Girivalam – Tiruvannamalai Arunachaleshwar Parikrama
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Girivalam is parikrama or pradakshina of Arunachaleshwara hill found in Tiruvannamalai town of Tamil Nadu. The city is also popular for Ramana Maharishi Ashram. In simple fact the sage was so fond of the hill that he observed it as embodiment of Shiva. He employed to say that when Kashi and Ujjain are the abodes of Shiva, this hill is Shiva himself. So, residing in its vicinity is living near to Shiva.
As we drove from Bangalore to Tiruvannamali, we saw various rocky outcrops in many shapes. All of them appeared appealing and then we also noticed the massive granite sector surrounding them.
What is Girivalam?
Girivalam is a parikrama or circumambulation of a hill. The hill in this situation is Arunachaleshwar – the sacred hill at Tiruvannamali.
Indian pilgrimage places have a extensive standing tradition of Parikrama close to sacred geographies. Don’t forget I did the well-known Panch Kroshi Yatra of Kashi Kshetra some time ago. Sacred hills and mountains are embodiments of the divine and hence it is a custom to go around them on foot.
Arunachaleshwar or Annamalai Hill
At Arunchaleshwar, the tradition is to go close to the hill on foot, always trying to keep the hill on your correct. It reminded me of the Govardhan Parikrama that I experienced finished in Braj a couple of years in the past.
Typical Principles
You are recommended to wander on the left of the road as the rishis are intended to be strolling on the right side of the route.
Stroll in silence while currently being focussed on the hill or Shiva. You can also chant a mantra.
They say wander like a greatly pregnant lady, gradual and steady.
Is it challenging?
It is a alternatively uncomplicated Parikrama while when you hear 14 kms, it appears rough. The highway is well laid out with a broad footpath to walk. It is a plain wander, with practically no incline anywhere, so if you can stroll, you can easily do it.
Girivalam Map
There are shelters at common intervals the place you can just take refuge in situation it rains or if you need shade.
Benches are out there in the course of the route to sit and chill out for some time. Tea stalls and soda vendors line the route. You will see men and women taking little breaks below and there. There are eateries as effectively, but they generally open following 8 AM.
It is a good idea to do the stroll as early as achievable in the morning, as it tends to get very hot and humid following sunrise. Do have anything to go over you head.
Footpaths are dotted with sadhus and sanyasis, some of who are performing satsang, and some who are sleeping on the path.
Forest Path Vs the Highway?
There are two paths that go all over the hill. The primary path is the 1 with a highway all all-around. This is the route taken by most people. At any time of the working day, you would see people walking on this path, largely barefoot.
There is a little detour that you can get to the hill, a path that goes through the forest, closer to the hill. Nevertheless, when we visited this route was closed. You might want some permissions to just take that route. It is also not suggested to go by itself on that path as there might be wild animals.
In which to Begin Girivalam?
The advised setting up issue is correct exterior the Arunchaleshwar or Annamaliyar temple in the town. You get out of the temple main door or Rajgopuram in the east, switch suitable and start out strolling. This way the sacred hill is constantly on your proper.
Arunachaleshwar Temple Tiruvannamalai
Girivalam is really well-known with Ramana Maharishi followers. So, quite a few devotees start off the parikrama from his ashram that is about 2 kms from the temple, but on the exact same route.
As a thumb rule, you can get started a parikrama from any place as very long as you conclusion it at the very same stage. Increase to it an additional thumb rule that east is frequently a fantastic way to begin a sacred journey. So, I would commonly propose commencing from the temple which lies precisely to the east of the hill.
How extended does it take?
If you do not consider lots of breaks, you can do the entire Girivalam in about 3-4 several hours.
If you end at all the attractive temples in in between, or take leisurely tea breaks, add that time up.
You often have an alternative to do the Parikrama on Automobile or Motor vehicle.
I endorse undertaking it on foot. You could do it over 2-3 days as your health and fitness and ft allow.
When to do Girivalam?
As a devotee, you can do each time you want to do. There are folks going for walks all-around the hill during the year.
Virtually talking, do it early morning to keep away from the severe sunshine.
From an auspicious time perspective, Purnima or full moon working day is regarded as most auspicious to do this parikrama.
Sacred thirty day period of Kartik is well-known for Arunachaleshwar Girivalam. The peak time is Kartik Purnima or the total moon day of Kartik thirty day period that ordinarily falls in November.
What do you see on Girivalam?
An ancient Parikrama path is dotted with numerous big and modest Tirthas and temples. Devotees prevent at these both to just take a dip in the tirtha, to pray at temples or to just choose rest.
These temples are also the all-natural markers that convey to the pilgrim about the path coated and the path remaining. To me, these are also the areas where by distinctive pilgrims get to mingle with just about every other.
Ashta Lingams
On the Girivalam path the greatest markers are the eight lingas in 8 cardinal instructions. They are named following the presiding deities of these directions. When you start out the Parikrama from the temple, this is how you satisfy them in purchase.
Indra Lingam – East
Agni Lingam – South East
Yama Lingam – South
Nairiti – South West
Varun – West
Vayu – North West
Kuber – North
Ishan – North East
Aside from these you have two Lingams dedicated to Surya and Chandra. Surya lingam will come immediately after Niruthi lingam and Chandra following Vayu Lingam.
Ashta Lingam on Girivalam
If you start from Ramana Maharishi Ashram, you start from Yama Lingam and end with Agni Lingam.
All these 8 are modest Shiva temples, far more or much less equidistant from each individual other. You can end and pray below, or prevent to get relaxation at these temples. I identified most of these temples not so crowded. Most walkers just bow their heads from outside the house and continue to keep relocating. To start with timers like me visited every temple and did the parikrama of each and every of them.
Moreover this you will come across a lot of old pushkarnis or Tirthams or step wells. There are stone mandapams. I assume they would have been crafted for the men and women accomplishing parikrama to get rest. Some of these are open up, some shut. Having said that, on the walking path there are new age mandapams for the pilgrims to relaxation.
There are many ashrams and hermitages, both of those old and new that are a section of the parikrama path. You would see their boards all by the route. Quit at the a person who come to feel like.
There are Nandi statues that you would see at quite a few destinations. I ponder if they ended up a portion of a temple or they are a section of the Arunachaleshwar hill as Shiva.
Notable Temples on Girivalam
As this is a sacred land, you will uncover temples committed to Rishis who mediated below. Most crucial of these temples are:
Adi Annamalai Temple
Adi Annamalai Temple in between Varun and Vayu Lingam. This is an historical temple that lies exactly to the west of the hill. It is believed to be the one particular created by Brahma and pre-dates the temple of the east that is thought to be designed by Vishnu. This is a rather substantial temple, the biggest soon after the massive temple. Program to expend some time below. When I visited, there ended up rarely any people, so we could very easily shell out time in the temple. There are paintings on the partitions of the temple that you must not miss out on.
Rajrajeshwari Temple
Raj Rajeshwari temple that arrives between Niruti and Varun Lingam.
Agastya Lopamudra temple that you discover soon after Vayu Linga. Agastya Rishi is the most distinguished rishi whose footprints can be located all around South India. Lopamudra is his uncovered spouse, a Rishika herself. So, do contemplate halting at their temple.
Gautam Rishi temple following Niruthi lingam.
Vediyappan Shrine is found just immediately after Vayu Lingam. You can simply place the big horses outside the shrine. I consider this is a neighborhood deity like Golu Devata in Kumaon.
Aside from this there are quite a few Vinayaka and Mariamma temples, Narasimha temples which includes other folks.
The most significant aspect on Girivalam is the sacred hill of Annamalai. It is the hill that you contemplate on and it is the hill that you meditate on as you stroll.
Switching Faces of Arunachaleshwar
At the commencing of the Parikrama, at the temple you see a single significant hill, that signifies Shiva as the all pervading deity.
Soon after Yama Linga, you see three peaks. The bigger one represents Annamalai or Shiva. The scaled-down 1 signifies Unnamalai or Parvati or Uma. In among them lies the third hill that represents Skanda, their son. So, at this level, the hill will take the sort of Somaskanda – Sa Uma Skanda or Shiva with Uma and Skanda.
Just after the Niruthi Lingam, if you retain dealing with the hill, at some issue you can see a Nandi Mukh or the rock formation of a Nandi. A very little more you will see just the two peaks, the Skanda a single will disappear. Even now additional, only the Unnamalai or the Devi hill would be obvious, representing the Maya Shakti.
Just prior to Varuna Lingam, you can see an elephant head formation on the hill.
Just right after Varuna Lingam, all three peaks look equal in dimension and they characterize the Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva.
At Adi Annamali village, the hill seems in the condition of Chandrashekhara or Shiva with the crescent moon. Yet another 500 meters or so, it appears in the form of Anantashayana.
Following Kubera Linga, you can see five peaks representing the 5 faces of Shiva – Purusha, Aghora, Ishana, Vamdeva and Sadashiva.
Disclaimer – We could not see any of these formations as the hill is obstructed by too considerably of design. You only get glimpses of the hill from in among structures.
You can pickup Tutorial to Giripradakshina from Ramana Ashram e-book retail outlet. It lists all attainable temples on the pilgrimage route along with other pointers. It was really valuable.
