Radhekrishna! We will continue from the last post. We reached Thiruvannamalai our destination by around 11 pm. As we had booked our accommodation earlier we could settle ourselves within a short time with the decision to get ready by 6-30. Morning by 6-30 we all got ready and came out of our lodge. The view was astounding. In front of us was sprawled, the mighty Thiruvannamalai, the mountain form of Lord Arunachaleswara. The place was charged with divinity. We stood staring at the mountain for sometime took some snaps and entered Ramanashramam. Ramana - the great soul was above the 4 ashrams of Brahmacharyam, Sanyasa, etc. We circumbulated the samadhi and mid way we had the pleasant surprise of seeing the mahathma Swamy Shanthananthapuri the great disciple of Swamy Purushothamananthapuri of Vasishta Guha, Rishikesh.
We prostrated at his feet and moved. We met an acquaintance from our home town there unexpectedly. He invited us for a sapthaham which was being conducted in Thiruvannamalai to be started from that day. So after arathi at the samadhi we went to the sapthaham venue. Guruji gave a discourse on Naraharisonar quoting how Lord Vittala attracted Naraharisonar who was a great devotee of Lord Siva and said likewise Lord Arunachaleswara had pulled Guruji a staunch Krishna devotee towards Him. We then went to Ramanashram to meet the mahathma Swamy Shanthananthapuri maharaj.
When we entered his room the Swamiji pushed a chair towards Guruji and requested him to be seated on that.But Guruji politely declined the offer and said he preferred sitting down before mahathmas. Then the Swamiji started saying there is no difference between down or up. Then he quoted a story from Ribhu Gita how the sadguru makes his disciple understand the real truth. His words were like sweet nectar and all of us listened enchanted. Then Swamiji asked Guruji to speak. Guruji then talked on Vittala since it was Ashada Sukla Ekadasi day and concluded saying when we happen to meet great bhakthas, or mahathmas it would naturally lead us to the Lord.
We could see that guruji was immersed in Ananda. He reclined on to the Swamiji's lap and enjoyed his divinity. Meanwhile Swamiji was talking to us on various form of bhakthi and grace of the Lord. He also quoted two or three anecdotes on Ramana maharshi. Then he told us about his sadguru Swamy Purushothamananthapuri maharaj of Vasishta Guha. Time was flowing smoothly and we never realised. It was time for swamiji to go out to attend a special puja organised by the ashram on that day. So we took leave from the Swamiji reluctantly with a promise to meet him again in Chennai when he said he would be coming there after a week.
We decided to skip the puja functions since we had to see around the place. We started climbing the mountain. It was not hot and humid but only pleasant with mild breeze. We could see Guruji was slowly loosing himself in the atmosphere. He became silent and was enjoying in himself. Since we had limited time we had to cut short our climb midway and return. Guruji was forced to leave the place.
We then proceeded to see Lord Arunachaleswara since Guruji wanted to see the Lord who pulled the great mahathma Ramana maharshi towards Him. The temple complex is huge. We kept walking towards the sanctum. As we were nearing the gateway meant for queue a bhattar whom we don't know came to Guruji and said 'vaango' as if he was expecting us. Without much words he led our group away from normal route towards the sannidhanam. Inside the sanctum we were seated so near the deity as if we were sitting by the Lord's feet. We hadn't taken any offerings with us for the Lord. The bhattar did archana arathi etc. while we had a very very luxurious darsan of the Lord. He then took us to the divine mother's sannidhi too where the rituals were repeated. Then he gave prasadams to us and garlanded guruji and the 4 men. Everything was happening as if in a dream. With the blessings of Lord Arunachaleswara and Unnamulai thayaar we started back.
We did a hurried giri pradakshinam on car itself before lunch. Evening we started towards Thirukovalur where the first three azhvars met 'yadruchayaa' on a rainy night. 'Poykaiyazhvar, Bhoothathazhvar and Peyazhvar decided to visit Thirukovalur divyadesam on the same day itself. Poykaiyazhvar who reached first found the temple doors had closed decided to stay back and enjoy the darsan the next day. He approached a Rishi who was staying nearby for accommodation for a night's stay. The Rishi showed him a small verandah enough for a single person to lie down. As he was lying down the two other azhvars too reached there one by one and together they managed to stand on the small verandah and spend the night in divine sathsangam. They were introducing themselves and talking about the Lord when they found a fourth person had squeezed inside without their permission. Since it was very dark they couldn't see who that person was. So Poykaiazhvar lit a lamp of earth with the sea of oil etc. followed by Bhoothathazhvar who lit the lamp with love. eagerness etc. while the third one saw the Lord along with the divine mother in that light. Ultimately the divyaprabandham originated at that small verandah.
On the way to Thirukovalur guruji noted Gnyanananda Thapovanam on our right and so our car stopped there for the holy darsan. We saw Thapovan also which was not in our original agenda and then proceeded towards Thirukovalur. We were thrilled as we entered the temple premises. The curtain was drawn so we stood waiting there in the queue. Then another group of about three or four walked in. An old lady from among them squeezed in among us which looked very much awkward. Then she moved behind us. Slowly the queue was becoming longer. Suddenly somebody from the back shouted 'hey why are u squeezing and crowding like this?'. We were startled to hear those words and immediately burst into laughter. The Lord had proved His presence for us there. Didn't He squeeze in to the three azhvars who were standing on the Rishi's verandah?!!
The curtain was removed and we were allowed inside. Lord Thrivikrama was standing huge with the right foot raised upwards towards the sky measuring the whole universe. We could see the divine mother also on His chest. Mahabali, Namuchi, Mrikantu maharshi, the three azhvars are all present inside the sanctum. Guruji explained us in detail while the bhattar showed everything to us. We received thirtham prasadam etc. and came out. As we had decided to visit Madhuranthakam before it closes we started without any delay. After about an hour we suddenly noticed a small board indicating 'Paranur' was just 3 km. away. Seeing that Guruji immediately asked the driver to turn the car and go to Paranur where the mahathma Sri Krishna Premi had consecrated a temple for 'Bhaktha Kolahalan'! As it was Ashata Sukla Ekadasi we could very well expect Sri Anna to be there. The car proceeded through a forsaken route and reached Paranur a very inconspicuous village.
We could hear Anna's voice even as we got out of the car. We eagerly rushed towards the temple where hundreds had gathered to see and hear Sri Anna. Each of us managed to get space for standing somewhere and we stood hearing the 'amrita vachans' of the sadguru. Sri Anna finished his talks and moved away. We went to see Kolahalan who was so excited seeing so many bhakthas thronging there. Afterwards we moved to where Sri Anna was standing and giving darsan. The crowd was thronging to meet Anna. He was responding to every devotee. At last our Guruji had his opportunity and garland Sri Anna and prostrate before him. Sri Anna blessed us with a quick look at us and a flashy smile.
Fully contented we decided to move. Guruji said as it was so late we had no chance of getting into Madhuranthakam in time. So Guruji advised us to postpone Madhuranthakam visit and so we proceeded homewards. Guruji was reminiscing the whole trip making us realize the power of mahathmas. The whole trip has become an unforgettable experience for all of us. Everybody could feel that only Bhagavan was leading us throughout. We can only prostrate at our guru's holy feet again and again and express our gratitude for him. We can only conclude with these words - 'anirvachaneeyam premaswaroopam'! Radhekrishna! radhekrishna!
We prostrated at his feet and moved. We met an acquaintance from our home town there unexpectedly. He invited us for a sapthaham which was being conducted in Thiruvannamalai to be started from that day. So after arathi at the samadhi we went to the sapthaham venue. Guruji gave a discourse on Naraharisonar quoting how Lord Vittala attracted Naraharisonar who was a great devotee of Lord Siva and said likewise Lord Arunachaleswara had pulled Guruji a staunch Krishna devotee towards Him. We then went to Ramanashram to meet the mahathma Swamy Shanthananthapuri maharaj.
When we entered his room the Swamiji pushed a chair towards Guruji and requested him to be seated on that.But Guruji politely declined the offer and said he preferred sitting down before mahathmas. Then the Swamiji started saying there is no difference between down or up. Then he quoted a story from Ribhu Gita how the sadguru makes his disciple understand the real truth. His words were like sweet nectar and all of us listened enchanted. Then Swamiji asked Guruji to speak. Guruji then talked on Vittala since it was Ashada Sukla Ekadasi day and concluded saying when we happen to meet great bhakthas, or mahathmas it would naturally lead us to the Lord.
We could see that guruji was immersed in Ananda. He reclined on to the Swamiji's lap and enjoyed his divinity. Meanwhile Swamiji was talking to us on various form of bhakthi and grace of the Lord. He also quoted two or three anecdotes on Ramana maharshi. Then he told us about his sadguru Swamy Purushothamananthapuri maharaj of Vasishta Guha. Time was flowing smoothly and we never realised. It was time for swamiji to go out to attend a special puja organised by the ashram on that day. So we took leave from the Swamiji reluctantly with a promise to meet him again in Chennai when he said he would be coming there after a week.
We decided to skip the puja functions since we had to see around the place. We started climbing the mountain. It was not hot and humid but only pleasant with mild breeze. We could see Guruji was slowly loosing himself in the atmosphere. He became silent and was enjoying in himself. Since we had limited time we had to cut short our climb midway and return. Guruji was forced to leave the place.
We then proceeded to see Lord Arunachaleswara since Guruji wanted to see the Lord who pulled the great mahathma Ramana maharshi towards Him. The temple complex is huge. We kept walking towards the sanctum. As we were nearing the gateway meant for queue a bhattar whom we don't know came to Guruji and said 'vaango' as if he was expecting us. Without much words he led our group away from normal route towards the sannidhanam. Inside the sanctum we were seated so near the deity as if we were sitting by the Lord's feet. We hadn't taken any offerings with us for the Lord. The bhattar did archana arathi etc. while we had a very very luxurious darsan of the Lord. He then took us to the divine mother's sannidhi too where the rituals were repeated. Then he gave prasadams to us and garlanded guruji and the 4 men. Everything was happening as if in a dream. With the blessings of Lord Arunachaleswara and Unnamulai thayaar we started back.
We did a hurried giri pradakshinam on car itself before lunch. Evening we started towards Thirukovalur where the first three azhvars met 'yadruchayaa' on a rainy night. 'Poykaiyazhvar, Bhoothathazhvar and Peyazhvar decided to visit Thirukovalur divyadesam on the same day itself. Poykaiyazhvar who reached first found the temple doors had closed decided to stay back and enjoy the darsan the next day. He approached a Rishi who was staying nearby for accommodation for a night's stay. The Rishi showed him a small verandah enough for a single person to lie down. As he was lying down the two other azhvars too reached there one by one and together they managed to stand on the small verandah and spend the night in divine sathsangam. They were introducing themselves and talking about the Lord when they found a fourth person had squeezed inside without their permission. Since it was very dark they couldn't see who that person was. So Poykaiazhvar lit a lamp of earth with the sea of oil etc. followed by Bhoothathazhvar who lit the lamp with love. eagerness etc. while the third one saw the Lord along with the divine mother in that light. Ultimately the divyaprabandham originated at that small verandah.
On the way to Thirukovalur guruji noted Gnyanananda Thapovanam on our right and so our car stopped there for the holy darsan. We saw Thapovan also which was not in our original agenda and then proceeded towards Thirukovalur. We were thrilled as we entered the temple premises. The curtain was drawn so we stood waiting there in the queue. Then another group of about three or four walked in. An old lady from among them squeezed in among us which looked very much awkward. Then she moved behind us. Slowly the queue was becoming longer. Suddenly somebody from the back shouted 'hey why are u squeezing and crowding like this?'. We were startled to hear those words and immediately burst into laughter. The Lord had proved His presence for us there. Didn't He squeeze in to the three azhvars who were standing on the Rishi's verandah?!!
The curtain was removed and we were allowed inside. Lord Thrivikrama was standing huge with the right foot raised upwards towards the sky measuring the whole universe. We could see the divine mother also on His chest. Mahabali, Namuchi, Mrikantu maharshi, the three azhvars are all present inside the sanctum. Guruji explained us in detail while the bhattar showed everything to us. We received thirtham prasadam etc. and came out. As we had decided to visit Madhuranthakam before it closes we started without any delay. After about an hour we suddenly noticed a small board indicating 'Paranur' was just 3 km. away. Seeing that Guruji immediately asked the driver to turn the car and go to Paranur where the mahathma Sri Krishna Premi had consecrated a temple for 'Bhaktha Kolahalan'! As it was Ashata Sukla Ekadasi we could very well expect Sri Anna to be there. The car proceeded through a forsaken route and reached Paranur a very inconspicuous village.
We could hear Anna's voice even as we got out of the car. We eagerly rushed towards the temple where hundreds had gathered to see and hear Sri Anna. Each of us managed to get space for standing somewhere and we stood hearing the 'amrita vachans' of the sadguru. Sri Anna finished his talks and moved away. We went to see Kolahalan who was so excited seeing so many bhakthas thronging there. Afterwards we moved to where Sri Anna was standing and giving darsan. The crowd was thronging to meet Anna. He was responding to every devotee. At last our Guruji had his opportunity and garland Sri Anna and prostrate before him. Sri Anna blessed us with a quick look at us and a flashy smile.
Fully contented we decided to move. Guruji said as it was so late we had no chance of getting into Madhuranthakam in time. So Guruji advised us to postpone Madhuranthakam visit and so we proceeded homewards. Guruji was reminiscing the whole trip making us realize the power of mahathmas. The whole trip has become an unforgettable experience for all of us. Everybody could feel that only Bhagavan was leading us throughout. We can only prostrate at our guru's holy feet again and again and express our gratitude for him. We can only conclude with these words - 'anirvachaneeyam premaswaroopam'! Radhekrishna! radhekrishna!
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