THIRUVANNAMALAI-5

GIRIVALAM

 

Thiruvannamalai - Girivalam-5


By Sri. S.V.VARADARAJAN


   Thus, Girivalam bestows various benefits like success in our endevours, employment, marriage,health,progeny etc. The hill here attracts devotees like a magnet at all times.


   Let us undertake this Girivalam with sincere devotion and receive the blessings of the almighty.


SUBAM
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POURNAMI- GIRIVALAM

SRI.S.V.VARADARAJAN
                     
                      


 T he yatra or pradakshinam is of different kinds. Anga Pradakshanam, Adi Pradakdhanam, crawling, pradakshanam, Sarvanga praddakshanam, Vazhuvu pirattu ,udalasana pradakshanam, Adi thandum praddakshanam etc.


    Pournami (Full moon) is the most suitable day for Girivalam. We get purified by the bright moon light. The ritual helps us to achieve our desires. We develop patience and devotion. It is believed that on the full moon nights, the yogis and sidhas and angels are performing the Girivalam and hence when we are there at that time, we share some spiritual merits and powers of this celestial beings. It is very beneficial to do this yathra on 'Maha Siva Rathri' day. Usually,the chathurthi day of each month in the waning moon period is called Madha sivarathri(monthly sivarathri) and thesiva rathri that falls in the tamil month of 'Masi' is called Maha Siva Rathri. On that day, it is that Goddess Parvathi did Pooja the whole night for Lord Siva. On the monthly Siva Rathri days, it is better to start the yathra at 6 'o' clock in the evening and conclude at 6 'o' clock in the next morning. This helps devotees to achieve their desires, and succeedin their endevours. It helps us to cross the ocean of birth and death cycle. The benifits that accrue on the week days are : Sunday - Dispels illness & get Siva's protection. Monday - Gain lot of merits. Tuesday - Relief from poverty and come out of birth cycle. Wednesday - Gain knowledge and erudition. Thursday - get Gnana. Friday - attain heavenly abode. Saturday - blessings of Navagraha deities. 


To be continued
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SAGES SAINTS AND ARUNACHALA RAMANA
    Ramana - Arunachala

THIRUVANNAMALAI-3

GIRIVALAM PATH

                                    

Thiruvannaamalai-Girivalam-3

     Sri.S.V.Varadharajan

  Girivalam is a very famous way of showing our devotion and for worship of Lord Siva. This age-old practice connotes many things. Each step on this sacred route is believed to benefits equivalent to doing a thousand Aswamedham Yagas as per Arunachala Puranam. Going round the Giri [mountain] is equivalent to doing pradhakshina of Lord Mahesswara.It is customary to do the round by walking. During that time, we are immersed in thoughts about Easwara and we are in His proximity. Our mind should not indulge in other worldly matters, and there is no place for anger,hatred,worry etc during that time.


   we should go from left to right as Pradhakshinam in Girivalam. It is improper to do it in the opposite direction and should be avoided. Take early bath, wear a holy dress, do all the usual relegious rites and poojas and then start the round. We should have sandal, kumkum, vibuthi or turmeric powder on our forehead. Better not to wear,in the case of males, shirts or upper garments and better to go with bare body. This is stated to help us to absorb the divine atmosphere that prevails on the path. Better also not to use footwear. No alchoholic subsatnce {in any form } should be consumed. The person starting this round first worships the deity at The temple on the eastern side and also should conclude Girivalam at the same place on the eastern side and pray to Annamalaiyar. Better also to avoid cutting across the road while on the yatra. Keep to left side of the road throughout the route as far as possible.


To be continued






  
























   

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THIRUVANNAMALAI TEMPLE GOPURAM

                  

Thiruvannaamalai-Girivalam-2

     Sri.S.V.Varadharajan

   This means it attracts the devotees like a magnet absorbing iron filings.It is also called as Arunachalam.'Aruna' means sun which represents brightness or reddish colour. 'Achla' means mountain.It is thus a mountain with reddish slopes. The mountain itself represents God,or Annamalai and its glory cannot be estimated. It measures 800 meters meters gigantically into the sky (2668 feet and its base has eight phases (sides and is about 8 miles (14kms in circumference. There are eight siva Lingams on the path that goes round the mountain and which is yhe route use by devotees for Girivalam.The mountain apears in different shapes at different places.From the eastern side it looks like a single block representing 'Eka Linga' principle.On the Girivalam path, it shows up as two divisions representing 'Ardhanareewara' principle. From western side, we see three divisions, hinting at 'Trimurthi' principle.At the finishing point of the Girivalam route, we can see five phases of the mountain representing the five faces of Lord Siva.

    Thus the Annamalai mountain represents various philosophical concepts in its shape and existence.The Girivalam route is called as Thiruvikram Pandian Seventh Street.We see shops selling flowers, fragrant Sticks, herbal products etc. for pooja. On the route, we come across the Asramams of Sshadri Swamigal, Ramana Maharishi,Annamalai Swami, and Yogi Ram Surat Kumar Swami  [Visiri Swamy ]. There are sixteen Vinayaga Shrines and Seven Arumuga Sannadhis on the route in addition to Navagraha temple, Durga and Hanuman shrines.


To be continued