Thiruvannamalai Girivalam - A new Blissful experience!!

The mist covering the sacred Arunchala hills. 

Yemalingam temple

The cattles on the Girivalam path.

The road map of the Girivalam path

Nirudhi Lingam temple

Sooriya lingam temple

The sun rising above the Arunachala hills. 

Ardhaneereshwar temple in the Girivalam path

Kubera lingam temple

Nandhi mukham of Arunachala hills  

Arunachala hills seen with multiple peaks

Arunachala hills near to the temple at th ed end of Girivalam path

Lord Annamalaiyar temple,  Arunachala hills seen at the backdrop

                    Thiruvannamalai Girivalam expereince 2022

It was totally an unplanned trip to Tiruvannamalai and Girivalam ( the circumambulation) of the divine Mountain Arunachalam Hills , which is considered as the Lord Shiva Himself in the mountain form is something I have never dreamt of in the near past.

Initially we thought of going for the Girivalam in the night , as some would do. But , changed the plan to the early morning as that would be fresh and we also would get to visit the multiple temples situated in the Girivalam path. And that turned out to be a nice decision too.

We started off as early as 5 .15 am from the Hotel Himalayas , where we had stayed, after finishing our bath and the chanting of the Guru puja mantra . It was quite dark and the weather was also chill , this being the Margazhi month or Dhanur maas .We took an auto to the Lord Arunachaleshwara temple and prayed to the Lord in the entrance by lighting a camphor and started our Girivalam , which is a 14 KM stretch totally .The first temple we came across was a Ganesha temple within few steps  and then the Indira Lingam temple . We took darshan of the Lord and proceeded further. Lot of Ganesha temples both small and big were present on the way. Early morning Abishekams were being performed for Lord Ganesha idols and in some temples already abishekams were over and nicely decked up with fresh flower decorations. Visiting temples in the early mornings that too in the Margazhi month gives a special feeling of divinity within us.

Ashta lingam temples present one in each of the 8 directions viz Nort East , Nort, South west, Nothwest etc.After Indira Lingam temple , followed the Agni Lingam temple and then the Yema Lingam temple. We are supposed to take the darshan of holy Arunachala hills from each of the Lingam temple spots. In between , Lord Arumuga swamy temple also was there. From the Agni Lingam temple , we could see the divine Arunachalam Hills surrounded by mist in the peak portion. The sun had not risen that time yet. I used to listen to the Aksharamanamalai , a song written by Baghawan Ramanar on Lord Arunchaleshwara and in that song , He has sung as ," I just thought of your name , you pulled me immediately to me .. Like how an iron filling is attracted to the magnet , I got attracted to you " . Baghawan referred the Mountain itself as the Lord Arunachaleshwara. Looked like I also got pulled by the divine power to this sacred place. I have also read as, Baghawan Ramanar used to sit still for hours together gazing at the holy mountain in the state of trance. So, all these things were running in my mind, when I looked at the mountain. The same devotion started blossoming in my heart too.

By the time, we reached Yema lingam temple , we had just covered 3 kms. We also saw a big hoarding showing the road map of the Girivalam in detail  , mentioning the distance , the name of temples etc. Walking towards Niruthi Lingam temple from Yema lingam temple, the stretch was looking green with trees on either side, which is marked as Sonagiri forest in the road map. We took the darshan of the holy mountain from there . Lots of saints wearing the saffron attires and rudraksha beads, with Vibhuthi on the forehead were seen scattered all over on the way .They seemed to reside on the platform in small tents , with minimum belongings like clothings to cover, seeking alms to the pilgrims. They utter the name Om Namashivaya on receiving the alms. Few were seen with the matted hair. Few seemed odd in a different state of mind. I have read as , many sidhdhars reside in and around Arunachala hills, which made me to see them all with a different perspective. The very fact that they decided to leave everything material for the sake of Lord Shiva touched me. Some are seen reading some religious books, writing something. They were cleaning the places where they stay with broomsticks. Also got to see some 2 common men sitting in front of a saint and asking for some guidance, which he was explaining with the action, later learnt thathe is the Mouna saamiyar.

Throughout the path we could spot the cows and the calves , the dogs . Some places we also saw monkeys and peacock. On the way ,we listened to Aksharamanamalai songs , Thevaram, thiruvasagam songs , Shiva bhajans and kept our mind engaged in the divine thoughts , our mouth uttering the divine name. The experience was different , pleasant and enjoyable too.

After visiting the Niruthi lingam temple, the sun started to shine with its full splendour. The sun was shining above the holy Hill, which I could capture in the camera too. Then came the sooriya lingam temple. Lord Ardhanareeshwara and Goddess Devi were also present.

And the divine mountain was looking different at each place , somewhere like a Nandhi called as Nandhi mukha , somewhere as twin peaks, somewhere sharp peaks, at some places spread out  broad and wide etc. This is what they would have referred as, the one truth can appear different at different angles. The Varuna lingam temple is situated at 7 kms in the Girivalam path and  Vayu lingam temple at 8 Kms.

Many other temples like Shirdi Sai Baba temples, many sidhdhar samadhis/ temples , Ramalingam adigalar swamy temple, Guru Raghavendra temple, Hanuman temple, Mariamman temple, Gayathri Devi temple are also seen. We went inside almost all the temples and took the darshan . And Kubera lingam temple is also seen with Lord Arunachalehwara  ( not the main deity ) . Literally we can feel the divinity in every inch of the Girivalam path , either the temples are present or the saints are seen. They said, in earlier days, the herbal breeze used to come from the trees in areas adjacent to the hills in the path , curing the pilgrims going on Girivalam of all the diseases. The forest fires which happened now and then have destroyed many trees it seems.

We covered about 9 kms easily without finding any difficulty in walking , after which we started to feel pain in our feet. We had worn socks , double layer as we are not supposed to wear chappals. We drank tender coconuts on the way. And in a temple, the priest gave Pongal as prashadham in our hand and compelled us to have it. Perhaps it's the divine will that we need to have it because we wanted to fast till we complete the Girivalam. After about 8 kms , resting benches under the shades were constructed to enable the devotees to sit and take rest. Also we bought some food packets like Idli/Vadai , variety rice packets and distributed to the needy , the old ladies on the way which also brought us immense gratification. We need to have lots of coins handy to donate as alms . Then and there , we tried to get the change/coins from shopkeepers , priests etc.

Enroute the Girivalam path, a small temple called as Moksha temple similar to mother’s womb was present, where one has to crawl inside the temple entrance and struggle their way to come out on the other side. We missed noticing this temple during our Girivalam , but later found while leaving Tiruvannamalai. People were standing in queue to pass through the small pathway. A person was struggling to come out. 

Kubera lingam temple to Eesanya lingam temple pathway,we really found it difficut to walk. We could not place our feet down on the ground due to the strain in our feet. Suddenly it striked me to adopt the ancient technique of uttering the Lord's name (called as Nama Japam ) aloud in various rhythms, the Om Namashivaya chants like the “Swamiye Saranam Ayyappa” chants of the Sabarimalai pilgrims. This truly helped us to forget our leg pain and it uplifted our attention / consciousness to the higher level. Because of this technique , we could complete the full divine path successfully and we reached the main Lord Arunachaleshwara and Unnamalai Ammaiyaar temple .

The temple was thronged with Melmaruvathur Adiparashakthi devotees cladded in red saris all over. Felt so blessed to take the darshan of Lord Arunchaleshwara and Unnamaliyammar Devi , Lord Subramanyaswamy ( Here is where , Lord Muruga saved and gave darshan toThiruppugazh fame Saint Arunagirinathar , when he fell down from top storey to drop his life ). There's one Paadaala Lingam temple inside the temple premises , where Baghawan Ramana Maharishi was seen to sit engrossed  in such a deep state of samadhi that even the bite of the insects, ants , rodents did not make any difference to him though his body was badly wounded and finally Seshadri swamigal came to the rescue of him ( this incident was inscribed in the wall of the temple ).

The sacred pond in Lord Arunchaleshwara temple

Lord Annamalaiyar temple, Thiruvannamalai 

It was such a gratifying feeling and a sense of fullness after completing the Girivalam of Lord Arunchala Hills .Feeling so blessed and grateful to the divine Grace. The famous Thiruvasagam written by Saint Manickavasagar says " We can get to prostrate the divine feet of Lord Shiva only because of  His shower of grace " ( avan arulaale avan thaal vanangi in tamil ). Om Namah Shivaya !! Om Namah Shivaya !!

 

Suvetha Gopal .