Before the Day 2, I should mention here that the evening parayana
was Sri Arunachala Stuti Panchakam. The five songs were recited
lasting for about 1 hour and 10 minutes.
Next morning, (Day 2), we decided to do the giri pradakshina.
After the breakfast at 7 am, we went by car (as I am not able
to walk the entire distance), covering by foot in between some
distances. After seeing Yama Lingam, and Nirudhi Lingam,
we spent more time in Ner Annamalai Temple of Unnamulai, from where there is a straight view of the summit of the Hill. This is
where Siva appeared before Uma and gave her half of his body.
After Ner Annmalai Temple, we covered the Sai Baba Temple,
( a newly built one by Malaysian devotees). Then we came to the
famous Idukku Pillaiyar. Ganapati in a crevice. Here, people go
from one end to another end, about 1 metre. The place is quite
narrow and unless a person is lean, it is not possible to go in
and come out to the other side. I never attempted this. But my
wife gets in and come out easily. She did that this time too.
From there, we came to Saint Manikkavachagar Temple, from
where he composed his Tiruvembavai and Tiru Ammanai in
Tiruvachakam. We stood before the Linga and the saint's image
and sang a few verses of Tiruvembavai.
The next stop was my favourite Isanya Math. First we went
to see Isanya Lingam for which one has to climb down some steps.
Isanya Jnana Desikar attained Jeeva Samadhi nearby. From there
we went to Isanya Math Proper and prayed to the Lingam at
the place of Jeeva Samadhi of Desikar. Isanya Jnana Desikar
lived for about 70 years. This is a powerful place and Bhagavan
Ramana has recommended visiting this Jeeva Samadhi Lingam.
There I met the old priest who is a scholar in Tamil vedanta
texts. There are 16 such texts, some of them Sanskrit translations
into Tamil verses. This is managed by Kovilur Math. There is
a Veda patasala, and there is a primary school also in the same
complex. The students are fed and given clothes in both the schools.
Kovilur Math has plans to publish all the 16 works in print. Three
volumes have already come. On the day I went the priest told
me that the 4th volume has also come out. I purchased this 4th
volume which contains Viveka Choodamani, Ajana Vada Barani
and Iswara Gita. For these works, the Math has given the original
verses and also meaning in prose.
The 16 books are:-
1. Nana Jiva Vadha Kattalai.
2. Gitasara Taalaattu.
3. Sasi Varna Bodham ( Volume 1)
4. Maharaja Thuravu
5. Vairagya Satakam.
6. Vairagya Deepam. (Volume 2)
7. Lakshana Virutti.
8. Vedanta Choodamani
9. Kaivalya Navaneetam (Volume 3)
10,11,12 - as mentioned above in Volume 4.
The volume 5 will contain (yet to be published)
13. Brahma Gita
14. Bhagavad Gita
15. Jnana Vasishtam
The Volume 6 will exclusively contain
16. Panchadasi.
We returned to the Asramam by 10 AM. We stayed in the
Asramam till lunch at 11.30 AM. The lunch went off very well
and I was personally happy. There was Payasam too apart
from the usual items.
In the book shop, before lunch, I purchased the CD containing
Sri Arunachala Stuti Panchakam. This is rendered in music by
one Mr. Prabhakar and he, Sivadas Krishnan, Lata and Gita have
sung the songs. This is the version that is available in the
official website of Sri Ramanasramam also.
Arunachala Siva.
