Installation of statues at new Shirdi Sai Baba Shrine

The upcoming Shirdi Sai Baba Shrine is planning to install statues of Ganesha, Murgan and White Nandi on September 10, 2021 the day of Ganesha Chaturthi. The Nandi statue has been created in the same white marble stone as the statue of Shirdi Sai Baba.

The photographs below were taken on August 23. First the statues are immersed in water, next the statues will be kept in individual boxes and fully covered in 9 types of grain. Finally the statues will be immersed in milk.

Facing the Shrine, Ganesha will be installed at left, Murugan at right and White Nandi on plinth in front of Shrine 

Lord Ganesha immersed in water

Lord Ganesha and Lord Murugan

Gandharva Kanyas: Vasantha Urchavam 2018

Vasantha Urchavam is a ten day Festival depicting the blossoming of love. During this sacred event, Swami and Amman are gorgeously decorated with jewels. They are taken with great ceremony in Mahapradakshina round the sacred Mahila Maram (trees) within the Third Prakaram—ten times every night for ten days = 100 times.

The third day of Vasantha Urchavam celebrates the birth of Manmatha, also known as Kama the God of love (lust). Manmatha is depicted looking for Siva.

At 9 p.m. on the fifth and eighth days the Temple lights are switched off so that the procession is in the dark. After going around the sacred Mahila Maram ten times the lights are switched back on to great rejoicing.

Lord Shiva opens His third eye on the final days of the Festival and the burning of Manmatha takes place.

During this sacred Festival the Jumbo Keswara Lingam, that is set in stone on the raised platform in the midst of the sacred trees is filled to capacity with water. Plants and flowers are placed to float inside the recess of the Lingam, appearing to make the Lingam levitate and blossom.

[Extract from The Light of Arunachaleswarar]

Each evening for the first nine nights of this Festival, Lord Somaskanda (a form of Siva/Pavarthi) is brought to the Paneer (Rose-water) Mandapam in the 3rd prakam. During this function the Gods are showered with flowers by the Gandharva Kanya enactd by the celestial nymph in the form of a puppet.

The Kanya puppet comes many times to the Paneer Mandapam and showers buckets of flowers onto the Gods. Afterwards ten processional rounds around the Makila Trees takes place, accompanied by musicians and singers. At the completion of each round, the Gods dance in front of a mirror and then remain seated under the Paneer Mandapam while receiving two floral showers from the Gandharva Kanya.

During the Vasantha Utsavam Festival, the appearance of the Gandharva kanya (celestial virgin nymph) represents the expression of desire and the virtue of union which is further emphasised by the flowers, fragrance and music of the ritual.

Gandharvas are celestial beings and also musicians. In Hindu mythology, the Gandharvas are demi-gods, who are somewhat less powerful than the Devas.

They are sometimes said to reside in the Swargaloka, but some sources put their abode as Gandharvaloka. Their father is sage Kashyapa and their mother is Arishta, a daughter of Daksha. They specialise in dance and music, and are also skilled in dark magic.

They are the guardians of Soma, the divine nectar of immortality and teacher of the Moon who is also called Soma. The Gandharvas are attributed with a mystical power over women and the right to possess them. They are invoked in traditional Hindu marriage ceremonies and in the Brahmin tradition, the bride who is to be married is supposed to belong first to Soma, to Gandharva and to Agni before becoming the wife of a human being. A Gandharva marriage is a love marriage (not an arranged one). The wives of the Gandharva men are usually celestial damsels, apsaras. 

The Puppeteers in charge of the pulley system on adjacent gallery

The Gandharva Kanya on her way to the Gods

Nearing the Gods on their palanquin at the Paneer Mandapam

Adorning the Gods with flowers

Each evening of the 9 nights, the Gandharva Kanya is beautifully and differently dressed

Puppet in White and Gold nearing the Gods with her bucket of flowers

Another evening, and another dress for the Gandharva Kanya

A Kanya dressed beautifully in blue

The Kanya puppet in close-up

Sri Siva Mona Siddhar Swami—Visit from Western Devotees

Below are recent photos of a group of devotees from Russia visiting Sri Siva Mona Siddhar at his Ashram.

Huge Siva statue on top of the Temple

Group entering Temple

Puja at the Siva Lingam

Sri Siva Mona Siddhar Swamigal

Meeting with Swamiji in the 18 Siddhar Hall

After interview, the group sang bhajans in the Hall

The group taking meals inside the Ashram canteen

The new Sani Shrine at the Ashram

Beautiful statues and decoration at the newly consecrated Sani Shrine

Photograph with Swami before leaving the Ashram

The Dasha Lingams: Surya Lingam

The arrangement of the Asta Lingams around the octagonal perimeter of Arunachala reflects the geometry of a Cosmogram. The octagonal shape is surrounded by a total of eight Lingam Temples (Asta Lingams). Each of these Temples are located at the four cardinal and four inter-cardinal points. This was also believed by the ancients who originally constructed the Lingams at their eight cardinal and inter-cardinal points to represent, characterise and vitalise certain aspects and qualities of life in relation to specific fields of energy and influence. 

For more information about the asta lingams, go to this link here: 

The guardians of the four cardinal directions are called the Lokapalas and are the deities who rule the specific directions of space. The name for the eight deities, four of the cardinal and four of the intercardinal directions is 'Asta-Dikpalas.’ 

Asta Lingams: 

Indra Lingam (East) 

Agni Lingam (South East) 

Yama Lingam (South) 

Niruthi Lingam (South West) 

Varuna Lingam (West) 

Vayu Lingam (North West) 

Kubera Lingam (North) 

Esanya Lingam (North East) 

The Lingams have the dominant Navagraha of the God to whom they are associated. It is believed that placating a specific Lingam will bring various benefits that are associated with the respective Navagraha. 

As well as the Asta Lingams which I have given details of in the above link, there are two additional Lingams on the girivalam roadway which according to the oral tradition of the region are part of what is considered the “Dasha Lingams” of Arunachala. 

Those two additional Lingams are the Chandra Lingam and the Surya Lingam. My previous post gave information and photographs of the Chandra Lingam, and this posting is about the Surya Lingam located on the Arunachala Girivalam Roadway.

Surya-Arunachala Mythology 

There is a vast amount of mythology in connection with Lord Surya at Arunachala which I have written about in my Arunachala Grace Blog. In ths regard to view a fascinating post of the Surya-Arunachala mythology, go to this link here. 

Surya and Chandra Lingams at gateway of Arunachala Lingam

Its interesting to note the juxtaposition of Chandra and Surya Lingams in the map (above) of the Pradakshina Shrines to the map (below) of Arunachaleswarar Temple’s Moolasthanam, where the lingams are next to the Pradosha Nandi at the entrance to the inner shrine. 

Oral tradition reports that the similarity of the juxtaposition of Surya and Chandra Lingams at the gateway of the Lingam of Arunachala Hill and the Shiva Lingam at Arunachaleswarar Temple’s Moolasthanam, was created intentionally.

 Surya and Chandra Lingams at gateway of Shiva Moolasthanam

Lord Surya 

Surya, the Sun, is God incarnate in solar form, a glorious, shining golden visible every day. He is Astamurthi, one of the eight forms of Shiva. The Sun alone is the pivot of the entire Universe, the dispeller of darkness, and root cause of the three worlds. He is the deity of great brilliance and is considered the Supreme Soul. There are many names of Lord Surya and each name refers to a quality of consciousness; Aditya, Savita, Surya, Mihira, Arka, Prabhakara, Martanda, Bhaskara, Bhanu, Chitrabhanu, Divakara and Ravi. 

Surya is the chief of the Navagrahas and is often depicted riding a chariot harnessed by seven horses which represent the seven solar rays, the seven chakras of the body and the seven days of the week. 

Lord Surya on his Chariot

Surya's sons, Shani and Yama are responsible for the judgment of human life. Shani provides the results of one's deeds during one's life through appropriate punishments and rewards while Yama grants the results of one's deeds after death. 

In Vedic astrology Surya is considered a malefic on account of His hot, dry nature. Surya represents soul, will-power, fame, the eyes, general vitality, courage, kingship, father, authority figures, benevolence, generosity, grandeur, dignity, and friendliness. 

Surya has the following associations: 

Animals: Deer, Tiger, Lion 

Bird: Goose 

Gem: Ruby 

Metals: Copper and Gold 

Direction: East 

Food: Wheat 

Sign: Leo 

Day: Sunday 

In Tantra yoga, Surya, the planetary deity of the Sun, represents the universal male principal, while Chandra, the Moon, represents the universal female or shakti principle. Surya is also associated with Agni, the god of fire. 

The Surya Lingam 

Darshan of Arunachala from Lingam

Entrance to Surya Lingam

Moopanar Swamigal who was responsible for the restoration of the Ashta Lingams at Arunachala, did not have anything to do with restoration work at either the Surya or Chandra Lingams. 

Ancient carvings inside doorway to Lingam compound

Number of carvings at doorway

Surya Lingam in newly renovated compound

Surya Lingam is located after Gautama Ashram and before Varuna Lingam on the leftside of the Girivalam Roadway. Including two buildings connected to Lingam priests, the area on which Surya Lingam is situated on less than 1/2 an acre. In 2016 renovation work financed by a family in Chennai, was completed at the Lingam. 

Surya Lingam with Nandi in front

I hope to post more information about this Lingam shortly on my Arunachala Samudra website.

The Dasha Lingams: Chandra Lingam

By the turn of the Twentieth Century many of the shrines, temples and theertams at Arunachala were in a state of neglect and decay. In the case of the Asta Lingams the areas around the shrines were filled with squatters and encroachments and the Asta Lingams shrines themselves were unmaintained and their worship ignored. 

It is believed by many that the work done by I.S.V. Arunachala Moopanar (Moopanar Swamigal) renovating and restoring the Asta Lingams and their adjacent land, was responsible for helping to re-establish the energetic power of the sacred geometry of Arunachala. To read about the life of Moopanar Swamigal and his work with the restoration of the Asta Lingams go to this link here. 

The arrangement of the Asta Lingams around the octagonal perimeter of Arunachala reflects the geometry of a Cosmogram. The octagonal shape is surrounded by a total of eight Lingam Temples (Asta Lingams). Each of these Temples are located at the four cardinal and four inter-cardinal points. This was also believed by the ancients who originally constructed the Lingams at their eight cardinal and inter-cardinal points to represent, characterise and vitalise certain aspects and qualities of life in relation to specific fields of energy and influence. 

The guardians of the four cardinal directions are called the Lokapalas and are the deities who rule the specific directions of space. The name for the eight deities, four of the cardinal and four of the intercardinal directions is 'Asta-Dikpalas.’ 

To read more details about the Asta Lingams and their sacred geometry as it pertains to the Arunachala energy field, visit my website Arunachala Samudra at this link here. 

Right-click on all below diagrams and photographs to view enlargements 

The lingams underlined on above map

Asta lingams: 

Indra Lingam (East) 

Agni Lingam (South East) 

Yama Lingam (South) 

Niruthi Lingam (South West) 

Varuna Lingam (West) 

Vayu Lingam (North West) 

Kubera Lingam (North) 

Esanya Lingam (North East) 

The Lingams have the dominant Navagraha of the God to whom they are associated. It is believed that placating a specific Lingam will bring various benefits that are associated with the respective Navagraha. 

As well as the Asta Lingams which I have given details of above, there are two additional Lingams on the girivalam roadway which according to the oral tradition of the region are part of what is considered the “Dasha Lingams” of Arunachala. 

Those two additional Lingams are the Chandra Lingam and the Surya Lingam. This post gives information and photographs about the Chandra Lingam on the Arunachala Hillroad. I hope to make a posting on the Surya Lingam soon. 

Chandra Lingam Kanji Road 

A Temple dedicated to Chandra Lingam has been located at the same spot on Kanji Road for what is believed to be hundreds of years. However as was the case with the Asta Lingams, the Chandra Lingam in the same way lapsed into a neglected and dilapidated condition due to lack of maintenance. In addition the Compound was also taken over by squatters. 

A devotee working as Village Administrative Officer persuaded the Municipality to evict all squatters, take back control of the Temple Compound and lands and thereupon start work on a reconstruction programme of the Shrine at the very same spot. This work which was undertaken some 10 years ago, has  been completed and the actual Chandra Lingam which was moved to the Indra Lingam Shrine on Car Street for safe keeping during Temple reconstruction, is now installed in the newly renovated Chandra Lingam’s Garbagriha. 

Chandra Lingam, Kanji Road

There are a number of interesting facts about the Chandra Lingam Shrine. One is that underneath the Lingam is an ancient magnetic rock which originates from the Himalayas. Another aspect is the statue of the White Nandi which does not face the Chandra Lingam and instead faces directly towards Arunachala—was purposely created at Kasi with horns specifically shaped in the form of moon crescents.

Newly rebuilt (in the same spot) Chandra Lingam Shrine

Chandra has the following associations: 

Colour: white 

Gender: female 

Metal: silver 

Gemstones: pearl and moonstone 

Element: water 

Direction: north-west 

Season: Winter 

Body part: blood 

Food: rice 

Taste: salt 

Day: Monday 

Guna: Sattwa 

The Sun is the indicator of the soul and the Moon is the vehicle of the mind that receives the light of the soul. Even though all the Navagrahas are represented at Arunachala, the Moon with its particular association with Lord Shiva (Chandrasekhara) has an extraordinary influence. 

Black Nandi facing the Chandra Lingam

There are a number of statues of Lord Shiva at the Shrine showing him wearing the crescent moon. Lord Shiva is also known as Chandrasekhara, which literally refers to the 'Person who wears the moon'. In some cultures the appearance of the new crescent moon has been celebrated as a return of the moon from the dead. This celestial body is a powerful influence on the human psyche. Its influence which is always available at Arunachala is celebrated in disparate ways during Sivaratri and Poornima. It is also recognised in all Pradoshams that fall on Mondays. 

Lord Chandrasekhara with crescent moon

Lord Shiva wears on his head the crescent of the fifth-day moon. Placed near his fiery third eye this shows the power of Soma, the sacrificial offering, which is the representative of Moon and signifies that Shiva possesses the power of procreation co-existent with that of destruction. 

Statues of Lord Chandrasekhara throughout Temple

Lord Chandrasekhara over doorway leading to Garbagriha

In one legend, Chandra is considered the son of the ocean as he was one of the fourteen ratnas (Jewels) that emerged from the ocean during its churning and was gifted, by the Gods and Demons to Lord Shiva, who wore the crescent moon on his head. 

Unique White Nandi created in Kasi at Shrine

Chandra is a lovable God; pleasing to children as well as elders. Sages and devotees invoke the Goddess in Chandra. A benefic Moon is often found in the charts of doctors, healers or psychologists, as well as good mothers and wives. A strong Moon can give power and creates a good administrator or leader open to the needs of his people and indicates relationship, interchange, and communication. A strong Moon also shows sensitivity, receptivity, caring for others and a nurturing attitude in life. It gives emotional maturity, responsibility and the capacity to have a beneficial effect upon society. 

White Nandi's horns shaped to look like Crescent Moons

The moon has two stages; one from new moon day to full moon day i.e. the waxing period of the moon. During this period it is considered to be particularly auspicious to undertake new ventures and celebrate functions. Conversely the period from the full moon day to the new moon day, the waning period of the moon it is considered to be best to avoid undertaking new ventures and enterprises.

White Nandi faces Arunachala not the Lingam

Help from Yogi Ramsuratkumar

Yesterday Wednesday September 10, 2014 I spent part of the morning at the Ashram of Yogi Ramsuratkumar. Whenever I have the opportunity to visit this Ashram, I always wonder why it has taken me so long to return there. Its a very beautiful and peaceful spot with a number of nice daily functions including pujas and chanting of the name. It is highly recommend that visitors to this Temple town spend time at the Ashram and Samadhi of this great saint. 

To learn more about the life of Yogi Ramsuratkumar please visit his biography at my website Arunachala Samudra, at this link here.

The posting regarding the statue of the Yogi in his Samadhi Hall is very interesting, because it is the experience of many people that the statue indeed has a powerful energy. It is certainly a blessed place to visit if one needs help and inspiration in one's life.

Boys from the Veda Patasala bowing to the statue

View of Statue in foreground and Adhishtanam in background

Extract from above noticeboard by the side of the Statue:-


"Two parallel water lines linking this Statue and the Adhishtanam early on 22.02.2001, the day after interring of the physical bod of Bhagawan surprised every onlooker, for there was neither rain nor dew to carve out this pattern." 

“The adhishtanam is a shrine where the mortal coil of the Sanyasins is interred and a Shiva Lingam is consecrated as per the Shastric injunctions. Its also known as Samadhi. The Adhishthanam of a Great Jnani is an abode, radiating serenity, holiness and spiritual splendor. The Devotees, sadhakas and pilgrims who visit the adhisthanam and reverentially do pradakshinam, japam, dhyanam, namaskarams and puja, become the recepients of the Jnani’s blessings. Spiritual seekers regard the adhishtanam as a place to sit, meditate and resonate with the ultimate silence. Many are the instances where seekers have been blessed specially while praying in an adhishtanam with directions, guidance, intuitive revelations, etc. pertaining to their sadhana.”

Varuna Japam, April 28, 2014

Varuna japam and yagam at Arunachaleswarar Temple was performed on April 28, 2014. The rendition of Varuna Japa whilst immersed in the Arunachaleswarar tank, is a ritual meant to propitiate the rain god (Varuna) to bestow copious rain and banish famine, is also aimed at appeasing the Almighty to ensure common good and world peace.

Homam to propitate the rain Gods

Priests at Temple Tank

Immersion whilst performing Japam

Darshan of Arunachala whilst chanting

Varuna Japa comprises many rituals. Some scholars stand for hours in chest deep water in a Temple tank whilst chanting the Varuna mantra or other mantras. Some perform abhisheka to the Lord's processional deities, others conduct homam to propitiate the rain Gods, do japa or recite the Vedas and sanstras. 

God Varuna 

Varuna in the Vedas is a powerful God. He is the guardian of cosmic order (rta=rhythm=ruth=truth) and in charge of the oceans, water sources and rains. He is worshipped by seagoing people and fishermen. His vahana (vehicle) is shark fish or crocodile. Tamils have always believed in his control over rains and worshipped him for rains. In this respect one of the oldest Tamil book “Tolkappiam” says he is the God of littoral areas/Neithal. 

Lord Varuna with crocodile vahana (vehicle)

On another level Varuna is in charge of West direction, (Lord Indra controls East). Mitra and Varuna are paired in Vedic hymns which to the belief of interpreting them as Day and Night, Sun and Moon, Light and Dark, and Positive and Negative energy. The Tamil saint Agastya (who made a grammar of the Tamil Language) is considered to be the son of Varuna and Urvasi. 

In Valluvar’s Tirukkural, it is said: 

Couplet 18 "If rains fail, festivals of the year and the daily worship of the gods will cease". 

Couplet 19: "Charity and devotional practices will not be observed in the world unless rain falls." 

Extract from article by London Swaminathan 

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Below is an audio of the proper chanting of Varuna Japam.





Amurya upa surye
Yabhirva surya saha
Ta no hinvantvadhvaram

Apo devirupa hvaye
Yatra ghava pibanti na
Sindubhya kartva havi


May waters gathered near the Sun, and those wherewith the Sun is joined, speed forth this sacrifice of ours. I call the Waters, Goddesses, wherein our cattle quench their thirst; oblations to the Streams to be given.


Tat tva yami brahmaa
Vandamanastada saste
Yajamano havirbhi

Ahe amano varueha
Bodhyurusasa ma na
Ayupra moi


I ask this of thee with my prayer adoring; thy worshipper craves this with his oblation. Varuna, stay thou here and be not angry; steal not our life from us, O thou world-ruler.

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The Science of Mantra

Below is an extract from an illuminating and fascinating exposition on the physics and metaphysics of sound (mantras) by the late Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswathi. 

"If the divisions of labour on a hereditary basis is good for all society, what specifically is the benefit gained from the vocation of Brahmins, that is preserving the Vedas?" is a question frequently asked. 

The potter makes pots for you; the washerman launders your clothes; the weaver weaves clothes for you to wear; the cowherd brings you your milk; the peasant tills the land to grow rice for you to cook and eat. Everyone does some work or other essential in the life of everybody else. The rice (or wheat ) grown by the tiller sustains us all. The cloth woven by the weaver is indispensable to our modesty, it is also needed to keep us warm in the cold season. We drink the milk brought by the cowherd and also use it to make buttermilk; we cook our food in the pot made by the potter. We find that all jatis provide commodities useful for the society. What is the Brahmin's contribution in this context? What vocation is assigned to him by the Sastras which are the basis of varna dharma? 

To read more of this narrative go to this link here.