28th March, 2016.
This is my second trek to Parvathamalai after a gap of about 15
years. In the first trek about 15 devotees trekked from the Kadaladi route
during the night and now I do not remember many details. So when I asked Mr. Ramalingam, whose native is Thenmathimangalam, the base of the
Parvathamalai, readily accepted and Mr. Siva also joined us along
with his car. Mr Ramalingam had made all the arrangements including food,
tender coconut, etc. Mr Ramalingam’s brother's son also came along to guide us in the proper route. Really I was very lucky to join with
Mr Ramalingam and Siva for this trek to Parvathamalai.
SOME OF THE GUIDELINES AND DETAILS OF THE PARVATHAMALAI TREKKING
ARE......
Parvathamalai
is part of the Javadhu Hills and the other hills are Kadaladi malai,
Methaka malai, Kumarinettu malai, Kanakkachi odai malai, Putru malai. The
Parvathamalai is mentioned in Sangam literature 'Malai Padu Kadaam'
written by Iraniya Muttathu Perungundoor Perung Kowsikanar.
Parvathamalai
can be reached from 2 routes. One is via Thenmathimangalam and the other way
through Kadaladi. Both routes join before the handrail
starting point.
Pachai
Amman temple, Veerabhadra temple, and Vana Durgai Amman temple are
at the base of the Thenmathimangalam route and 1263 steps from the
base of the Hill which covers the 1/3 of the distance, but the Kadaladi route
is narrow through the forest in steep terrain.
The
distance from the base is 5.5 KM and the altitude is 3500 feet. The time
taken for normal trekking will be 3.5 Hrs and trekking down will take
around 2.5 Hrs.
There are
about 30 shops throughout the route, which sell tender coconut, Soda
water, health drinks, Glucose, Biscuits, Tea, Coffee,
paniyarams, mixture, chocolates, etc, Mostly ladies take care of the
shops.
There is
no water source either on the en route or on the top. One has
to carry at least 2 liters of water and food. It was told that water would
be pumped to the middle-level mandapam sump during function days. The mandapam
is halfway.
The final
stage is the Kadaparai malai ( crowbar )- the crowbar is fixed on the rock
after drilling and lead is poured to make it hold with the rock. Each
crowbar is tied with chains and devotees have to walk on the rock holding
the chain. This has a drawback. At a time only up or down coming is
possible. So with the effort of devotees recently ladder-type steps are
provided to climb down and the old kadaparai arrangement is used for
climbing up.
Old Thandavalapadi (rail steps), and grilled plate paths have been removed and
concrete steps have been constructed at the last stage.
Before
the top of the hill, we could see a room and ruined wall of a fort
constructed by Nannan Sei Nannan, who was a small king who ruled that area.
The Shiva
temple is on the top of Parvathamalai and another madam or ashram of Sri
Mouna swami Vittobanantha is on the same hill on the other
peak. ( During my first visit I had seen him and used to write on a slate
for communication and now he is no more ).
Annadhanam
is being served through this madam and Chennai Triplicane
Devotees, on full moon day and important days.
The
temple has sannadhi for moolavar Shiva, Amman Bramarambika, Sri
Ganapathy, Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniar and, Bairavar, Agasthiyar. The
old vimana was removed new vimanas were constructed and Kumbhabhishekam
was conducted about 2 months before.
There are
two lightning arrestors installed one for the temple and the other for the
Mouna Swamigal Vittobanantha’s madam.
It was believed
that the hill Parvathamalai is the piece of Sanjeevi hill, that had fallen
down while Hanuman carried the Sanjeevi hill to cure
Lakshmanan. Hence there is a statue of Hanuman installed at the entrance.
The
temple sanctum has no doors and devotes can have the darshan at any time.
There is
no separate Gurukkal or Poojari to conduct the Pooja and the devotees
themselves can do the pooja, abhishekam and pooja articles have to be
carried by themselves from the base of the hill.
It will
be an awesome view of Javadhu hills, passing clouds below Parvathamalai and
sunrise from the top of the hill
The hill
is also equivalent to Srisailam hill, hence Iraivan and
Iraivi’s names are the same.
Moolavar : Sri Mallikarjuna Swami
Consorts : Sri Bramarambika, Sri Akilandeswari.
MYTHS :
It is
believed that snakes, Damru can be seen when a chamber is
lit in front of Sri Mallikarjuna swami.
Light
will be visible on the Moolavar during night and this was due to the worshiping of Devars and Siddhars.
Light
will emerge from Ambal’s cheeks during the night.
Ambal
will grow taller and taller when you walk backward and it seems that
Ambal is approaching us.
Some
miracles happened during the night to some of the devotees.
DOs
- Since
there is no water source, we have to carry 2 Litres of water,
Food, Chocolates, Energy drinks, Glucose pockets., Etc.
- Help the
co-devotees and make them reach for the darshan of Lord
Shiva.
- Try to
climb during Night hours or evening hours and climb down before noon other it will be difficult to trek in the hot sun.
- Trek
along the route marked with an arrow.
- There is
no electricity on the top of the hill and only the madam has a DG set and
it seems that is not functioning. Understand that solar lights were also
installed but they are not working. So Do carry torch light.
- Do carry a bed sheet to cover yourself during the night, since it will be too cold and
cold wind will blow between the top two hills.
- Pooja can
be performed by the devotees themselves in North India, pooja
materials have to be carried if one is particular to do pooja.
DON'TS
- Since
Parvathamalai is a sacred one, do not throw polythene bags, empty
bottles, biscuit pocket wrappers, etc.
- Follow
the arrow marks, if not there is every chance of deviating from
the normal route.
- Since the
top temple does not have a Toilet facility it would be better if it could be
done before climbing to the top of the hill ( Before Kadaparai – Crowbar
hill ).
- Try to
avoid speaking louder or shouting on the hill route, always recite ‘om
Namasivaya’. It is believed that siddhars used to do mediation on the
hill.
TEMPLE TIMINGS :
The main
sanctum does not have doors and the temple is kept open day and night. There is
no separate Gurukkal to perform pooja and devotees can perform poojas
themselves.
FOR FURTHER DETAILS: CLICK
HERE
HOW TO REACH :
Parvathamalai
can be reached in three ways from Chennai.
Chennai-
Chengalpattu- Melmaruvathur – Vandavasi- Polur – Parvathamalai.
Chennai –
Kanchipuram ( Outer ) - Arcot- Arani – Polur – Parvathamalai
Chennai -
Chengalpattu – Tindivanam – Gingee – Tiruvannamalai – Thenmathimangalam -
Parvathamalai.
Themmathimangalam
is at the base of the hill which is 20 KM from Polur and Polur is 35 KM
from Thiruvannamalai.
LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK
HERE
FOR MORE PHOTOS: CLICK
HERE
The way to Parvathamalai- a signboard in the Village
Thenmathimangalam
Beautiful view of the sunset and the Parvathamalai
view
Beautiful view of the sunset and the Parvathamalai
view
Cattle returns home after grazing
Sri Pachai Amman Temple - Kula Deivam for a group of people of Thenmathimangalam
A Hero stone/ Sati Stone ar
Pachai Amman Temple. It was told that daily Pooja will be conducted first to
this Hero stone and then to Pachai Amman
Sri Veerabathirar temple
Sri Veerabhadra
Sri Vana Durgai Amman temple – under the control of Tamil
Nadu HR& CE
The steps start from here on the Thenmathimangalam route
There are 1263 steps which covers 1/3 of the total
distance of 5.5 Km
The moon and the Kadaladi lights below
The Vimanam View in Moonlight
The Vimanam View in Moonlight
Sri Mallikarjunar
Sri Bramarambigai
The entrance arch
Sri Mounaswamigal Vittobanatha’s madam
New steps with concrete and a Ladder to climb down
The remains of Nannan sei Nannan's fort...?
New Ladder steps to climb down
New Ladder steps to climb down
Kadapparaimalai – crowbar hill to climb up – we have to walk with the help of a crowbar and chain attached to it and after that, Thandavalapadi, Yenipadi, and
Akayapadi to reach the top. This path has been meant for climbing up after installing a separate
yeni padi for climbing down
The beautiful view of the sunrise
Handrails for a stretch of 1 kilometer
Boulders on the way – to walk on these boulders
Boulders on the way – to walk on these boulders
A shop on the way
--- OM NAMASHIVAYA NAMAHA:---
