This, That and the other thing

I am still here in Thiruvanamalai and my days are pretty low key and revolve around visits to the Ramana Maharshi ashram. Here are some photos that I thought to share

There are several peacocks at the ashram. Their cry is very piercing and sometimes sounds like a loud cat. This one was on the roof of a service building. 

There are many temples in this city. The holy mountain Arunachala has been a place of pilgrimage for hundreds of years. Here are a few that I have walked by recently.

Here is Nandi the Bull- Lord Shiva's vehicle who is worshipped side by side with Shiva

There are countless little shrines like this almost on every corner throughout India and here as well.

Since this is a pilgrimage city and one of the holiest spots in Southern India many orange-clad sannyasis or sadhus (ascetics) are seen everywhere. Most of them have all their worldly belongings in a bag. Some of them pitch make shift tents or just sleep on benches or the ground. They subsist on donations of money and food. Some seem genuinely spiritual and others are annoying and one wonder's about their authenticity.

Two sannyasis taking a break from their wanderings

Sannyasi tent pitched between two trees

Notice anything different about this meal? In this part of India, food is often served on banana leaf "plates". A biodegradable solution for big parties etc.

Much of the draw to this area is the great saint Ramana Maharshi and his  ashram. You see his picture and quotes by him all over the city.

Here is picture of the holy mountain Arunachala juxtaposed with a commonly found sign painted on walls around the city reminding people that open urination/defecation is "illegal" in India (ha ha it definitely does not always make an impression on the population)

Exhausted by the multitude of beggars and sadhus that approach me for money, I gifted this hard working young woman involved in trash removal. She was clearly delighted and I made a conscious decision at that moment to only give money to people like her. 

Here is my humble $10 a day room. Simple and quiet. The photo of Ramana Maharshi was provided already. 

Finally I took a selfie with these two young gals in the ashram yesterday in their best clothes and looking lovely.