Fw: [Newsletter] Arunachala; information and news of Shiva sacred mountain, South India for August, 2007

July 28, 2007

Saturday, July 28, 2007 3:00 PM

[Newsletter] Arunachala; information and news of Shiva sacred mountain, South India for August, 2007

Arunachala Grace News - August, 2007

Arunachala Tidbits

Road Improvements In Tiruvannamalai District, road improvement work being undertaken include the widening and strengthening of Cheyyur-Vandavasi-Polur road at a cost of Rs.371 Lakh (U.S.$921,000), the Arcot-Villapuram Road at a cost of Rs.419 Lakh (U.S.$1,040,000) and for joining Sadathangal Road with Cheyyar Vandavasi Polur Road at a cost of Rs.384 Lakh (U.S.$953,000).

Sparsa, Tiruvannamalai Construction of the new luxury hotel in this area, Sparsa, Tiruvannamalai, is nearly complete and the Grand Opening of the Hotel is now anticipated for the first week of September, 2007.

Animal Shelter Dr.Milind Mhatre, the current senior Veterinary Doctor at Tiruvannamalai Animal Shelter, completes his month’s tenure on August 3rd. Afterwhich he will return to Maharashtra to manage ‘Complete Pet Care’ (Tel: 09850465291) his own Veterinary Clinic at Pune. Dr.Pushpa Latha who hails from Tanjore (Tamil Nadu) and joined the Tiruvannamalai Animal Shelter on July 22, has now been appointed permanent senior Veterinary Doctor at Tiruvannamalai Animal Shelter. (For more information about both these Veterinary Doctors refer to link at bottom right of this Newsletter).

Quo Vadis To keep in touch with Quo Vadis Interfaith Dialogue Center, Tiruvannamalai, check out the Center's website, listing information about its facilities, activities and future plans.

Quo Vadis

White Breasted Kingfisher

The White-breasted Kingfisher (Halcyon Smyrnensis) is found on plains and lower hills all over India and is very common at Tiruvannamalai. This Kingfisher is not dependent upon water and although seen at ponds, puddles and rain filled ditches also habitates light forests situated considerable distances from water. From a favourite lookout on a telegraph wire or post, the Kingfisher pounces down on creeping prey and flies off with it to another perch nearby where the victim is battered to death and swallowed. This bird's food comprises; fish, tadpoles, lizards, grasshoppers, insects and occasionally young birds and mice This Kingfisher is a beautiful bird that never fails to get attention. It is a brilliant turquoise-blue with deep chocolate-brown head, neck and underparts, a conscious white ‘shirt front’, and long, heavy, pointed red bill. A white wing-patch prominent in flight. It’s size is that between a Myna and a Pigeon. Both sexes are alike but juveniles are a duller version of the adult. This is a large Kingfisher, 28 cm in length with a flight both rapid and direct with short rounded wings whirring. This bird has a loud musical frequently repeated chattering song delivered from a tree top or some exposed elevated perch. The call is a chuckling chake-ake-ake-ake-ake. This Kingfisher is noisy and territorial. Nesting season is principally March to July and generally takes place in a horizontal tunnel dug into the side of a dry earth cutting or tunnel. Eggs 4 to 7, white, spherical. Both sexes excavate, incubate and feed the young.

Railway Stories

Ardent fans and admirers of Indian Railways, recall with nostalgia its trains and locomotives, and the efficiency and power of the unmatched metre gauge diesel engines. In this respect the railway gauge service to Tiruvannamalai was stopped on Thursday, May 31st, 2007. Keeping in touch with the current modernisation of the railway system in South India, some lively animal ‘train’ from many years ago to bring good cheer: "We had a series of encounters during the trial runs, with a variety of (domesticated) animals being run down on the track, because the poor things were not used to such a fast train coming down on to them, and, (in the truly secular fashion!), we ran over cows, pigs, donkeys, and even camels, though luckily there were no derailments ... till one of the Diesel Assistants suggested that perhaps we could change the whistle on the locomotive, and being a different sound, the cattle might be warned not to amble along as in the steam hauled days .... so we got a whistle from the American built WDM4 locomotives from Mogal Serai .... lo, and behold! from the first day onwards, the different sound of the whistle did the trick ... apparently, the animals sensed that they could not take chances with the new, fast train hurtling down the track towards them! But the very best experience came on the Mailani-Gauriphanta section of the erstwhile Lucknow Division of the NERly, ... this line runs along the Nepal border, a very picturesque terrain with dense forests on the route, and one unforgettable sight was the long line of 'baya ka ghoslas' on the telegraph lines, so symmetrical and plentiful that I have not seen else where . . . anyway the story concerns a lamp lighter going down the tracks to light up the kerosene lamp in the distant signal, and while he was walking down the line, a steam hauled train was coming behind him, and the driver whistled to him . . . thinking that the driver was warning him to watch out, without looking back, he raised his hand to acknowledge the whistle . . . but then the driver started whistling repeatedly and frenziedly, so the lamp lighter looked back in annoyance, as if to say 'what is the matter with you? I heard you the first time' . . . only to realise to his shock and horror that the driver was wanting to draw his attention to the fact that, barely a few yards behind the lamp lighter, a fully grown tiger was following him at the same leisurely pace . . . history has it that the world record of 100 metres race was broken that day, when the frightened lamp lighter ran for his life up the steps of the signal post, away and safe from the tiger, depriving that poor chap his dinner!"[submitted by Satyam]

Paramahamsa Nithyananda

“I had my first spiritual experience at the age of twelve. Let me describe the incident to you. I was sitting on a rock, locally called Pavazha Kundru (the Holy Rock) on the Arunachala Hill and meditating. I was meditating for a long time that day. I was looking into myself to see where thoughts were coming from. I was actually playing with this technique, when a strange experience happened. It was on the Buddha Purnima day (full moon day) in the month of Vaikasi (May-June as per the Tamil calendar), and evening sunset period. In the midst of his meditation, I felt something opening up within me, something was getting crushed, something else was getting created. It was like a vessel inside getting broken and a door opening, both together at the same time. It was a feeling of creation and destruction at the same time; and a very pleasurable feeling. Even with my eyes closed, I could see all around. I did not need my eyes to be open to see. Not just that, I had a 360-degree vision with my eyes closed. With equal clarity, I could see the hill in front, the temple behind, the rock below, the stars above, the trees to the left, part of the hill to the right, all these were in my visionary field, without having to open my eyes! At that moment, I awakened to the realization that I was one with the whole of Existence and everything was I! It was like this tree in front of me became my bone and this thatch above became my nerves! How did this happen? What made me have such a strong experience of samadhi? There are many others who are also doing the same meditation, of seeing where the thoughts arise from, but why don't they have such experiences? The reason is, I was so inspired by the masters, that I was living like them! Because of that, my consciousness was ripe and ready for such an experience.” [We hope to soon give an extensive update on the development of Swami Nithyananda facilities at Tiruvannamalai.]

Paramahamsa Nithyananda Official Site

Rajarajeshwari Temple

What is now the Rajarajeshwari Temple on the Girivalam pathway has been at the same .25 acre site in some form or another for the last 100 years. The family who maintains the Trust of this independent Temple is that of A.Valagurumudaliar Annaporni, is currently comprised of 7 brothers and 2 sisters, all of whom are actively involved in the running and development of this Temple. The family, who come from a merchant tradition, are Mudaliars, a sect famous for their support of Temples and Religious endeavours in many areas throughout Tamil Nadu besides Tiruvannamalai, including Chingleput, Tiruvukoil and Vellore Districts. Other notable Mudaliars supported Temples in the township of Tiruvannamalai include the Kali Ma Temple on Chengam Road, Mariyamman Temple on Manullarpet Road and Pachaiamman Temple located at the Southeast side of Tiruvannamalai. Of the seven brothers of the Valagurumudaliar Annaporni family, Arul Arasu, who trained as an engineer, is currently the priest and manager of Rajarajeshwari Temple. The small shrine room of the current Rajarajeshwari Temple used to be the original Temple. However over the years the Temple has grown and expanded around the shrine room and now includes many other features. Rajarajeshwari is held as the first God of the Devi Mahatmyam, in which all others Gods are centred. Temples dedicated to this aspect of the Goddess are particularly associated with South India with the biggest and most famous Temple located at Tanjore (the city of Temple artisans; sculptors and painters). The Rajarajeshwari Temple at Tiruvannamalai is most remarkable for its location at Parvati Hill, the presence of a Koorm Pristhiya (Kurma Meru Yantra) in the Temple’s Shrine Room and also for the reason that the Dasa Mahavidyas are worshipped at this Shrine. Parvati Hill There is a blind spot on the 14 km girivalam road that starts around the Palani Andar Shrine and ends at the Surya Lingam, from which it is impossible to see the Deepam on top of Arunachala during Karttika festival. This stretch of .5 km roadway is the only part of the 14 km pathway from which the view of the top of Arunachala is obscured. For this reason local folklore has it that Parvati Hill (at the foot of which is situated the Rajarajeshwari Temple) is particularly associated with the Sakti (Parvati) aspect of Ardhanarishvara. Koorm Pristhiya (Kurma Meru Yantra) Koorm Pristhiya (Kurma Meru Yantra) is one of the oldest, rarest and most precious Yantras and believed to have been created by Adi Guru Dattatreya for the welfare of the world. The name, Koorm Pristhiya Sri Yantra, which means mounted at the back of tortoise upwards is also significant because in Hindu mythology, it is believed that the tortoise lifted the weight of the earth on its back. The tortoise is particularly relevant as it is a very powerful, protected being who can live in either water or land. It is also non-violent and Nature has provided it with a strong cover or jacket to protect it from danger. The Koorm Pristhiya (Kurma Meru Yantra) inside the shrine of the Rajarajeshwari Temple has an interesting recent history. In 2000 Paramahamsa Nithyananada performed a homam (puja) at this Temple, on their behalf, for the purpose of expediting the successful completion of ongoing Temple construction work. In lieu of the puja, the Temple presented the then exisiting Sri Meru Yantra to Swami Nithyananda and in its place installed a new Koorm Pristhiya (Kurma Meru Yantra) in the Rajarajeshwari Shrine Room. Thus the current Koorm Pristhiya (Kurma Meru Yantra) at the Temple only dates from the year 2000. *********************** In next month’s Arunachala Grace News, there will be information about the Dasa Mahavidyas and other interesting aspects of this unique and beautiful Arunachala Sakti Temple.

Sri Meru Yantra

Earth Without People

Six-and-half billion people and rising. But just imagine what would happen in the days, months, years and millennia ahead if homo sapiens were suddenly to be swept away? That is the premise of a new book by Alain Weisman of Arizona University. The first things to happen after the disappearance of humanity would be dramatic and destructive. Within a week, emergency fuel supply to diesel generators that circulate cooling water around the world's 441 operating nuclear reactors would run out. After that, one by one, reactors would overheat, burn, melt and in some cases explode. Several hundred Chernobyl disasters would play out, simultaneously, across the deserted world. Huge quantities of radioactive material would be released into the air, rivers and oceans. From then on, planet Earth would probably give a sigh of relief at man’s passing, as a spectacular environmental recovery would begin to take place. Quickly, the oceans would cleanse themselves; similarly the air, the streams and the rivers. In a remarkably short time, Mother Nature would reassert herself over her old dominions. In the new, human-free world, a few species would do badly; rats, cockroaches and starlings that cling to man’s coat-tails would suffer. So would cows, sheep, farm animals and domesticated pets. The human head-louse would become extinct within a year. In Africa, an orgy of feasting would take place as an exploding lion and leopard population guzzled its way through the continent's millions of cattle. Most wild species would thrive. By 2100, the half-a-million surviving African elephants would have multiplied to their pre-colonial population of ten million or so. Africa's plains and forests would quickly fill with the great menagerie of game that once foraged and migrated unhindered across the continent. The jungles would start to regrow. In urbanised countries even more rapid transformation would take place. Mechanised farmlands would see the rapid growth of fescues and lupins, tangled swathes of grass and wild mustard. Within years, oak shoots would sprout from former fields of wheat, barley and rye. After a couple of centuries, European countries would revert to a pre-medieval knot of forest and undergrowth. Big cities would crumble with remarkable ease. All large towns near the sea, would start to rot from their foundations up, as underground tunnels and conduits that carried trains and cables, roadways and sewage, started to fill up with water within days. Most European homes would be in ruins by 2040. America's cities, with their generally harsher climate, would fall apart even sooner. Within a century or two, nearly all automobiles would have rusted away. Within a millennium, without maintenance and painting, the steel fabric of our civilisation would have crumbled. But bronze sculptures from the ancient world might last millions of years. So what would the world be like in, say, 100,000 years' time? Billions of bits of metal; aluminium, stainless steel, titanium and bronze, would litter forests and savannas. A few buildings might survive this long, the Pyramids and Stonehenge could soldier on, maybe even some of the huge concrete casings around nuclear reactors. And the world would probably still be littered with plastic. And then? Another species could quickly evolve to occupy the niche vacated by homo sapiens. Eventually of our civilisation, nothing will remain, except perhaps a few unusual metal structures buried in rocks, maybe one or two piles of suspicious rubble where some of the largest monuments stood. Maybe even some plastic bags! On the moon, Mars, Venus and Saturn’s moon Titan, a couple of tons of assorted metalware and human-made ironmongery litter the surface. And in deep space would be the epitath of man’s time on earth as a quartet of probes will continue their long, silent journey through the galaxy. As the probes erode, billions of years hence, there will still be the residual shell of radio waves leaking sound, television images and internet noise into space. Such signals will weaken with time but, theoretically, they could be picked up at colossal distances.

Nature of Pralaya

Kalki Avatar

Pralaya, or laya, (dissolution) is a term in Hindu comprehension that conveys all appearance is subject to dissolution, but not to destruction, because dissolution leads to recreation. The term is especially used at the ending of a kalpa (cosmic cycle), which then via pravrtti leads to a new creation. (But there may be also lesser pralayas such as the great flood of Manu). From a scriptural point of view, we are still in the fourth Yuga, the Kali Yuga or Age of conflicts (4 Yugas: Satya Yuga, Treta Yuga, Dvapara Yuga, Kali Yuga). According to Hindu tradition, the Kali Yuga will end with the incarnation of Kalki, the last Avatar of Vishnu, who on his white horse, must destroy what is to be destroyed. But even as the destruction rains, Sri Siva declares: Let this perpetual and immobile Fiery Form of mine, famous as Arunadri, be present here forever. (27) Even at the close of the Yugas the great oceans shall not submerge it, the winds shall not shake it and the fires shall not burn it. (28) (Skanda Purana)

Kalki Avatar

Arunachala Land

Arunachala Grace Network will often post news of land for sale, in the hope that the land will be acquired by a single owner (or independent group) who intends using the land for his/their own purpose, and thereby prevent it from being cut up and sold as individual housing plots which will eventually become densely packed urban areas. Our belief is land at Arunachala is Sacred and we need to revere and protect it. The above land is approximately 7 acres and is currently owned by a private individual who wishes to sell. The area is very silent, secluded and perfect for a Retreat Centre or Ashram. LAND SPECULATORS AND/OR DEVELOPERS ARE NOT INVITED TO REPLY If you wish to find out more about this land please get in touch with: arunachalameenakshi.

Land Photographs

In This Issue:

Arunachala Tidbits

White Breasted Kingfisher

Railway Stories

Paramahamsa Nithyananda

Rajarajeshwari Temple

Earth Without People

Kalki Avatar

Arunachala Land

Arunachala Grace Network

Eclipta Prostrata

Stories

Inspiration

Links

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. ************************* All subscriptions to Arunachala Grace News are completely free. However we now have a PayPal and credit card function on this newsletter. In this respect we invite support for the continual development of Arunachala Grace Network and its plans for the improved welfare of animal life in this area. Arunachala Grace Newsletter www.arunachalasamudra.org www.arunachalagrace.blogspot.com contact: arunachalana We are including a facility on this newsletter for readers who do not yet have their own subscription. [Please remember to adjust your 'spam' recognition to facilitate acceptance of the Newsletter]: Click Here to Subscribe

Eclipta Prostrata

Family: Asteraceae, Genus: Eclipta, Species: prostrata (alba). Tamil name: Karisalai. Habitat: It grows as a common weed throughout India, ascending up to 6,000 ft. on the hills and is common around Arunachala. The Eclipta is a prostrate or decumbent hairy herb. Its leaves linear-oblong, sessile. An erect or prostrate, much branched, roughly hairy, annual, rooting at the nodes; the leaves are opposite, sessile and lanceolate; the flower-heads are white. Odour slight; taste, slightly salty. This herb is an effective anti-inflammatory agent. It inhibits the higher levels of histamine due to chronic inflammation. No significant side effects or toxicities have been found either on histopathology of liver, kidney, spleen, heart or on biochemical parameters. The whole plant is valuable in its use for: Jaundice, skin diseases, inflammations, anaemia, dental diseases, cough, ear and eye diseases, dropsy, diseases of liver and spleen, coryza, hair falling, rejuvenator. It is tonic and deobstruent, and used in hepatic and spleenic enlargements and skin troubles. Its roots are emetic, purgative. Eclipta juice is administered in combination with aromatics for catarrhal jaundice. The fresh juice leaves is applied on the scalp for promoting hair growth. Eclipta possesses antihepatotoxic and anti-inflammatory activities. The fresh plant is considered anodyne and absorbent.

Eclipta Prostrata Details

Stories

The Fear of God There were two brothers who were always up to some mischief. If somebody had been locked up in his house or if somebody's dog had been painted green, one always knew who the culprits were; the brothers! One day the boys' mother asked a priest to talk to her sons and put the fear of God in them so that they would mend their ways. The priest asked her to send her sons to him one at a time. When the younger boy, a lad of thirteen, came, he made him sit and asked him: "Where is God?" The boy did not answer. The priest asked again, in a louder voice: "Where is God?" The boy remained silent. But when the priest asked the same question a third time, the boy jumped up and ran away. He went straight to his brother. "We are in big trouble!" he gasped. "What's wrong?" asked the older boy, warily, wondering which of their sins had caught up with them. "God is missing," said the youngster, "and they think we have something to do with it!" ************************* Making a Difference Ryokan was a Zen teacher of repute. One day a fisherman saw him walking on the beach soon after a storm. The storm had washed up thousands of starfish on the shore, and they were beginning to dry up. Soon all of them would be dead. Ryokan was picking up starfish and throwing them into the sea. The fisherman caught up with the teacher and said, “Surely, you cannot hope to throw all these starfish back into the sea? They will die in their thousands here. I’ve seen it happen before. Your effort will make no difference.” “It will to this one,” said Ryokan, throwing back another starfish into the sea. ************************* God’s Fool Once there came from the desert to the great city a man who was a dreamer, and he had naught but his garment and a staff. And as he walked through the streets he gazed with awe and wonder at the temples and towers and palaces, for the city was of surpassing beauty. And he spoke often to the passers-by, questioning them about their city – but they understood not his language, nor he theirs. At the noon hour he stopped before a vast inn. It was built of yellow marble, and people were going in and coming out unhindered. “This must be a shrine”, he said to himself, and he too went in. But what was his surprise to find himself in a hall of great splendour and a large company of men and women seated about many tables. They were eating and drinking and listening to the musicians. “Nay”, said the dreamer. “This is no worshipping. It must be a feast given by the prince for the people, in celebration of a great event.” At that moment a man, whom he took to be the slave of the prince, approached him, and bade him to be seated. And he was served with food and wine and most excellent sweets. When he was satisfied, the dreamer rose to depart. At the door he was stopped by a large man magnificently arrayed. “Surely this is the prince himself,” said the dreamer in his heart, and he bowed to him and thanked him. Then the large man said in the language of the city. “Sir you have not paid for your dinner.” And the dreamer did not understand, and again thanked him heartily. Then the large man bethought him, and he looked more closely upon the dreamer. And he saw that he was a stranger, clad in but a poor garment, and that indeed he had not the wherewithal to pay for his meal. Then the large man clapped his hands and called – and there came four watchmen of the city. And they listened to the large man. Then they took the dreamer between them, and there were two on each side of him. And the dreamer noted the ceremoniousness of their dress and of their manner and he looked upon them with delight. “These,” said he, “are men of distinction.” And they walked all together until they came to the House of Judgment and they entered. The dreamer saw before him, seated upon a throne, a venerable man with flowing beard, robed majestically. And he thought he was the king. And he rejoiced to be brought before him. Now the watchmen related to the judge, who was the venerable man, the charge against the dreamer; and the judge appointed two advocates, one to present the charge and the other to defend the stranger. And the advocates rose, the one after other, and delivered each his argument. And the dreamer thought himself to be listening to addresses of welcome, and his heart filled with gratitude to the king and the prince for all that was done for him. Then sentence was passed upon the dreamer, that upon a tablet hung about his neck his crime should be written, and that he should ride through the city on a naked horse, with a trumpeter and a drummer before him. And the sentence was carried out forthwith. Now as the dreamer rode through the city upon the naked horse, with the trumpeter and the drummer before him, the inhabitants of the city came running forth at the sound of the noise, and when they saw him they laughed one and all, and the children ran after him in companies from street to street. And the dreamer’s heart filled with ecstasy, and his eyes shone upon them. For to him the tablet was a sign of the king’s blessings and the procession was in his honour. Now as he rode, his heart swelled with joy, and he cried out with a shout. “Where are we? What city of the heart’s desires is this? What race of lavish hosts? – who feast the chance guest in their palaces, whose princes companion him, whose king hangs a token upon his breast and opens to him the hospitality of a city descended from heaven?” And the procession passed on. And the dreamer’s face uplifted and his eyes were overflowing with light.[Kahlil Gibran – Abridged]

Inspiration

When God threw me, a pebble, into this wondrous lake I disturbed its surface with countless circles. But when I reached the depths I became very still.[Kahlil Gibran] ************************* Pradakshina

35. If a person takes even a step by way of circumambulation, the entire earth is sanctified by coming into contact with the dust of his feet. 36. With palms joined in reverence he should make obeisance in every direction. He should then meditate and eulogize. He should circumambulate slowly without his hand touching anyone else. 37. Without any agitation, without even hearing the sound of his own steps, the devotee should circumambulate in the manner a woman walks when delivery is imminent. 38. The learned devotee should put on a clean dress after bath. He should apply sacred ash over his body and adorn himself with Rudraksha beads. Remembering Siva he should take steps slowly. 39-40. He should think about the likelihood of collision with thousands of Devas, invisible Siddhas and other of gaseous forms as well as Manus who walk ahead. He must think about the consequent rush and obstruction to the path. He should be a true devotee and go ahead slowly putting down his step along the path. 41. Or the devotee should circumambulate along with other devotees chanting the names of Siva, singing excellent songs and dancing like Siva. 42. Or he should, with his mind not dwelling on anything else, listen respectfully to my greatness and circumambulate slowly feeling the thrill of the bliss. 43. He must offer different kinds of charitable gifts. He must perform meritorious deeds. He should render assistance to supplicants. He should be pious and merciful in a manner he things best. Thus he should move round.[Chapter 9, Verses 35-43 inc. Skanda Purana]

Links:

Daily Arunachala InformationArunachala WebsiteArunachala Grace News ArchivesNature of PralayaKalki AvatarNatural Remedies Society Eclipta Prostrata DetailsParamahamsa Nithyananda SiteSri Ramana Maharshi SiteLand PhotographsSri Meru YantraQuo Vadis CenterAnimal Shelter Veterinary Doctors