King Vallalan and Pallikonda Pattu

King Vallalan was an ardent Saivite and during his stays in Tiruvannamalai made many improvements to the Arunachaleswarar Temple. Tiruvannamalai was near the geographical centre of his empire and this encouraged him to make protracted stays there, particularly after the destruction of Dwarasamudra. 

Vallala Gopuram, Arunachaleswarar Temple

It seems that during the last fifteen years of his reign he was constantly in residence at Tiruvannamalai. 

King Vallalan, Arunachaleswarar Temple

In a concluding verse on King Vallalan in the Arunachala Puranam, Lord Siva undertakes to perform King Vallalan’s funeral rites for him, a task which is normally performed by the son of the deceased. The promise is still remembered in Tiruvannamalai and each year King Vallalan’s funeral is re-enacted to commemorate the event. 

The Lord on his way to river

In the month of Masi the Temple priests read out the news of King Vallalan’s death to Arunachaleswarar. Then the image is carried in procession to the village of Pallikonda Pattu, about three kilometres from Tiruvannamalai, for the performance of the King’s annual sraddha rites. 

Puja at riverbank

Pallikonda Pattu

The connection between Pallikonda Pattu and the life and death of King Vallalan is no longer known. It is unlikely that he lived there since his palace is thought to have been located about a mile to the east of the main Temple. Until about a hundred years ago the last remains of what was reputed to be his palace could still be seen there, but around the turn of the century the land was levelled and cultivated and the railway line from Villupuram to Tirupathi now runs across the site. 

Kuthu Velaku Puja, Kalayana Mandapam, Big Temple

Around January 14 each year marks the beginning of the Tamil month Thai. As Thai is regarded as an auspicious period, each Friday of the month is celebrated with special pujas in many Temples in Tamil Nadu. 

On the third Friday of Thai month, Kuthu Velaku Puja is performed at Arunachaleswarar Koil here at Tiruvannamalai. This year the date for the Puja fell on January 31, 2014. 

The below photographs are of ladies performing their individual pujas in the Kalyana Mandapam which is located in the Third Prakaram opposite the Siva Sannidhi. 

January 28 Pradosham, Big Temple

Below are several photographs of the Tuesday, January 28, 2014 Pradosham performed at Arunachaleswarar Temple. 

Big Nandi

Flagpost outside Siva Sannidhi

Large crowds attend all Pradoshams at Big Temple

Animal Sanctuary at Arunachala

I visited the Arunachala Animal Sanctuary and Rescue Shelter today to check up on the two baby squirrels I wrote about in a recent posting at this link here. The progress of the squirrels is uneven, they both have their eyes open but one of the babies is plumper and healthier than the other.

In the above photograph Doctor Raja (in the plaid shirt) and Raja a long term and much valued attendant at the Shelter are feeding the little squirrels with a dampened wad of tissue soaked in milk. I asked Dr. Raju why they didn’t use a dropper or syringe (without needle). He informed me that when using such implements there is a real danger the wee creature will aspirate by taking in the liquid too quickly.

Arunachala Animal Sanctuary is a no-kill shelter which permanently houses a number of seriously injured animals. As well as a sanctuary for injured or sick animals, it also performs neutering operations on dogs and cats. 

Now that road surfaces have been improved all around Tiruvannamalai, drivers are keeping their foot on the accelerator and even around the girivalam roadway, auto rickshaw and car drivers are driving at flat at speeds. This is not safe for you as a passenger and particularly dangerous for the many animals living near the girivalam and other roadways around Tiruvannamalai. 

Below is a very sad photograph of a 10 year old monkey who was run over by a car and is now paralysed. The shelter is his Hospice as he is not expected to live much longer. The monkey is not in pain and is receiving loving attention and very good food including lots of tasty fruits (the seeds in his cage are the remains of recently eaten watermelon). 

If you are in a autorickshaw and the driver is speeding, please tell them to SLOW DOWN. Make sure the driver pays attention and does what is requested . . . thank you . . . you may have prevented yet another monkey or dog being paralysed or killed. 

As of June 1, 2013 the statistics at the Shelter are as follows:- 

Rescues Estimated 1,504 
Dogs Sterlized 5,101 
Anti-Rabies Injections 8,341 
Clinic Visits 20,063 
In Patients Treated 59,685 
Non Dogs Treated 1,756 
Dog Adoptions 614 

Julie, her story is in below link

To read about some of the animal rescues performed by the Shelter visit the section on their website entitled Great Dog Stories at this link here. 

If you would like to participate in the work and service of Arunachala Animal Sanctuary please visit their donation page at this link here.

Paul Brunton and Arunachala

In the previous posting I wrote about the upcoming restoration of Paul Brunton's Cottage at Palakottu, west of Ramana Ashram and at the base of Arunachala. To read the posting go to this link here. Below is a short biography and extract from his famed book, "In Search of Secret India." 

Paul Brunton (1898-1981) was a British philosopher, mystic, and traveller. He left a successful journalistic career to live among yogis, mystics, and holy men, and studied a wide variety of Eastern and Western esoteric teachings. With his entire life dedicated to an inward and spiritual quest, Brunton felt charged with the task of communicating his experiences to others and, as the first person to write accounts of what he learned in the East from a Western perspective, his works had a major influence on the spread of Eastern mysticism to the West. He was also one of the first Westerners to first bring Arunachala and Sri Ramana Maharshi to greater public attention. 

Pencil drawing of Paul Brunton in his Cottage

The following extract taken from Paul Brunton 1936 book ‘A Message from Arunachala,’ describes the Hill’s appearance and antiquity in a way which has not been bettered: 

The Hill

"Somewhere in South India there is a lonely Hill which has been honoured with a high status in Hindu sacred tradition and legendary history. It lies near the same latitude as French-ruled Pondicherry, yet does not enjoy the latter’s advantage of catching the cooling coastal breezes. A fierce sun daily flays it with darting rays. Its form is uncouth and ungainly – a tumbled, awkward thing whose sides are jagged and broken. Whose face is a mass of jumbled rocks and thorny scrubs. Snakes, centipedes and scorpions lurk beneath the crevices of its multitudinous stones. During the dry summer months, cheetahs make their bold appearance with dusk, descending the Hill in a snarling quest of water. 

The whole peak offers no pretty panorama of regular outline, straight sides and balanced proportions, but rather the reverse. Even its base wanders aimlessly about on an eight-mile circuit, with several spurs and foot Hills, as though unable to make up its mind as to when it shall come to an end. Its substance is nothing but igneous and laterite rock. 

A geologist friend from America who visited me lately proclaimed Arunachala to have been thrown up by the earth under the stress of some violent volcanic eruption in the dim ages before even the coal-bearing strata were formed. 

In fact, he dated this rocky mass of granite back to the earliest epoch of the history of our planet’s crust, that epoch which long preceded the vast sedimentary formations in which fossil records of plants and animals have been preserved. It existed long before gigantic saurians of the prehistoric world moved their ungainly forms through the primeval forests that covered our early earth. He went even further and made it contemporaneous with the formation of the very crust of the earth itself. Arunachala, he asserted, was almost as hoary and as ancient as our planetary home itself. It was indeed a remnant of the vanished continent of sunken Lemuria, of which the indigenous legends still keep a few memories. 

The Tamil traditions not only speak of the vast antiquity of this and other Hills, but assert that the Himalayas were not thrown up till later. Untold centuries, therefore, pressed their weight upon this time-defying pile which rose so abruptly from the plain. 

And yet this unbeautiful and doddering greybeard among heights took my heart in pawn a few years ago and would not let me redeem the pledge. It held me captive in an intangible and indefinable thrall. It imprisoned me from the first moment when my eyes glanced at it till the last reluctant turning away of the head. I could no longer regard myself as a free man when such invisible chains clanged around my feet."

Restoration of the Paul Brunton Compound at Palakottu

The below photographs are of the Paul Brunton Cottage located at Palakottu. Many sadhus lived in the Palakottu area (located directly west of Ramana Ashram) during the lifetime of the Maharshi. In those days there used to be a colony of varying types of residential structures which housed such personages as Muruganar, Lakshmana Sharma, Paul Brunton and Annamalai Swami.

Entrance to the Paul Brunton Compound

Compound and House have been enlarged over the years

In more recent times various pilgrims have lived in cottages around the Palakottu Tank. Sharon Muensch in December 1973 wrote of her short time living in the Brunton Cottage: “A few days later I moved into Brunton’s Cottage in Palakottu. Back then there were three simple huts in Palakottu, grouped around the water tank. There was direct access to the Ashram through the back wall. None of the huts had plumbing. And we fetched water from the street taps and walked out to the Hill for our toilet.” 

 

Brunton Compound

Main house and outlying cottages need renovation

Part of the Brunton Cottage

  

Subsequent to Sharon living in the Brunton house, a lady from Germany popularly known as Helga established a Trust which took over the Brunton House, built a Ganesha Temple and created a sadhu colony, in which a number of permanent sadhus are currently housed. Helga died several years ago after a long and happy life in her home at the foot of Arunachala.

 

Ganesha Temple built by Helga's Trust

Adjacent Lord Iyyapan Shrine

Sadhu Compound created by Helga

 

Recently a Canadian French lady Jacqueline Jacques (of Helping the World Foundation) has taken the Brunton cottage on a long lease and plans to repair and renovate the cottage and compound and also ensure that the beautiful Palakottu Tank, which is believed never runs out of water, is maintained in pristine condition amidst its beautiful forest glade. 

Jacqueline and her associate Agasthya Ganesha

Palakottu Tank

Set in pretty glade

 

Trees surrounding the Brunton Compound

 

Peaceful, area frequented by a wide variety of birds

 

Palakottu adjacent to Ramana Ashram

Squirrel Drama

Had a drama in my house a couple of days ago. One or several of my darling doggies killed a squirrel in the house. I have a popular squirrel nesting spot in a light fixture in the dining room. Previously a nesting squirrel made a hole in the wire mesh of one of the windows (which I have left to allow unrestricted access for visiting nesting mothers). From the hole squirrel Mom jumps onto the window ledge, then door ledge then into the nest. Have watched the leap on several occasions and its surprisingly easy for adult squirrels to get in and out of the nest. 

Nest that was in the light fixture

One of the rescued baby squirrels

Have no idea why the squirrel got caught on the ground of my house, when she should have been swinging freely in the air, but done to death she was. Had quite a nasty turn when I came home and found her sprawled inert on the floor next to my bed – with my naughtiest dog Winnie looking VERY pleased with herself. 

What's better than one baby squirrel -- two little 'uns

The next day I heard squeaking from the nest. Called in a local handyman to climb a ladder and rescue the baby squirrels. Found two healthy but hungry little ones in the nesting box. The next day after getting permission from the Animal Hospital took them to the Sanctuary. Happy to report both baby squirrels are in good health. 

Dr Raju with squirrel nest inside cardboard box

Visit from Russian Group to Tiruvannamalai

This week a group of 18 arrived from Russia to enjoy a 10 day stay at Siva Sannidhi here at Arunachala. Its interesting to note how representatives from so many diverse countries and cultures are nowadays arriving in even larger numbers at Tiruvannamalai. For Arunachala Grace’s Russian readers, you can view the spiritual website of the leader of this group at this link here.

The group arrived from Mahabalipuram and on the 29th of this month will leave for a visit to Auroville.

Coach Arrives at Tiruvannamalai

16 seater with two additional seats in front

Driver cab in front

Using Google Translate, the posting of the group leader’s on her website regarding their spiritual tour of India reads: “Advaita, that is not two - duality. Advaita is a Sanskrit origin, and nowadays used to refer to the One Being, Reality. 

Traveling to India and not only acquainted with the Advaita masters from different countries, touching the teachings of the master left the body, have all contributed to the fact that the experience of non-duality, unity of all things naturally manifested. 

Satori or enlightenment spilled grace in life. The unity of all existence, presence, silence filled with love, understanding and outside the mind - all this is the true nature of every living being. 

This outlook on life, read about the Masters, the experience of enlightenment, materials and written words and sounding from the very essence of life, and therefore endowed with the power and presence.” 

Russian group

Heading towards Siva Sannidhi

Arunachala Grace arranged a local coach to pick up the Russian group at Mahabalipuram for their trip to Tiruvannamalai. It is safer and no more expensive to arrange transportation originating from Tiruvannamalai to pick up visitors at arrival point in India. Several weeks ago a lady on her way to Tiruvannamalai engaged a taxi from Chennai Airport to bring her to Arunachala. The taxi was involved in a serious accident hospitalising both the passenger and driver with injuries. 

Taxi drivers resident in Tiruvannamalai drive to and from Chennai airport and other spots many times a week and know the road and routes very well. The drivers and their families are also familiar to us, so engaging a local taxi from Tiruvannamalai is not the lottery ticket of hiring a taxi from Chennai. Arunachala Grace (email at top left of this page) is always happy to arrange car and/or coach transportation on behalf of visitors and pilgrims to this place. 

Postings on my Arunachala Blogs October 17, 2013 to January 17, 2014

Below are links and short extracts of postings on my various Arunachala Blogs from Thursday, October 17, 2013 to Friday, January 17, 2014 

Arunachala Grace 

Thiruvoodal Festival 2014, Pongal: Legends of the enactment of a martial tiff between Lord Shiva and his consort. Photographs

Happy Pongal 2014: Pongal Greetings from Arunachala Grace to all readers.

Garuda Puja, 12 January, 2014: Celebration and Puja of nesting Brahminy Kites on Samudram Eri. Photographs.

Animal Sanctuary Homam, January 2014: Homam performed at the Arunachala Animal Sanctuary and Rescue Shelter. Photographs.

January 10 -- Puja at Animal Shelter: Information about programme of upcoming puja to be performed at Animal Sanctuary.

Happy 2014 from Arunachala: Greetings and photographs on New Year’s Day 2014 from Arunachaleswarar Temple and Rajarajeshwari Temple, Girivalam Roadway

Rukku Gone on Holiday: Information about Rukku, our Temple elephant on her way to rejuvenation camp and vacation. Photographs.

Arudra Darshanam Nataraja Abhishekam: Legends and explanation of the Festival celebrating Cosmic Dance of Lord Nataraja. Photographs.

Special Puja, Arunachaleswarar Temple December 14, 2013: Information of Kalasa Abhishekam, Gaja Puja and Maha Rudra Pua performed at Arunachaleswarar Temple. Photographs

December 14, Arunachaleswarar Temple Pradosham: Photographs of the large crowd in attendance at Arunachaleswarar Temple for Pradosham.

Sri Ratu Peranda Visits Arunachaleswarar Temple: Information about the Head of Hinduism in Indonesia and photographs of his visit to our Big Temple. His Teachings. Links.

Holy Christmas to All: Greetings for Holy Season. Link to Arunachala jigsaw puzzles.

Arunachala Deepam Festival Photographs: Pictorial representation of the 2013 Deepam Festival celebrated at Tiruvannamalai. Photographs

Live TV coverage and online streaming video 2013 Karthigai Deepam: Online resources for live coverage of 2013 Deepam.

Hints for 2013 Karthigai Deepam: Hints to devotees travelling to Tiruvannamalai to attend the 2013 Karthigai Deepam festival.

Chariots on Big Street: Renovation being performed to chariots on Big Street. Photographs. Video.

Flag Hoisting, 2013 Arunachala Deepam Festival: Coverage of the beginning of the Deepam 2013 Festival at the Big Temple. Photographs

Deepam Cow Fair, Tiruvannamalai: Information about the annual cow and horse fair at Tiruvannamalai. Photographs of previous years.

2013 Arunachala Deepam Festival Schedule: Schedule and Information of the 2013 Deepam Festival at Tiruvannamalai. 

Deepam 2013 Clean-up: Preparations for the upcoming Festival at Arunachala. Photographs.

Arunachala Birds 

There is a Crow in my Garden: How to deal with pesky crows in the garden. Why crows are honoured in India. Lord Sani and his association with crows. Photographs.

Cattle Egret: Information about the widely seen Cattle Egret and its symbiotic relationship with other animals, including cattle. Photographs. Videos.

Arunachala Land 

Water Sustainability – Less Intensive Crops: Information about Tamil Nadu water situation. Farming in Tiruvannamalai District. Sand quarrying. Photographs.

Real Estate Market: Market in India and how oversupply is affecting real estate sales.

House Construction Costs: Sample new house 920 square feet and its costs. Reason for price escalation in building sector. Photographs.

Adiannamalai House -- More Photographs: House in Adiannamalai newly constructed additional photographs.

Adiannamalai House Photographs: Exterior shots of new house available in Adiannamalai.

Thiruvoodal Festival 2014, Pongal

For a full narrative of this Festival please visit my website Arunachala Samudra at this link here. 

The word 'Thiru' signifies; deity, sacred, holy and wealth and the word 'Voodal' actually means 'tiff' or 'petty quarrel', and represents the friction between the male and female in a love relationship which is consciously exacerbated. The distinguishing mark of Voodal is that it should arise and stay only for a brief period and not be prolonged as its focus is the bliss when the Voodal is withdrawn. 

The poem Thirukkural says in the chapters dedicated to 'kama' which is concentrated on the relationship between man and woman and the establishment of household and children, that; 'The way to amplify bliss through desire or relationship is through voodal. That ever present bliss you can only see when the tension comes and is withdrawn. It is like salt to food – beyond a certain limit it is lost completely.' Thirukurral explains the tiff as 'creation of a tension, which when released you have a bliss that is always present. It is the Voodal that helps one focus upon that.' 

Thus Thiruvoodal is enacted by Shiva and Parvati to convey social truths to their devotees. It takes place; inside the compound of Arunachaleswarar Temple, on the streets delineating the perimeter of the Temple, and on the girivalam pathway itself; by iconic representations of Shiva and Parvati. Thiruvoodal Festival is regarded in such high esteem that one of the perimeter roads has earned the special name Thiruvoodal Street by this convention.

Tiff between Gods on Thiruvoodal Street, perimeter Arunachaleswarar Temple

In order to placate Goddess Parvati after their tiff (thiruvoodal) and as night is approaching, Shiva agrees to circumambulate Arunachala. During this circumambulation, he meets Bhringi Rishi and grants him liberation which enrages Parvati who is angry with the sage for his refusal to worship her. Parvati’s anger, creates maya (Maya Swarupa), and from that maya emerge thieves who strip Shiva of his ornaments and clothes, whilst he is performing pradakshina. This stripping of Shiva is actually yearly enacted at the same spot (during Voodal Festival) upon the idol that is being carried around the Hill. 

Shiva explains to Parvati (through his emissary Sundarar) that, to satisfy the desire of devotees, he has taken a vow to appear in the form in which he is worshipped. In accordance with that vow he has given darshan to Bringi. He further tells his emissary Sundarar to convey to Parvati; 

‘My darling you know Shakti can never be separated from Shiva in just the way the mud pot can never be separated from the mud. You can’t say, “Give the pot without all that other stuff!” You cannot have the form just like that. You know it my dear, that Shiva-Shakti can never be separated, so in accordance with the understanding of devotees, I am appearing in this form.’ 

‘Sundarar please explain to Parvati so that she will reduce this tiff.’

 

Story of Bringi’s maya

“Sage Bringi considered that Shiva’s Grace is the ultimate source for existence. He was an ardent votary of Lord Shiva to the exclusion of any deity in the worship including Parvati! He refused to worship Shakti, a woman. Even during his daily worship, he would circumambulate only the Lord ignoring Mother Shakti, with a flashing spark of arrogance.

Parasakthi and Sage Bringi at Hill Temple

The divine couple wanted to enlighten the sage and hence assumed a unique form sharing his body with Parvati. The couple took the form of Ardhanarishvara and stood unified inseparable to every atom. Even then the egoistic sage took the form of a bee (Bringa is Sanskrit for Bee and the sage came to be called Bringi because he once became a bee) and tried to pierce through the body of the Lord so that he could go around only the Shiva part. 

In every human body the static force of Shiva constitutes the bone and the skin, and the dynamic force of Shakti triggers the blood and flesh. Goddess Shakti, being the power as the name indicates, pulled out her energy from Bringi's body. Now he was a mere skeleton and was even unable to stand. The Lord pacified Parvati and gave the sage one more leg to stand. The sage soon realized his folly and understood that life becomes dynamic only by the blending of both grace and force which are not contradictory but complementary to each other.”

Lord Shiva circumambulates Arunachala

When Lord Shiva completes his pradakshina he returns to Arunachaleswarar Temple early the next morning. He wishes to have reunion with his consort. This part of the Festival is known as Maruvoodal. The point of the Maruvoodal myth is to show the world that even a Celestial Couple has differences between them. But in the end there should only be reunion, even at the cost of a loss in finances which is represented by the loss of the jewels the night previously. 

Returning to his residence, Shiva knocks at the door but it has been bolted by Parvati. Lord Shiva asks, 

‘Oh my darling why have you locked the door?’ 

‘Sir after we came to an understanding still you went without me. And see now look you have lost everything there is no ornament or clothes. Not, only that but you went and gave darshan to all kinds of people. So, I am now requesting you must establish your manliness to me and retrieve everything that is lost and give the special one-legged dance.’ 

Shiva as Nataraja performs his Cosmic Dance

Shiva starts the Nataraj dance, Parvati forgets everything and opens the door. 

Shiva and Parvati together again in Temple

Happy Pongal 2014

Wishing all readers of Arunachala Grace a most auspicious and joy-filled Pongal. 

To read more about Pongal -- the time of Sunny Celebrations, go to this link here.

Garuda Puja, 12 January, 2014

Last Sunday January 12, 2014, I attended a local community puja held at the Vishnu Temple on the side of the Samudram Eri. For many years pujas have been held at this time in celebration of our local nesting Brahminy Kites, a bird which is regarded as Garuda, the vahana (vehicle) of Lord Vishnu. 

Previously tables were set up in the fields near the nesting area, and the puja conducted there, however nowadays the puja is conducted most graciously in our small Vishnu Temple. 

Arumurgan distributing Temple prasad

Priest inside Shrine

Lord Vishnu

Coconut Grove

Brahminy Kite nesting in tree

Brahminy Kite, Vishnu vahana

Arunachala Darshan from Temple

Meals after Puja

Community Feast

I have written about Garuda Worship at Samudram Eri several times on Arunachala Grace, and those interested in learning more about the mythology of the Garuda and its worship in the form of the Brahminy Kite go to this link here.

To read my narrative about legendary birds in Hinduism including the Chataka (Pied Crested Cuckoo), the Hamsa (the Swan), the Chakor and Garuda go to this link here.

Garuda, Vehicle of Lord Vishnu

To learn more about the Brahminy Kite, the bird that is believed to be none other than the manifestation of Garuda, go to my Arunachala Bird blog at this link here.