Guest guest Posted December 10, 2003 Report Share Posted December 10, 2003 Namaste, I have just read a post from a member who wrote about Arunachala and felt like sharing this. I had been reading a lot on Sri Ramana Maharshi, Sri Ramakrishna and Sri Vivekananda. A year ago, spirutuality was something of an idle curiosity to me. Then suddenly, out of the blue, I started diving into it with a hunger that surprised myself. I made my first trip (and only trip so far) to Tiruvannamalai some months ago, along with a couple of friends. We drove down from Bangalore. As we neared T'Malai, all of us who have been talking continuously, fell silent. It was as though the silence really 'descended' on us. And as the Arunachala Hill came into our view and the view got bigger and bigger, the need to talk seemed to have just dropped away. And after we drove into the town and settled down at the Atithi Ashram, we came out to look at the Holy Hill. It was around 6.30 in the evening and the sun had just set. The sky was faintly alight with the afterglow of sunset. The Arunachala Hill, considered to be a physical and natural manifestation of Lord Shiva, was silhouetted against the darkening sky. I would never forget the feeling I had as we stood around in an empty maidan and looked at the Hill! It wasn't just an insentinent hill. It was Immobility itself, it was Majesty itself, it was Silence itself, It was the Source itself! It was like gazing at Lord Shiva in meditation - rock-like and timeless. We just stood there, our eyes glued to the hill, with awe and wonder in our hearts. With peace and nameless thankfulness flooding our hearts. An unfogettable experience! To speak the truth, I have always been a reluctant pilgrim - I could never identify or enjoy crowded temples and loud rituals. I am also not given to excesive emotionalism and credulity. But I can also tell you this: Standing there in that grassy patch, with evening traffic noises from the nearby road floating down, and gazing at that power- filled sight of the Hill - I feel I came closest to God, the unmanifest potential. PS: There are many other hills around Arunachala, and geographically, there is nothing unique about the hill. It is just like any hill with scattered boulders and sparse vegitation. But try to look away and you will feel the silent power of this spiritual center! It is like a silent call to our source! God bless you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 10, 2003 Report Share Posted December 10, 2003 Namaste Thanks dear Mallikarjuna for your clear and detail explanation about your pilgrim, indubitately that the Lord Shiva Bless you in his sacred resident. All Glories for the Lord Shiva and all the sacred places around the world. Padmavati.Mallikarjuna Konduri <mallikonduri wrote: Namaste,I have just read a post from a member who wrote about Arunachala and felt like sharing this. I had been reading a lot on Sri Ramana Maharshi, Sri Ramakrishna and Sri Vivekananda. A year ago, spirutuality was something of an idle curiosity to me. Then suddenly, out of the blue, I started diving into it with a hunger that surprised myself. I made my first trip (and only trip so far) to Tiruvannamalai some months ago, along with a couple of friends. We drove down from Bangalore.As we neared T'Malai, all of us who have been talking continuously, fell silent. It was as though the silence really 'descended' on us. And as the Arunachala Hill came into our view and the view got bigger and bigger, the need to talk seemed to have just dropped away. And after we drove into the town and settled down at the Atithi Ashram, we came out to look at the Holy Hill. It was around 6.30 in the evening and the sun had just set. The sky was faintly alight with the afterglow of sunset. The Arunachala Hill, considered to be a physical and natural manifestation of Lord Shiva, was silhouetted against the darkening sky.I would never forget the feeling I had as we stood around in an empty maidan and looked at the Hill! It wasn't just an insentinent hill. It was Immobility itself, it was Majesty itself, it was Silence itself, It was the Source itself! It was like gazing at Lord Shiva in meditation - rock-like and timeless. We just stood there, our eyes glued to the hill, with awe and wonder in our hearts. With peace and nameless thankfulness flooding our hearts. An unfogettable experience!To speak the truth, I have always been a reluctant pilgrim - I could never identify or enjoy crowded temples and loud rituals. I am also not given to excesive emotionalism and credulity. But I can also tell you this: Standing there in that grassy patch, with evening traffic noises from the nearby road floating down, and gazing at that power-filled sight of the Hill - I feel I came closest to God, the unmanifest potential.PS: There are many other hills around Arunachala, and geographically, there is nothing unique about the hill. It is just like any hill with scattered boulders and sparse vegitation. But try to look away and you will feel the silent power of this spiritual center! It is like a silent call to our source!God bless you.Sri Ramakrishnaye NamahVivekananda Centre Londonhttp://www.vivekananda.co.uk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 11, 2003 Report Share Posted December 11, 2003 Dear Mallikarjuan, Thanks for sharing your experience. Well, It would be really nice if you could give travel information, if any. W i t h r e g a r d s ... S a n t o s h k u m a r R K ========================================== " Every Sunrise offers a second chance ... " ========================================== Mallikarjuna Konduri [mallikonduri] Wednesday, December 10, 2003 4:13 PM Ramakrishna [sri Ramakrishna] Arunachala! Namaste, I have just read a post from a member who wrote about Arunachala and felt like sharing this. I had been reading a lot on Sri Ramana Maharshi, Sri Ramakrishna and Sri Vivekananda. A year ago, spirutuality was something of an idle curiosity to me. Then suddenly, out of the blue, I started diving into it with a hunger that surprised myself. I made my first trip (and only trip so far) to Tiruvannamalai some months ago, along with a couple of friends. We drove down from Bangalore. As we neared T'Malai, all of us who have been talking continuously, fell silent. It was as though the silence really 'descended' on us. And as the Arunachala Hill came into our view and the view got bigger and bigger, the need to talk seemed to have just dropped away. And after we drove into the town and settled down at the Atithi Ashram, we came out to look at the Holy Hill. It was around 6.30 in the evening and the sun had just set. The sky was faintly alight with the afterglow of sunset. The Arunachala Hill, considered to be a physical and natural manifestation of Lord Shiva, was silhouetted against the darkening sky. I would never forget the feeling I had as we stood around in an empty maidan and looked at the Hill! It wasn't just an insentinent hill. It was Immobility itself, it was Majesty itself, it was Silence itself, It was the Source itself! It was like gazing at Lord Shiva in meditation - rock-like and timeless. We just stood there, our eyes glued to the hill, with awe and wonder in our hearts. With peace and nameless thankfulness flooding our hearts. An unfogettable experience! To speak the truth, I have always been a reluctant pilgrim - I could never identify or enjoy crowded temples and loud rituals. I am also not given to excesive emotionalism and credulity. But I can also tell you this: Standing there in that grassy patch, with evening traffic noises from the nearby road floating down, and gazing at that power- filled sight of the Hill - I feel I came closest to God, the unmanifest potential. PS: There are many other hills around Arunachala, and geographically, there is nothing unique about the hill. It is just like any hill with scattered boulders and sparse vegitation. But try to look away and you will feel the silent power of this spiritual center! It is like a silent call to our source! God bless you. Sri Ramakrishnaye Namah Vivekananda Centre London http://www.vivekananda.co.uk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 11, 2003 Report Share Posted December 11, 2003 Dear Mallikarjuna, Many thanks for sharing this wonderful experience with us. I have read a lot about Arunachala and Sri Ramana but I haven't yet been able to see the place. Thanks again friend. Regards Jagannath. New Photos - easier uploading and sharing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 11, 2003 Report Share Posted December 11, 2003 Dear Santhoshkumar You might find the following web pages useful for you to find travel information and more about the holy place. http://www.templepages.com/maps.html#ashtaveer [see under Map of PANCHA BOODHA (Five natural elements) Sthalangal , the Temple besides the Arunnachala Mount is called Tiruvanamali, represents FIRE element of the PANCHA BOODHA.] http://www.templenet.com/Tamilnadu/s004.html http://www.templenet.com/Tamilnadu/Tiruvannamalai/tiruvannamalai.html OM NAMAH SHIVAYA ______________________ BT Broadband - Save £80 when you order online today. Hurry! Offer ends 21st December 2003. The way the internet was meant to be. http://uk.rd./evt=21064/*http://bt..co.uk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 12, 2003 Report Share Posted December 12, 2003 Namaste Mr.Santhosh, There is a lot of information available on the net on traveling to Tiruvannamalai. To begin with, you could check out http://www.geocities.com/tiruvannamalainet/tourtvc.htm And if you intend to stay at Sri Ramanasramam, you could get in touch with them at http://www.ramana-maharshi.org/ Apart from that, let me give you my two-bits! Tiruvannamalai is a small town which might have been described as 'sleepy' perhaps 10 years ago. Not any more! It is still a small town but is as crowded and loud as they get. It really owes its 'loud awakening' to the life and legend of Sri Ramana Maharshi, Sri Ramanasramam and the multitudes that throng there everyday. Sri Ramanasramam, with its ever-growing traffic of seekers-of-Self, is really the heart of its growth. Then there is, of course, the holy hill Arunachala - as silent and as magnetic as ever. The third is the temple of Sri Arunachalewara - a huge, ancient, sprawling temple complex which is said to be the abode of Shiva as Jyotir Linga (Shiva as light). There are any number of other Asrams to stay at, apart from Sri Ramanasramam itself. When my freinds and I visited, we stayed at the small and charmimg Atithi Asram, just 5 minutes from the Ramanasramam. Stay and food are free, but can one always makes a small donation (to one's capacity). As with any holy town in India, T'malai has a booming and loud commerce. The town has suffered from an increase in population, ad- hoc development, unchecked encroachment and all the other consequences of unplanned development. That is sad, especially when you see that the local bodies and the government seem to have done very little in response to it being a major spiritual center. Like we say in India, we are like that only! If you go there as a piligrim, you go despite and inspite of all this infernal noise around you. Perhaps this is the God's way of challenging the faithful :-). Perhaps all this surrounding noise of commercialization makes the heart of Tiruvannamalai, the Silent center, more profound. Because, mark my words, if we have the ability to tune our ears and hearts to listen below the noise, that Silence and that Call are still there to be heard! Hope this helps. Loving regards, Mallikarjuna Ramakrishna , " Santoshkumar R. K. " <santosh@i...> wrote: > Dear Mallikarjuan, > > Thanks for sharing your experience. Well, It would be really nice if you > could give travel information, if any. > > W i t h r e g a r d s ... > S a n t o s h k u m a r R K > ========================================== > " Every Sunrise offers a second chance ... " > ========================================== > > > Mallikarjuna Konduri [mallikonduri] > Wednesday, December 10, 2003 4:13 PM > Ramakrishna > [sri Ramakrishna] Arunachala! > > Namaste, > > I have just read a post from a member who wrote about Arunachala and > felt like sharing this. I had been reading a lot on Sri Ramana > Maharshi, Sri Ramakrishna and Sri Vivekananda. A year ago, > spirutuality was something of an idle curiosity to me. Then suddenly, > out of the blue, I started diving into it with a hunger that > surprised myself. I made my first trip (and only trip so far) to > Tiruvannamalai some months ago, along with a couple of friends. We > drove down from Bangalore. > > As we neared T'Malai, all of us who have been talking continuously, > fell silent. It was as though the silence really 'descended' on us. > And as the Arunachala Hill came into our view and the view got > bigger and bigger, the need to talk seemed to have just dropped away. > And after we drove into the town and settled down at the Atithi > Ashram, we came out to look at the Holy Hill. It was around 6.30 in > the evening and the sun had just set. The sky was faintly alight with > the afterglow of sunset. The Arunachala Hill, considered to be a > physical and natural manifestation of Lord Shiva, was silhouetted > against the darkening sky. > > I would never forget the feeling I had as we stood around in an > empty maidan and looked at the Hill! It wasn't just an insentinent > hill. It was Immobility itself, it was Majesty itself, it was Silence > itself, It was the Source itself! It was like gazing at Lord Shiva in > meditation - rock-like and timeless. We just stood there, our eyes > glued to the hill, with awe and wonder in our hearts. With peace and > nameless thankfulness flooding our hearts. An unfogettable experience! > > To speak the truth, I have always been a reluctant pilgrim - I could > never identify or enjoy crowded temples and loud rituals. I am also > not given to excesive emotionalism and credulity. But I can also tell > you this: Standing there in that grassy patch, with evening traffic > noises from the nearby road floating down, and gazing at that power- > filled sight of the Hill - I feel I came closest to God, the > unmanifest potential. > > PS: There are many other hills around Arunachala, and geographically, > there is nothing unique about the hill. It is just like any hill with > scattered boulders and sparse vegitation. But try to look away and > you will feel the silent power of this spiritual center! It is like a > silent call to our source! > > God bless you. > > > > > Sri Ramakrishnaye Namah > Vivekananda Centre London > http://www.vivekananda.co.uk > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.