A rushing soujourn....to Iyappa Temple, Trichy...

Way back from my native,

To catch 19:55 VB to Chennai.

As I put my fist step into the Shrine, in a big campus, it was 5.15 in the evening. My memories took me back to early and mid 80s. Just then this Temple was established.

It's now the Temple is celebrating its 40th year in June 2025.

It's not just Temple. A treasure trove - ஞானச் சுரங்கம். Although, I had gone number of times to this Shrine, every other time when you walk into this Shrine, I'm sure you get new energy, a fresh dimension.

The sanctum sanctorum is deep inside with separate sannithis for all Deities. As you walk in, your ஞான வேள்வி starts. The gardens either side welcome you. A dedicated herbal garden is also there as a tribute to People's President Dr APJ Kalam.

On the side walls, you will see plenty of nice inspirational quotes, real life stories told in briefs, etc., . This you will keep reading as you slowly proceed to the Lord Iyyappa's sanctum. Truely not just a short rush would do to get the vibe.

A few take aways from these pearls:

The Management also put up alert every few yards, alerting devotees not to use mobile, take pictures and videos. But thankfully, as we proceed to exit way, you could see a message so encouraging you to visit their website 

trichyayyappa.com and view all these pearls of wisdom under the prompt, 'e book'.

Well here are a few takeaways in words so appealing to my humble self and not verbatim.

The very first striking one:

One gentle man in a winter time saw on the street a little girl shivering in utter cold. The man felt deeply pained and got wild with the Almighty, he asked God, " Don't you have any mercy? Don't you see this girl shivering? Why didn't you do anything?".

God: "Gentleman, who said I didn't do anything. I made you."

Moral: " Manava Seva, Madhava Seva".

Story 2:

One devotee prayed before Bhagavan Ramana Maharshi.

Devotee: " Bhagavan, I was so long indulging in all bad deeds. Now I realize all my wrong doings, would like to turn good. What shankalp should I take Bhagavan, please tell me."

Bhavan: "Take a vow that you won't tell lie any longer."

Story 3, story of vairagya, determination:

Power of Mom's words pushed and empowered Wilma Rudolf to overcome her pneumonia and win gold medals in Olympics. Every time she struggled, her mother motivated every inch to glorious victory.  

Many more inspiring tales, quotes. You may visit the site 

Before I wrap,

I wold like to end with a prayer, also a take away from the Temple, prayer to Tulsi.:

ஓம் துளசீதேவ்யை ச வித்மஹே, விஷ்ணுப்ரியாயை ச தீமஹி, தன்னோ விருந்தா பிரச்சோதயாத்॥

Birth, death, birth death, cycle of birth-death...

ஒரு நாள் குடும்பத்துடன் ECR ல் அக்கரை இல் அமைந்திருக்கும் iskcon ஶ்ரீ கிருஷ்ணர் கோவிலில் தரிசனம் செய்யச் சென்றோம்.

பிரதக்ஷிணம் வருகையில் சந்நிதியின் பின்புறச் சுவற்றில் பல வண்ண ஓவியங்கள் வரையப்பட்டிருந்தன. The pictures depicted various stages, characteristics in human life - from being born as a child till the time of death.

ஒவ்வொரு சித்திரமாக ஒவ்வொன்றையும் நின்று நிதானமாய் நான் பார்த்து வந்ததை அங்கிருந்த இளம் துறவி ஒருவர் கவனித்தபடி இருந்தார். ஒரு கட்டத்தில் என் அருகே வந்து, in flawless English he asked me, "what happens when you do good and pass away?".

I was wonderstruck and looking baffled as to what to answer him.

He himself continued, 'have you heard of punya, papa?".

This I immediately answered in affirmative.

Our conversation elongated.

His turn: " then don't you see you have to be born, die, born again, again to square off your papa-punya?".

It seemed a gentle nudge on my head, grey cells.  Suddenly I recalled about my daughter telling me about root cause analysis that she learnt in her Management studies at her B School.

His next missile: " do you want to suffer this cycle, cycle of birth-death eternally? Don't you see need for birthless, deathless state?".

His wrapping was it was possible when you go God-conscious.

Can you go God-conscious?

Just be,

Do nothing, yes literally no thing.

The eyes closed.

Complete silence.

Oh!

You have gone God-conscious.

Oh! What's Meditation? Is it ...No thing..Nothing?

மோனத் தவம் இருந்து காரியம் - activities -

ஆற்று.

என்ன, மோனத் தவம் இருந்து காரியம் ஆற்றா?

Is cogency lacking here?

மோனத் தவம் -

சும்மா இரு,

ஆம் முருகன் அருணகிரிநாதருக்கு அருளிச் செய்தது.

Yes, literally doing nothing.

Not even thinking,

Neither concentrating,

Nor contemplating.

Just be.

How long?

Listen to Osho:

"Even if for a single MOMENT, you are not doing anything and you are just at your centre, utterly relaxed - that is MEDITATION."

அது என்ன single MOMENT, ஒரு கணம், க்ஷணம், just a split of a second போதுமா? 

Yes. Even a fraction of a second suffices.

ராஜ கோபுரங்களின் மஹிமையை மஹா ஸ்வாமி அழகுற எடுத்துரைக்கிறார். கோபுரங்கள் உயரமாக இருக்க வேண்டும். வெகு தூரத்தில் இருந்து பார்த்தாலும் தெரியும் வண்ணம் இருக்க வேண்டும். கோபுரத்தைப் பார்த்த நொடியே, சிந்தையில் எல்லாம் அந்த பரம்பொருளே நிரம்பி சித்த சுத்தி அடைந்து விடும்.

சும்மாவா சொன்னார்கள், கோபுர தரிசனம் கோடி புண்ணியம் என்று.

Coming back to first emanating quintessential question, would just a fraction of second dhyan, Meditation do suffice. Once you are in, like while Apple falling down, the Newton's gravitation theory will start working on you. Osho says you can just be for 24x7. All Rishis of yore in deep trance state in the caves of mighty Himalayan regions were instances. Why go far to Himalayas? Bhagavan Ramana Maharshi did it right here in Tiruvannamalai.

Well,

Going over to question, life, sorry livelihood challenging one at that, if remaining in dhyan all the time, who will earn and feed us? Right question.

Who said if you do meditate, you should refrain from doing activity? Here is the paradox, confusion getting compounded.

On one hand you say சும்மா இரு - do nothing, just be. And on the other hand you should carry on activity.

The idea is get the knack of meditation - that is centeredness, remaining AWARE, even while doing. Doing simple or complicated things.

Osho explains it:

"....I am speaking to you, but my Meditation is not disturbed. I can go on speaking, but at my centre there is not even a ripple; it is just silent, utterly silent."

Ergo, meditation isn't an escape route 

It's from that centeredness, all your aesthetics, creativity and noble vision bloom out in full splendor.

Wrapping up with,

“The gift of learning to meditate is the greatest gift you can give yourself in this lifetime.”

 – Sogyal Rinpoche