Letters to Sri Siva Jothi Mona Siddhar Swami

The below three letters were sent to Swamiji from devotees explaining how he had and was changing their lives. 

Letter One: 

From: K.S. K and S.K., Villupuram District 

Sri Mona Siddhar Swami is a Living God. I came across an article in the newspaper and on the same day my family and I went to see Guruji by 8.00 p.m., that night. From that day until now we continue to visit Swamiji and my family and I are fully dedicated to him. 

Swamiji through his Grace and Blessings has protected us from several problems and possible financial losses. We have informed a number of people about him and those people have gone to visit him and receive his Blessings. 

My wife gives homeopathy and siddha consultations and after receiving Blessings from Swamiji she has become very good at giving her patients treatments and has cured several complicated ailments. This is became of Swamiji. 

I have two sons studying B.E. Mechanical Courses, both of them are successful and are studying well after they were blessed by Swamiji. I was renting out a property to a North Indian who used the premises to run a pawnbrokers shop. Suddenly he vacated. At that time I went to Swamiji to take his advice. Upon telling him what had occurred Swamiji gave me a handful of coins—my wife and I were shocked that he should do this. Then Swamiji informed us that we should start up a pawnbrokers business similar to the one left off by our previous North Indian tenant. We were totally taken back with Swamiji’s suggestion, because we don’t have any experience with such work. But as Swamiji told us to start up the business, we did so and started up a pawnbrokers shop in the premises previously occupied by our tenant. 

We started our business on 14.4.2013 and the shop’s name is Sri Siva Jothi Pawn Broker Shop. Now as we are learning about the business, it is improving slowly and beginning to go well. 

A person borrowed money from me on credit but did not pay it back in the agreed time. Suddenly one day the person came and returned the money saying, “A Swamiji’s image came in my dream and said to give back the money to you. On having the dream I was shocked and came here to return the loan.” He noticed a photo of Swamiji in our shop and he said that it was the same person who had come in his dream to order that the money should be returned. Then he asked us to escort him to Swamiji’s Ashram and we did so. He was happy to see Swamiji and he is now a good devotee. 

We are very much thankful to Swamiji 

Sri Siva Jothi Mona Siddhar Swami

Letter Two: 

From: G.P.A, Tirupur 

Namaste to Guruji: 

For the past three years, I have been seeing your face but had never met you or seen you in person, but I always was able to internally see your face and feel your presence throughout the day. 

12.10.12 I was travelling from Erode from Chennai by train. On my journey I met a person named V.P.S. While talking I told him about seeing the face of a Swami, but didn’t know who it was as I had never met such a person. Suddenly V.P.S. showed me a picture. I was shocked to see that the picture was of the same Swami that I had been seeing for the last three years. I collected Swamiji’s address and details from V.P.S. 

17.10.12 Arranged to visit his Ashram. The day I saw him was a joyous moment. From that day onwards, I have been regularly visiting his Ashram and receiving his blessings. 

Letter Three: 

From: P. Murugan, Vettavalam 

For the past one-and-a-half years I have been visiting Swamiji. Before that I never met any Swamiji like him or experienced such an Ashram as his. I was living as my wish, not giving respect to anyone, and not taking care of my parents, wife and children. Things were going like this. Suddenly I had a severe health problem and everything got struck down. I went to local doctors who sent me to a major hospital for tests and it was confirmed that I have C.M.L., (Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia). At that moment I started to feel very bad about the sort of life I had been living and felt that I had lost everything. 

I then started to turn towards spiritual things and began to follow Ramalinga Swamigal’s guidance and started to avoid eating non-vegetarian food. Later my elder sister informed me about Swamiji at Sethavari and requested me to visit him. By taking up her words I came to Sethavari to have darshan of Guruji. On the first visit itself I felt a change and started feeling better. I saw a light of flame in Swamiji’s eyes and informed him about my health problem. After hearing of my trouble, Swamiji said he would take care of me. He instructed me to take a certain herb daily which would cure my health problems. I have followed Swamiji’s directions and am now living happily and in good health. 

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Address of Swamiji's Ashram 

Sri Siva Jothi Mona Siddhar Dharma Paribalana Trust Sethavarai, 

Nallan Pillai Petral Village and Post 

Ginjee Tk 

Villupuram District 

Tamil Nadu 

(about 20 Kms from Tiruvannamalai) 

Panchamukhi Gayatri Shrine, Girivalam Road

On the 29th of January, 2008 the Panchamukhi Gayatri Manthralyam was inaugurated on the Arunachala girivalam roadway, next to the Annamalai Erdiner and Unnamulai Erdiner Temples. The Goddess Gayatri is considered Veda Mata (Mother of all Vedas) and also the personification of the all-pervading Parabrahman, the ultimate unchanging reality that lies behind all phenomena. 

Sri Paramahamsa Ramakrishna said of the Gayatri, that if all the truths of the Vedas were condensed into one, it would be encapsulated in the Bhagavad Gita, and if all the truth in the Gita were represented by one Universal Prayer, it would be the Gayatri Mantra. 

Gayatri is the name of one of the most important Vedic hymns consisting of twenty four syllables. The hymn is addressed to Lord Surya (Sun) as the supreme generative source. 

Shrine on Arunachala Girivalam Roadway

According to the sacred texts: Gayatri is Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva, Gayatri is the Vedas. It was only later that Gayatri came to be personified as a Goddess. The five-faced Gayatri (Panchamukhi) is usually seated on a red lotus signifying wealth. She represents in her five faces the five pranas (life forces) and is the protector of the five pranas in man. 

"Gayantham thrayathe ithi Gaytri (Because it protects the one who recites it, it is called Gayatri)." When Gayatri acts as protector of the life-forces, she is known as Savitri. Savitri is known in a story from the Puranas, as the devoted wife who brought back to life her husband, Sathyavan. Savitri is the presiding deity of the five pranas. She protects those who lead a life of Truth. 

Gayatri Panchmukhi

Panchamukhi Gayatri wears crowns on all her five heads, and the crowns bear nine types of gems, which signify the lustre of Divine Light flowing into the heart of the aspirant. The four heads of Gayatri represent the four Vedas and the fifth head represents God. In Gayatri Amman’s ten hands she holds the symbols of Lord Vishnu. The weapons held by the ten hands of this Goddess give divine protection and the desired boon of the aspirant, at the same time all enemies who are working unfavourably against the devotee are destroyed. 

Poster Shrine Wall, showing Sri Panchamukhi Gayatri's form

It is believed that darshan of the five faces of the Gayatri idol is capable of removing any great sin we have committed and also grants Divine Grace from Lord Shiva. The eyes of the five-faced Gayatri are watching in ten directions (four cardinal points, four inter-cardinal points, plus the Sky and Earth) for the purpose of destroying the bad and protecting the good. 

The significance of the ten hands of Gayatri Amman represents five types of Sukhas (comforts) obtainable from earth and the other five hands signify five types of Divine bliss obtainable from the Divine and Spiritual lokas. 

Recitation of Gayatri Mantra:

Om 

Bhur Bhuva Suvaha 

Tat Savitur Varenyam 

Bhargo Devasaya Dheemahi 

Dhiyo yonah Prachodayat 

Translation of the mantra: 

Om We meditate upon the spiritual Effulgence of that Adorable supreme Divine Reality, the Source of the physical, the Astral and the Heavenly Spheres of Existence. May that Supreme Divine Being enlighten our intellect so that we may realise the Supreme Truth. 

Soma Sutra Pradakshina

I just posted photographs and a narrative of the July 5, 2013 Pradosham as observed at the Arunachaleswarar Temple here at Tiruvannamalai. 

To view the posting please go to this link here. 

During the time of Pradosham a special type of circumambulating called Soma Sutra Pradakshina is done. 

During the time of Pradosham, Soma Sutra Pradakshina is the suggested method of circumambulating God. In some Temples this is always followed. In this method the gomukhi is never crossed. The gomukhi is the place where Abhishekam water is flowing Northwards. By doing this method of Pradakshina one does not step over the holy water. 

As per the above marked symbols this pradakshina goes thus: 

First saluting Rishabham Devar (Nandi the Bull) go anti-clockwise and salute Chandichar (not crossing the gomukhi). 

Now return in a clockwise manner and salute Rishabham and continue clockwise until reaching the gomukhi (again don’t cross). 

Then return in an anti-clockwise direction, salute the Rishabham again and proceed towards Chandichar. 

From there return back clockwise without worshipping the Rishabham and reach the gomukhi. 

Finally return back anti-clockwise from there to salute Rishabham Devar and continue to Chandichar and return back to Rishabham and worship the Shiva Lingam (at the altar) by viewing through the space between the two horns of the Holy bull. 

This is one pradakshina. Three such times pradakshina are to be done. 

The curve traced by doing the pradakshina is very similar to the periphery of the crescent moon. Hence this way of circumambulating is called Soma Sutra Pradakshina. 

Isakki Swamigal -- Part 2

Isakki Swamigal also known as Panchamukha Swamigal, belonged to Tirunelveli District. He was born in 1917 to Chella Perumal Pillai and Muthammal. From his early days, he had good devotional thoughts and spiritual practice. During his school days at age of 13, he came to Tiruvannamalai with his parents for the Karthigai Deepam Festival. As in those days they had to come by walk, Swamigal followed his parents and they reached Tiruvannamalai after a long journey. With his parents Swamigal went on giripradakshina, on reaching Niruthi Lingam Temple, Swamigal was very much attracted by Lord Shiva, and had a strong thought of doing meditation at that place. Since he was very young he was unable to do so, and he followed his parents and went on to complete giripradakshina.

On going to the southside of the mountain during the giripradakshina, the hill which appeared as a single form, appeared in a bifurcated form, representing Shiva and Parvati. On going further to the western side of the hill, it appeared as three peaks which represents the almighty performing the duty of creation, maintenance and destruction of all things in the world. On going further Swamigal visited Gowthama Ashram, and Adi Annamalai Temple and reached the side where the Hill shows the five peak points, called panchamukha. 

Panchamukha Point

On reaching panchamukha point, Swamigal felt that almighty Shiva from his one form divides into five moorthis to perform the essential functions that keep the world alive; creation, protection, destruction, embodiment and saving with grace. So the five faces of Shiva appears as the five peaks of the Hill, which represent panchamukha darshinam of the Hill. On feeling this thought, Swamigal had a sensation that he was at the foot of Mount Kailas. As his spiritual thoughts increased, tears flowed from his eyes and his heart was fully inspired. He felt to meditate there at the Panchamukha Point, and from that day onwards he had a very strong attachment to that place. In later times, he stayed there and was popularly known as Panchamukha Swamigal.

After having darshan of Karthigai Deepam and Tiruvannamalai Big Temple, Swamigal and his parents travelled northwards on a pilgrimage to many Shrines. Their pilgrimage included Temples at; Virinjipuram, Kanchipuram, Thiruthani, Tirupathi, Thiru Kalahasti and Thiruvetriyur. Afterwards they started travelling southwards on their pilgrimage, visiting Temples at; Virudhachalam, Vadalur, Chidambaram, Sirkali, Rameshwaram until they reached Trichy. At Trichy they worshipped Thayumanavar Swamigal, then proceeded to two more Temples: Thiruvaranagam and Thiruvanaikaval. Swamigal and his parents started their journey in the Tamil month of Ippasi and returned to their village in the Tamil month of Margahi on Thiruvathira Star Day.

Upon completion of the pilgrimage, Swamigal completed his days at school and after finishing his education married. But still his heart was full of thoughts of Arunachala and he often visited Tiruvannamalai, staying at Appar Swamigal Mandapam and going on giripradakshina and meditating near Panchamukha Point. Like this several years passed. Later, he thought to stay at Tiruvannamalai. Sometime between 1959-1960 in the Tamil month of Avani in the Tamil year Vikari he left his house at Tirunelveli and came to Tiruvannamalai. After arrival, Isakki Swamigal started to perform giripradakshina regularly.

For several years Swamigal daily continued his giripradakshina and started to become famous amongst the locals. Groups of people started to go around the hill following the Swami. During their procession around Arunachala, people started to chant the panchakshari mantra of Shiva, “Om Namah Shivaya,” and “Arogahara! Arogahara! Annamalaiku Arogahara!” Increasingly more people started to follow Swamigal during his giripradakshina. Upon each time of reaching the Panchamukha Point, Swamigal would stop and stay at a small mandapam nearby to perform meditation. During his days, Swamigal met and saw several siddhars and yogis who went round the hill on giripradakshina.

People who came for darshan of Isakki Swamigal started to tell him their problems and to ask for his blessings. Some came to Swamigal and requested that he cure their disease. Isakki Swamigal was very surprised that people should come to him, asking for his help, as he believed that Lord Shiva is responsible for all happenings in the world, so who was he to bless anyone? He told those that came, to surrender to Lord Shiva by surrendering to Arunachala. He assured them that whatever problem they may have, that by performing giripradakshina, their problems would be solved and their diseases would be cured.

Based on the problems and diseases concerned Swamigal advised giripradakshina for one mandalam (48 days), two mandalam (96 days) or for three mandalams (144 days). His followers started to take his advice and performed giripradakshina to relieve their difficulties. To avoid the constantly growing crowds around him, Swamigal moved to another part of the Hill.

During his life, it is believed that Isakki Swamigal performed angapradakshinam (pradakshina by rolling the body in a clockwise movement on the ground) of Arunachala 1008 times. Even today, it is thought that Swamigal in his astral form performs giripradakshina twice daily. Close to the Panchamukha Daharshanam Point there is a small meditation mandapam where it is believed that he performs meditation daily at midday. Near the mandapam, Swamigal created a well in order to supply drinking water for devotees.

Swamigal performed meditation at several places in and around Arunachala. He performed dhyanam northside of Adi Annamalai near the Kavasa Theertham, where it is believed that Lord Annamalaiyar showered his blessings upon Swamigal and gave him the power of healing.

There are reputed to be 360 ponds around the path of Arunachala giripradakshina and also several natural springs on the Hill itself. Swamigal said that on the northern side of Arunachala there is a big stone point called the “peacock dancing stone point,” below there is a spring called “Arasudayan Sunaei,” which has cool, sweet water throughout all seasons. At the southern part of the Hill, there is another natural spring called, “Pugunthu Kudithan Sunaei,” at this spring the pathway is very narrow and one has to bend down close to the ground in order to enter. Inside, it is wide and broad and the water is cool and delicious. It is said that at this place one can always hear the sound of an echo.

Until 1975, Swamigal performed meditation daily at Panchamukha Point from 12.00 to 2.30 p.m. He had been to all parts of Arunachala and knew each and every bit of the Hill. One time when he was on the Hill, Lord Shiva came in the form of a wood cutter and showed the way for Swamigal. Isakki Swamigal's samadhi is located at Panchamukha Point. This narrative to be continued. 

Arunachaleswarar Temple Puja Details

This week, the Administration Office of Arunachaleswarar Temple gave me the below list detailing pujas that can be performed at their Temple and including current tariffs.

To order a puja please go to their website at this link here.

Pooja Details

1. Arulmigu Swami and Amman Milk Abisegam Rs.750/-

2. Arulmigu Swami and Amman Special Abisegam Rs.2,150/-

3. Arulmigu Vinayagar, Swami and Amman Special Abisegam
Rs.2,450/-

4. Arulmigu Pancha Moorthigal Special Abisegam Rs.3,500/-

5. Parivara Moorthi Milk Abisegam (Per Sannathi) Rs.750/-

6. Thirukkalyana (Marriage) Urchavam (including Arulmigu
Swami and Amman Abisegam) Rs.8,500/-

7. 1008 Sangabishegam, Arulmigu Vinayagar, Swami and
Amman Abisegam Rs.8,800/-

8. Maganyasarudra Abisegam Arulmigu Vinayagar, Swami
and Amman Rs.4,500/-

9. Abisega Darshan Fee per Head Rs.250/-

10. Kattalai Archana (One Year) Rs.250/-

11. Annadhanam Per Day (100 members) Rs.1,500/-
Annadhanam Yearly One Day (100 Members Investment) Rs.20,000/-

12. Fixed Depsoit for Kattalai Archana. Rs.5,000/-

13. Marriage Fee Rs.150/-

14. Manamakkal (Bride and Bridgegroom) Azaippu Fee Rs.250/-

15. Golden Car Fee Rs.1,500/-

Arunachala Pujas

In response to requests from readers of Arunachala Grace interested in arranging pujas to be performed on their behalf at various private Arunachala Temples, I can now invite you to get in touch at the ‘Email Me’ facility on Arunachala Mystic for more specific information.

To view photographs of pujas previously performed at several private Temples go to the following links for a Shiva Puja, a Rajarajeshwari Puja, a more elaborate Rajarajeshwari Puja, and a puja dedicated to Lord Murugan.






Arunachaleswarar Temple, Adiannamalai Temple, Arunachala Ashta Lingams and many other Temples and Shrines throughout Tiruvannamalai are under the general control of the administration of The Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department of the Tamil Nadu Government. For this reason devotees must go direct to the specific Temple controlled by the Department in order to arrange pujas at those Temples.

Check this contact link to get in touch with Arunachaleswarar Temple to arrange a puja to be performed at that place. However as their website is not up-to-date I will shortly list details of specific pujas currently available at the Big Temple.

Lord Shiva Puja

Arunagirinatha Temple is the third oldest Shiva Temple at Tiruvannamalai. Some say; Adi Annamalai Temple is the head of Lord Shiva, Arunachaleswarar Temple is His body and Arunagirinatha Temple comprise the feet of the Lord.

The Temple is privately run by a Trust and through the good work of a local Brahmin priest family, was recently restored to its former glory.

To read more about the Temple and to view more photographs, go to this link here and to this link here.



















Below are photographs of a fire homam performed at the Temple. This particular Homam lasted about four hours and engaged the offices of five priests.








































To learn more about how to organise an homam to be performed at the Arunagirinathar Temple please use the 'contact me' at the top left of this page.

Rajarajeshwari Puja

The Rajarajeshwari Temple which is set on the Girivalam Hillround Roadway at Parvati Hill, is undeniably one of my favourite Tiruvannamalai Temples. To learn more about the history of this shakti and love-filled Temple and the family who have developed it, go to this link here.








The Temple although small has several fascinating and unique features, one being the presence of the powerful Sri Meru Yantra in the inner sanctum sanctorum at the feet of the Goddess Rajarajeshwari.







Another interesting aspect of this Temple, is the presence of statue representations of the Dasa Mahavidyas which are worshipped independently to the Goddess in the Temple's Shrine room.

”The feminine aspect of the Divine represents knowledge (wisdom) and also what is hidden, secret, subtle and sensitive, what has to be searched out and discovered. The Goddess who represents both the teaching and its comprehension, is thus the inner guiding power. She represents creation on all levels, expressed through her Ten Wisdom Forms (Dasa Mahavidyas) and their different functions.”

For more information and to view photographs of the Dasa Mahavidyas go to this link here.







The puja photographs accompanying this posting are of a puja dedicated to the Goddess and included sutras such as Sri Sukta, Rajarajeshwari Stotram and the Lalita Sahasranama. The Homam lasted nearly five hours, and was performed by five priests and included abhiskeham of the Goddess and the Sri Meru Yantra.








This particular Temple specialises in performing pujas dedicated to the auspicious aspect of the Goddess. To view photographs of an even more elaborate puja go to this link here.































To learn more about how to arrange a homam to be performed at the Rajarajeshwari Temple please use the 'contact me' at the top left of this page.