Back from another visit to Tiruvannamalai

Went there for Sri Lakshmana Swamy's darshan, but the official darshan is on 3 days: Jan 1st, Deepam day and December 25th. I thought it was the Tamil new year's day (April 14th). We were there pretty early, at 0630 and the Swamy and Sri Saradamma came in their car back to their house. The car came in slowly, so, we could get their darshan for a few seconds. It was like a bonus!!! After they went in, Sri Saradamma was giving some instructions to 2 people there and we got a few more glimpses of the mother. No one else turned up for the darshan and the few who were there also left, so, we found out our *mistake* and got going.

Went to Skandasramam and Virupaksha Guhai with Attimber, Shiva and Meenu. All of us enjoyed it to the core. While coming down, the stones were really really hot, so, we had to dance like lord Shiva while climbing down.

In the evening, we started the Giripradakshina from the temple and started chanting Arunachala Shiva, Arunachala Shiva, Arunachala Shiva, Arunachala... Mom also came along, only dad chose to stay back at Sri Ramanasramam. Saro asked: Will the entire path be so crowded and noisy? I said no. Later, it occurred to me that - when we start on the Giripradakshina, there is a lot of noise, but as we proceed further, the noises reduce and finally it becomes very very silent. Is that why Bhagavan prescribed walking around Arunachala? We finished the walk at 0145 in the night!!! Meenu and Shiva enjoyed the Idukku Pillayaar darshan.

Next morning, we sat for a while in the old hall, visited the bookshop and started back to our places.

This visit was amazing! We stayed at Sri Seshadri Swami's ashram. One of the Videos I got was *Guru Ramana - His Living Presence" which contains interview snippets with Bhagavan's devotees. Amazingly well done and a true inspiration for all. I've e-mailed Arunachala Ashrama, New York asking them if I could get the entire set and the entire length interviews.

Om Sri RamaNarpaNamastu.