Annamalaiyar Temple – Athithi Ashram
Arunachala, the holy mountain in Thiruvannamalai has
been drawing sages, saints and seekers of Truth since time immemorial. Bhagavan
Sri Ramana Maharshi made Arunachala his abode in 1896 and until his Mahanirvana
in 1950, never left the precincts of this place. Like Arunachala, Bhagavan
Ramana too draws seekers from all the nooks and corners of the world and by his
benign Grace guides them to the Truth.
Bhagavan Ramana Maharshi received devotees and seekers
with great love and made them feel at home. Athithi Ashram aims to follow the
true spirit, loving concern and care that Bhagavan had for the devotees and
visiting pilgrims. “ATHITHI DEVO BHAVA” signifies that pilgrims and guests are
to be looked upon as the very embodiment of the Lord in human form.
One early morning, Kunju Swami, a devotee of Bhagavan,
while washing vessels in the stream at the foot of the Arunachala Hill, heard a
voice, “Is there something available for an Athithi?” Turning back, he found
Bhagavan standing. Thus, Bhagavan came as an Athithi and stayed back in that
place, which became the present Sri Ramanasramam.
“Thithi” means date and time, and “Athithi” means
without date and time. That is, when a stranger comes without announcing the
date and time of his arrival for a short stays, he is an Athithi. In a broader
perspective, everyone who is born on earth, comes without announcing the date
and time of arrival and so, everyone is an Athithi. If one learns to live as an
Athithi (guest) in his own house, then there will not be any problems in life.
Festivals
The Ashram celebrates Bhagavan’s Jayanthi and Aradhana
days with Vedic Chanting, Tamil Parayanam, Ashtothara Pooja and Satsang.
Maheshwara Pooja is performed on a large scale. The salient feature is that His
Holiness Yogi Ramsuratkumar attended the entire proceedings and joined the Sadhus
in the Maheshwara Pooja once to the delight of all.
On Deepam day, thousands of devotees going round the
mountain are fed. Six times in a year on particular auspicious days, Abhishekam
is performed to Shivakami Sametha Lord Nataraja in the Meditation Hall. Once,
Lord Nataraja appeared in a vision to Anathandavapuram Ramanatha Iyer and
directed him to present the deities to Athithi Ashram. Since then, Poojas are
offered.
Meditation Hall & Library
A rare statue of Bhagavan was installed in the
Meditation Hall in 1992. The sketch for making this statue was drawn in the
holy presence of Bhagavan in the late 1940’s by sculptor Sri Warkhede from
Maharashtra. Tamil Parayanam consisting of Ramana Stuti Panchakam and
Aksharamanamalai and Sri Ramana Ashtothara Pooja are performed everyday from
6:30a.m to 8:30a.m.
The Ashram Library has spiritual books in various
languages. The Ashram Meditation Hall and Library are open from 4:30a.m till
9:00p.m.
Bhagavan’s Statue
Sri Warkhede, a sculptor from Mumbai came to Bangalore
on an assignment and saw a picture of Bhagavan. On enquiry, he came to know
that it was Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharishi’s picture and that he was in Thiruvannamalai.
He came for Bhagavan’s darshan and sat in his presence. He felt an urge to take
a sketch of Bhagavan to make a statue. (Due to language problem), he was
struggling to communicate his wish to the attendant. Seeing this, Bhagavan
graciously asked the sculptor to come between 12:00 noon and 2:00 pm. Devotees
were restricted from entering the Hall during this period to facilitate
Bhagavan to take rest. Sri Warkhede entered the hall at noon and Bhagavan, with
great solicitude, asked him how he wanted him to sit (pose), to take the
sketch.
Sri Warkhede was touched by the grace, and during the
two hours, he was alone with Bhagavan, he made a sketch and later, made a
statue of Bhagavan. Sri Warkhede later, in an interview, told that, of all the
statues that he had made in his lifetime, this alone gave him satisfaction.
This statue, which was made by Bhagavan’s Grace in the
late 1940’s remained unknown to Sri Warkhede’s family. Swami Hamsananda, during
a visit, came to know about this by Divine Grace and requested Sri Warkhede’s
son to cast the statue in bronze. This statue then came to Athithi Ashram and
was installed in the Meditation Hall by priests from Sri Ramanasramam. Thus,
Bhagavan came to Athithi Ashram and he bestows his abundant Grace on all those
who seek him. Daily Poojas are performed to this statue.
Sadhu feeding
Sage Narada once met the ruler of Dravidian country,
Chitrakethu on earth. Chitrakethu welcomed him. Narada observed that although
Chitrakethu’s father Singadvajan had gifted away all riches of the world,
because he had not performed Annadhanam, he did not receive the Divine
Ambrosia. Chitrakethu then decided to perform Annadhanam.
Narada informed him that the merit one obtained by
feeding a million people elsewhere on earth could never equal that of feeding a
single human in Kashi. The merit gained by feeding just one Sadhu at
Arunachala, will outweigh that of feeding a million, at Kashi. Chitrakethu then
performed Annadhanam everyday at Arunachala.
By this act of the son, the father in the celestial
region received nectar and in due course passed on to the various upper regions
and finally merged in Shiva.
One should endeavor to perform annadhanams, particularly
at Arunachala, for it benefits not only the person who does it, but also
bestows great spiritual merit upon his kith and kin.
Athithi Ashram was the first Ashram in Thiruvannamalai
to initiate feeding Sadhus in the evening. This was necessitated as many Sadhus
were going to sleep without dinner.
This service has been going on for the past 15 years.
Maheswara Puja
Worshipping and feeding Sadhus, considering them as the
embodiment of Lord Shiva in human form was started by the great Saiva saint
Thirugnana Sambandhar and Saint Thirunavukarasar.
Bhagavan’s birth star is Punarvasu. And on this sacred
day every month, Sadhus are invited, Bhagavan’s Ashtothara Pooja is performed,
following which, Maheshwara Pooja is performed to the Sadhus, wherein they are
worshipped as the embodiment of Lord Shiva . After this worship, the Sadhus
chant Shivapurana and are sumptuously fed and offered dakshina.
Athithi Health Service
Thiruvannamalai, the sacred abode of Lord Shiva, has
been attracting and sheltering Sadhus, devotees and destitutes. There are
around 700 Sadhus who live on what chance brings them, and their number is
increasing day by day.
Service done to the poor, particularly to the Sadhus, is
the true service to Lord Shiva. These people live in the open, exposed to the
vagaries of Nature in pitiable conditions. Most of them, in their advanced age,
are afflicted with one or more diseases and there is no place for them to turn
to. To fulfill the complete medical needs of sadhus and destitutes, Athithi
Medical Care was instituted.
The Ashram periodically conducts medical camps in
various disciplines. On screening, those who need surgical intervention are
sent to various hospitals and on complete recovery they are sent back to their
respective places.
Veda Samrakshana
Vedic chanting harmonizes the energy of the five
elements and brings peace and prosperity to the entire universe. The Ashram
runs a Yajur Veda Patashala, which is a residential school of eight years’
duration. The teacher and students live together and Vedic lessons are imparted
in the Gurukula tradition. The students are provided with food and
accommodation.
Athithi Cows Care
Cow is considered as the embodiment of all Gods and its
worship is mandatory in all Hindu functions. The protection and worship of cows
brings prosperity.
Go Samrakshana was a subject which was so dear to Maha Periyaval.
Wherever he went, His Holiness Sri Maha Periyaval always chooses to stay in the
cowshed. When Maathaji wished to have a cow in the Ashram, her wish was
fulfilled almost at once, with the donation of a cow by Sri.Viswanthan of Tirupathur,
a devotee of the Ashram. She was named Lakshmi by Maathaji and ever since the Goshala
is growing day by day.
The born calves are christened in tune with their birth
stars by Maathaji Sowmiya and it is a delight to be seen in person when the
calves spontaneously respond when called by their names. The current strength
of the Goshala is 30.
The milk from the Goshala is sent twice a day to Arunachaleswara
Temple and neighbouring Ashrams for Abhishekam. The rest is used for Sadhus and
devotees visiting the Ashram. Taking part in this noble activity brings all the
virtues and merits to the devotees.
Accommodation
The Ashram provides visiting pilgrims and Ramana
devotees with accommodation and simple South Indian vegetarian food.
Timings:
·
Tea:
6:00 am
·
Breakfast:
8:30 am
·
Lunch:
12:30 pm
·
Tea:
3:30 pm
·
Dinner:
8:00 pm
Ashram gates are opened at 4:30 am and closed by 9:30
pm. Devotees are requested to maintain noble silence, stick to the timings and
keep their rooms clean. Devotees are requested not to entertain visitors and
are advised strictly to avoid smoking, taking liquor and drugs.
Contact
Athithi Ashram
11G/1 Mannakula Vinayagar Street,
Sri Ramanasramam Post,
Thiruvannamalai - 606603
Tamil Nadu, India
Phone: +91 4175 237817.
Mobile: +91 – 9940231628
Email: athithiaashram@gmail.com