Arunachalam &
Bhaghawan Ramana Maharshi
(Maha Siva Puranam)
Pravachanam By Brahmasri Chaganti Koteswara Rao Garu
This is as part of Maha Siva
Puranam Pravachanam. This details about the Arunachala Kshetram and associated stories and
Bhaghawan Ramana Mahrshi Life History.
Arunachaleswara Temple (Thiruvannamalai)
Arunachalam Temple
Arunachalam / Giri Pradakshinam / Giri Valayam
·
In Arunachalam Siva is in three forms –
Arunachalam, Arunachaleswara Linga rupa, Arunachaleswara Jyoti rupa. When you
do pradakshinam first one is South side Yama Lingam will be there – If you pray
here it will be good to get cured for bone diseases. Next is South East –
Nyruthi Lingam – This Linga prayer will be enabling for improved focus on Manassu.
Kavyakantha Ganapathi Saint did Tapassu here. He determined not to move away
from here till his samkalpam is over. He was doing Tapassu very strictly. The
Arunachala chariot one day stopped exactly before this temple, while carrying
Anna Daana as well. Any number of people could not further pull it from there.
Head priest came in the midnight dream of Kavyakantha Ganapathi and told him that
he only can pull the chariot. He rushed there put namaskaram, saw only 10
people there. So, he prayed Siva that next day early hours he will come and
pull the chariot. He said that with His Mercy only they will be able to take
back to the temple. He slept, but surprisingly could woke up very late by 9 AM
only. He went there and pulled the chariot. That is the greatness of this
Linga.
·
Adi Annamalai Temple (West Side), Chandra,
Surya, Kubra (North) – for Aishwaryam are other main important Siva Linga
temples. Eesaanya Lingam – Here Nandi head will be in a tilted shape – the reason is that some
devotees requested Siva that Nandi is obstructing His Darshan. Then Siva
ordered Nandi to turn his face. But since Siva did not tell him to turn back normal
again, Nandi remained like that only. There are no Deeksha/rules to be followed
in Arunachalam. East Gopuram of the temple is generally the main entrance. This
is constructed by Krishna Devaraya. North Gopuram – at least once should go and
come. Ammani amman is a poor lady – she collected donations by having the
special skill of knowing what each house is having the exact money. With that money
she constructed the gopuram and hence it has been named after her.
·
While doing Pradakshinam if some bleeding
happens, only Lakshmi Amma comes and saves, none of us can control the blood.
This is according to Skanda puranam. None can tell the age of this Chalam. As
per Krutha yugam – this was Jyothi. In Thretha yugam it was Gold, Dwapara yuga
it is copper. Now it is stone. But it is always remained as Jyoti swarupa.
Arunagiri Nadhar
/ Kili Gopuram
·
Arunagiri Nadhar’s mother – is a prostitute. He
has one elder sister from another father. But he does not know that. After
mother died – sister took care of younger brother. But Arunagiri was a
womanizer, he spent money lavishly. Finally, nothing was left with him. When he
was demanding money from the sister, she offered her own body – revealing that
they are not own siblings. Then Arunagiri repented to the core and jumped from
the Subrahmanya Temple Gopuram to die. Then Subrahamanya swamy saved him.
Instantly he became a pious man and written 1000s of slokas in his life time on
Subrahmanya swamy. Proudha deva rayulu king of Arunachala appointed him as his
main court poet by removing an existing main poet by name Sambadhan. King
requested Arunagiri to show him Subrahmanya swamy. He warned that he will lose
his eyes by seeing Him, But King insisted upon. So, the same happened – he
could see Swamy because of Arunagiri, but lost his sight. But Arunagiri Nadhar prayed Swamy and got the
sight for King back.
·
Thus, he became very close to King. Sambadhan
became too jealous. He knows that Arunagiri changes his body from one live-being
to another daily for doing Puja to Subrahmanya swamy near a temple. One day he
did the same by entering into parrot, leaving his original body, so that he can
bring flowers for puja. By the time he came back – Sambadhan burnt the original
body. Auranagiri Nadhar remained as Parrot and still was singing, praying
Subrahmanya Swamy. Always he used to be on the Gopuram of the temple. Thus, in
the main Arunachalam temple there is Kili Gopuram for the Subrahmanya swamy
temple. It is near the Patala lingam. There is a samadhi near the patala linga.
There Ramana Maharshi used to do Tapassu. Seeing that ants and insects are
reaching there, Seshadri swamy took him out from there. He did Tapassu outside.
Later He is shifted to Southside of Vippa (mahua) Tree. Then after that Big
Bull will be there. Crossing third Prakaram Arunachaleshwara temple will be
there. Adjacent to it His consort Apeetha Kuchamba will be there.
Vallala Maharaj
/ Vallala Gopuram
After crossing East Gopuram Vallala
Gopuram will be there.
Vallala was a king. He has two wives Mallana Devi and Sallama Devi. He
has no children. Once Siva came in Jangamadevara form. As per custom when they
come a woman has to go and dance. Since no court yard ladies were there by that
time (as the other Pramadha ganas have already occupied rest of the kingdom) –
Sallama Devi agreed to Dance with the Jangamadevara. She went to his room.
Surprisingly when she touched Jangamadevara, she noticed a Kid. He disappeared
and later appeared as Shankara. He granted the boon that since – they do not
have children He will do Abdhikam to them once the king goes from his physical
form. Even till today – in Magha month – Arunachaleshwara and Apeetha Kuchamba
do Abdhikam to Vallala. This is happening since 600+ years.
Kavya Kantha
Ganapathi
·
Kavya Kantha Ganapathi along with his younger
brother came to Arunachalam. After praying Amma, he felt he came over here for
some great accomplishments. His brother started suffering with hungry. Since it
is Ekadasi no one could offer them food. Finally, one old couple said it is
their practice to offer food to Brahmins on Ekadasi night. So, they were served
with feast. They had nice dinner and were offered to sleep before the house
only. By the time they woke-up, next day morning they noticed that they were
indeed in a Vinayaka Temple. Thus, it is the Siva and Parvati who blessed them.
Even then still they suffered subsequently for food as they could get food very
rarely. They starved for many days. With that starving every night he used to
recite one Sanskrit sloka. Many pundits used to come and appreciate his literary
skills, but none offered him meals. This is all Siva leela.
·
Finally, one night he declared that he is
writing last sloka of Hara Vilasam and recited. Ramana Maharshi, Seshadri
Swamy. Many Town heads came. They all appreciated him and taken care of him
since then. They offered Sanskrit teacher post, arranged continuous meals. There was no hunger for him since then He is
so genius that he could learn Tamil in 10 days, that too the highest level of
it. He could listen Shakespeare’s Macbeth in English and translate instantly in
Sanskrit more beautifully than that in English.
Once he settled in Mango Cave and started writing Uma Sahasram – Jut
about to complete before the self-deadline, he has got goruchuttu (whitlow). It
was so much paining that he was unable to write. Then Siva appeared in the
dream of Dr Punyakoti – ordered him to go and treat Ganapathi. He came and
treated him. The deadline of midnight approaching. Bhagavan Ramana also came,
sat opposite to him. He completed exactly just before midnight. Ramana blessed
him in the form of Arunachala. Arunachalam is considered as Dkashinamurthy
Swarupam.
Bhaghawan Ramana
Maharshi
(30 December 1879 - 14 April 1950)
Early Life of
Ramana
·
Ramana was born in Arudra star, in Tiruchuli village
near Trisulapuram. The village Temple is having deities Bhuminathar, Sahayamba.
His parents. are Sundareswara ayyar and Alagamma. Ramana is third child. Eldest
is Sister. Second Child is Naga Swamy. Fourth child name is Raga Sundarudu. Fifth
child is Alamelu. Venkateswara is their Household God. Ages back in their
family dynasty once, someone illtreated a beggar-saint, the beggar cursed that
in each generation one family member will become saint. Accordingly,
Sundareswar Ayyar elder brother Venkateswara Ayyar became a saint at the age of
18 and went to Chidambaram. Hence Ramana is named as Venkata Ramanan. He got
his thread ceremony at the age of 8. Then he went to Dindigal to his uncle
Subba Ayyar (father’s younger brother) for English medium education along with
his elder brother Naga swamy. Ramanan used to sleep like anything in his
younger ages. From there Ramana moved to Madhurai as his uncle got transferred
to Mathurai. He used to go in midnight to play with friends in the river bank
side.
·
While his father passed away, he was
12-year-old. The ages of the children are as follows (14,12,6 and last one is
baby). Once a relation came from Arunachalam to Madhurai and Ramana from then
onwards developed some unknown bond with it. During that time, he saw a book in
his uncle’s house - Periya puranam (63 Naayanaar’s story) – He started reading.
He used to go to Meenakshi temple daily. He used to be in deep dhyanam. Meanwhile
his brother got married. At the age of 17 an incident happened. One day suddenly
he suffocated a lot, felt as if ready to die. He lied down on the floor. Wanted
to witness the death of his own. He felt tightness as if he is becoming like a wood.
He saw his own body falling. But he is astonished that he is noticing all –
that means he is alive without body – that means he experienced in his own
Athma. So later onwards he became mechanical. Gradually he was doing repeated
Dhyanam. Family was complaining that he is neglecting everything. Ramana could
not focus on Books. One day his brother
commented “Why do you need to be at home?”. Ramana just stood up and told that
he has some class and need to go out. But as brother told him, had last home
lunch of his life time at the age of 17 provided by sister-in-law. Brother told
him to take Rs 5 and pay his college fee. While leaving home he wrote as
follows “This (means Body) has taken Rs 3. Not paying your college fee. This is
going to search for Father. Do not search for…. From…” Left blank with no name.
Journey to Destination
(Arunachalam/Thiruvannamalai)
·
He went to Railway station. Purchased Thindivanam
ticket. He was doing dhyanam in the train. But got down at Villupuram ahead of
the destination. Took another train for Thiruvannamalai. But since he is not
having sufficient money purchased ticket up to Mambalam pattu. Got down there and
walked till Nalluru. He was feeling very hungry. He went to a temple, Priest there
did puja, but he could not get prasadam. From there he walked till Keeluru
along with a group of priests. There also they did not provide any
food/prasadam. But the Bhajanthris provided him the prasadam. By the time he
could eat, he desperately wanted water as he is feeling severe thirsty. He went
to some house nearby and by the time someone could provide food, he fallen and
wokeup next day morning. Next day he met Muddu Krishna Ayyar –he requested them
some food. He said his sister is there. But she is doing Puja and asked him if
he can wait till that time. But seeing the stage of the boy she has provided
him old food. He ate that, put his ear rings and took Rs 5 in exchange from
Muddu Krishna.
·
Then he walked till Thiruvannamalai. He reached
early hours to the temple, incidentally the main Garbha Aalaya opened. He
hugged the Linga and told “Appa I came as you called me”. He took bath in the
lake and threw the cloths. He put a gochi and had complete bald. He gave away
the money to the barber and threw his eatables in the lake. He started doing
dhyanam. His hair, beard started growing. He was not aware of the food being taken.
Some notorious kids started throwing stones at him. As it is disturbing, he
went to Patala Lingam. There insects started assembling and biting him and blood
was coming out. Seshadri swamy noticed it. (He has gnaanam from Kamkshi amma).
He took him out from Patala Lingam. Then priests started giving milk to him.
Kids as usual started throwing stones and hitting him. Even authorities used to
discourage him.
Becoming of Bhghawan Ramana Maharshi
·
Uddandi naayanaar tried to serve him. He took
him to Virupkasha Guha/Cave. Palaniswamy a normal person used to start doing
service to him. Jataswamy a saint used to roll stones at Ramana’s place, so
that devotees visiting Ramana get afraid. Ramana caught hold of him. Another
swamy used to collect money posing as if he is the Guru of Him, But Ramana neither
way commented. That swamy got frustrated and left Thiruvannamalai twice. Kavya
Kantha Ganapathi came one day and sought Brahma Vidya from him. Luckily
after surrendering his ear rings to
Muddu Krishna Ayyar, Ramana spoke for the first time – “Brahmam is nothing –
you search for the manassu where it is originating”. “Of all the thoughts that
rise in the mind, the thought 'I' is the first thought.”. He also called him as
Nayana. Kavya Kantha Ganapathi named him first as “Bhagavan Ramana Maharshi”.
· Onti Monkey, is closely associated with Ramana. Jack is Dog (like saint they did Samadhi to it), Valli Deer, Lakshmi Cow. These are all the animals to whom Ramana Maharshi showed and showered Daya equally like fellow human-beings. He suffered with Cancer towards end. Suri Nagamma wrote about his life. Her mother, father died at the age of 9 and 10 respectively . Married and became widow at the age of 11 and 12. They made her to sleep on mat, made to cry, not to eat, suffocated. Once she went to Thiruvannamalai and realized Ramana as Guru. She settled there. She discussed with him many epics, wrote many letters on behalf of Him. On the last day Ramana sat on the Sofa, had looked towards Suri Nagamma and other devotees and left the physical body. There was Jyoti which came out from him and unified (Aikyam) in the Arunachalam. After that many devotees including Suri Nagamma left Ashrama as they could not live without Him
No comments:
Post a Comment