Ramana Ashram Visit #6

[Guest guest]

Circumambulating the Inner Loop

 

The next day I did a circumambulation of Arunachala mountain on the inner loop,

which for the most part frees one from having to walk on paved streets. After

padding my blistered feet, I took a left after the back entrance of Ramana

ashram, and moved through various fields and pastures. The going was difficult

at first, in the sense of trying to stay on the path, which was not clearly

marked. But after a while, the orange and white markers were easily found. Even

though it rained that morning, it was very hot (I went just after lunch), and it

was a bit of a workout. I passed many a goat and cattle herder, sometimes

stopping for pictures or giving out pens, and of course, a rupee or two.

Everyone has a hand out it seems.

 

I made an effort to see how the mountain would change as I walked around it, and

try to feel if I was walking in a large circle. But it always seemed that I was

walking in a straight line and I wondered if I heading towards Madras or parts

unknown. It still confounded me that I was actually walking around this

mountain. The path, being clearly marked, led me through various types of

terrain, now mostly rocky and shrublike terrain, till about 2 1/2 hours into the

journey, one is dumped onto a paved road leading into downtown Thiru. Every so

often, I would look at the mountain to keep attention to the reason why I was

doing this "hike", and I employed the "Om Namah Shivaya" mantra often, as this

mountain is worshiped as a seat of Lord Shiva.

 

After being alone in much stillness for most of my trip, the last thing I wanted

was to negotiate the noisy downtown area, but I had no choice. The last part of

the journey leads one right past the walls of the Arunachleswar temple then

towards the other side of town, where Ramana ashram was situated. On the way I

stopped for a refreshing coconut drink - vendors simply chop off the top of a

coconut with a machete and stick in a straw for a most delicious drink of

coconut milk. I also encountered two very young and charming school girls around

6 years of age, who charmed several pens and pieces of candy off of me. They

were so cute that I took pictures of them.

 

Virupaksha Cave

 

On my last day at Ramana Ashram, I took the rock path to Virupaksha cave, just

below Skandashram. Between Skandashram and Virupaksha is a small stream from

which I took the opportunity to receive a blessing - a holy mountain must have

holy water! I drenched my head with water from the stream and proceeded the

steep path to Virupaksha cave. But when I got there, it was closed, but

fortunately the priest who takes care of this cave came about 10 minutes later.

This cave is really not that far up the mountain, and there is a small family

living just below the cave.

 

The cave itself is created by a huge boulder, which is now surrounded in part by

a building and courtyard. It is much larger than the inner Skandashram cave, and

also very powerful, a great place to sit and meditate, and I took advantage of

being the only person there for a long time. The cave itself can seat about 10

people. Again, the spiritual potency of the cave easily brought attention to

rest and the cessation of discursive thought. I also took time again to just be

on the mountain - in comparison to the noisy downtown, this place was heavenly,

such a sanctuary. I watched as two men went past Skandashram to climb to the top

of Arunachala mountain, in sandals, no less. Though the mountain isn't huge,

somewhere about 2700-3000 feet high, that's a call for good footwear in my book!

 

Doing a similar routine, of circumambulating the mountain, visiting the mountain

caves and spending time at the samadhi site, not to mention the wonderful meals,

the 5 days I had a Ramana ashram went quickly. I packed up my room, and donated

a lot of my leftover food, medicine, clothing and assorted items to Ramana

ashram. They are not only an ashram for residents but a place where all the poor

and sadhus of Tiruvannamalai can receive a free meal at 11:00 A.M. as well as

medical care. The 11:00 A.M. lineup of saffron robed sadhus is quite a site,

many carrying the traditional small metal pail in which water or food is

carried. Some of these sadhus just look so cool, with long flowing white hair

and such.

 

Dr. Murthy booked me a cab to Madras - Ramana ashram has its own taxi service -

for about $30 US you can go to and from Madras to Thiru, which is a four hour

cab ride. Quite a service. I gave a donation for my time at Ramana ashram, since

they do not charge for a stay there.

 

Courtesy of Phil Seredvio

 

Tiruvannamalai My final destination, Ramana Ashram!