Sri Mallikarjuna Swamy Temple / Shri Malligarjuna Shivan Temple, Parvathamalai, Thiruvannamalai / Tiruvannamalai District, Tamil Nadu.

 28^th 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 Kadaladi route during night and now I do not remember much details.  So when I asked Mr Ramalingam,  whose native is Thenmathimangalam, the base of the Parvathamalai,  readily accepted and Mr Siva also joined with us along with his car. Mr Ramalingam had made all the arrangements including food, tender coconut, etc. Mr Ramalingam’s brother son also came along with us  to  guide 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 Iraniya muttathu Perungundoor Perung Kowsikanar.

Parvathamalai can be reached from 2 routes. One is via Thenmathimangalam and other way through  Kadaladi. Both routes joins before the handrails starting point. 

Pachai Amman temple, Veerabhadra temple, and Vana Durgai Amman temple  are at the base  on the Thenmathimangalam route and 1263 steps from the base of the Hill which covers the 1/3 of the distance, but 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 sells tender coconut, Soda water, health drinks, Glucose, Biscuits,   Tea, Coffee, paniyarams, mixture, chocolates, etc, Mostly ladies takes 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 litres of water and food. It was told that water will be pumped to middle level mandapam sump during function days. The mandapam is on the half way.

The final stage is the Kadaparai malai ( crowbar )- crowbar is fixed on the rock after drilling and led was poured to make it to hold with the rock. Each crow bar is tied with chains and devotees has 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), grilled plate paths has been removed and concrete steps has 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 ruled that area.  

The Shiva temple is on the top of Parvathamalai and another madam or ashram of Sri Mouna swami Vittobanantha  is in 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 and new vimanams’ 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 sanctums 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 has 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 same.

Moolavar    : Sri Mallikarjuna swami

Consorts    : Sri Bramarambika, Sri Akilandeswari.

MYTHS :

It is believed that snakes, Tamru ( udukkai) can be seen when a chamber is lighted in front of Sri Mallikarjuna swami.

Light will be visible on the Moolavar during night and this was due to worshiping of Devars and Siddhars.

Light will be emerged from Ambal’s cheeks during night.

Ambal will grow taller and taller when you walk backwards and it seems that Ambal is approaching us.

Some miracles happened during 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 to reach  for the darshan of Lord Shiva.
• Try to climb during Night hours or evening hours and climb down before noon other wise it will be difficult to trek on the hot sun.
• Trek along the route marked with 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. Under stand that a solar lights were also installed but they are not working. So Do carry torch light.
• Do carry bed sheet to cover your self during night, since it will be too cold and cold  wind will blow between the top two hills.
• Pooja can be performed by the devotees by themselves like in North India, pooja materials has 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 any Toilet facility it would be better it can 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 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 through 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 :CLICK HERE

FOR MORE PHOTOS : CLICK HERE

 The way to Parvathamalai- a sign board in the Village Thenmathimangalam 

 Beautiful view of the sun set and the Parvathamalai view 

 Beautiful view of the sun set and the Parvathamalai view

 Cattles 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 starts from here on the Thenmathimangalam route 

 There are 1263 steps which covers the 1/3 of the total distance of 5.5 Km  

 The moon and the Kadaladi lights below 

 The Vimanam view on moon light  

 The Vimanam view on moon light  

 Sri Mallikarjunar 

 Sri Bramarambigai 

 The entrance arch 

Sri Mounaswamikal Vittobanathaa’s madam

 New steps with concrete and 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 walk with the help of crow bar and chain attached to it and after that, Thandavalapadi, Yenipadi and Akayapadi to reach the top. This path has be meant  for climbing up after installing a separate yeni padi for climbing down

 The beautiful view of sunrise 

 Handrails for a stretch of 1 kilo meter

 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:---