Arulmigu Sri Arunacahaleswarar Temple - The Temples on the Girivalam Route, Thiruvannamalai, Thiruvannamalai District, Tamil Nadu.

 15,December 2014

It was a long wish to do Girivalam on day time and enjoy the beauty of the hill and visit some of the caves where Sri Ramana maharishi had done meditation. This came to true on 13^th December 2014. The details and experiences of the temple and Sri Ramana Maharishi’s caves visit were written in separate posts. After reaching Thiruvannamalai kept my back bag in the cloak room and tried to get the blessing of  Lord Arulmigu Arunachaleswarar before Girivalam. Since the crowd was too large, planned to do the Girivalam first. Started from the temple at 12.30 Hrs and returned back to the temple by 17.30 Hrs. It took 5 Hrs to do the Girivalam. As per the saints and siddhars we should walk like pregnant ladies.  Sri Ramana maharishi took more days for making one round and staying on the girivalam route during night.

The Girivalam of Thiruvannamalai Sri Arunachaleswarar is in the form of hill is an unique. There are many herbs on the hill, the breeze that blows over them is good our body. Hence it is advised to go around the hills with bare body.  Also early morning 05.00 AM  or evening 05.00 PM are said to be the ideal times for circumambulation of the hill and the same is called as  GIRIVALAM. Also it is believed that Siddhars and great souls  go around the hill, they may not be visible to the human eyes.  It is advised to circumambulate on the left side of the road with out making any noise, except chanting of “ OM Namasivaya “. It is also believed that when we do the Girivalam siddhars blesses us.  One thing is sure that without Sri Arnachaleswarar’s grace  we cannot do the Girivalam. I am proud that I am also one of the blessed soul to do this girivalam with bare foot ( It is believed that the stones on the path are Shiva Lingas and there are lot of Shiva Lingas in the earth ).

On the Girivalam route apart from Ashta Dik Shiva Lingas there are Pancha bootha Nandhis are installed. It is believed that the Darshan of Sri Arunachaleswara Hill through the horns of Nandis is good for us. The Hill changes its shape  through out the girivalam route. When I did the Girivalam I am not able to see the clear view of the hills due to smoke came out of the Deepam, rain and black rain clouds.

     Sri Arunachaleswarar Temple view from Sri Skandashram

The details and experience of my Girivalam are as follows.

GIRI VALAM  MAP

INDIRA LINGAM

After praying Lord Sri Arunachaleswara from the east Rajagopuram started my Girivalam towards Indira lingam. The sannadhi is in the bazaar, between shops. Some people says we have to start Girivalam from Brahma Lingam and   through South Rajagopuram proceed to Indira Lingam and finish at Sri Bootha Narayana Perumal sannidhi. And some people say we should start from Rettai Pillayar and finish at the same place.

 Entrance to the sannadhi from main road 

Indira Lingam Sannadhi 

From Indira Lingam reached the junction of South Rajagopuram road took the right side path at the signal on the Chengam Road. The view of the Hill from South rajagopuram is called as Eka Munikal Koombu Muka Darshan.

AGNI LINGAM

After crossing Simha Theertham and  Karpaga Vinayagar Temple, comes the Agni lingam on the right side of the main road. There is an arch which guides us to the sannadhi. The sannadhi is in between the houses. The sannadhi is very small with out gopuram or arches.

Agni Lingam Sannadhi

The view of the hills is not clear due to smoke comes out of the Deepam, rain and black rain clouds. On the right of main road Indira Theertham with Indira mandapam. The view of the hill is called as Thejo Mukha Linga Darshan.

Then comes Sri Seshadri and Sri  Ramana Maharishi ashrams. From Sri Ramana maharishi’s Ashram the hill darshan  is called as Eru Pancha Mukha Darshan. Near Ramanashram, there is an ashram and from there the hill darshan is called as Dida Muka Darshan.

 Sri Seshadri Swamigal Ashram

 Sri Ramana maharishi Ashram 

Vada Mukha Darshan

When we proceed further There is a mandapam built on a rock and darshan from there is called as Bringi Muni Mayana Darshan. The next one is the Prithvi nandhi and this is the first of Pancha Bootha nandhi. The Darshan through the horns of nandhi is called as Prithvi bangaaru Muka Darshan.

 SIMHA THEERTHAM

One of the theertham without water and maintenance

YAMA LINGAM

This is the 3^rd of the Ashta Dik Lingams.

Yema Lingam

Yama lingam Sannadhi

Appu nandi deity is in a small mandapam. This is the second of Panchabootha Nandi. The dharshan through the horns of this nandhi is called as Mitra Chaaru Darshan. This darshan gives us strength to retrieve the lost money, property, etc,.

Maha nandi Mandapam

An old kal / stone  mandapam 

Iyaswareswarar Temple 

One of the theertha pond with a stucco Nandhi

Vinayagar Temple in front of Sudhai nandhi 

NIRUTHI LINGAM

This is the 4^th of the Ashta Dik Lingams.

Niruthi Lingam Sannadhi

Niruthi Lingam Sannadhi 

Then comes Sri Seshadri and Sri  Ramana Maharishi ashrams. From Sri Ramana maharishi’s Ashram the hill darshan  is called as Eru Pancha Mukha Darshan. Near Ramanashram, there is an ashram and from there the hill darshan is called as Dida Muka Darshan.

After crossing Simha Theertahm and  Karpaga Vinayagar Temple, comes the Agni lingam on the right side of the main road. There is an arch which guides us to the sannadhi. The sannadhi is in between the houses. The sannadhi is very small with out gopuram or arches.

Next is the Siva Raja Singa Theertham. On the banks is a nandhi deity. After this the route becomes shrubbery  on the right side and obstructs the view of the hill. This shrubbery is called as Kaama Kadu, ie the forest of desire.

The Theyu nandhi is the third of the Pancha Bootha Nandhi. The dharshan through the horns of the nandhi is called as Chathur Mukha Darshan.  Lord Brahma attains the proficiency of the Vedas after having this darshan.

On the left comes the Gayatri Darshan. We may get the grace of Mother Gayathri, Lakshmi and Saraswati by worship. Next is the Sakthi Siva Darshan. This dharshan gives the solace to King Nala and his wife Dhamayanthi to reunite with their kids.

 Vallalar sannadhi

Partial Arunachaleswara vision with shrubbery ( Kaama Kadu )

 Palani Andavar Thirukoil 

 Sri Rajarajeswari Thirukoil

  abandoned theertha kulam

Sri  Adimudi Siddhar Jeeva Samadhi

Inside view of Sri Adi mudi siddhar jeeva samadhi

SURIYA LINGAM.

 Suriya Lingam 

Inside mandapam sannidhi 

VARUNA LINGAM.

This is the 5^th of the eight Ashta Dik Lingams on the Girivalam route.

 Varuna Lingam sannadhi

Varuna Lingam 

Next on the left Sri Unnamulai mandapam & Unnamulai Amman with Theertham pond. Mother Unnamulai Amman had done many years severe penance at this place. The darshan from this mandapam is called the Somaskand Darshan.

Sri Unnamulai Amman sannadhi

ADI ARUNACHALA.

The darshan from here is  called as Siva Yoga Muka  Darshan. Thirumoolar also had the darshan from here.

The 5 tier Rajagopuram

Manickavasagar mandapam and his temple is near Adi Arunachaleswarar. The Thiruvasaga Pathigam Thiruvempavai was sung from this place.

 Manickavasagar Sannadhi 

 Manickavasagar sannadhi 

Sri Arunachala  darshan 

VAYU LINGAM

This is the 6th of eight Ashta Dik Lingams. The darshan from here is called as Kanda Neeru Muka Darshan. This will cure the problems related to Vayu.

Vayu Lingam Sannadhi ( see the entrance opposite  to moolavar - so small )

Next is a small nandhi. The dharshan through the horns of the nandhi is known as Janma sabalya Muka Darshan. This offers the salvation from the curses received in many births.

Abhaya Mandapam. The darshan  from here is called as Dasamukha Darshan. Ravanan got rid of the problems due to the sins through this darshan.

Nama Shivaya Ashram

CHANDRA LINGAM

Chandra Lingam Sannadhi

Sri la Sri  Lobha Matha Agasthiar Ashram. This was established by GurunMangala Gandharva Venkatraman, the 1001st teacher in the Agasthiyar divine teacher lineage. The darshan  from here is called as the Siva and Sakthi Aikiya Shivaroopa Darshan. In this Siva and Sakthi are in perfect alignment. This darshan helps marriage to the unmarried persons.

Sri La Sri Loba Matha Agasthiyar Ashram 

Then comes the Adhikara nandi shrine.

KUBERA LINGAM

This is the 7^th of eight Ashta Dik Lingams. Mother Lakshmi worshiped herself here.

Sri Kubera lingam

IDUKKU PILLAYAR.

This shrine will remove karmas of millions of births. People used to come through the narrow gap. It is believed   that this will remove the fear of death. Also it signifies that how we came to this world through our mother's womb. This is very much similar to the Yama dwar  in Kailash Parikrama route starting point.

Idukku Pillayar Sannidhi

Then comes the Pancha mukha darshan. This darshan will blesses devotees  to enhance their carrier development.

Pancha Mukha Darshan  ( Smoke covered two peaks at the Centre hill is from Deepam )

Then comes the darshan of Kona Linga Muka darshan while we are passing the cemetery. The souls does not want anything except Lord Shiva will have this darshan.

Kona Linga Muka Darshan  before cemetery 

ESANYA LINGAM.

This is the 8th of eight of Ashta Dik Lingams.

Esanya lingam

Esanya lingam sannadhi

Next is the Mother Durga Temple.The darshan from here on the full moon day is called as Arunachala Maya Kuzhi Vadu Linga Muka Darshan. This will removes the maya arises due to desire.

Then comes the Pavazha Kundru Darshan in Arunachala or Palani Murugan Darshan.

Arunachala Pashupati Darshan, Rettai Pillayar and Sri Bhootha Narayan Temple is on  the way to East Rajagopuram, which  is the end point of our Girivalam. Bootha Narayana Perumal and Rettai Pillayar temples are very near. 

 

 Rettai Pillayar Sannadhi 

To See the Girivalam Route : CLICK HERE

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA  ---