Fwd: Fw: Newsletter Arunachala; for December, 2007.

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ThePowerOfSilence , " viorica "

<viorica_weissman wrote:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Arunachala Grace News - December, 2007

 

 

Arunachala Tidbits

 

 

New Blogs

Arunachala Grace Network has started two new blogs

dedicated to supplying you with specialised information on various

aspects of Arunachala and Tiruvannamalai District. Arunachala Land is

committed to giving information and resources to ensure you find the

RIGHT land or property at Arunachala. Arunachala birds is dedicated

to sharing information about Birds and related ecosystem of

Arunachala and surrounding countryside. As well as information about

the species of indigenous and migratory Birds at Arunachala, the Blog

will also supply news and developments that will affect the life of

Birds and Animals of this area.

 

Sri Nannagaru and Reforestation

J.Jayaram (known to many as the Ramana Ashram

librarian) and who has a long association with the ARS (Arunachala

Reforestation Society) met briefly with Sri Nannagaru on the 27th

November. During their conservation Sri Nannagaru remarked that

everytime he looked at Arunachala he thought of the ARS and the work

they are engaged in as he remembers how denuded and barren the Hill

was previously and how luxuriant and green it is now.

 

Incident at Mahadeepam

It is estimated a crowd in excess of a million

attended the 2007 Mahadeepam lighting function at Arunachala. However

the occasion was not completely without incident. Just before the

lighting of the flame which occurred shortly after 6 p.m. on November

24th, a flame appeared on the Hill directly below the area containing

the Deepam cauldron. The flame was so large that some people even

thought that it was the Deepam light itself.

 

Miscreants allegedly set fire to the dry grass on

the Hill, a few minutes before the sacred lamp was lit. Six photo-

journalists, who covered the lighting of the Karthigai Mahadeepam on

Saturday, found themselves in the midst of a fire which broke out on

the hilltop. One photo-journalist said; " We were scared when the fire

encircled us. There was no way of escape for us except to backtrack

on our path. Luckily, it changed course. We reached the plains after

a lot of difficulty since we missed the path while trying to avoid

the fire, " other devotees also faced difficulties due to the fire.

 

Hotel Sparsa Tiruvannamalai

The new luxury Hotel in Tiruvannamalai is now open.

In addition to rooms being available, the restaurant and swimming

pool are also now open. Finishing work on the Health Club, Shops and

landscaping is expected to be completed by the end of the month.

 

Have we changed the name?

Because nobody has told me or anyone else here at

Tiruvannamalai! If you go to the 'Wikipedia' site and

type 'Arunachala' in the search box you will be sent to 'Annamalai

Hill'. Which is an article supposedly maintained by the 'Tamil Nadu

Work Group', to 'improve organisation and standardised look and feel

of articles related to the Indian State of Tamil Nadu.' The Group has

decided to abandon the name 'Arunachala' (Sanksrit) in preference for

the name 'Annamalai' (Tamil). More at below link>>>

 

 

Have we changed the name?

 

 

 

 

 

Animal Shelter

 

 

During the Deepam Period, I attended a beautiful

puja at the Animal Shelter to celebrate the establishment of their

new Trust; " Arunachala Animals Sanctuary and Rescue Shelter " . The

fundamental basis of the Trust is to alleviate the suffering of

animals and its core objectives are:

 

Sterilization and Anti-rabies: Through ABC i.e.

Animal Birth Control, the Shelter endeavours to reduce the dog

population. And also through their Anti-rabies drive works to

eliminate rabies in dogs, and thereby eradicate the risk of rabies

infection from dogs and small animals to humans. The clinic thus far

has sterilized over 900 dogs. The Shelter hopes to start EAN (early

age neutering at about 6 weeks of age) procedures in the future. The

operation which is already well known in the West reduces the post

operative recovery times for the dog.

 

Clinic: Since its inception the Animal Hospital has

treated 400 small animals/dogs. The Shelter only charges for pedigree

and mixed Western breed dogs. In this respect 80% of dogs are Indian

dogs and thereby receive free treatment. Emergency operations are

performed at the shelter, which is currently manned by 2 highly

qualified veterinary doctors and several assistants. Currently 25

puppies and about 20 dogs, are at the Clinic either recovering from

operations or waiting adoption.

 

Hospital: At this time 20 in-house patients.

 

Sanctuary: The Animal Shelter provides permanent

sanctuary to about 7-10 dogs, whose condition varies from non-use of

legs, broken back, missing limbs, old age etc.

 

Hospice: For dying creatures. The dying animal

receives intensive care and is also put on a prayer list of Tibetan

Buddhist Red Tara practitioners in order to receive all psychic

support during the death process.

 

 

Puja and Shelter Photographs

 

 

 

 

Competition versus Creativeness

 

 

If you were to take an average person living in the

West, and ask him, " Who are you? " he would answer with either his

name or his job or both. Similarly, he has an impression of his own

success, his own wealth, his own ability, and his own desirability,

which he has gained not from looking within but from comparing

himself with those around him.

 

The essence of mankind is not competition; it is

creativeness. In all this world there is no another you, nor has

there ever been another you. Is it not ridiculous to attempt to mold

yourself into a likeness of your fellows, to attempt to undo the work

that God has gone? For you, as an especial part of the Universal

Intelligence, are manifested here on this earth in the form you now

occupy to do work that only you can do! No matter how humble your job

may seem, no matter how unprepossessing your position in life, take

heart! The Universe has sired no other person like you. Only you can

be you. Only you can draw upon the infinite for those divine powers

that are yours.

 

There is a fine line of demarcation between

competition and creativeness in the minds of everyone today. Yet they

are black and white, complete opposites on the polar scale.

Competition attempts to be like. Creativeness attempts to be unlike.

Competition casts all humanity in the same mold, Creativeness makes

of each man an individual counterpart of God. Competition exists on

the plane that makes you want to have a better home than the next

man, a better car than him, a better job than him. It leads you into

the suffocating trap of not wanting the different but wanting the

same, only better. It imposes upon you a scale of values that is not

your own but belongs to a group.

 

Creativeness and non-conformity are an expansion

into Cosmic understanding while conformity and competition are death

knells to the spirit.

[by U.S. Andersen]

 

 

 

 

 

 

Emerald Dove

 

Chalcophaps Indica

Green-winged Pigeon, Bronze-winged Dove

 

 

 

Main features: Medium (25cm), metallic green

mantle, wings; head, underparts rich pink. Male: Forehead, eyebrow,

shoulder white; crown and nape greyish; bill red; feet crimson.

Female: Same as male but duller; forehead, eyebrow grey; crown, nape

brown; white shoulder patch absent or indistinct. Call: Described as

a low cu-oo or tik-oo, repeated monotonously; soft deep tu-hoop. In

flight: Green wings and mantle contrasts strongly with reddish

underparts; two distinct black and white bars on lower back. World

distribution: India across to China and the Philippines, Southeast

Asia to eastern Australia. Classification: Family Columbidae. World

310 species.

 

The beautiful Emerald Dove is the State Bird of

Tamil Nadu. It is quite common in Tiruvannamalai District but as its

very shy and secretive, is rarely seen. Emerald Doves feed on fallen

fruit and seeds (including grass seeds, figs and bamboo). They also

eat tidbits like termites. Unlike some fruit-eating birds, however,

Emerald Doves destroy the seeds that they eat and don't appear to

play a major role in plant dispersal.

 

This bird usually forages on the ground, mostly

under tree cover. Sometimes, they cautiously venture out onto open

grassland to forage, but will scuttle back into the undergrowth at

the slightest hint of danger. They fly low and quickly, zipping in

and out among trees and undergrowth. They also visit mineral seeps in

the forest. Unlike other doves, Emerald Doves forage alone, or in

pairs. When several are drawn to a food-rich areas, each maintains a

small feeding territory. Pigeons and doves do not have well-developed

oil glands, which in other birds are used to waterproof their

feathers. Instead, pigeons and doves have special plumes scattered

throughout their body which disintegrate to produce a powder which

cleans and lubricates the feathers.

 

Emerald Doves appear to have a limited breeding

season from April to September. Like other pigeons, the nest is a

flimsy platform, often simply leaf litter that gathers naturally in a

palm frond, stabilised by a few twigs. A nest may comprise a large

leaf lying on a tangle of creepers. They only nest in the forest or

closed-canopy woodland, 1-5m above the ground. Males perform a

bobbing dance during courtship. 1-2 white eggs are laid, but usually

only 1 chick survives. Only the female incubates. The eggs hatch in

about 2 weeks and the young fledges in 12-13 days.

 

Although Emerald Doves may travel long distances to

forage for food and are somewhat nomadic (following fruiting

seasons), they are not migratory. They are found in lowland and

montane forests, secondary growths, mangroves; also in cultivated

lands. Emerald Doves have adapted to feed in parks and agricultural

land, but still require natural wooded areas to nest in. Because of

their beautiful colouration and soothing call, Emerald Doves are

often trapped and sold as cage birds.

 

Pigeon's Milk

The most fascinating feature of pigeons and doves

is their ability to produce crop milk. During breeding season,

special glands in the crops of both males and females enlarge and

secrete a thick milky substance. The chicks drink this milk by poking

their bills into the parent's throat. Thus, pigeons and doves can

feed their young without having to incessantly hunt or forage for

food. Instead of laying many eggs, they lay one or at most two eggs.

 

 

Emerald Dove

 

 

 

 

Asoka

 

 

Asoka, i.e. Saraca asoca (indica) of the family

Caesalpiniaceae, is the `Asoka maram' which refers to the legendary

Ashok Vatika, where Sita was kept in captivity. Native to India it is

also called " Sorrow-less tree " because ashoka means " sorrowless " .

That is why the tree is regarded as a symbol of love and is dedicated

to Kama Deva, who is known to kindle passion and love in the human

heart. Numerous legends are attributed to this tree and it is sacred

to the Buddhists and the Hindus who plant this tree around their

temples. Buddha is believed to have been born under this tree. It is

also seen sculpted on ancient Buddhist temples in Sanchi and Mathura.

Being a sacred tree, married Hindu women eat the flower buds of

Saraca asoca on the " Ashok Shasthi day " to guard their children

against grief and sorrow.

 

Saraca Asoca is a slow growing, small, evergreen

tree with a smooth grey, brown bark. Though the flowers are seen

throughout the year, it is from February till May that the profusion

of orange and scarlet flowers transforms the tree into a startling

beauty. The clusters consist of numerous, long-tubed flowers, which

open out into four lobes having the appearance of petals, which in

fact is the calyx. At the summit of the corolla tubes, are the fairly

long and conspicuous stamens. These flowers are highly fragrant in

the night. The young leaves are soft, red and limp and remain pendent

even after attaining the full size. The red, straight pods are stiff,

leathery and fleshy.

 

The bark of Saraca Asoca contains the estrogenic

compound ketosterol, which is effective against menorrhagia due to

uterine fibroids and internal haemorrhoids and also enhances the

restoration of the endometrium and stops bleeding. Saraca asoca is a

vital component in the ayurvedic medicine U-CAP, capsules used for

uterine disorders. The womenfolk of Chattisgarh boil the bark in

cow's milk, add sugar and consume it once a day for three days and

repeat the course after three months to prevent gynaecological

disorders.

 

In ancient medical and historical literature, this

tree is reputed to be a great healer for mental disorder conditions

and protective against negative environmental influences. It is also

reputed to protect against ill-fortune and astral attacks of negative

conditions and evil spirits.

 

The Ashok has often been mistakenly identified as

the Mast Tree (Polyalthia Longiflolia). To read more refer to link at

bottom right of this newsletter.

 

 

Information on Asoka Tree

 

 

 

 

Deepam Day

 

 

At about 4:30 a.m. this day November 24th, Bharani

Deepam, the small main sanctum of the massive Arunachaleswarar

Temple, is packed with souls who have been waiting in line all night.

The chief priest has just finished a simple ritual called Bharani

Deepam and now ceremoniously waves a huge camphor flame in the

direction of nearby Arunachala mountain. Although he is chanting

Sanskrit slokas, he cannot be heard amidst the deafening furor of

devotion that surrounds him. Finally, he touches the flame he is

holding to the wicks of five huge, earthen, ghee-filled pots,

representing the sacred elements earth, air, fire, water and ether.

As these five flames loom up with red-yellow light, the famous, one-

day, South Indian festival of Krittika Deepam officially begins.

 

 

Right Click To Read More

 

 

 

 

Dos and Donts

 

 

A charming extract of " Dos and Donts " appearing on

an official Deepam website which I am reproducing without any

editing - as it makes for much better reading that way!

 

1) Devotees are advised not to throw wastages on

the wayside of the Girivalam path.

2) Devotees are requested to not to go far away

from Girivalam path for attending the call of nature and advised to

use the toilets and lavatories constructed for use of devotees on the

wayside of girivalam path.

3) Devotees are requested not to wear too much of

precious gold jewels on the day of Maha Deepam to avoid thefts.

4) Devotees are advised to maintain the cleanliness

and sacredness of Lord Arunachaleswarar by not consuming any

alcoholic drinks during Dharshan, Girivalam and climbing of hills on

the day of Maha Deepam.

5) Devotees are advised to use the regular and

prescribed path for climbing of hills.

6) Elder persons, sick patients of Heart ailment,

Diabetes, Blood Pressure are requested not to climb hills.

7) The hill climbers (Devotees) are requested to co-

operate with police personnel enroute hill top as the hill top is not

a plain surface having slope rocks with insufficient space. At the

time of litting Deepam all devotees are requested to keep a distance

from the burning point to avoid congestion and fire accident.

8) During hill climbing the devotees are advised

not to lit fire the greeneries which will destroy the whole hill

greeneries.

9) Devotees are instructed to maintain traffic

discipline by not over taking one another, by not parking on road

sides and co-operate with Traffic police personnel by obeying traffic

rules and signals.

11) Devotees are advised not to engage autos for

girivalam on the day of Maha Deepam as plying of autos inside

T.V.Malai Town and Girivalam path is not allowed.

12) Devotees are advised not to use the plastic

materials and throw it on the wayside of the Girivalam path.

13) The devotees are requested not to lit the

camphors at all over the places on the Girivalam path.

14) The devotees are requested to keep

Phone/Contact numbers and address slip in the pockets of their

children for handing over them, in case of missing in the crowd.

 

 

 

 

 

Arunachala Grace Network

 

 

Aum! Let us listen with our ears to that which is

auspicious, adorable one. Let us perceive with our eyes what is holy

and auspicious. With strong, stable body and limbs, may we seek the

Divine Grace and accept the noble order of all our life.

 

 

*************************

 

Arunachala Grace Network

Arunachala Grace Newsletter

www.arunachalasamudra.org

http://arunachalagrace.blogspot.com

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contact: arunachalana

 

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Greatness of Deepam Festival

 

 

Sage Gowthama said: " I shall describe to you the

glory of that which liberates people from all sins and bestows all

prosperity. In the mount of Karthika, on the day of the star Krittika

during pradosha (i.e. thirteenth day country from the new moon/full

moon) the fortunate ones who perform giripradakshina are not born

again. All karmas are destroyed on performance of giripradakshina. It

is customary to circumambulate the Hill for a Mandela or forty days.

One who is not able to do this may perform giripradakshina at least

for eleven days. If even this is not possible, then one should go

round the Hill on the day of Deepam. This is equivalent to performing

crores of Yagnas. (note: one crore 10 million). He who worships the

Deepam lit atop the Hill derives countless blessings. A person

residing elsewhere may light lamps in front of any shrine of Siva,

atop His temple towers or on the peaks of other hills and he will be

blessed. Whatever may be the attitude of the devotee, the mere

lighting of the lamp on this day with any type of oil available

confers great merit on him.

 

He who as darshan of this light on Arunachala Hill

acquires the merit of having performed great charity and of having

bathed in the sacred rivers. Who can express in words the benefits

enjoyed by the one who has darshan of the peak of Arunachala with the

beacon light glowing? "

 

The Glory of Arunachala

[skanda Upapuranam]

 

**********************************

 

Deepam Festival - Another Legend

 

Long ago, King Vajresan of Panchala who was

childless, was blessed with a son after having darshan of the

Arunachala Deepam in the month of Kartika. The son was named

Shatrujith. The prince grew up to be lecherous man. He once eloped

with the wife of a Vedic scholar and came to Tiruvannamalai and

entered the Temple of Arunachaleswarar.

 

It was the day of the festival of the beacon. The

paramour made a wick out of her sari and lit the lamp with castor

oil. At that moment the Vedic scholar came there and in a fit of rage

stabbed his wife and the prince. And in turn the prince killed him.

 

Since it was a gruesome murder committed in the

sacred precincts of the Temple the three were about to be taken to

hell by the messengers of Yama, lord of death. At that moment the

messengers of Siva intervened and claimed the prince and the woman as

their own and took them to the abode of Siva. Their blasphemous acts

were condoned by Arunachala Himself because the wife made a wick and

the prince helped her to light the lamp for the Supreme Lord.

 

But the Vedic scholar was puzzled, as he was held

by the messengers of Yama. The prince, moved by the plight of the

Vedic scholar, ordered the vessel used for lighting the Karthika lamp

to release the scholar. Immediately the Vedic scholar was liberated.

Thus all the three, despite their misdeeds, were taken to the abode

of Siva, as the merit gained by the simple act of lighting a lamp on

Kartika day in his Temple outweighed their devilish acts.

 

The Glory of Arunachala

[skanda Upapuranam]

 

 

 

 

 

 

Monks in Pleasure Garden

 

 

Once upon a time, there was a high class rich man

who gave up his wealth and his easy life in the ordinary world. He

went to the Himalayan forests and lived as a homeless holy man. By

practicing meditation, he developed his mind and gained the highest

knowledge. Dwelling in high mental states, he enjoyed great inner

happiness and peace of mind. Before long, he had many pupils.

 

In a certain year, when the rainy season was

beginning, the pupils said to their teacher, " Oh wise master, we

would like to go to the places where most people live. We would like

to get some salt and other seasonings and bring them back here. " The

teacher said, " You have my permission. It would be healthy for you to

do so, and return when the rainy season is over. But I will stay here

and meditate by myself. " They knelt down and paid their farewell

respects.

 

The pupils went to Benares and began living in the

royal pleasure garden. The next day they collected alms in the

villages outside the city gates. They received generous gifts of

food. On the following day they went inside the city. People gladly

gave them food. After a few days, people told the king, " Oh lord

king, some forest monks have come from the Himalayas to live in your

pleasure garden. They live in a simple way, without luxuries. They

control their senses and are known to be very good indeed. "

 

Hearing such good reports, the king went to visit

them. He knelt down and paid his respects. He invited them to stay in

the garden during the whole four months of the rainy season. They

accepted, and from then on were given their food in the king's

palace. Before long a certain holiday took place. It was celebrated

by drinking alcohol, which the people thought would bring good luck.

The King of Benares thought, " Good wine is not usually available to

monks who live simply in the forests. I will treat them to some as a

special gift. " So he gave the forest monks a large quantity of the

very best tasting wine.

 

The monks were not at all accustomed to alcohol.

They drank the king's wine and walked back to the garden. By the time

they got there, they were completely drunk. Some of them began

dancing, while others sang songs. Usually they put away their bowls

and other things neatly. But this time they just left everything

lying around, here and there. Soon they all passed out into a drunken

sleep. When they had slept off their drunkenness, they awoke and saw

the messy condition they'd left everything in. They became sad and

said to each other, 'We have done a bad thing, which is not proper

for holy men like us. " Their embarrassment and shame made them weep

with regret. They said, 'We have done these unwholesome things only

because we are away from our holy teacher. "

 

At that very moment the forest monks left the

pleasure garden and returned to the Himalayas. When they arrived they

put away their bowls and other belongings neatly, as was their

custom. Then they went to their beloved master and greeted him

respectfully. He asked them, How are you, my children? Did you find

enough food and lodgings in the city? Were you happy and united? "

They replied. " Venerable master, we were happy and united. But we

drank what we were not supposed to drink. We lost all our common

sense and self-control. We danced and sang like silly monkeys. It's

fortunate we didn't turn into monkeys! We drank wine, we danced, we

sang, and in the end we cried from shame. "

 

The kind teacher said, " It is easy for things like

this to happen to pupils who have no teacher to guide them. Learn

from this. do not do such things in the future. " From then on they

lived happily and grew in goodness. The moral is: A pupil without a

teacher is easily embarrassed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Screen

 

 

Desire gives you suffering. Whenever any desire

arises, you want to go near it, you want to achieve it, and you do.

Then you are happy, isn't it? You may think that it is the object of

desire that made you happy, but really it is the momentary absence of

desire that follows immediately after the satisfaction of a desire,

the moment of emptiness, that makes you happy.

 

Being empty of desire is happiness.

Return to your own Source and you are happy.

This is the trick of happiness

 

When you go to a theatre you see pictures projected

on a screen. Some are of mountains and rivers, some of romance and

some are people being attacked by robers. When the movies is over the

screen has not wetness from the river, nor aroma from the romance,

nor bullet holes form the robber's guns. The screen is immaculately

clean. This manifestation is all a projection of your desire that

falls across your mind and causes you to identify yourself as the

projected watcher of the picture. You are not these projections, you

are the Screen. If you identify yourself with the Immaculate,

Unchanging, Eternal Screen itself, which is the same before, during,

and after the show, you will not change and so you will not suffer

the changes but enjoy them.

[HWL Poonja]

 

 

 

 

 

 

Poems and Inspiration

 

 

Believing is a fine thing, but placing those

beliefs into execution is a test of strength. Many are those who talk

like the roar of the sea, but their lives are shallow and stagnant,

like the rotting marshes. Many are those who lift their heads above

the mountain tops, but their spirits remain dormant in the obscurity

of the caverns.

[Kahlil Gibran]

 

Man struggles to find life outside himself, unaware

that the life he is seeking is within him.

[Kahlil Gibran]

 

No gate too straight, no journey too far

When the path is lit by the gleam

Of the radiant rays of teh guiding star

Of love, the law that's supreme

[unknown]

 

There is no existence for that which is unreal;

there is no non-existence for that which is real.

[bhagavad-Gita]

 

 

 

 

 

Links:

Arunachala Website

Arunachala Blog

Arunachala Land

Arunachala Birds

Arunachala Archives

Asoka Tree

Mast Trees

Have we changed the Name?

Deepam Day

Puja and Animal Photos

Deepam Narratives

Sri Nannagaru Website

Emerald Dove

HWL Poonja

 

--- End forwarded message ---