Swami Arunachalananda
Sri Ramanashramam Tiruvannamalai
(2016 - 2020)
I had read and liked very much the book 'Talks with Sri Ramana Maharshi'; so i had the desire to visit Ramanashramam.
I could visit Sri Ramanashramam in 2008 with my father for couple of days; did inner girivalam during this period.
Later during the six month course at Theni (2015), all students and Acharyas of the course came to visit Sri Ramanashramam for
couple of days; did outer girivalam during this period.
* 01 - 15 November 2016
In November 2016, i was granted two weeks stay at the ashramam and came there via Belur-Bangalore. The wonderfully spiritual
atmosphere of the ashrama, made even more magnetic by the majestic presence of Arunachala hill just behind the ashrama, pulls
spiritual aspirants towards itself. The ashrama routine, Bhagavan Ramana Maharshi's Samadhi shrine and meditation hall,
Matrubhuteshwar shrine, library, goshala, dining hall, evening 4 o'clock reading class, veda-chantings and pujas every morning and
evening, serene and natural movement of spiritual aspirants - both Indian and Western - add to the magic of the place.
I did outer girivalam during this period as inner girivalm had been banned by this time. Visiting Skandashramam, Virupaksha Cave,
Arunachala Temple in the town, Yogi Ramsuratkumar Ashrama, performing Girivlam to Arunachala etc. make one's stay in Thiruvannamalai
thoroughly enjoyable. Met Sw Priyanathanandaji (Kumar Mj, Ex-Ramakrishna Math Monk) and Mr K V Subramanian (K.V.S. about whom I was told in
Mayavati by a doctor devotee).
I watched Youtube videos on Bhagavan Ramana by David Godman during this stay and liked them very much;
so wrote David an email and asked for a meeting if he was in the town. Luckily he was in town and replied quickly that we can meet in
the ashrama itself; we met and sat outside Matrubhuteshwar; I asked a few questions to him and he kindly replied them all.
Left the Ashrama for Madurai by night bus (by the grace of Arunachala, night bus was caught just in time and at Madurai, got
unexpected assistance from co-passengers till Theni).
Some Pics: First Stay at Ramanashramam
Video:Rain at Ramanashramam
* 01 - 15 June 2018
In July-September 2017 I had stayed in Thiruvannamalai near Ramanashramam but not inside the ashrama; later in June 2018 i was again
graciously granted two weeks stay at Sri Ramanashramam. I met again my friends Sw Nirvrittananda Mj, Sw Priyanathananda Mj, and
Sw Shivabrahmanandaji with whom i had spent quality time during July-Sept 2017 period (couldn't meet Br Amrit as he had moved out of
Tiruvannamalai). Enjoyed again the peaceful and serene atmosphere of Ramanashramam with the added joy of witnessing the
celebrations associated with Jayanti of Mother Algammal. Later i stayed in a guest house near the ashrama for few days before returning
back to Nashik via Tirupati-Kadapa-Thotalapalli-Bengaluru-Mumbai.
Some Pics: Second Stay at Ramanashramam
* 10-25 March 2019
In March 2019 I went to Sri Ramanashramam again; this time with Bhaskar Mj of Almora. We came from Haridwar via Delhi-Bengaluru and
reached ashrama early morning on 10th March. Sudhindra Mj met us during morning arati and took breakfast with us at the ashrama.
Later in the evening he took us to Swami Ramananandaji Mj (Swami tata) who stays near Varun Lingam (this was my second visit to him);
we had good satsang with him and after satsang we had our night bheeksha at a devotee's home nearby. Next day we
went to Girivalam and on route visited Swami Asutoshanandaji Mj (Raju Mj - Ex RKM Chennai) who stays near Adi Annamalai Temple; we
had good satsang with him and and from his flat-balcony could see great view of Arunachala; then we proceeded with Girivalam.
On route we met Dr Ramandas, an AcuTouch specialist and friend of Swami Sivabrahmanandaji Mj, whom I had also met in 2017; he
requested to visit his home for few minutes and we went there; from his terrace too great view of Arunachala could be seen. We
competed the Girivalam and returned to Ramanashramam.
Next day Sudhindra Mj took us to the saint 'Siva Jyothi Mouna Siddhar', who stays in his ashrama (around 25 km from Tiruvannamalai)
and is famous for his divine cures for human ailments and problems. We had his darshan and brief satsang; Br. Amrit,
who was earlier staying near Ramanashramam was now serving this saint and was staying in his ashrama; I was meeting Br. Amrit after
two years. In the afternoon, after bowing down again to the saint and receiving dhoti as Prasad from him, we returned to
Tiruvanaamalai. Due to hectic travelling and change in climate, food, water etc. I suffered from cough for few days and took medicine
from Ramanashramam free dispensary. On the full moon day I did Girivalam again with thousands of pilgrims; and on the day of departure
evening i attended the evening arati and sankirtana at Yogi Ramsuratkumar ashrama. I left Tiruvannamalai on 24th March by
train and reached Nashik on 26th via Mumbai; Bhaskar Mj went back to Almora via Bengaluru-Delhi.
* 05-23 March 2020
I reached Ramanashrama from Bengaluru on 05th March early morning; after refreshing myself, i made pranams in Samadhi Shrine,
Matrubhutshwar temple, and Meditation Hall. Then after 6.45 arati and 7 o'clock breakfast, I was given room A-20 near Arunachala base.
This was a separate single room almost connected to the boundary wall at the feet of Arunachala! It was very calm and quiet area.
The cough which was hiding in the body perhaps from February due to cold climate or Rishikesh and due to hectic travelling, came out
with force and I had to see doctor in Ramanashrama dispensary. After a week of tablets, syrups, and constant hot water, coffee etc.
the cough subsided. Electric kettle, spoon, glass, plate etc. provided by Kumar Mj was greatly helpful.
I did Girivalm couple of times: once during Purnima with hundreds of pilgrims, another time with Sudhindra Mj and Tatha Swami
(Sw Sivabrahmananda), and yet another time with Sudhindra Mj when we also went to Raju Mj's (Sw Asutoshananda) place and had
satsang with him.
Some Pics: Sri Ramanashramam (March 05-23, 2020)
Video:Full Moon Day Arunachala Girivalam
Corona virus scare had by this time spread everywhere and state after state in India were closing down services; religious places,
ashramas, offices, schools etc were being shut down. Sri Ramanashrama had also severely curtailed entry to all within Ashrama
premises; those few of us who were guests and were staying within the ashrama alone were allowed in meditation hall, Samadhi shrine
etc. PM Modi called nation-wide 'Janata Curfew' on 22nd March - the same day I had night train ticket (train no 11006) to Mumbai
from Tiruvannamalai! All trains were cancelled and hence I booked bus tickets from Tiruvannamalai-Bengaluru-Pune (23rd March) but
soon the news came that all inter-state bus movement is also being stopped; my tickets were cancelled. I requested Mr Kannan,
the ashrama manager for extention till 31st March as Maharashtra was already under lockdown; Mr Kannan said he will discuss the
matter with other trustees the next day (23rd March) and then give the decision.
Next day morning the ashrama authorities decided
not to extend stay of any guest in ashrama; so I was left with no choice but to move out. I could have stayed outside in rented room
or could have tried air-route to Nashik. I consulted with Umesh and also asked ashrama authority about bus availability to Chennai.
Then based on their feedback I quickly booked flight tickets from Chennai to Nashik via Hyderabad flight; by the grace of
Bhagawan Ramana I got bus to Chennai and from there Ola cab to Chennai Airport. At Airport everyone was wearing a mask, so I too
tied my handkerchief around my face. At Hyderabad airport they were scanning each passenger by thermal detectors for fever signs,
also hand sanitizers were installed at many places. The change-over time at Hyderabad airport was about 6-7 hours during night time
and I could hardly get any sleep as I tried sleeping on floor. The flight from Hyderabad to Nashik reached Nashik around 8.30 am and
at the airport every passenger had to fill-up 'health-details form' and undergo thermal temperatue detection. Nashik was already
under lockdown orders and very few cabs were there at Airport; they were charging high fares as there was risk of being blocked by
police. I could secure the lone auto-rikshwa present there and reached safely home.
* 04-16 March 2021
In February 2021 i stayed in a rented room behind Yogi Ramsuratkumar Ashrama for a month, then came into Sri Ramanashramam on 4th March.
I was given the 'Devraj Mudaliar Cottage' room by Mr Moorthy (incharge of accommodations); the room was at the very foothills of
Arunachala and very quiet. I felt the overwhelming grace of Arunachala. The ashrama was coming back to normal routine for guests and
outside visitors after almost one year break due to COVID pandemic. Masks, Sanitizers etc. were still mandatory, though people were more
relaxed and free now. Last year when i had left the ashrama, it was the beginning of the pandemic and i had reached Nashik just in time.
On 9th March i went to Girivalam with Kumar Mj; we talked and ate throughout the way!! Appam, tea, ice-cream, masala-dosa, cold-drinks etc.!
And on 11th March night (around 12 o'clock) again i went to Girivalam along with thousands of others as it was Mahashivaratri night; this
was my first Mahashivaratri at Tiruvannamalai. I attended the puja at the ashrama till midnight and then after completing the Girivalam,
again attended the remaining puja in the ashrama from 4AM onwards. During the Girivalam i saw many pandals where whole night puja, bhajans,
satsangs etc. were going on; i also went inside the main Arunachaleshwara temple and had darshan. Due to the strain of these two Girivalams,
eating cold items, and night-long vigil, I developed cough and had to take cough-syrup & rest for few days to recover my health.
On 15th March was Sri Ramakrishna Tithi Puja which again i was blessed to spend in Sri Ramanashramam; I did Girivalam in the evening. On
16th i returned the electric kettle and other utensils to Kumar Mj and in the night boarded Chalukya express for return journey. Due to
mobile camera issue, i did not take pictures during this stay.
Next : Sivananda Ashrama Rishikesh
----------- Om Tat Sat -----------
