My Spiritual Musings

  Arunachalesvara temple is an important Shiva temple located in Thiruvanamalai which is about 130 miles from Chennai.  The Arunachalesvara temple is one of the Panch Boota Stalas , or five Shiva temples, with each a manifestation of a natural element:  earth, water, air, sky and fire.  Arunachalesvara temple represents the fire element.  The main lingam  in the shrine is referred as Agni Lingam.  The temple is located at the foothills of the Arunachalam hills. Every year during Karthigai Deepam a huge flame is lit atop Arunachalam hills. Thiruvanamalai is also the town where the modern day saint Ramana Maharishi lived.  A view of the Main Gopuram of Arunachalesvara Temple A view of all the gopurams of Arunachalesvara Temple from Arunachalam Hills    In 2020, during a meditation session with my spiritual mentor, Teja Anand, I had a beautiful vision of the sanctum sanctorum of Arunachalesvara temple. I was seated at the feet of Lord Arunachalesvara. After the meditation I felt ecstatic

It was Dec 11th, 2019. A month before my toe bunion surgery. I had started a major kitchen remodeling project that had turned into a fiasco. My mother was visiting me from India to help me recuperate from my surgery. I was in deep turmoil wondering how I would manage surgery, mom without a fully functional kitchen. All the appliances had been ripped off and the contractor was not motivated to complete the project. I also had other challenges going on in my personal life. My mind was in turmoil. I prayed to the Almighty for guidance and solace.  One of my ex-colleagues, Anmolji, was an ardent devotee of Lord Shiva and Ramana Maharishi. We had exchanged a few emails and interacted across various discussion forums. On Dec 11th, 2019 Anmolji told me he would call me after he finished chanting Rudram. Rudram is a divine chant to Lord Shiva. He called me up and suddenly at the start of the conversation he exclaimed loudly, "Laksh I cannot believe my eyes. Let me send you a picture. Can