The Dance of Peacocks

Continues From Giri Pradakshinam

The visit to Skandashramam, Virupaksha cave and Giri Pradakshinam on the previous day had drained us from the physical strength. I don’t remember when I touched the bed, when I woke up late in the earning.

Peacocks at Remanashramam

After prayers and breakfast, we roamed around the Ashramam. I and Poonam were so fascinated by the peahens in the ashram and we fretted after them to take photos. We were losing hope to find a peacock, lest see it dance! It was then Mohan came to us.

                          Don’t go after the peacocks, go after the Bhagawan!

I and Poonam felt definitely intimidated. Anyway, it was one another meeting with a devotee of Ramana Maharshi. Mohan was overflowing with his devotion as he explained his experiences. He reluctantly gave away his name as devotees of Remana believe that there is nothing in a name! 

We went to the meditation hall after that. For a person like me, who still doesn’t understand the ‘m’ of meditation, the place definitely felt like a brooding place. I came out and sat at the entrance of temple and watched a woman keeping watch for her sleeping grandchild near Remana Maharishi’s Samadhi. 

I was so lost in the innocence of the sleeping baby that Priya had to call me for lunch. Soon after the lunch, we packed our belongings and came back to Ashramam. It was so hot outside and the sand of the Ashramam burnt under our bare feet. We prayed at the temple and came out. What did I see???

Another view of a Peacock

The hot sun was getting covered by dark clouds! All of a sudden four peacocks came to the terrace in front of the temple accompanied by a white peacock. Then, they started! The majestic dance lasted for 15 minutes. I stood there in full awe!

As soon as the dance ended, I understood the call. I went back to the temple and bowed

 “I understand and accept this truth. This is a place where simple wishes can get granted in a mysterious way. At least I’ve felt a pulse of the highly powerful spiritual vibrations of this place. There is no wonder to call this place as the spiritual center of the world. I will visit this place again, when the call comes on my way.”

Continues in A Romantic Stroll At Thiruvannamalai

The Divine Voice of ‘Aum...’

Continues from Arunachaleswata Temple

The ashramites were performing Remana’s Abhishekam in its full glory as we reached the Ashramam.  The Vedic mantras and Bhajans seemed to purify the crystal clean air. Soon after the rituals, we were invited to have the Ashramam breakfast. The hot Idlies and Sambar were served on the dried and sewn leaves. As I tasted the delicious breakfast, I wondered whether the so called nectar in heaven comes in the form of Idlies and Sambar too!

After breakfast, we decided to go to Skandashramam. We climbed the Arunachaleswara, where in each stone one can find divinity. The hill itself is believed to be Lord Shiva. The soft breeze eased out the initial breathlessness that I usually feel while trekking.  On the way, a majestic view of Arunachaleswara temple revived our spirits.  The wilderness made the path cool, even amidst the scorching summer.

(At the entrance of Skandashramam)

 A group of monkeys jumped around the peaceful outskirts of Skandashramam. As we neared the Skandashramam, we heard the beautiful Bhajans that aptly suited to the ambience. However I didn’t get the mood to meditate inside the shrine. I came out and waited under the mango tree and watched the sun rays sweeping through its foliage. That’s then; I heard the murmur of a natural spring next to the cave of Ashramam. I was definitely feeling thirsty and the refreshing and cool water passed a new energy to me.

After the visit to Skandashramam, we took a downward road to the Virupaksha cave. It was there the Saint Virupaksha Deva and later Ramana Maharshi lived in meditation.  Ramana Maharshi had written his early works like Self-Inquiry and Who am I? while meditating in this cave. Naturally for his followers, the cave provided a place for deep meditation.

(One the way to Virupaksha Cave)

The cave was naturally cool inside. However the fumes of incense sticks and the claustrophobia, gradually took me outside. I came out and sat on the small wall leaning on to a Neem tree. All the visitors apart from us had left the place. I almost felt sure that my spiritual inquest to this place had become futile.

The sun was getting hot! Anurupa came out of the cave and sat on the other end of the wall.  After some time Priya came out and sat next to me. We didn’t speak anything and wandered in our own contemplations. We heard Poonam chanting the divine mantra of ‘Aum’ inside the cave.  I and Priya smiled at each other! Surely, the mantra has some power to invigorate our soul.

Soon Poonam came out of the cave. We treaded through the path where the beauty of Arunachaleswara was getting lost! People have used the place for their nature’s calls! Poonam must have fed up with the path and she started chanting ‘Allah’! Though I don’t abhor Islam, I somehow felt that chanting unfit for this situation!

  If there are some people around, they might beat you up for chanting ‘Allah’ in temple premises.  Why don’t you chant ‘Aum’ as you did at Virupaksha cave?

Poonam was in a good mood and didn’t take offense at my prattle. She laughed,

Take it easy! By the way I didn’t chant ‘Aum’ at Virupaksha cave. I was meditating.

I and Priya just stared at each other. We had definitely heard the chanting. Now, Anurupa who was sitting with us across the yard and at the door of Virupaksha cave denied that she had heard the chanting. There was not a single person near the Ashramam. Then whose chanting did we hear? Poonam consoled us,

My master had once told, ‘When your mind is calm and free of outward thoughts you can hear the voice that calls for you.’

This incident still remains as a mystery for me. If the voice had definitely called out for us, then I should think- ‘Who am I?’

           

    Afterword: Being a resident of Riyadh, now I realize an interesting relation between ‘Allah’ and ‘Aum’. My  Yoga teacher had taught me that ‘Aum’ has to be chanted in three parts concentrating on out three body areas. Interestingly, the priests in the neighboring mosques also recite ‘Allah’ in the same tone. After repeating ‘Allah’ in their style, I realized that it gives the same rejuvenating feeling as ‘Aum.’

   

      Continues in Giri Pradakshinam