After Bhagavan’s mother attained liberation on the 19th May, 1922, devotees felt that her body should be buried rather than cremated since she was a jnani. Bhagavan concurred. But as to why his mother could not be buried on the Hill itself, Bhagavan later explained: “There is an ancient tradition that this Hill is lingaswarupa; that is to say, this Hill itself is God. That is the cause and glory of this place.” 

Temple authorities had always made similar declarations to any party wanting to construct shrines on the Hill. According to the sastras no other form of worship should take place on Arunachala as Arunachala is the Lord Himself. Even if mother had been interred quietly at Skandasramam, no shrine or memorial at the gravesite would have been permitted. It was thus decided that the body should be interred at the foot of the Hill on the southern side, a traditional site for the burial of sadhus. 

The burial party left Skandasramam just before dawn on 20th May and chose a site close to the road. But Ramakrishna Iyer suggested that it be nearer the hill, away from the road, and thus more conveniently situated if ever a temple over it were to be constructed. When he pointed out another location further in, all were in agreement. 

Maha Puja is the day of the liberation of Bhagavan’s Mother, who merged with Arunachala on Krishna Paksha Navami of Vaikasi in 1922. This year’s observance took place on 9th June and began with Mahanasya rites, followed by abhishekam and culminating in pujas at the shrines of Sri Bhagavan and Mother, after which hundreds of devotees gathered for the mid-day meal. —