Nandanaar (A film seen by Bhagavan Sri Ramana)-Part 1

The film NANDANAAR was based on the famous play by Gopala Krishna Bharati. This is the first film seen by Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi on 2nd Sep., 1946. (Later, Bhagavan was also shown four other movies in the Ashram, based on spiritual personalities). 

The details of Nandanaar's life are given in Chapter 18 of Tamil 'Periya Puranam' and in Chapter 37 of Sanskrt 'Siva Bhakti Vilasam'.

A song in this play 'Ayye methe Kadinam' gave the idea to a devotee of Bhagavan Ramana to compose in 1927 a song 'Ayye athi sulabam, Atma Vidyai, ayye athi sulabam'. The main content of the song, flowed from Bhagavan Ramana Himself. The songs of Nandanaar are very famous to this day.

Bhagavan had also referred to Nandanaar's life a few times in conversations. 

Nandanaar (A film seen by Bhagavan Sri Ramana)-Part 2

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36:23  'Ayye methe Kadinam' (Oh, my God! very difficult). For your slave it is difficult to explain. For the truthful and striving one, the Ponnambalam (Lord of the Golden Space) is attainable. For your slave, this is very difficult to explain.

Leaving aside shame and pride, remain as the Self. The kingdom of Jnana is available as Senaadi pati (Lord Subramanya - the personification of Jnana) O Sir, know this; try for this; Search within; that is sufficient. Those who transcend the muppaazh (waking, dreaming and sleeping, or jiva, jagat and Iswara) (Or ego, action and illusion - any three types of limitation), this world appearance is transcended. 

There (Chidambaram) our Father dances the tune. Devotees gather and sing this Truth there. No one comprehends it. Those who went there, couldn’t describe it. All the worlds become one there... I shall go there. It is getting late for me. Sir! It is difficult to describe.

25 Years of Aatish (17/06/1994)

Aatish is a crime action film, directed by debutant Sanjay Gupta, starring Sanjay Dutt, Aditya Pancholi, Raveena Tandon, Karishma Kapoor and Atul Agnihotri in lead roles. The supporting cast includes Shakti Kapoor, Gulshan Grover, Kader Khan, Ajit, Tanuja and Ram Mohan.

Arunachala Anandam - Part 1

The video was shot during this monsoon season on two separate days and mixed together. The first day was sunny but cloudy. On the second day the clips were taken during the break of heavy rains. Both days the locations are the same covering a distance of about 12 Kms. Part 1 of the video is locational. Part 2 is a ride covering probably the best drive in Tiruvannamalai with Arunachala in constant view.

Audio: 1. Sadasiva Brahmendra Kriti - Sankaran Namboodri 2. Violin Fusion - Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan 3. Tirupugazh - Unni Krishnan 4. Vedic - Unknown

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Shiva Tandavam in Arunachalam -  Nov 10, 2021

Ram Mohan K:

Today is the beginning of the ten day Deepam festival in Tiruvannamalai. The flag hoisting on the 'dhwaja stambha' takes place in the temple of Arunachala, signifying the commencement of the festivities. As a rule devotees always feel a special kind of Divine Presence begin to grip the air, culminating with the Karthigai Deepam on the peak of the Hill on the tenth day. However, for the past two years due to the current unusual circumstances, celebrations are much more muted. But that does not prevent the devotees to celebrate Arunachala and It's Grace in their own Hearts. I stumbled across an idea of Arunachala dancing like Thillai Natarajar. An idea of Arunachala dancing in ecstacy and Peace I have called it - Shiva Tandavam in Arunachalam. (A concept linked to dance of Nataraja).

Arunachala and a Full Moon Evening - Sunset and Moonrise

Ram Mohan K

A full moon day

Time: Evening - Sun set ; Moon rising. Location: Interior Adi Annamalai, from a scenic spot.

The sun setting in blazing glory on the horizon and the moon witnessing the cosmic drama. (Moon has already risen above the horizon by the time the sun set.)

In the follow-up video will be seeing Arunachala from the same spot and location. Time: Early  next morning - Moon set and Sun rising. A time when Arunachala seems to emerge out of the darkness of night in mystical silence-majestically; The Sun bathing the earth in golden light.  To the accompaniment of nature's sounds.

Audio in this video: 1. Selection from Arunachala Puranam by G.Prabhakaran 2. Tiruchuzhi Thevaram by J.Jayaraman

Saranagathi (Refuge) (Refúgio)

Exquisite Arunachala on a beautiful morning. Overpowering one into submission. What better than to seek refuge from  Arunachala Ramana on the occasion of Ganesh Chaturthi as well. The song 'Saranagathi' was composed by Manavasi Ramasamy Iyer, a great devotee of Bhagavan as a supplication to Bhagavan Ramana. Rendered here with touching emotion by Ms.Subha Kailasam. I seek her indulgence and permission post facto for the song. Namaskaram.

 Audio: 1. Veena - Royalty free music from Yellowtunes.net 2. Saranagathi - Ms.Subha Kailasam 3. Vazhi - Ms.Subha Kailasam

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lyrics  - Sanskrit

- - - Saraṇāgati - - -

saraṇāgati uṉ para nāṉ iṉip pukattuṇai tāṉ ētu nī pukalāy                                               - (saraṇāgati)

aṉupallavi

smaraṇāt kati pala aruṇācala niṟai ramaṇā karuṇā varuṇā                                               - (saraṇāgati)

saraṇam

taruṇam itu vaṉṟō karuṇai nōkkavē kāla haraṇam ākkiṭil hā hā eṉ ceyvēṉ tuṉpai nīkki iṉpai aḷikka eṉ aṉpā iṉṉum pārāmukam eṉṉāl tāḷātayyā šrī vētiyā                                               - (saraṇāgati)

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lyrics - Tamil

- - - சரணாகதி பாடல் - - -

பல்லவி

சரணாகதி உன் பர நான் இனிப் புகத்துணை தான் ஏது நீ புகலாய்                                                          - (சரணாகதி) அனுபல்லவி

ஸ்மரணாத் கதி பல அருணாசல நிறை ரமணா கருணா வருணா                                                           - (சரணாகதி) சரணம்

தருணம் இது வன்றோ கருணை நோக்கவே கால ஹரணம் ஆக்கிடில் ஹா ஹா என் செய்வேன் துன்பை நீக்கி இன்பை அளிக்க என் அன்பா இன்னும் பாராமுகம் என்னால் தாளாதய்யா ஸ்ரீ வேதியா                                                             - (சரணாகதி)

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English Translation :

Pallavi (Refrain) I surrender — unto you Where else am I to surrender myself tell me     (I surrender)

Anupallavi (Supplemental Refrain) Who is perfect in Arunachala Which endows one with ultimate Release O Ramana, Raincloud of Compassion!     (I surrender)

Saranam (Text) Is this not the appropriate time For granting me your glance of Grace? If you delay, Lo! What am I to do? My beloved, remove my sorrow and grant me Bliss.

I can't bear indifference any further, O Vediya (One who is Brahman Itself)     (I surrender myself unto you)

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Arunachala extremamente bela numa bela manhã. Dominando uma pessoa até à submissão. O que há de melhor senão buscar refúgio em Arunachala Ramana por ocasião de Ganesh Chaturthi também. A canção 'Saranagathi' foi composta por Manavasi Ramasamy Iyer, um grande devoto de Bhagavan, como uma súplica a Bhagavan Ramana. Aqui cantada com emoção tocante pela Sra. Subha Kailasam. Solicito a sua indulgência e permissão ex post facto para a música. Namaskaram.

Letra de Saranagathi - Tradução para Português :

Pallavi (Refrão) Eu me rendo — a Vós A quem mais poderia eu render-me, me diga     (Eu me rendo)

Anupallavi (Refrão Suplementar) Aquele Que é perfeito em Arunachala Que nos concede a Libertação suprema Oh! Ramana, Chuva Abundante de Compaixão!     (Eu me rendo)

Saranam (Texto) Não será este o momento certo Para me conceder Seu olhar de Graça? Se Vos demorardes, Oh! Que hei-de fazer? Meu amado, remova minha tristeza e me conceda Bem-aventurança.

Não aguento mais a indiferença, Oh! Vediya (Aquele que é o próprio Brahman)     (Eu me entrego a Vós)

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💦 Skandasramam And A Waterfall 💦

Ram Mohan said:

During monsoon the water stream at Skandasramam on Arunachala Hill, where Bhagavan Ramana Maharshi had lived between 1916-22, starts to flow. It flows down a rock race adjacent to Skandasramam and offers a beautiful visual experience. Many visitors flock to it either to see it or take a dip under the falling waters. Herein I have covered the water stream as well as Skandasramam. The season also happened to be a lockdown of the Ashram due to Covid this year.

Audio: Selection from “Uma Sahasram” of Ganapati Muni

Om Namo Bhagavate Sri Arunachalaramanaya

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A Climb To The Peak Of Arunachala Mountain

Ram Mohan said:

Last week I went upto the Peak of Arunachala Hill guided by a good friend. Sri Parthasarathy, as the itch to climb surfaced again after 25 years, before which period I had already climbed the Peak thrice in the early 1990's. That was by the less strenuous Deepam route from town.

The Hill it is said is about 2600 odd feet high. But that day when I climbed via the Skandasrhram route, it appeared more than 3 times that height because of the stress involved. But it was worth every effort, because the Hill literally ensconces from all sides as we go up like an embrace from Arunachala Himself.

Being at the top for me was an experience of joy and awe as if being somehow taken in by Arunachala.

Though not a high Hill (if read as a mere hill), for people worshiping Arunachala, it seems to generate that sense of Joy being at the Peak.

Audio :

1. Aksharmanamalai by Sri Unni Krishnan for the main video.

2. ThiruUnthiyar from Tiruvachakam by Thiruvachaka Sidhar Sri Damodaranar for SlideShow.

NOTE ON AN ERROR : At 23.19 minutes in the video I have mentioned that the seven springs on the Hill 'unfortunately do not seem to exist now'. It stands corrected as  "all the seven springs may not have water, although the ridges still exist'. In fact, there is one spring with water that is shown in the video at 25.29 minutes. Om Sri Arunachaleswaraya Namah.

EPILOGUE

An Expression Of Sentiment - Honestly Felt, But Fantasy? 

I have no hesitation to admit to a conviction I felt after returning from the climb to the Peak of Arunachala That I had done a ‘Prayaschitta’ (’Repetence’ -loosely translated). After spending an easy life of more thatn thirty years at Arunachala in His name and the name of Bhagavan, this exercise was like being put through a sugarcane crusher. 

I felt that Arunachala had extracted his ‘Prayaschitta’ for, may be many of my acts of commissions and ommissions, from me, though unwitting on my part. If I had lacked a clearer vision to see His Grace, He used the ‘Danda’ (or Stick of the famous - Sama, Dana, Bheda, Danda) to wedge my eyes open wider to let Himself in. Just as at the end of crushing there is the sweet cane juice, so I felt.

 The ‘Danda’ medicine seems to work, but... IF, I am the spurious part... then? Arunachala’s Grace works unexpectedely and to the undeserving even!