s hardships. Thus, it is believed that by observing a Vrata (vow) and offering prayers to Lord Shiva on Shani Pradosham, one can escape from the ill effects of Lord Shan (one of the Navagrahas or nine celestial Gods). 

Nandi at Arunachaleswarar Temple

Pradosham fast is observed from sunrise to sunset and ends with the evening puja. Since the name Pradosham literally means ‘a period just before sunset and after sunset’, the Pradosham period for prayers is from 1.5 hours before sunset and 1 hour after sunset. While most devotees prefer observing a strict fast by refraining from food and drinking only water, some devotees practice a partial fast by consuming fruits and water. Nonetheless, the strictness of the fast totally depends on the devotees. Even after offering the evening prayers, devotees eat only the Prasad and recommence with eating proper food only the next morning. During the day of the fast, devotees visit Shiva temples and offer pujas and chant mantras. 

Circumambulation inside Temple grounds

On Pradosham Day Puja is performed on Pradosham kaal. This Pradosham kaal is exactly for 2 hours and 24 minutes. Pradosham kaal means twilight period. The twilight period starts approximately 1.5 hours before sunset and ends 1 hour after the sunset. During this period, the devotees believe that God Shiva and Parvati are most happy and will satisfy prayers asked during the puja. 

Large Crowds attend the twice monthly Pradosham

The Gods on circumambulation

A story about Shani Pradosham Vrata follows goes as follows:-

Shani Pradosham Vrata Mahatmyam

. . . At the place known as Kurvapur there lived a learned Brahmin, His wife's name was Ambika. She gave birth to many children but, except the last one, none of the others survived. Unfortunately, that boy who survived, was dull headed. All efforts of his father to teach him were of no avail, as the boy had no grasping power at all. This was a cause of frustration and anxiety to the parents. The father died in dejection. Having no support, the son and mother were thrown into penury and had no means of livelihood. They had to take to begging and had to leave a very hard and miserable life. In despair they both decided to end their lives by throwing themselves into the river. As they approached the river bank with the object of putting end to their lives, the woman saw Sripada Sri Vallabha who came there for his bath. 

Sripada Vallabha

Seeing a halo around his face and divinity in his looks, the mother’s aching heart was soothed, and her fatalistic desperation was overcome by newborn peace, hope and joy in her heart. The compassion and love in Sripada's looks - love surpassing even that of a thousand mother's instilled and charged new life in her depressed and broken heart. She fell at his feet and vented out her anguish, saying, "How I wish I will have a son like you in my next birth at least." "So be it, mother!" said Sri Vallabha. He added, "But you will have to observe a particular Vrata; you will have to worship Lord Maheswara in the evenings on Trayodasi Thithi days coinciding with the Saturdays called Sani Pradosham. It is a powerful Vrata, and if dutifully performed, it will certainly endow you a son like Lord Krishna Himself." He narrated the following anecdote:- 

“Once upon a time, there lived a king named Chandrasen in Ujjain. He had a friend by name of Manibhadra, an ascetic and who was deeply devoted to Lord Maheshwara. Lord Maheshwara, very pleased with Manibhadra's devotion, gave him the celestial gem in the shape of Marakatha Linga. This gem, by its mere touch, could turn iron into gold, and fulfill any wish of the person who wore it. Manibhadra gifted the gem to Chandrasena, which bought prosperity to his people and kingdom. All the kings and people of other regions came to hear about the gem. Some of the neighboring kings wanted to get possession of the gem, and they plotted and invaded Ujjain. That day happened to be Sani Trayodasi day, and the king, was his wont, was engaged in worship in the Siva Temple. Although he was told about the invasion of his kingdom by the enemy kings, he remained unperturbed and unmoved, and did not leave from his place of worship. 

One of the cowherd boys saw the King's worship, and he also was seized with a desire to worship likewise. He picked up a round stone and started worshiping it as Shiva Linga. It was getting late in the night, but the boy remained totally absorbed in the Puja. As the boy did not return home, while all his companions returned to their homes, his mother felt worried. She came searching for him, and found him performing worship. She asked him to stop the Puja and return home along with her instantly. But the boy refused to move from there. 

The furious mother threw out what she believed to be a stone, which the lad had been worshiping as Shiva Linga. The boy distraught at the sacrilege committed by his mother in her anger, wished to atone for her sin by giving up his own life. 

 

Lord Shiva moved by the sincere anguish of the boy, appeared before him in the form of the Linga, dazzling with a million Sun's effulgence. From this manifestation of the Jyotirlinga, emerged the Mahakaleshwar Temple. 

 

Mahakaleshwar Temple

The boy prayed to Siva to pardon his mother for the sacrilege she had committed. Lord Shiva said the boy's mother had already earned great merit as she had witnessed the Puja which he (the boy) had been. 

Meanwhile the brilliance of the light, emanating from the Jyotirlinga was spreading far and wide, far up to the horizon in all directions. The Kings attacking the city saw the marvel and realised that divine protection was there on Ujjain and it's King. Thus peace was made and Ujjain remained safe, all due to the power of Shani Pradosham Puja. 

The king made the shepherd ruler of his community and gifted him many villages to rule. The penitent mother of was transformed by witnessing the emergence of the Jyotirlingam and in her next birth she was born as Yashoda. As foretold by Lord Shiva, she became the foster-mother of Lord Sri Krishna. This was the merit she earned by merely witnessing the Sani Pradosham Puja being done by her son. Had she done the Puja herself, Lord Krishna would have been born to herself as her own son.” 

Sripada Sri Vallabha finally said to Ambika, "if you do the Shani Pradosha Puja devotedly and regularly, you will certainly bear God himself as your child in your next life." The sage then blessed Ambika's son. With the mere touch of Sripada, the boy became fully enlightened and al wisdom and knowledge dawned on him. The boy became proficient in all the scriptures and his mother was made happy beyond all measure. 

[From: Sri Guru Charitra] 

Teertham 2013 Aani Bramothsavam Festival

The below photographs were taken at the Ayyankulam Tank in front of the Arunagirinathar Temple a few minutes walk from Arunachaleswarar Temple. The idols are being bathed at the teertham on the tenth and last day of the 2013 Aani Bramothsavam Festival. 

To those unfamiliar with the very beautiful and recently restored Arunagirinathar Temple, I am posting additional photographs of the third oldest Shiva Temple at Arunachala. 

Arunachala Darshan from Arunagirinathar Temple. Raja Gopruam at right

An ancient Temple that has an intricate relationship with Arunachaleswarar Temple and the Hill. It is at this Temple that the last three days of Deepam Festival are celebrated when the Gods are taken on elaborately decorated floats onto the large tank. 

If you take time to walk around the perimeter of the Temple Tank, you will be rewarded with interesting and fascinating sights of a number of obscure but powerful shrines and Temples. The view also of Arunachala is quite sublime from most aspects around the Ayyankulam Tank.

Fascinating, ancient Arunagirinathar Temple

Navagraha Shrine at Arunagirinathar Temple

Arunagirinathar Temple has powerful sanctum sanctorums dedicated to Lord Shiva and the Goddess. It also has my favourite Navagraha Shrine at Tiruvannamalai, which includes a most ornate and beautiful representation of Lord Surya. 

Lord Surya with his Mounts

Powerful and Beautiful Navagraha statues

To read more about this Temple and Tank, go to this link here. And to explore the perimeter of the Ayyankulam Tank, go to this link here. 

Lord Nataraja Abhishekam

The below sequence of photos are from a recently concluded function at Arunachaleswarar Temple. The photographs are of the Sri Nataraja Utsavam and of his abhishekam. During the festival Lord Nataraja is taken jewelled and decorated to the One Thousand Pillar Hall. 

To find out more about the significance of Shiva as the manifestation of Lord Nataraja, please go the earlier posting at this link here. 

However it is Chidambaram one of five holy Shiva Sthalams that fully celebrates festivals dedicated to Lord Nataraja. Chidambaram represents the element space. The other four Shiva Sthalams are: Thiruvanaikaval Jambukeswara (water), Kanchi Ekambareswara (earth), Tiruvannamalai Arunachaleswarar (fire) and Kalahasti Nathar (wind). 

Lord Nataraja Sandal Abhiskeham

Bath of Turmeric

Vibhutti abhiskeham of the idol

Idol fully covered with vibhutti

Milk abhiskeham of the idols

Dancing with Shiva 

The world is seen as it truly is—sacred—when we behold Siva's cosmic dance. Everything in the universe, all that we see, hear and imagine, is movement. Galaxies soar in movement; atoms swirl in movement. All movement is Siva's dance. When we fight this movement and think it should be other than it is, we are reluctantly dancing with Siva. We are stubbornly resisting, holding ourselves apart, criticizing the natural processes and movements around us. 

 It is by understanding the eternal truths that we bring all areas of our mind into the knowledge of how to accept what is and not wish it to be otherwise. Once this happens, we begin to consciously dance with Siva, to move with the sacred flow that surrounds us, to accept praise and blame, joy and sorrow, prosperity and adversity in equanimity, the fruit of understanding. We are then gracefully, in unrestrained surrender, dancing with Siva. The Vedas state, "The cosmic soul is truly the whole universe, the immortal source of all creation, all action, all meditation. Whoever discovers Him, hidden deep within, cuts through the bonds of ignorance even during his life on earth." 

[By Satguru Sivaya Subramaniyaswami] 

Guru Poornima 2013

The guru is Brahma, the guru is Vishnu, the guru is the Great God Shiva. 

The guru is the Supreme Being right before one's very eyes. 

To that guru do I reverently bow. 

5th day of Aani Brahamosthsavam 2013

The below photographs are of the evening procession of the fifth day in which the Gods seated on Rishaba (bull) Vaganam perform circumambulation of the Temple perimeter streets. 

In these two photographs, the procession is travelling northward on Tiruvoodal Street. 

To view the programme for Aani Brahamosthsavam a 10 day Festival celebrated at Arunachaleswarar Temple here at Tiruvannamalai, please visit this earlier link.

Flag Hoisting: Ani Brahmostavam, 2013

Today Sunday between 6.30 a.m. to 8.05, marked Flag Hoisting at Arunachaleswarar Temple to observe the beginning of the 10 day Festival, Ani Brahmostavam. 

“This festival commences on the 21st day of the Tamil month of Ani and runs through 10 days of Dakshinayana which marks the beginning of the sun’s movement in a southern direction.” 

To read more about the meaning of this Festival, and to view the Festival programme please go to an early posting at this link here. 

Readying the Flag for Hoisting

Hoisting the Flag at Arunachaleswarar Temple

The Gods on Circumambulation

Postings: 1st week of July, 2013

Below are links and short extracts of postings on my various Arunachala Blogs from the first week of July: Saturday June 29, 2013 to Saturday July 6, 2013. 

Arunachala Grace

Pradosham Removal of Sins: Photographs of July 5, 2013 Pradosham as observed at the Arunachaleswarar Temple, Tiruvannamalai. 

Arunachala Samudra Website: Inviting support towards the development of the Arunachala Samudra Website

Devotion to the Guru: Words of spiritual guidance from Swami Satchidananda of Anandashram

Swami Satchidananda and a Question: Personal experience of interaction with Swami Satchidananda in 1985 and a question posed to him. 

Tiruvannamalai, India—Travel Diary: Video about a group of Russian Pilgrims and their days at Arunachala.

Arunachala Birds 

Working Bird: Photographs of modern day falconry with Rufus the Wimbledon American Harris Hawk.

Nests of Indian Birds: Part One of descriptions and photographs of various Indian Birds’ nests.

Arunachala Mystic 

Soma Sutra Pradakshina: Explanation of how to perform Soma Sutra Pradakshina at time of Pradosham. 

Mother Umadeviar: Vignettes of Mother Umadeviar who was renowned as a channel to Sri Seshadri Swamigal 

Pradosham: "The Removal of Sins"

The below photographs are of the July 5, 2013 Pradosham as observed at the Arunachaleswarar Temple, Tiruvannamalai. 

Pradosham is a time especially meant for praying to Lord Shiva, as it is the time that Shiva absorbs devotees’ karma. Thus, it is believed that praying during the time of Pradosham will free us from sins and eventually lead to moksha. The twilight, Pradosham, marks the end of the day light and beginning of night. The day is ruled by Gods, angels and saints while night is ruled by evil spirits. 

Nandi the Bull at Big Temple Flagstaff

It was the Devas that approached Shiva during Pradosham to get relief from the demons. In their distress, Shiva and his mount Nandi assisted the Devas and from this legend has emerged the pratice of worshipping Shiva along with his sacred mount Nandi, at the time of Pradosham. 

Circumambulating the Shiva Sannidhi

For more complete information about Pradosham, please check out my earlier posts available at this link here.

To learn how to perform (during Pradosham) the special type of circumambulation called Soma Sutra Pradakshina, please view this link.

Development of Arunachala Samudra Website

If you haven’t already visited Arunachala Samudra, please do so at this link. It is hoped that the website which currently has around 85 pages of content will have close to 200 pages of content by the end of 2013. But to reach this goal, Arunachala Samudra needs to receive loving financial support from Arunachala Devotees. 

Arunachala Samudra is not affiliated to any particular guru or ashram. It is an independent Website dedicated to becoming a full, definitive information resource of the sacred Hill. It will include a broad range of narratives, videos, audios and photographs. In addition over the coming months a number of beautiful interactive programmes will be uploaded onto Arunachala Samudra to inspire devotees to maintain and develop their connection with the flow and power of the Hill. 

Arunachala Samudra Eri

If you wish to help with the continuing development of Arunachala Samudra, your donation will be gratefully received through the PayPal Facility located at the left side of this page. If you wish to donate using some other method, please get in touch with Arunachala Grace at the email contact located at the top left to this page.

The above photograph is in high resolution and suitable for enlargement and printing. Right click photograph to view.

Devotion to the Guru

In the previous post I talked about a personal experience with Swami Satchidananda, a great saint with strong ties to Arunachala. In the below narrative Swami writes very beautifully about the power of devotion to the Guru. 

My Masters and Yogiji 

“Coming to Anandashram in January 1949 was like returning home, my real home. From the next day of my arrival at the Ashram, I kept myself busy serving the Masters Swami Ramdas (Beloved Papa) and Mother Krishnabai (Pujya Mataji) in every possible way. In a very short time I became one with the Ashram. They taught me that Sadhana was not merely sitting still in meditation with closed eyes, but also living a normal life with constant God-remembrance and doing all acts dedicating them to Him, thus making every movement of the Sadhaka an act or worship. Gradually I understood that, they being everything and beyond, serving them meant serving everybody else also. I found in Beloved Papa and Mataji my divine parents and in all the Ashramites and visitors my brothers and sisters. I found real peace and joy in life, the like of which I had never enjoyed till then. 

I came to them absolutely raw and shapeless like a lump of clay. I surrendered to them. They graciously took me in hand, pressed, crushed and moulded me to give shape to make me their instrument to serve all. Beloved Papa also gave me a lot of opportunities to move with his spiritual children who came to him as serious seekers and later became Mahatmas like Yogi Ramsuratkumarji Maharaj. How from an apparently possessive and obstinate nature, the Yogiji who took initiation from Beloved Papa, rose to the height of the Divine child of Arunachala is something for all the ardent Sadhakas to emulate. Not caring for even the basic requirements of the body, he threw himself totally at the feet of his Master whom he always addresses as 'my father'. lt is rare to see such intense vairagya. 

For nearly four decades, while he continued to deny himself of any of the normal needs, he became a source of solace and protection for innumerable devotees, more so in Tamil Nadu. His surrender to his Guru was total. He always used to say, "My father alone exists. Nothing else, Nobody else'. Even after dropping his body, the Yogiji continues to inspire many in the path of devotion. I still remember the touching reference he made at the time of our meeting at the guest-house of Sri Ramanasramam, Tiruvannamalai after a long gap of four decades. Answering somebody whether he was waiting for a few hours, he said not hours but for forty years. 

To meet saints is a blessing. To be with them is a greater blessing. To be given a chance to serve them is a great privilege.” 

[Swami Satchidananda]

Swami Satchidananda and the Question

Throughout my life I have been a tennis aficionado; in my youth I used to play the game regularly but now that I am older and more sedate, I have become an “armchair” enthusiast. So when Wimbledon, the pre-eminent Tennis Tournament, comes along, I enjoy keeping up-to-date with what’s happening. And it is also during the time of each years' Wimbledon that I am reminded of a delightful experience that happened in 1985. 

In that year I was fortunate enough to be able to spend two months at Anandashram, Kanhangad, Kerala. Many devotees of Arunachala know of this beautiful ashram and of its long, loving links with the Hill. During my stay there I spent time with Mother Krishnabai and Swami Satchidananda and thereafter over the years occasionally wrote to Swamiji with spiritual questions. Even though he was probably inundated with duties, he always found the time to write lovingly and at length in response to my questions. Because of Yogi Ramsuratkumar’s link with his Guru; Swami Ramdas and Anandashram, Swami Satchidananda was invited as revered guest to inaugurate the opening of Yogi Ramsuratkumar’s ashram at Tiruvannamalai. Sadly on October 12th, 2008, Swami Satchidananda cast of his physical body in which he had served humanity for over sixty years. 

Swami Satchidananda

As to that delightful experience that occurred in July, 1985 it goes something like this:- 

As Anandashram was quiet and with very few visitors, I was able to spend most of the day and evenings with Mother Krishnabai in her room. When there was darshan, a procession of devotees would come briefly to Mother (who was sitting on her cot), to speak privately and ask for her blessings. At other times a small number of pilgrims would sit at Mother’s feet while she sat on her cot and we would all chant mantras with her. Less frequently I would have the opportunity to sit in Mother’s room, silent and for all intent and purpose quite invisible. 

One evening very late, was such an occasion. Mother Krishnabai was sitting on her cot and only she and I, were in the room. It was a beautiful evening, cool and silent with just a faint noise of crickets coming from the lush gardens outside. The door opened and Swami Satchidananda entered. He moved to Mother’s cot and started talking with her in Malayalam. As they talked their eyes sparkled with intelligence and merriment and their faces shone liked burnished gold. As I sat there, like the proverbial “fly on the wall,” I was taken up by the other worldly beauty of the moment. The room seemed to be expanding and contracting, and the bodies of the two saints appeared to be shimmering in golden effulgence. Their conversation went on for a long time and I just sat there revelling in the experience of watching these two great Masters interacting on Mount Olympus. It was an extraordinary moment. Afterwards I wondered to myself, “What could they have been talking about?” How could it have been anything but the most profound. Maybe they were discussing some great spiritual conundrum that night. My mind was busy with possibilities!

The next day, when meeting Swami Satchidananda, I enquired, “Swamiji, please don’t misunderstand my reason for asking, but last night when you visited Mother Krishnabai in her room, you probably didn’t notice me but I was there and it seemed to me that some extraordinary conversation was occurring between the two of you. Will you please tell me what it was you were you talking about?” 

Swami Satchidananda paused recollecting the moment, and then burst out laughing. “Oh no! It was not like that, it was nothing earth shattering. Yesterday evening I visited Mother to tell her that I had been listening to the World Service radio coverage of Wimbledon tennis, and that a 17 year old German boy, Boris Becker, had just won the Men’s Championship.” 

Like Sri Sathya Sai Baba would often say, “Spiritual Life—no pressure, only pleasure.” Thank you Swami Satchidananda for a wonderful experience to always remember you by.

Tiruvannamalai, India - Travel Diary

This video is about a group of Russian pilgrims (male and female) arriving at Tiruvannamalai in a coach, which documents their experiences over the course of a couple of days.

The video is about 55 minutes long. Below I have listed a guide to specific parts of the video, and depending on how much time you have, you might want to directly access your preferred interests.

Video Sequence

Beginning: Coach to Tiruvannamalai. Stopping at village for visit with Swami Velliananda Swami. Journey continues. Looking at Kolams.

Minute 13: Visit to Ramana Ashram, including VERY beautiful coverage of puja at the Ramana Samadhi 

Minute 16: Group walks to Skanda ashram, sitting there

Minute 23: Shopping in Ramana Nagar and walking about streets

Minute 25: Visit to Pachaiamman Temple, footage taken inside the Sanctum Sanctorum

Minute 26: At water tank, having bath with nearby housewife washing clothes

Minute 28: Visit to Virupaksha Cave

Minute 29.30: Sadhus on street. Walking on roadway.

Minute 30: Agreeing rickshaw price. Visit to x-ray clinic. Visit to Doctor

Minute 38.30: Evening at Car Street at Big Temple. Procession passes by.

Minute 40: Lunch at Ramana Ashram

Minute 42: Walking on Chengam Road in Ramana Nagar, stone cutter lingam order.

Minute 43: Evening Puja at Ramana Ashram Samadhi. Spending time in Samadhi Hill

Minute 46: Ironing Man

Minute 47: Taking food

Minute 50: Evening Ramana Ashram—chanting in Samadhi Hall

Minute 53: Coach on girivalam roadway. Stop for tea. Leaving.

Words about this Video from the Russian Video Producer

“Without words, without explanation, without voice-over this is a spotless actual flood of reality that takes you instantly to this place. Using a live documentary camera, I tried to just watch and as much as possible not interfere. I did not make any specific movie to necessarily fit into the expectations of a clean, bright sacred place. 

Tiruvannamalai is a city which is located around one of the most sacred and revered places in India - Arunachala hill. There are Temples of Shiva, an ashram of Sri Ramana Maharshi, and a multitude of Shrines, Temples and sacred place—it is a Holy city with life around it.

India is a very photogenic country and while shooting the video, one slowly seizes this Indian stream and watching this you begin to disappear and you're not here, you're back there somewhere at Arunachala. 

It does not seem abnormal that the local folk work in their shops and in the evening go to Puja at the Arunachaleswarar Temple. Waking up early in the morning with a cotton dhoti wrapped around the waist, dressed appropriately for the unbearably hot day ahead, and yet wearing a shawl over the shoulders because it is early morning and still cold. Performing giripradakshina around Arunachala and in the evening visiting Ramana Ashram to listen to the chanting in the Samadhi Hill, seems just like a day in a normal life.”

Postings: 4th week June, 2013

Below are links and short extracts of postings on my various Arunachala Blogs from the fourth week of June: Saturday June 22, 2013 to Saturday June 29, 2013. 

 

Arunachala Grace 

Ani Brahmostavam: Invitation for upcoming Festival at Arunachaleswarar Temple.

Samudram Eri: Early morning walk on the dry lakebed, Samudram Eri. 

Ramana Ashram Clinic: Narrative and photographs of Ramana Ashram Dispensary.

Arunachala Birds 

The Southern Grey Shrike: Information and photographs of an occasional visitor to the Arunachala area, the Southern Grey Shrike 

Arunachala Mystic

Arunachala Mystic Relationship between Saints: Connection between the Arunachala saints’ Seshadri Swamigal and Ramana Maharshi 

Arunachala Land 

Silk Cotton Tree: Narrative and photographs of the tallest tree in Arunachala.

Ani Brahmostavam

Arulmigu Arunachaleswarar Tirukovil 

Ani Brahmostavam Invitation 

Festival starts on 7.07.2013 

Right Click on above to view enlargements



Flag Hoisting: Sunday 6.30 a.m. to 8.05

The 10 Days Festival includes morning and evening procession of Gods  as follows:

06.07.2013 Saturday Vinayaka Procession 

07.07.2013 Sunday Vinayaka, Chinanaynar, Amman Processions 

Days from 08.07.2013 Monday to Tuesday week, 16.07.2013
Processions dedicated to Vinayaka and Chandrasekhara

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This festival commences on the 21st day of the Tamil month of Ani and runs through 10 days of Dakshinayana which marks the beginning of the sun’s movement in a southern direction. 

A year in the Hindu calendar consists of two Ayanas (which signfy the sun’s direction) that are divided into two periods of six months each. Summer solstice which falls in the month of June (corresponding to Ani) marks the beginning of Dakshinayana, which means in the Earth’s sky the Sun begins to trace a southward movement in the northern hemisphere of the planet.The Uttarayana period which begins on January 14th or 15th ends with Dakshinayana Punyakalam. The Dakshinayanam period ends on Makar Sankranti (i.e. Uttarayana day). 

The Ayana from the beginning of Dakshinayana to the beginning of Uttarayana is known as the sadhana pada. In terms of sadhana, Dakshinayana is for purification, Uttarayana is for enlightenment. 

In the northern hemisphere of the planet, Uttarayana is the time of fulfilment and Dakshinayana is the time of receptivity. They are also understood as – the first six months from January to June to be masculine in nature, and the duration of the southern run corresponds to the feminine phase of the Earth. 

Uttarayana and Dakshinayana have a significant impact on how the human system functions and acordingly aspirants shift their activities in relation to the dominant solar influence. 

Samudram Morning Walking

The mornings are a beautiful time to go walking on the Samudram as its cool and fresh and the perfect weather to enjoy time outdoors. If its early enough, goat and cow herders have not yet brought their livestock for the day's grazing on the short grass of the reserve land so the area is quite deserted .

Below are photos of my doggies enjoying their quiet time on the dry lake bed -- quiet time which I think they appreciate as much as any person. It certainly makes them calm and more peaceful for the rest of the day.

I have six dogs, 4 males and 2 females and five of them appear in the below photographs -- with the remaining girl Holly rummaging around in some nearby bushes.

The thorny trees around the Samudram, also prevalent throughout the Tiruvannamalai area, are known as Acacia Arabica (Nilotica) which is a hardy multi-purpose tree. To read more about the Nilotica, go to my Arunachala Land Blog at this link here.

Wally who prefers a solitary life

Winnie (with red collar) and Muffin

Boy triplets from left; Wally, Caspar, Oscar. Muffin right

The point of everyone's interest

Arunachala greener since recent rains

Hillock in foreground is site of a Murugan Shrine