Monday, August 23, 2010

Palamaram Ashram and Cave, on Aruanchala by karthigainathan

PALAMARAM ASHRAM AND CAVE ON ARUANCHALA

Exploring Arunachala, Carol and I came across another cave, one under a rock that has a shrine and ashram built around it. We were told by the Arunachala Mountain Guide, Saran, who grew up near this spot, that this is called Palamaram Ashram and is ‘generations’ old and has been run by one family for these generations. Palamaram is the Tamil word for ‘jackfruit’ (but we did not see a jackfruit tree). The guru who was most recently active here, per Saran, was Palamaram Swamy, who was here for 40 years and for the last 15 years has been in the Himalayas. He said the Ashram is presently handled by Srinivasam.

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Monday, June 21, 2010

Down the hill is Arunachaleswara Temple.

Virupaksha Cave is located 200 ft below Skandashram Cave in Thiruvannamalai District in Tamil Nadu. It was named after a great 13th century saint, Virupaksha Deva, who spent most of his life here and when he died his body got transformed to vibhuti (sacred ash). This sacred ash is preserved here and daily pujas are organized. There is a small compound wall with a gopuram on the eastern side, housing a small cave. A group of seven springs are found below the main peak on the east slope.


The Virupaksha main gate.

Virupaksha Cave

Ramana living here from 1899 to 1916.

Here is the building now built around Virupaksha Cave.

Virupaksha cave (Ramana meditated here in 1899-1916)

Entrance of the actual cave

This sacred ash is preserved here and daily pujas are organized. There is a small compound wall with a gopuram on the eastern side, housing a small cave.

Virupaksha Deva cave

Virupaksha Deva, who spent most of his life here and when he died his body got transformed to vibhuti (sacred ash).

Down the hill is Arunachaleswara Temple.