• Table of Contents
  • International Study Programme
  • A Successful Yoga Nidra Retreat by Stephen (Stoma) Parker
  • After Years of Yoga Nidra I Am Moved from the Inside
  • After 3 Years of Yoga Nidra by Riccardo Valdettaro
  • Yoga Nidra for Creativity and Enhancing Intuitive Faculty by Swami Nityamuktananda
  • News from the Land Down Under: Yoga Nidra and Meditation Workshops in Australia
  • Insight Journey to Tiruvannamallai by Silvia Baratta
  • Children’s Yoga: Breath- Awareness by Nivedita Mishra
  • The Universal Soul is Hurt by Dr. Dinesh Sharma
  • The Children of KHEL Perform at Swami Rama Sadhaka Grama
  • 2011 Events and Beyond
  • Full Moon Meditation Dates
  • Location of our SRSG ashram
• AHYMSIN NEWSLETTERS ARCHIVE

Insight Journey to Tiruvannamallai

by Silvia Baratta

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Tiruvannamalai, located in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu, was the destination for our group of six pilgrims. We were on an “insight” journey organized and directed by Swami Rama Sadhaka Grama (SRSG) staff from the 16th to 20th of February, 2011. Tiruvannamallai is the home of three active and highly visited pilgrimage sites: Arunachaleshwara Temple, the sacred mountain Arunachala, and Sri RamanaMaharshi’s Ashram.

“Arunchala is no doubt one of the most sacred places in India. Ramana Mahrshi talks about the ‘Hill Supreme’ as ‘Consciousness manifest’, as ‘Sivalinga’. Tradition speaks of the Mountain as the “Fire- linga”. Circumbulating this sacred Mountain, sitting by its sacred tirthas (springs), meditating in the Cave of the Mountain-ashram or the hall, where Ramana Maharshi gave his darshan, are sure to turn the awareness to the Fire-within! ” — (Swami Nityamuktananda)

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Arunachaleswara is one of the Panchbhootamshivasthalas, one of the five Shiva temples dedicated to the five elements of air, water, fire, earth and ether.  At Tiruvanamallai, Shiva is worshipped as fire. We had an opportunity to tour the large temple complex, taking in the many sights and sounds of the exuberant worship taking place there.

Watching over the town of Tiruvannamalai is “the hill” known as Arunachala.  Arunachala is considered by some to be one of the oldest rock formations of the Subcontinent.

Arunachala is said to be an embodiment of Shiva as fire and light.  In the mythology, Shiva is said to have manifested himself in the form of a massive column of fire, whose crown and feet Brahma (the deity ruling creation) and Vishnu (the deity ruling preservation) attempted in vain to reach.  Lord Shiva, in this way, claimed victory as the one with highest knowledge.

The trip was made all the more meaningful with the presence and guidance of Swami Nityamuktakanda.  She shared her knowledge and insights gleaned from many years of study and application of knowledge of the five elements.   Also fortunate for all was the serendipitous encounter with two other Yoga/Meditation Family members, Godfrey and Nandini Bishop. They are from the U.K. and are regular visitors to Ramana’s Ashram as well as SRSG.  They graciously offered their time and energy, acting as guides for a number of the activities.

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Participants met at Chennai on 15th February.  The following day after breakfast the group departed on the four hour journey by bus to Tiruvannamalai and Sri Ramana Maharshi’s Ashram, an ashram with a rich history which continues to be a regular part of the spiritual lives of the people of South India.

After his “awakening”, the 20th century enlightened sage, Sri Ramana Maharshi was drawn as if by some invisible force to the sacred mountain known as Arunachala.  Here he lived for 50 years, all the while staying fully identified with the highest Self.   An Ashram arose around him where countless pilgrims came to receive his unconditional love, guidance and teaching of Self-inquiry. (See:  www.sriramanamaharshi.org)

Three nights were spent at the ashram where members of the group enjoyed participating in ashram activities and walks on the sacred mountain.  It was a memorable experience for all to meditate and feel the silence permeating the places where Sri Ramana gave his darshan.

The trip was relatively short, but long enough to get a taste and blessings of these extraordinary places and the one sage united with them.

What some of the participants had to say

“lamiainpressione di un viaggioallefalde di una  montagna sacra dovegrandisaggihannomeditato ,dove si rafforzail proprio sentierospirituale in amorevolecompagnia di swaminityamuktanada e compagni di viaggio.”

"My impression of a trip at the feet of a sacred mountain where great sages have meditated is that here one's own spiritual path gets strengthened in the lovely company of Swami Nityamuktananda and travel companions". (Laura, Italy)

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“I loved Tiruvannamalai both the temple to Shiva and Ramana Maharishi's ashram. I was not distracted by the crowds which usually put me off. There is a beautiful aura of divinity over the whole town which one could experience everywhere. I only wish I could have spent more time at the temple and walked around studying the four massive entrance towers which were so beautifully decorated which is unusual for a Shiva temple.” (Padma, Mumbai)

“I enjoyed the visit and am glad for the way things were scheduled. For me coming from busy Singapore, there was a good amount of time spent for visiting the temple, ashram as well as some personal time, a refreshing yet different immersion of culture, environment and spirit. Thank you for organizing this trip with Swami Nityamuktananda. It was a great blend for a trip for learning, enrichment as well as an eye opener.” (Timothy, Singapore)

“Although the trip was short, all of us gained some insights into that ‘Fire within’, the fire of ‘divine love’, and the fire of ‘sacred light of knowing’. We felt blessed by Shiva, who is Arunchala Himself.” (Swami Nityamuktananda)

Another Insight Journey to Tiruvannammallai is planned for 2012, end of January, early February (precise dates to be announced).  For more information write to sadhakagrama@gmail.com

Note: to learn more about the five elements or Sankyha Philosophy, read“ The Five Great Elements Rediscovered” and “TattvaSamasa: Contemplations on the Essence of Sankyha” by Swami Nityamktananda Saraswati. They can be ordered through Ahymsin Publishers Ahymsinpublishers@gmail.com