Guest guest Posted January 1, 2008 Report Share Posted January 1, 2008  Arunachala Grace News - January, 2008 Arunachala Tidbits Lee Lozowick Lee Lozowick visited his spiritual facility at Tiruvannamalai this month where he made himself available to sadhakas at Public Meetings on December 13th, 14th and 15th. As is his custom he also spent time at the ashram and samadhi of his Guru, Yogi Ramsuratkumar. Indoor stadium, Sports Hostel The Tamil Nadu government has sanctioned an Indoor Stadium at the cost of Rs.1.5 crore and a Sports Hostel at the cost of Rs.85 lakh for Tiruvannamalai. Mother Meera Mother Meera will be in Tiruvannamalai on January 10th for one Darshan, which is expected to be held at Meenakshi Kalyana Mandapam starting 6 p.m. Her 2008 visit to South-India begins with Darshans between the 13th to 21st February at her Ashram in Madanapalle. Pyramid Teacher An Ahimsa-Dhyana Maha Yagnam was conducted on the grounds of the Govt. Arts College, Chengam Road, from 25th-31st December. The programe consisted of; bhajans, music and group meditations, guest lectures from various spiritual organizations and discussions and information on Pyramids. The Pyramid Spiritual Societies Movement, was founded by Brahmarshi Patriji in 1990 under the designation "The Kurnool Spiritual Society." Facilities at the Yagnam had a capacity for 15,000 guests. Deepam Photographs There are many great photographs of 2007 Deepam posted on Arunachala Grace Blog. If you click on the photographs, enlarged versions will display. Excellent new material will be posted over the coming months on the Arunachala Samudra website and all Arunachala Grace Network Blogs. So keep checking back. To help in the development of Arunachala Grace Network, we welcome the support of devotees of Arunachala and of all interested parties. To facilitate ease of donations, we now have a PayPal facility on this Newsletter. Deepam 2007 Photographs Swami Ramananda (T.N.Venkatraman) On Wednesday December 26th, 2007, Swami Ramananda died peacefully in the course of the evening. Swami Ramanananda previously known as Sri T.N. Venkatraman was responsible for much of the current development of Ramana Ashram. He succeeded his father Chinnaswami as President of the Ashram in 1953 and held that position till he took up sannyasa in 1994 and retired from his Ashram duties. “A big chapter in the Record Book of the Ashram is completed and fulfilled! “Venkatoo†as our Beloved Master called out, many a time during Bhagavan’s lifetime, is ‘gone’! The ‘sheet-anchor’ of Sri Ramanasramam is lying now next to the Shrine of the ‘creator’ of the Ashram, Sri Chinna Swami! The “Grace†of the Ashram, Sri Bhagavan, is blessing us all . . . “ [V. Ganesan] To read of the Samadhi ceremony (including photographs) refer to below link. Samadhi Ceremony Do It And there is a great and urgent need to do something you have never done before: a search for your own Self. You have run after everything in the world and it has not led anywhere. All roads in the world go round and round; they never reach any goal. Visualizing this long perspective one suddenly becomes sick of the whole action; love affairs, fights, greed, jealously. And one starts thinking for the first time, "Now I should find a new dimension in which I will not be running after anybody, in which I will be coming back home. I have gone too far away in these million of lives." This is the foundation of the Eastern Wisdom. It creates a great boredom with life, death and the continuing vicious circle. That is the original version of the word samsara; it means the wheel that goes on moving on, and on, it knows no stopping. You can jump out of it - but you are clinging to it. This is the basic device to bring you to your senses. You have fooled around enough. Now stop it, and do something you have been avoiding for centuries, that you have been postponing for tomorrow. [Osho, Fragments of a Golden Past] Osho Site Common Myna The Common Myna (Acridotheres Tristis), is a member of the starling family. The bird is a resident breeder in tropical southern Asia and probably one of the most common birds in Tiruvannamalai District. This Bird is also known as the Indian Myna and as the Talking Myna for its ability to mimic human speech. The Common Myna is typically found in open woodland, cultivation and around habitation. It has the tendency of following humans around. You can see the bird hopping around partying on rubbish piles in the City and also following the plough for earthworms in the countryside. Like most Starlings, the Myna is omnivorous and eats whatever its habitat has to offer. It feeds on insects and fruits and you will also see them scrambling for insects off the cattle's back and foraging on the ground for insects, particularly grasshoppers, from which it gets the generic name Acridotheres, "grasshopper hunter". This bird is approximately 25cm long with a dark brown body and wing plumage and large white wing patches obvious in flight. The head and throat are dark grey. The bill, bare skin around the eyes and strong legs are bright yellow. The Common Myna can be found in groups or as part of a pair; and is known to share domestic chores. This bird builds a nest in a hole in a tree or wall. The normal clutch is 4 to 6 eggs. The sexes are similar. Mynas mate for life. The Birds' song includes croaks, squawks, chirps, clicks and whistles, and it often fluffs its feathers and bobs its head in singing. This bird has a variety of sharp calls that is uttered with an absurd bobbing of the head. The Common Myna screeches warnings to its mate or other birds in cases of predators in proximity and is popular as a cage bird for its singing and "speaking" abilities. Eucalyptus Tree [Eucalyptus Globulus] The Eucalyptus Tree is indigenous with a few exceptions to Australia and Tasmania. There are 300 species of Eucalyptus. This tree is widely grown in Tamil Nadu and is increasingly found at Tiruvannamalai District. It is a tall evergreen tree that can attain a height of more than 300 feet (trees have been measured at 480 feet). Leaves of the tree are leathery in texture, hang obliquely or vertically, and are studded with glands containing a fragrant oil. The flowers (which are cream in colour) in bud are covered with a cup-like membrane (whence the name, derived from the Greek eucalyptos i.e. well-covered), which is thrown off as a lid when the flower expands. The fruit is surrounded by a woody, cup shaped receptacle and contains numerous minute seeds. The appearance of the bark varies with the age of the tree. Its bark consists of fibres that can be can be pulled off in long pieces. The roots of this tree have a powerful drying action on soil. The best conditions for this tree are a well drained sandy soil in which the tree is propagated through seeds, soft wood cuttings and semi-hard wood cuttings. At the time of planting its roots should not be damaged or broken. The sapling needs water before and after planting. It requires full sunlight. Eucalyptus is known for its use either as an essential oil or leaf tea for its ability to relieve congestion and ease breathing in colds. Its oil is also used as a pain reliever for sore and overextended muscles. The essential oil of Eucalyptus contains cineole, a potent antiseptic that helps in killing bacteria and fungi. It helps in increasing cardiac action, is taken in all types of fever and helps in purifying the blood and lowers blood sugar and improves blood circulation. Eucalyptus brings relief to patients of Asthma and Bronchitis. It is a topical remedy for aching joints and rheumatism. In veterinary practice, Eucalyptus Oil is administered to horses in influenza, to dogs in distemper, to all animals in septicaemia. It is also used for parasitic skin affections. Eucalyptus is used as the pulpwood in the manufacture of paper as well as raw material. It is used for poles when constructing huts and houses and is also used in making plywood, doors and windows. To learn about the problems created by the introduction of the Eucalyptus tree to South India check link 'Eucalyptus Problems' at the Link Section, bottom Right of this Newsletter More on Eucalyptus Jewellery Jewellery in India fulfils many functions and wearing it has several implications. At the most obvious level, it is a form of adornment, however, jewellery also serves as an identity marker and symbol of social contracts. In the Hindu, Jain and Sikh community where women did not inherit landed property, precious metal jewellery was a major component of the streedhana (gifts given to a woman at the time of her marriage). Jewellery, because of its easy convertibility into cash, was thus regarded as security and investment. For Hindus, jewellery is associated with most religious ceremonies, especially the samaskaras (stages of life) such as the namkarna (naming ceremony) or the vivaha (marriage). To signify marital status, Hindu women must wear the mangalsutra or the thali, which consist of gold pendants strung in a certain combination with other beads. Traditionally, a goldsmith pierces a child's ear with a gold pin twelve days after it is born. India has the world’s biggest demand of gold jewellery and accounts for around 600 tonnes per year. Traditionally gold quality is 22 carat. But as well as Jewellery as an ornament for Man, it is also widely used as an ornament for the Gods in the innumerable Temples throughout India. At Arunachaleswarar Temple some of the Idols’ jewels are 200-300 years old, and in the Shiva and Unnamalai Shrines, the jewels on the God and Goddess are real. 24 carat gold is used when making Idol ornaments with natural stones like rubies, diamonds, emeralds. But in the case of semi-precious stones, 22 carat gold is used. In most cases a devotee commissions a goldsmith/ jeweller to make an ornament for a God – once the commission is complete, the ornament is donated to the Temple of the devotee’s choice. A local jeweller I spoke with is currently making a 22 carat gold ornament weighing 150 grammes; the gold costs Rs.150,000 but after the addition of semi-precious stones, the whole piece, destined for the Goddess Karumariamman, will come to about 5 Lakhs. Through the donation of devotees, a Temple is able to accumulate a wide selection of beautiful ornaments to adorn the Gods. Ornaments for the Gods Ardhanarishvara There are several legends explaining Arunachala Deepam, but the following specifically addresses the reason Ardhanarishvara is worshipped so prominently during Deepam and a Murti (symbolising the union of Siva-Parvati) is displayed inside the compound of Arunachaleswarar Temple immediately after the fire is lit on top of the Hill. Legend of Ardhanarishvara The Goddess once playfully closed the eyes of her Beloved thereby plunging the world into darkness and causing suffering to all living beings. The Universal mother comprehending her folly started worshipping Lord Siva in the form of a Lingam to absolve herself of the sin and reunite with him. After first visiting Kanchipuram, Parvati proceeded to Tiruvannamalai to do her penance. While performing penance at Pavalakundru (with the help of Sage Gautama), the demon Mahishasura came and disturbed Parvati’s tapas. The Mother then took the form of Durga Devi and destroyed the demon on Full Moon Day of the Tamil Month of Karthigai during the auspicious period of Pradosham. Satisfied with his Goddess, Lord Siva presented himself in the form of Fire atop the hill and merged with Parvati - thus was created the half-man, half-woman aspect of the Lord, symbolising the oneness of all beings. To commemorate this event, every year during the festival of Annamalai Deepam, Lord Ardhanarishvara presents Itself as Jyoti Swarupa to his devotees. This fusion of Siva and Shakti representing the male and female halves, transcends the distinction and limitation of male and female and takes the Lord to a level beyond gender-manifest Brahman, realization of which means liberation. Siva is snow-white while Shakti is golden. He is substance while She is substrate. Siva is static; Shakti dynamic and creative. Siva is Being and Shakti is Becoming. He is One; She is many; He is Infinite and She renders the Infinite into finite; He is formless and She renders the Formless into myriad forms; But both are one. Siva and Shakti exist in Nirmala Turiya state (Stainless Purity). When it comes to worship of Ardhanarishvara, some worship the Siva aspect and some worship the Shakti aspect. Siva is viewed as the Holder of Power, though he is inert. Siva is Shava (dead body) without Shakti. All the power in creation, maintenance, and dissolution rests with Shakti. But the Great Mother does not exist without Siva. When they become one Ardhanarishvara becomes a being of generative and constructive force. Philosophically, this form portrays the boundless Grace of God. The formless God is called Parashiva. On Its own free-will for the benefit of pashus (souls), which are drowned in pasha (bondage), It thinks to create the worlds. Its dynamism of creation thus springs out of It, which is called Shakti. Now Shiva and Its power Shakti create everything. This is the form of their togetherness that makes every existence active. Siva and Shakti are one and the same Supreme. They are associated like the person and the action of the person. They are one and the same like ice and the water - one becomes the other. Shiva and Shakti are compared to gold and gold ornaments; they are the same; Shiva is hypostasis and when this force fuses with Shakti, it results in a multitude of manifestations. [With thanks to A. Venkatraman] Deepam Ardhanarishvara Pongal Yes, there are many special holidays and celebrations in Tamil Nadu, but definitely the upcoming HAPPY Pongal Festival has that something extra! Pongal was originally a Festival for the farming community but today it is celebrated by all. It follows the solar calendar and is celebrated on the same days each year. Pongal has astronomical significance: it marks the auspicious beginning of Uttarayana, the Sun's movement northward for a six month period and all important events are scheduled during this 6-month period. Four festivals will be celebrated at Tiruvannamalai (and throughout Tamil Nadu) for four consecutive days during Pongal Festival. 'Bhogi' on January 13th, 'Pongal' on Jan 14th, 'Maattuppongal' on Jan 15th, and 'Thiruvalluvar Day' on Jan 16. On Bhogi old clothes and materials are thrown away and set on fire, marking the beginning of a new life. The second day, the Pongal day, is celebrated by boiling fresh milk early in the morning and allowing it to boil over the vessel - a tradition that is the literal translation for Pongal. People also prepare savouries and sweets, visit each other's homes, and exchange greetings. The third day, Mattu Pongal, is meant to offer thanks to the cows and buffaloes, as they are used to plough the lands. On the last day, Kanum Pongal, people go out to picnic. In Hindu Temples bells, drums, clarinets and conch shells herald the joyous occasion of Pongal. To symbolize a bountiful harvest, rice is cooked in new pots until it boils over. Some of rituals performed in Temples include the preparation of rice, chanting of prayers and offerings of; vegetables, sugar cane and spices to the Gods. Devotees then consume the offerings to exonerate themselves of past sins. Pongal signals the end of the traditional farming season, giving farmers a break from their monotonous routine. Farmers also perform puja to some crops, signaling the end of the traditional farming season. Pongal Information Happy New Year to All The world of numerology in 2008 promises a brand new beginning. Keywords of the number 10 include honour, faith and self-confidence. We are now firmly in the Age of Aquarius, which encourages us to have a better understanding of the brotherhood of man. We are moving towards a shift in consciousness when we'll all be more in tune with each other. And even if we won't be able to love our neighbour, we'll at least be able to learn how to tolerate each other! Reducing 2008 to a single digit means that universally we will be on a 1 year. That means that as a planet we will be embarking on a whole new numerological 9 year cycle. If you've been planning a project but felt thwarted getting it started, then 2008 will see all stumbling blocks removed. It will be a time of new beginnings - look out for new inventions, trends and fashions. Being individualistic and unique will be encouraged. Authenticity will be regarded very highly as the number 1 does not like falseness of any kind. It is believed that it is now an excellent time to plan for the long-term future which will affect the next 12 years. In the meantime, being positive and upbeat will produce instant pleasing results. Numerology for 2008, promises to be such a positive time, that any kind of negativity will cloud the 1's vibration. For that reason it's best to avoid indecision; doubt; moodiness; giving up too easily and neglecting details. The number 1 aspires to perfection and is very independent. Think twice about starting any business partnerships; working on your own would be more beneficial. Learning to be more truly who you are and accepting others, sums up the true meaning of 2008 numerology. 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 http://arunachalabirds.blogspot.com http://arunachalaland.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 Five Hymns "Ocean of Nectar, Full of Grace, engulfing the universe in Thy Splendour! O Arunachala, the Supreme Itself! Be Thou the sun and open the lotus of my heart in Bliss! O Arunachala! In Thee the picture of the universe is formed, has its stay, and is dissolved; this the sublime Truth. Thou art the Inner Self, who dancest in the Heart as ‘I’. ‘Heart’ is Thy name, O Lord! He who turns inward with untroubled mind to search where the consciousness of ‘I’ arises, realizes the Self, and dissolves in Thee O Arunachala! Like a river when it joins the ocean. Abandoning the outer world, the mind and breath controlled, to meditate on Thee within, the Yogi sees Thy Light, O Arunachala! And finds his delight in Thee. He who dedicates his mind to Thee, and seeing Thee, always beholds the universe as Thy figure, he who at all times glorifies Thee and loves Thee as none other than the Self, he is the master without rival, being, one with Thee, O Arunachala! And Lost in Thy Bliss." ************************** Devotee: I have been reading the Five Hymns. I find that the hymns are addressed to Arunachala by you. You are an advaitin. How do you then address God as a separate Being? Maharshi:The devotee, God and the Hymns are all the Self. Devotee: But you are addressing God. You are specifying this Arunachala Hill as God. Maharshi: You can identify the Self with the body. Should not the devotee identify the Self with Arunachala? Devotee: If Arunachala be the Self why should it be specially picked out among so many other hills? God is everywhere. Why do you specify Him as Arunachala? Maharshi: What has attracted you here to this place? What has attracted all these people around? Devotee: Sri Bhagavan. Maharshi: How was I attracted here? By Arunachala. The Power cannot be denied. Again Arunachala is within and not without. The Self is Arunachala. Hymns of Sri Ramana Maharshi Prince Five-Weapons Once upon a time, the Enlightenment Being was born as the son of the King and Queen of Benares. On the day of his naming, 800 fortune tellers were invited to the palace. One of the fortune tellers was an expert in reading the marks on the body. He said, "My lord, this is a being of great merit. He will be king after you. He will become famous as the greatest master of all five weapons throughout India." Based on this, the king and queen named their son 'Prince Five-Weapons'. When the prince turned 16, the king decided to send him to college. The prince went to the world famous teacher of Takkasila. He studied very hard and became his best pupil. When the teacher had taught him all he knew, he gave the prince a special graduation award. He gave him five weapons. Then he sent him back to Benares. On his way home he came to a forest which was haunted by a monster. The local people warned Prince Five-Weapons, "Young man, don't go through the forest. There is a monstrous demon called Sticky-Hair living there. He kills everyone he sees!" But the prince was self-confident and fearless like a young lion. So he pushed on into the forest, until he came to the dreadful monster. He was as tall as a tree, with a head as big as the roof of a house and eyes as big as dishes. He had two big yellow tusks sticking out of his gaping white mouth filled with ugly brown teeth. He had a huge belly covered with white spots, and his hands and feet were blue. The monster roared and growled at the prince, "Where are you going in my forest, little man? You look like a tasty morsel to me. I'm going to gobble you up!" The prince replied, "Oh fierce demon, I am Prince Five-Weapons, and I have come on purpose to find you. I dare you to attack me! During the course of the battle the Prince used all his five weapons against the Demon, and when all failed, yelled: "Hey you, Monster - haven't you ever heard of me, Prince Five-Weapons? I have more than just my five weapons. I have the strength of my young man's body. I will break you in pieces!" He hit Sticky-Hair with his right fist, just like a boxer. But his hand just stuck to the hairy coat, and he couldn't remove it. He hit him with his left fist, but this too just stuck fast to the gooey mess of hair. He kicked him with his right foot and then his left, just like a martial arts master. But they both stuck onto him like his fists. Finally he butted him as hard as he could with his head, just like a wrestler. But, lo and behold, his head got stuck as well. Even while sticking to the hairy monster in five places, hanging down from his coat, the prince had no fear. Sticky-Hair thought, "This is very strange indeed. He is more like a lion than a man. Even while in the grasp of a ferocious monster like me, he does not tremble with fear. In all the time I've been killing people in this forest, I've never met anyone as great as this prince. Why isn't he afraid of me?" And asked the Prince, "Young man, why aren't you afraid of death?" The prince replied, "Why should I be afraid of death? There is no doubt that anyone who is born will definitely die!" Then the Enlightenment Being thought, "The five weapons given to me by the world famous teacher have been useless. Even the lion-like strength of my young man's body has been useless. I must go beyond my teacher, beyond my body, to the weapon inside my mind - the only weapon I need." The prince continued speaking to Sticky-Hair, "There's one small detail, oh monstrous one, I haven't told you about yet. In my belly is my secret weapon, a diamond weapon you cannot digest. It will cut your intestines into pieces if you are foolish enough to swallow me. So if I die - you die! That's why I'm not afraid of you." Sticky-Hair thought, "No doubt this fearless man is telling the truth. Even if I eat as much as a pea-sized tidbit of such a hero, I won't be able to digest it. So I will let him go." Fearing his own death, he set Prince Five-Weapons free. He said, "You are a great man. I will not eat your flesh. I let you go free, just like the moon that reappears after an eclipse, so you may shine pleasantly on all your friends and relatives." In gratitude, the Prince taught the unfortunate Demon. He said, "Oh Sticky-Hair, you have been born as a murderous blood sucking flesh eating demon because of unwholesome deeds in your past. If you continue killing in this way, it will lead only to suffering for you - both in this life and beyond. You can only go from darkness to darkness. Eventually the monster agreed to follow the Five Training Steps. In his way he transformed him from a monster into a friendly forest fairy. And when he left the forest, the prince told the local people about the change in the one-time demon. From then on they fed him regularly and lived in peace. Prince Five-Weapons returned to Benares. Later he became king. Finally he died and was reborn as he deserved. The moral is: The only weapon you need is hidden inside you. Poems and Inspiration Afar down I see the huge first Nothing, I know I was even there. I walked unseen and always, and slept through the lethargic mist. And took my time, and took no hurt from the fetid carbon. Long ago I was hugged close - long and long. Immense have been the preparations for me. Cycles ferried my cradle, rowing and rowing like cheerful boatmen. For room to me stars kept aside in their own rings. It avails not, time nor place, - distance avails not. I am with you men and women of a generation, or ever so many generations hence. [Walt Whitman] ************************* Guru's Grace " . . . it's not sadhana that produces awakening. It's assimilation that produces awakening. So to assimilate something you have to be in its field, in its aura. The guru is that which is grace, living grace, and the real essence of sadhana is to assimilate that. When the disciple wakes up it's because they've assimilated the guru's grace, not because they've done sadhana. Paradoxically, one has to do sadhana to create the kind of resonance that allows the assimilation to occur. Sadhana is like preparing the field but really it is all grace. And to get grace you have to be in relationship to grace. You don't have to be in its physical presence necessarily, although there are benefits to that. You can get it anywhere as long as you hook into it. But the guru is the hook, the source of it." [Lee Lozowick]************************* Yajur Veda "My obeisance to Thee I bow down to Thee, O Lord! Thou facest the south. Thou art the Ancient One. I bow down to Thee. Thou art Supreme. I bow down to Thee. Thou art Mightly. I blow down to Thee Thou art Time. I bow down to Thee. Thou art the Word that is in the beginning. I bow down to Thee. Thou art the Ruler of the mind. I bow down to Thee." Links: Daily ArunachalaArunachala WebsiteArunachala LandArunachala BirdsArunachala ArchivesEucalyptusEucalyptus ProblemsOsho Official SiteLee LozowickPongal InformationDeepam ArdhanarishvaraOrnaments for the GodsPyramid Spiritual Societies Interview with Lee LozowickThe Fortunate Boy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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