24 December 2016

Merry Christmas



 

Mookupodi Swami Current Location


I’ve recently received many requests about how to connect with Mookupodi Swami. In this respect a few days back I received a comment from SOURI KB on a very interesting and informative posting relating to Mookupodi Swami (at this link here) about the current whereabouts of the Saint. 

“Hello every one, if you want to have the darshan of MPS. Please visit the Hanuman Temple near the High School on the girivalam path. Nowadays he is staying there. Recently I had his darshan. Every day after the breakfast swami will do girivalam in an auto in anti-clockwise (opposite to how we do) between 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. and rest at the Hanuman Temple. Happy darshan.” 

I have made a number of postings on Mookupodi Swami on two of my blogs; Arunachala Grace and Arunachala Mystic. But to those unfamiliar with this Saint, am below posting a short narrative about some of my own experiences with Mookupodi Swami.


Mookupodi Swami at Deepam Hotel in 2007

Swami at Hotel 2007
Mookupodi Swami at High School, Girivalam Roadway, 2009


I first met Mottayan Swamiji (now more commonly known as Mookupodi Swami) in 2007. He moved to Tiruvannamalai some 40 years ago and although he occasionally disappears—after a short time returns. He has been known in Tiruvannamalai for many years by traders, merchants and devotees. It used to be Swamiji’s custom to habituate a particular shop or restaurant for months at a time and then suddenly, for no apparent reason, leave the spot and take up residence at some other place. Wherever he remains, its always with the grateful thanks of the owner of whatever establishment Swamiji has selected. In much the same way Sri Seshadri Swamigal’s nomenclature was “golden hand” because he imbued everything he touched with auspiciousness, Mottayan Swami is also believed to bring good fortune to those he moves with. 

When I met him in 2007 his abode was the restaurant Hotel Deepam on Car Street (near Arunachaleswarar Temple). He would sit quietly in the same corner and rarely notice or look at anyone. And yet he was sought by many. Devotees and visitors would come, sit at a table nearby hoping for a glance, blessing or some sort of signal or recognition. He would not receive offerings of food instead when he wished to eat he would command whoever he choose to ‘bring me food’. At night he slept on the restaurant floor. Sometimes he would get up and wander about the town. About three times a week Swami ordered an auto rickshaw driver to take him around the Hill—but always in an anti-clockwise direction. I’ve heard of several saints and sages who also habitually travel anti-clockwise around the Hill. 

For many years Swamiji has been offered expensive clothes and gifts, but rarely accepts anything, preferring instead to remain in his own well worn rags. The Hotel manager told me a story of a rich devotee who offered Swamiji a fabulously expensive embroidered shawl. Swami accepted the shawl and proceeded to drop it onto the filthy street, stomp on it and only after ingraining it with dirt, put the shawl around his shoulders. 

Many locals believe Mottayan Swamiji is some kind of Avadhuta much in the same way as Shirdi Sai or Seshadri Swami. He was born in East Rajapalayam, near Salem with the name of Mottayan Gaunder, and hailed from a farming community. In his youth Mottayan Gaunder spent most of his time at the Veerapathiran Temple performing pujas and making garlands for the God statues. He was 25 years old when his family arranged his marriage to a girl named Chadachi. The couple had a son Periyarswamy but shortly after the birth of the child, Mottayyan Gaunder left his birth village, only to return twelve years later a few days before the death of his wife. 

Swami is now commonly known as Mookupodi Swami (Siddhar) because of his habit of using snuff. Over the last years he has spent most of his time in spots around the Hill; including Rajarajeshwari Temple, Adiannamalai Temple, Hanuman Shrine and more recently the Navagraha Shrine close to the Ner Temple off the girivalam roadway. 

In much the same way the actions of Seshadri Swamigal were believed to always be in the devotees best interest—so too, Mookupodi Swami’s actions of shouting at devotees, sometimes threatening or beating them with a stick, are also attributed to his teachings and blessings. His actions are ever random and unpredictable. He may command a visitor to give him money which he proceeds to put inside a towel and then wrap the towel around his head or some other part of his body. After some time he might give the money to a different person nearby. In such incidences both the giver and receiver feel blessed—the giver believes Mookupodi Swami (by taking the money) has taken off bad karma, and the receiver feels the gift from the saint will bring auspiciousness and good fortune into their life. In many of my earlier postings on Mookupodi Swami, people have replied with comments telling of their own extraordinary experiences with him.  


2016 Arunachala Karthigai Festival: Cauldron Puja at Temple — Friday December 23, 2016



Yesterday Friday December 23, 2016 the Karthigai Deepam Cauldron was brought down from the summit of Arunachala and taken to the 1000 Pillar Hall in the 5th Prakaram of Arunachaleswarar Temple. 

After arrival in the 1000 Pillar Hall, Temple Priests performed a puja on the Cauldron. Photographs below. 


Karthigai Deepam Festival Cauldron afterwards

Aarti being offered during the puja

I've never seen a Deepam Cauldron so damaged after the Karthigai Festival

This is the 2015 Cauldron after last year's Festival. Can see its in much better shape and it was an old cauldron on its last year of service. Oh dear don't know if the new one will be able to manage another Festival without serious intervention!!!


23 December 2016

2017 Full Moon Dates: Arunachala Pradakshina—Significance of Girivalam



Sacred Power—Girivalam 
The Significance of Girivalam (Circumambulation) 


[The below narrative is taken from my website dedicated to Arunachala and available at this link]. 


One of the thousand and eight names given to Arunachala by Adi Shankara is giripradakshinapriya – the Lord who loves giripradakshina. 


'Be they of lowly birth, without the advantage of learning, unable to practise the virtue of liberality, it is of no account. Those who perform pradakshina of holy Aruna, the Supreme, submit to his rule and become his devotee, will excel even amongst the most excellent . . .' 
[Arunagiri Antadi] 


Arunachala


At most holy places located on hills, the Deity is found at the top. But here at Tiruvannamalai, the Hill itself is the Deity (Lord Annamalaiyar) and one of the ways in which it is propiated and worshipped is by its circumambulation. In Sanskrit this going around the Hill is called 'giripradakshina' (giri = mountain and pradakshina: Prada = giver of boons; Kshi = destroyer of Karma; Na = giver of Jnana. Also, Pra-Dakshina = going around with centre kept to the right). 

'Pradakshina (the Hindu rite of going round the object of worship) is "All is within me." The true significance of the act of going round Arunachala is said to be as effective as circuit round the world. That means that the whole world is condensed into this Hill. The circuit round the temple of Arunachala is equally good; and self-circuit (i.e. turning round and round) is as good as the last. So all are contained in the Self. Says the Ribhu Gita: "I remain fixed, whereas innumerable universes becoming concepts within my mind, rotate within me. This meditation is the highest circuit (pradakshina).' 
[Ramana Maharshi: Talks with Sri Ramana Maharshi] 

In the Tamil language, this process of going around, is called 'giri valam' (giri = mountain and valam = right side), inferring that one should keep the Hill to the right when circumambulating. 

The Arunachala Puranam declares that: 

'the holy Arunachala is the primal, Adi linga. The path around its base is the sacred Yoni. Pradakshina of the Hill is therefore pradakshina of the source of all lingas! So one goes round keeping to the left-edge of the path. A mere step taken, confers the benefit of a Yaga, sacrifice; two steps, the fruit of Rajasuya Yaga; and three that of Asvamedha Yaga. Going round the hill one gains in health and vigour. The hill abounds in rare herbs sought by traditional herbalists and the breeze carries the salubrious wafts from these siddha herbs to the one doing the holy round. The dust from the feet of such a person, carried and deposited in towns far away effects immeasurable purification.' 



Route of 14 km outer Arunachala Giripradakshina


The circumambulation path is 14 kilometres (8½ miles). Tradition has it that even today a number of siddhars are living on the hill. There are eight lingams located at the eight directions, which provides an octagonal structure to the town of Tiruvannamalai. The eight lingams are: Indra Lingam, Agni Lingam, Yama Lingam, Niruthi Lingam, Varuna Lingam, Vayu Lingam, Kubera Lingam and Esanya Lingam. 

There are two pathways around the Hill, the outer pathway which is the most commonly travelled and which contains Temples, the Asta Lingams, Tirthams and Shrines. And the inner pathway which winds its way through the countryside at the feet of Arunachala. 

According to scriptures, the walk around the Hill should be conducted at a slow pace either in silence, reciting mantras or chanting sacred songs. As to the ritual of the spiritual round; one should abjure all thought of the opposite sex on the day of pradakshina. After bathing one wears clean white clothes, applies vibhutti and proceeds, giving alms but without accepting any. Free from fear, anger, irritation or sorrow one walks on bare feet, without using vehicles or carrying an umbrella. Without swinging one's arms about, and with a silent soft tread, one saunters like a queen in her 'tenth-month'. One bows, first to the holy Hill from each of the eight cardinal directions, and then to the Lord of that direction enshrined in the linga there. One bows mentally to the incorporeal gods and siddhas going the rounds and keeps to the side. One could keep silence of speech and mind; or one could allow thoughts to flow on to the Hill of Fire; or one could sing and listen to songs of devotional praise. 

In the company of those of lofty character, one is able to halt here and there and enjoy a feast of fruit and milk. Otherwise, simple food free of flesh can be taken. 

Certain days are regarded as particularly auspicious for circumambulation:-

The fruit of a Sunday pradakshina is Siva's abode (enter the solar region and attain Liberation); 

that of Monday is merger in Siva-form (live happily in a world free from senility and death); 

that of Tuesday is termination of debt and cyclic death (freed from all doubts and becomes Emperor); 

that of Wednesday is divinity through skill in philosophy and art (attain Wisdom and Omniscience); 

that of Thursday is lordship over gods and god-men (venerated by all Devas and may even become a renowned Guru); 

that of Friday is lordship of the Lotus Lady (may hope to reach Vishnu's abode). 

A Saturday pradakshina confers the astronomical benefits of a nine-planet conjunction in the Eleventh House (worldly success and protection against planetary influences). 

The above effects are magnified if circumambulation is done on Sivaratri, New-year day, or during the three months, mid-October to mid-January. The fruits are believed to increase by a factor of one crore if done on the two solstices; or on the day the moon is in the Magha asterism during February-March; or during the pre-dawn hour; or during solar eclipse or Vidhipaada Yoga. 

It is also regarded as particularly auspicious to perform "Girivalam" during every Full moon day (poornima) to coincide with siddhars' movements, and the heady perfumes of herbal plants surrounding the Hill. 

Once a sadhu who went regularly around the Hill, requested Sri Ramana for a Vedantic text. A devotee casually remarked, "He only goes round the Hill. What will he do with any Vedantic text?" To which Sri Ramana retorted, "What better sadhana can there be than going round the Hill?" 

Hindu mythology also explains the significance of circumambulation, in a narrative relating that the Goddess Parvati on the advice of Sage Gautama circumambulated the Hill everyday in order to have her desires fulfilled. 

Another story says that Sage Durvasa, who cursed two vidyadharas stated that:-

"The curse cannot be lifted by any act except that of circumambulating the Arunachala Hill." 

He then proceeded to relate what Siva Himself had declared in an assembly of devas and others: 

"He who circumambulates with devotion the Arunachala Hill which is my form, attains a form like mine. He becomes the Lord of the entire world and reaches the highest state". 

The two vidyadharas then advised King Vajrangada who was suffering, 

"The Lord of Aruna Hill is a repository of compassion and His glory is great. Circumambulate the Aruna Hill on foot as a means of release from suffering". 



Dates for 2017 Full Moon Arunachala Pradakshina





2016 Arunachala Karthigai Festival: Cauldron brought down Hill — Friday December 23, 2016


As earlier directed, the Deepam flame on Arunachala stayed alight for 11 days. The time that the Deepam remains on the Hill depends upon calculations done by priests prior to the Festival and can range from the shortest of 7 days to the longest of 13 days. 

To read about the Cauldron going up the Hill, go to this earlier posting at this link here. To find out why Fishermen are the sole custodians of the Cauldron and its lighting go to this link here



Deepam cauldron on its way down Arunachala Hill

Men from the fishing caste carry the Cauldron down the hill on large bamboo poles

Coming close to the bottom of the Hill

Getting near the bottom

Entering Arunachaleswarar Temple from the North Amman Ammani Gopuram

Inside the 4th Prakaram of Arunachaleswarar Temple

Devotees reverentially touching the Cauldron for blessings

The Deepam Cauldron being carried into the 1000 Pillar Hall in the 5th Prakaram of Arunchaleswarar Temple

2016 Arunachala Karthigai Deepam Cauldron after the Festival
2016 Arunachala Karthigai Deepam Cauldron before the Festival



The 2016 Cauldron was lit on December 12, 2016 and remained alight on Arunachala for 11 days. It was brought down to the 1000 Pillar Hall, Arunachaleswarar Temple today Friday, 23 December, 2016. 

The cauldron this year was a new one and was constructed in 15 days by 4 men of the Nattar community. It weighs 160kgs is 5 feet in height and has a capacity of a 1000 litres. It is fully made of copper and cost Rs.1.75 Lakhs to create. 

18 December 2016

2016 Arunachala Karthigai Festival: Deepam on Arunachala on 7th Day — Sunday December 18


The photographs below are from today i.e. the 7th Day of Deepam on Arunachala summit. A big thanks to Sethu for these beautiful photographs. 


2016 Arunachala Deepam

The rocks upon which the Cauldron is always placed, are thick and slippery with accumulated ghee from years of Deepams

Guardians of the 2016 Arunachala Deepam

View of the 2016 Deepam

Climbing the pathway to Arunachala Summit

Every day fresh supplies of ghee and wicks taken to the Arunachala Summit

On their way to Arunachala Summit

Photograph of Arunachaleswarar Temple taken from side of Arunachala



17 December 2016

2016 Arunachala Karthigai Festival: Deepam at Yogi Ramsuratkumar Ashram



I have previously made a number of postings about Yogi Ramsuratkumar Ashram at Tiruvannamalai. The most recent of which was about their wonderful Navatri Kolu doll display inside the Samadhi auditorium. 

Many devotees unfamiliar with this place never get to discover the charm, peace and uplifting spiritual energy of this favourite Arunachala Ashram. 

As is there tradition this Ashram creates their own representation of Arunachala during the Karthigai Festival and every evening light the deepam at the top of their Hill. 

Below are photographs of Saturday 17 December, 2016 at Yogi Ramsuratkumar Ashram. 


The Ashram's own Hill is adjacent to the samadhi auditorium entrance

A specially created Arunachala at Yogi Ramsuratkumar Ashram

Front of the Hill adorned with Gods

Left Subhramanya, right Anjaneya

Left the Goddess and right Lord Arunachaleswarar
Deepam on top of their own Arunachala

Devotees present for the deepam lighting each evening. This continues for the same amount of time the deepam remains on the Arunachala summit. This year that time will be 11 days.

The Ashram's own Deepam aligned to that on Arunachala itself



2016 Arunachala Karthigai Festival: Extraordinary Grace Given to Fishermen



Every year during Deepam five earthen-pot lighted lamps, representing the five elements, provide the flame for the single Bharani Deepam which fisherman carry to the top of the mountain for use as the source-light for the Krittikai Deepam. It is also they who are entrusted with carrying the Deepam Cauldron up to the top of the Hill prior to the day of Mahadeepam. 

The Deepam cauldron is hauled up the slopes of Arunachala supported by poles inserted into the cauldron’s rings. The unique privilege for taking the flame (source-light) and cauldron up the Hill and also for the actual lighting of the Deepam Flame is always given (for as long as the Hill’s recorded history) to men of the fishing caste. 


Parvtha Raja clan of fisherman light the 2016 Deepam Cauldron


This year 52 year old K Subramanian and his relatives of the Parvatha Raja clan lit the cauldron on the summit of Arunachala on Monday, December 12, 2016. According to local belief, the Parvatha Raja clan are descendants of a king who had been blessed by Lord Shiva to light the cauldron in order to ward off a curse. The clan has three sub-divisions: Unnamulai Priyan, Pennattu Priyan and Vathathi Priyan. 

The menfolk from the three sub-classes take turns every year to light the cauldron. This year it is the Unnamulai Priyan division. 

The clansmen are honoured with ‘Parivattam' on the morning of Karthigai Deepam Day at the temple.They use `Ezhalal' (a long bamboo stick with the wick at one end) to light the cauldron. The lamp is lit at 6pm when the idol of Arthanareswarar is taken on a procession around the sanctum of the Arunachaleswarar temple. Around 600kg of ghee, 100 metre of cloth and over 4 kg of camphor will be used each day for 10 days. 

The reason for the extraordinary grace shown to the fishing clan is explained by a famous legend of the time the Goddess Parvati was adopted by the king of the fishermen. A version of the story appears below. 


Becoming a Fisherman 

"Once, the Lord was explaining to the Goddess the secret import of the Vedas. However, the Goddess who was listening to the Lord, seemed to be beset with some anxiety and was otherwise engrossed. It was, therefore, apparent that She was listening in name only. The Lord noticed this and said that as She was not paying full attention to the important things discoursed by Him that in retribution She should be born in the fisherman’s community. 

The Goddess lamented and the Lord assured Her that She would be born to the king of fishermen and that He (The Lord) would in due course come to wed her. 

Ganapathi and Subrahmanya, the sons of the Lord were greatly perturbed by this and in their frenzy, considering the books of the Vedas to be the cause of the trouble, threw the offending books into the sea. The Lord took Nandikeswara to task for having allowed Vinayaka and Subrahmanya to go to Him without knowing His convenience and cursed him to become a shark in the sea. Any curse on Ganapathi would recoil on Him (the Lord) and hence the Lord did not impose any curse on the elephant God, however, Subrahmanya was cursed to become the dumb son of a merchant. 

There was a place called Pakam on the eastern seashore of the Pandya Kingdom which was inhabited by fishermen and their king of the great fisherman clan of Paravar, was a great devotee of Lord Siva. The king had no children and one day, when he went to the sea for fishing, found a crying female child lying under a Pinnai tree (or Punnai, Calophyllam Inophyllam) on the seashore. He picked the child up with great joy and handed it to his wife saying that it was a gift of the Lord. His wife brought up the child very affectionately and adorned it with various jewels. The child grew to be a girl who constantly meditated on Lord Siva. 

As ordained by the Lord’s curse, Nandikeswara became a shark and caused havoc to the fishermen’s boats sailing in the sea. The king of the fishermen took considerable pains to catch the shark—but all was in vain. The king therefore announced that he would give his daughter in marriage to any person who would catch the shark. 

The Lord appeared in the guise of a young fisherman and the king was struck with the personality and bearing of the young newcomer. To the king’s enquiry the young man replied that he was a fishermen and could net any big fish or shark. The king told him of the prize offered for netting the shark infesting the area. The newcomer went to the sea and in no time netted the shark. 

The king and his men were astonished at the feat. And happily gave to the newcomer his daughter in marriage and celebrated the wedding immediately. The bride and bridegroom immediately appeared as Siva and Parvati on their Vrishabha mount and the shark also appeared as Nandikeswara. 

The king of the fishermen extolled the God for the great kindness shown to an ordinary and illiterate man. The Lord told him that as he had been yearning for a child, He sent Parvati to be his daughter and He came himself came to wed Her. The Lord also blessed the king to have all prosperity and at the end of his life to become a denizen of Sivaloka. Then the Lord instructed Parvati about the secret import of the Vedas and She eagerly and earnestly listened to the discourse." 


16 December 2016

Post-2016 Karthigai Deepam Festival: Day 3 Theepal—Lord Subramanian


During the evening of Thursday, December 15, Lord Subrahmanian gave His devotees darshan on Day 3 of Theepals on the Ayyankulam Tank in front of the Sri Arunagirinathar Temple. 




Lord Subramanian (with wives) alangaram

Lord Subramanian being carried to Ayyankulam Tank on palanquin

The Lord being carried onto Theepal

Lord Subramanian on Theepal


Lord Subramanian gives darshan on theepal, Ayyankulam Tank in front of Arunagirinathar Temple


Post-2016 Karthigai Deepam Festival: Day 2 Theepal—Sri Amman


During the evening of Wednesday, December 14, Sri Amman gave Her devotees darshan on Day 2 of Theepals on the Ayyankulam Tank in front of the Sri Arunagirinathar Temple. 


Sri Amman

Sri Amman Theepal on Ayyankulam Tank. Wednesday December 14, 2016

2016 Arunachala Karthigai Festival: Lord Arunachaleswarar Girivalam


After completion of the 10 day Arunachala Karthigai Festival, Lord Arunachaleswarar performs girivalam of the 14 km roadway around the perimeter of the Hill. This girivalam of Swamy gives an opportunity to devotees to take His darshan who are otherwise unable to view Him at Arunachaleswarar Temple. The only other time each year that Swamy performs Arunachala girivalam is during the January Pongal Festival. 


The Lord performing girivalam of Arunachala on December 14, 2016

The Lord stops constantly on the girivalam to receive offerings from devotees and also to perform aarti

Swamy giving darshan on NH66 part of the Girivalam Roadway


Post-2016 Karthigai Deepam Festival: Day 1 Theepal—Sri Chandrasekhara


Brahmotsavam is intended to teach us the way to divine self-realisation. The last of the celebratory observances during Karthigai Festival is Thirthotsavam which literally means “water festival”. Four days are allocated at the end of Deepam to celebrate the water festival at Ayyankulam Tank in front of Arunagirinathar Temple (the third oldest Shiva Temple at Arunachala). The water festival is representative of the sadhaka’s plunge into the higher realms of consciousness – and typifies an entering into samadhi... an end of religious aspiration. 

The Theepal for the Gods are floating structure made up of drums and timber and decorated with lights, flowers, religious paintings and silken buntings. Lights are installed around the perimeter of the tank and focus lights placed at strategic points. When the murtis of the Gods come to Ayyakulam Tank they are placed lovingly on a float and then the float pushes off and completes an allocated number of turns upon the Temple Tank. Devotees sit on the steps of the tank to take darshan of the God on the Theepal. Thereafter the deity of that day is taken in procession around the four Mada Streets (perimeter streets) surrounding Arunachaleswarar Temple. 

During the evening of Tuesday, December 13, Sri Chandrasekhara gave His devotees darshan on Day 1 of Theepals on the Ayyankulam Tank in front of the Sri Arunagirinathar Temple. 



Lord Chandrasekhara

The Lord gives darshan on Theepal, Ayyankulam Tank