Tuesday, February 14, 2017

The milk cows on my day of departure

Peacock and crow keeping the milk cows company in the afternoon below my room in the guest house.  Notice the conch shells on their halters, to bring blessings.

Arunachala Hill hike

The sun set and we hiked down using our cell phones for light. 

Monday, February 13, 2017

The view from the top, where the Ghee is burned each year.

The trail is mostly boulders all the way up.  No trail. I hired a guide, Ashok, a young artist to show me the way.  

We arrived just as the sun was setting.

View from thew top of Arunachala Hill

Sunday, February 12, 2017

Ramana's cave retreat- On the way to the top

The ancient banyan tre outside Ramana Maharshi's cave retreat
Ramana Maharshi and his disciples with his mother who took care of them all!

Saturday, February 11, 2017

I decided to climb Arunachala Hill (2600 ft)

Dogs who have chosen to live on the hill with their renunciates.

Look closely and you can see the temple towers and the stadium size temple complex from Arunachala Hill

Friday, February 10, 2017

Most houses are cement, brick, and rebar. Many people build their own

Building material transport
These people are adding another story on their shop. The pile of sand in front is for mixing cement.

I watched several houses being constructed

An important construction material- no 2 x 4's used here.
The house visible from my balcony

Arunachala Pradakshina

I arrived in time for the February Full moon pradakshina, circumambulation of Arunachala

It was a 10 mile hike, but the temple was beautiful at the end.

250 Ashrama guests and staff eat twice a day here

This beautifully constructed hall used to house the Ashram goshala (dairy)

Food

Food made in the kitchen is transported in this interesting vehicle to the front of the Ashram to feed the hungry.

500 or more people wait in line to be fed each day. For many it is their only meal.


Kitchen

The kitchen and food being prepared.   The pipes above the large pots bring steam throughout the kitchen.

Thursday, February 9, 2017

Milk to food

Strong helper empties the milk machine into a pot.

The milk goes to the kitchen.


The milking process



A gir mix breed cow being milked with her new calf present

The expert milker uses one machine for 40 cows twice a day.

More Goshala Residents

An unusual breed
The one year olds
Friendly

Goshala Residents

Breed used for draft due to its trotting speed.
Pregnant cows hanging out in the shade

The Goshala has 198 cattle of all ages and breeds


They are experimenting with crossing gyr breed cattle with other breeds for greater resistance to heat and insects.

Newborns

Goshala breeding program

Milk cows of all breeds spend time with a gyr bull to understand the best genetics for milk production and disease resistance.

A gyr bull

Goshala means Dairy

Ramana Maharshi with Lakshmi, the beginning of the Goshala.  Lakshmi was a gift. Ramana Maharshi sent her back to the giver as he didn't have a stable for her.  She found her way back to Ramana through the streets of Tirumvannamalai. This happened several times.  Finally he decided to give her a home.
Gyrs are from North West India and have a convex forehead and long ears that help with heat dissipation as does the hump on their back which stores fat and water (like a camel)

Ramanashrama

The Ashram entrance
A cool arboretum inside the Ashram gates

Ancient tree at the entrance to Ramanashrama

Wednesday, February 8, 2017

Vegetables from the country. Products of the cows of Tamil Nadu

All the villagers who own cows pile their manure in the alleys. Drivers with small 3 wheeled trucks come and  collect it for farmers in the country.  Other drivers bring trucks in with vegetables, fruit, hay, water, to distribute to the residents. 

Onions, Potatoes, Ginger and Garlic

Locally grown vegetables and mangos at the Tirumvannamalai Market.

Tuesday, February 7, 2017

Chai Shop- One place the milk is delivered

The milk man makes a delivery to the Chai Shop

Chai Shop with the dog that owns it.


The Milk Man



Milk man at work

He and the owner work together and the owner gets a share

Early Morning

A woman comes out every morning to feed the dogs.


And the wild peacocks
And the birds