Tiruvannamalai and Arunachala Highlights, 2008 – 2014

To make these highlights easier to read I am doing them in several parts. These are the highlights for Tiruvannamalai and Arunachala.

2008

Richard in Seven Springs Cave

The first post on “Secrets of Arunachala,” special but unknown places.

https://richardarunachala.wordpress.com/2008/08/26/arunachalas-secret-places-holy-feet/

Our first Ganesh Chaturthi celebration, important to local Tamil people, but mostly unknown to Westerners.

https://richardarunachala.wordpress.com/2008/09/06/ganesh-chaturthi-celebration-in-tiruvannamalai/

One of the first of many posts of walking on and around Arunachala.

https://richardarunachala.wordpress.com/2008/10/02/walking-up-to-skandashram/

Seven Springs is a wonderful place, high on Arunachala.

https://richardarunachala.wordpress.com/2008/10/07/secrets-of-arunachala-seven-springs/

Kattu Siva Cave, one of the many Secrets of Arunachala.

https://richardarunachala.wordpress.com/2008/11/05/secrets-of-arunachala-kattu-siva-cave/

2009

Carol and Richard explore the north side of Arunachala

One of the many posts that shows the Inner Path.

https://richardarunachala.wordpress.com/2009/03/28/inner-path-to-pachaiamman-koil/

A special Naga Shrine, off the Inner Path.

https://richardarunachala.wordpress.com/2009/04/05/primitive-naga-shrine-near-arunachalas-inner-path/

A celebration at Ramanasramam.

https://richardarunachala.wordpress.com/2009/04/25/fifty-ninth-aradhana-of-bhagavan-sri-ramana-maharshi/

A special tour of Arunachaleswara Temple in Tiruvannamalai.

https://richardarunachala.wordpress.com/2009/05/01/visiting-arunachaleswara-temple-in-tiruvannamalai/

Pavala Kundru is a special temple on a hill rising from Tiruvannamalai.

https://richardarunachala.wordpress.com/2009/05/04/pavala-kundru-tiruvannamalais-coral-rock-temple/

The first of a series of posts on what is now called the “Yellow Path.”

https://richardarunachala.wordpress.com/2009/06/11/arunachalas-inner-inner-path-part-one/

Turtle Rock: The place of Ramana’s “Second Death Experience.”

https://richardarunachala.wordpress.com/2009/06/30/turtle-rock-place-of-ramana-maharshis-second-death-experience/

The first of a series on a typical day at Ramanasramam.

https://richardarunachala.wordpress.com/2009/07/18/morning-at-ramanasramam-part-one/

Exploring Arunachala.

https://richardarunachala.wordpress.com/2009/07/31/climbing-on-arunachalas-north-side/

The Big Chariots at Deepam.

https://richardarunachala.wordpress.com/2009/11/29/deepam-2009-day-of-the-big-chariots/

Getting the torch to the top of Arunachala.

https://richardarunachala.wordpress.com/2009/12/02/deepam-2009-getting-the-torch-to-the-top-of-arunachala/

On the ‘Yellow Path.”

https://richardarunachala.wordpress.com/2009/12/24/arunachalas-new-inner-inner-path/

Christmas with V. Ganeshan.

https://richardarunachala.wordpress.com/2009/12/26/christmas-evening-with-ganesan-in-tiruvannamalai/

2010

Preparing A. Ramana for interment

The death celebration of a Western Sage, A. Ramana.

https://richardarunachala.wordpress.com/2010/02/17/interment-of-a-ramana-into-his-samadhi/

The first collection of articles about caves of Arunachala.

https://richardarunachala.wordpress.com/2010/02/21/caves-of-arunachala-feb-2010/

Exploring the east side of Arunachala.

https://richardarunachala.wordpress.com/2010/03/15/exploring-mountain-trails-near-pachaiamman-koil-on-the-east-side-of-arunachala/

The first of several pages that shows collections of articles about Tiruvannamalai.

https://richardarunachala.wordpress.com/2010/03/19/festivals-celebrations-and-rites-in-tiruvannamalai/

Exploring Arunachala, over the hill from Pachaiamman Koil to Virupaksha area.

https://richardarunachala.wordpress.com/2010/03/22/from-pachaiamman-koil-to-virupaksha-area-of-arunachala/

A special small temple up on the hill on the east side of Arunachala.

https://richardarunachala.wordpress.com/2010/04/10/madurai-veeran-koil-temple-on-east-side-of-arunachala/

Photos walking on a full moon night.

https://richardarunachala.wordpress.com/2010/05/01/full-moon-night-27-april-2010/

Extensive post of shrines and temples along the Pradadshina route.

https://richardarunachala.wordpress.com/2010/05/29/temples-and-shrines-along-arunachalas-outer-pradakshina-route/

The return of leopards to Arunachala.

https://richardarunachala.wordpress.com/2010/10/09/return-of-leopards-to-arunachala-shows-successful-environmental-restoration/

A children’s walk around Arunachala.

https://richardarunachala.wordpress.com/2010/10/12/101010-arunachala-childrens-walk/

My recommendations of things to see in Tiruvannamalai.

https://richardarunachala.wordpress.com/2010/11/10/top-things-to-see-in-tiruvannamalai/

One of the Deepam celebration events, the procession of the 63 Tamil saints.

https://richardarunachala.wordpress.com/2010/11/17/karthigai-deepam-procession-of-the-63-nayanmar-saints/

Visiting a cave, high above Ramanasramam.

https://richardarunachala.wordpress.com/2010/12/24/climbing-to-a-cave-high-above-ramanasramam/

2011

Sadhu Feeding

Sadhu Feeding

https://richardarunachala.wordpress.com/2011/01/03/sadhu-feeding-on-arunachalas-pradakshina-road/

Village Pongal

https://richardarunachala.wordpress.com/2011/01/15/happy-pongal-from-samuthiram-village/

Watching the 2011 Cricket World Cup

https://richardarunachala.wordpress.com/2011/04/03/watching-the-cricket-world-cup-final-at-hotel-ashreya-in-tiruvannamalai/

The first of several posts on Arunachala flowers.

https://richardarunachala.wordpress.com/2011/05/13/flowers-of-arunachala/

A Sacred Grove about 20 KM out of Tiruvannamalai.

https://richardarunachala.wordpress.com/2011/06/07/sacred-grove-near-tirukkoyilur/

2012

Kumbabishekam

Page that shows many Tamil Rites of Passage.

https://richardarunachala.wordpress.com/2012/01/13/rites-of-passage-for-the-tamils-of-south-india/

Tamil Celebration for ancient Tamil Goddess, Mariamman.

https://richardarunachala.wordpress.com/2012/05/29/special-celebration-for-the-rain-goddess-mariamman-2/

Celebration at Tiruvannamalai’s Heartkids School

https://richardarunachala.wordpress.com/2012/08/22/heartkids-annual-awards-function-tiruvannamalai/

Tamil Rite of Passage – Boy’s First Haircut.

https://richardarunachala.wordpress.com/2012/10/30/mottai-addithal-a-tamil-boys-first-haircut/

First of extensive series on Kumbabishekam at Shrine on Pradakshina Road

https://richardarunachala.wordpress.com/2012/11/23/kumbabishekam-for-gowthama-maharishi-temple-on-tiruvannamalais-girivalam-road/

Arunachala Animal Rescue Society, doing great work in Tiruvannamalai.

https://richardarunachala.wordpress.com/2012/12/04/arunachala-animal-sanctuary-rescue-shelter-does-great-work-and-needs-help/

Meditation – Inquiry for walking Arunachala.

https://richardarunachala.wordpress.com/2012/12/16/inquiry-for-walking-arunachala-when-i-move-what-within-me-is-motionless/

Tamil Rites of Passage – Coming of Age for a woman.

https://richardarunachala.wordpress.com/2012/12/30/age-attained-ceremonytiruvannamalai/

2013

Daily Poor Feeding at Ramanasramam.

https://richardarunachala.wordpress.com/2013/01/22/narayana-seva-poor-feeding-at-ramanasramam/

Understanding the significance of the Eight Lingams on Arunachala Pradakshina Road,

https://richardarunachala.wordpress.com/2013/03/06/the-eight-lingams-on-arunachalas-pradakshina-route/

Sadhus of Arunachala.

https://richardarunachala.wordpress.com/2013/06/27/sadhus-of-arunachala-a-pictorial/

Final part of series on Ramanasramam Kumbabishekam.

https://richardarunachala.wordpress.com/2013/09/07/ramanasramam-kumbabishekam-part-4-culmination/

Tamil Rite of Passage – the Death Ceremony.

https://richardarunachala.wordpress.com/2013/09/15/a-kariyam-a-tamil-death-ceremony/

Sadhu Feast on Pradakshina Road.

https://richardarunachala.wordpress.com/2013/09/17/sadhu-feast-on-arunachala-pradakshina-road/

Navaratri at Ramanasramam.

https://richardarunachala.wordpress.com/2013/10/06/navratri-at-ramanasramam/

Richard’s special Pooja for 70th Birthday.

https://richardarunachala.wordpress.com/2013/12/30/bhima-ratha-shanthi-for-richards-70th-birthday/

2014

Jain statue, near Tiruvannamalai

Boys play a Pongal game in a nearby village.

https://richardarunachala.wordpress.com/2014/01/20/pongal-fun-in-a-village-near-tiruvannamalai/

Four Part Series on the Ancients roots still alive in Tamil Villages.

https://richardarunachala.wordpress.com/2014/07/01/tamil-villages-the-ancient-spiritual-heart-of-tamil-nadu-part-1/

https://richardarunachala.wordpress.com/2014/07/06/tamil-villages-the-ancient-spiritual-heart-of-tamil-nadu-part-2/

https://richardarunachala.wordpress.com/2014/07/20/tamil-villages-the-ancient-spiritual-heart-of-tamil-nadu-part-3/

https://richardarunachala.wordpress.com/2014/07/25/tamil-villages-the-ancient-spiritual-heart-of-tamil-nadu-part-4/

Ancient Jain Complex near Tiruvannamalai.

https://richardarunachala.wordpress.com/2014/09/30/ancient-jain-temple-complex-near-tiruvannamalai/

Beautiful Sonagiri Lake, on West Side of Arunachala, unknown by most.

https://richardarunachala.wordpress.com/2014/10/11/sonagiri-lake-on-west-side-of-arunachala/

Art Classes for local village kids.

https://richardarunachala.wordpress.com/2014/11/24/kids-art-classes-at-quality-of-life-trust/