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Dear Friends
So we have Great Shiva's Night behind. A new day has started and everything has to work the same way as another ordinary day. I slept a bit about the siesta, I get up early, but it's half past four. Then I worked for a while and set off to Sri Ramana Ashram around six-thirty. There at that time a bath of Shiva's lingam was held, erected above the grave of Sri Ramana. Young brahmins chanted the Vedas like every day, but there were a lot of people in the ashram. Thanks to the Vedic school, this stop on Arunachala - Shiva road is interesting and popular. After a while, there was no movement in the ashram, so after the sunset I set off for a journey. Outside, similar attractions and stalls were prepared as a full moon, but people would be less, but there were thousands of them, and an interesting business opportunity.
Arunachala - Shiva was blue-toned by some atmospheric trick this evening, which was his favorite color. One of his names is Nνlakanthαja - Blue-necked, because his neck turned blue when he drank poison that jumped up while mixing from the ocean of nectar at the beginning of this universe.
Sadhu, the followers of God Shiva, were in great numbers, and they received plenty of food, money, and other gifts, blankets, clothes. Giving an ascetic about this night has a very positive effect on the life of the donor. I got 500 rupees in 10 rupees and so I could please 50 ascetics :-)
Meanwhile, it darkened, but the Indians discovered the magic of LED lighting and mounted it everywhere in large numbers. The road around the Mountain is well lit and will be even better as new lamps are installed after about 20 meters. Many statues associated with God Shiva were held in various ceremonies, and so this night had its own unique charm.
I also took selfie. Light patterns from the life of the Great God were also seen. I went through the Great Temple in the city. Unlike last year, when everything was reorganized, this year the police were more or less watching. There were oil and butter lamps again, like these before the biggest bull, Nandin. Maybe sometimes the colored mandala will come back again, see. In the second courtyard there was a classical dance school show. There was a huge queue to the third courtyard, and as I was there in the morning, I walked out through the south gate and continued to Sri Ramana Ashram. This is an advantage when one has no shoes, can go through one gate and another can come out. There was one ceremony in Sri Ramana Ashram, then it was quiet for a while, and more ceremonies and chanting began, and so it was until morning when the regular morning program began. But I don't know, around midnight I got to Athithi Ashram, washed and fell asleep.
Have a nice time !!
Josef Fric
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