Arunachala Hill

The Puranas state that Shiva manifested himself as Arunachala Hill.

Lord Shiva said: "This is the only place where I have taken this form for the benefit of those who wish to meditate on me and obtain illumination. Arunachala is Aum itself. Self-Realization can be attained by anyone who looks at this hill from where it is visible or even mentally thinks of it from afar."

The Skanda Purana declares: "Arunachala is the heart of the earth. Know it to be the secret and sacred heart-centre of Shiva. Lord Shiva always abides there as a glorious hill called Arunachala!"

"Someone has written asking for a stone from the most sacred part of the hill. He does not know that the whole hill is sacred. It is Shiva Himself. Just as we identify ourselves with a body, so Shiva has chosen to identify Himself with the hill. Arunachala is pure wisdom in the form of a hill. It is out of compassion for those who seek Him that He has chosen to reveal Himself in the form of a hill visible to the eye. The seeker will obtain guidance and solace by staying near this hill." —Ramana Maharshi

"How was I first attracted here to this place? By Arunachala. The power cannot be denied. Again, Arunachala is within and not without. The Self is Arunachala." —Ramana Maharshi

"It is said that only those whom Shiva calls can come here.

"The greatness of Arunachala cannot be exaggerated. As soon as you approach, its presence can be felt; outside worldly interest becomes dimmed and those things that were worrying you before seem to lose their power to concern you.

"As you leave there is a distinct change of thought process in the opposite direction, but somehow the power of the world to overwhelm is reduced.

"This is the magic of Arunachala, it captures those who are called and never leaves them."

—From a Web site dedicated to Arunachala and Sri Ramana Maharshi, www.arunachala-ramana.org/about_arunachala.html

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