I had been to Arunachala this diwali. I reached Arunachala the day before around 4 pm and got my self accommodation at Sheshadri Ashramam and went straight to Ramanashramam. Nothing special to highlight as i was entirely silent! The only words I may have spoken was for having food, milk and accomodation. It was very peaceful. I remained stay put at the Ashramam as long as I could. I attended the evening parayanams. They had changed the picture in the Nirvana hall, Now they have this image
http://arunachala-ramana.org/photos/restored_photos/full/ioh_05.jpgThis is also equally great, the old one was unique. the old picture was Hrudayam itself. The Self Itself. I personally like gazing Bhagavan at Nirvanal hall. Thereafter I just sat silently in the Samadhi hall till about 9.
On the 26th. I got ready very early and came to Ramanshramam 3:30 and wondered if I could enter as the gates were closed. But fortunately the smaller gate was open and i silently entered Ramanashramam as i heard a beautiful song of PB Srinivas through the Watchaman room

as i walked through, I went around the Mathrubhooteshwara shrine and peaked inside the Samadhi hall from the windows of Samadhi hall (it was like having a secret darshan). To see Bhagavan in the small lamp light was truly some feeling! Then went directly to the old meditation hall. there were 2 persons in already. I was very excited to see Bhagavan at this time, as it was around 3:30 Bhagavan used to begin his day. I sat gazing at him till I heard the sounds of gates opening in the Samadhi Hall. I then got up and went to Samadhi hall, and was the first one to go around Bhagavan

I was very happy. It felt very special to do the first circumambulation around Bhagavan

that day
There was very heavy downpour non stop rains all through and doing girivalam was impossible ... hence I decided that I would atleast go 108 times around Bhagavan and did it and I felt this pradakshinam more effective than doing around the hill itself. They sung the special Deepavali song and to see the mangala arati before the sunrise was some experience

then they burst crackers before Bhagavan at the entrance to Samadhi hall.
It was lovely to see dogs. there were 2 dogs that came inside the samadhi hall, it was obvious to see the peace in the dog, its bhakti is amazing. I was engulfed with the feelings of extreme grace seeing the devotion of the dogs. one dog directly went begind the samadhi hall and sat down just behind bhagavan and remained transfixed unmoved, i watched it with amazement as I was doing my pradakshinam. It does something to you.
Another dog while the daily parayanam was going on, entered and came in as if looking for somebody, I was seated in one corner and the dog came looking for somebody and kept going in... the caretaker who is near the Samadhi hall, beat its head "tap" hard it pained me so much (but i dont know what relationship that caretaker and the dog has, he beat it with "love"

) asking it to move out, but it wouldn't listen and did not even care being beaten

and some of us there just said to him its ok

let it be ... and it went on inside to Mathrubhoopteshwara shrine

it was amazing to see both the dogs not making any noise inside the samadhi hall. especially the second dog when it was hit hard on its head, remained silent and moved on looking around for what it had come in.
Both dogs did nothing of any sort that could amount to disturbing the devotees who were doing parayanam, meditation. amazing!
all these were happening, and i was captured by the compassion of Bhagavan...
what remained were only moments of silence...
Salutations to Bhagavan